Patrick C. Whitaker

Patrick Crisp Whitaker (June 29, 1894 – 1965) was a prominent defense attorney who served in the Florida House of Representatives and Florida Senate including as Senate President.[1] He led the defense of six Tampa policemen and the police chief accused of involvement in a deadly 1935 attack on a political group known as the Modern Democrats. His brother-in-law, R.E.L. Chancey was the Mayor of Tampa.[2] His grandson is a lawyer in Sanford, Florida.

He was born in Franklin, Georgia, the eldest of five siblings born to Georgia state legislator Daniel Brittain Whitaker. He graduated with a law degree from Georgetown University in 1915. He set up a law firm in Tampa in 1917.

Whitaker was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 1924 and the State Senate in 1926. He was re-elected in 1930 and served as Senate president from 1931 to 1933.[3] He lost his re-election campaign in 1934, but won again in 1938.

Whitaker argued the case Hale v. Bimco Trading, Inc. before the Supreme Court in 1939. The case involved a charge against the Florida State Road Department enforcing a statute regulating cement inspection.[4]

He liked scotch and cigars and was reputed to take out his false teeth during trials. He also reportedly got youths cleared of a fishing violation by contending that since mullet have gizzards they are not fish but chickens. State regulations were reportedly revised as a result.

References
  1. Florida, State Library and Archives of. "Patrick C. Whitaker being sworn in as President of the Florida Senate". Florida Memory.
  2. Lynching and Establishment Violence in Tampa, 1858-1935 pages 636-638
  3. Florida Senate Handbook
  4. Hale vs. Bimco Trading, Inc. LegalEagle
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