On Monday, March 18, 2024, the Florida Bar filed a complaint against attorney Alexis Francisco Carter Jr. with the Supreme Court of Florida.

The case is entitled “The Florida Bar v. Alexis Francisco Carter Jr.,” with case number 2023-30,144 (5B).

The complaint alleges that Carter failed to provide diligent representation and adequate communication to his client Manuel Cardenas, who was facing criminal charges in Orange County, Florida. Cardenas hired Carter in September 2020 to represent him in State of Florida v. Cardenas, Case No. 2019-CF-14766. Carter was one of several attorneys representing Cardenas, who was incarcerated during the proceedings.

According to the complaint, Carter stopped communicating with Cardenas and his family in October 2021 after informing them he had taken a job with the Office of the State Attorney for the Ninth Judicial Circuit. However, Carter did not formally withdraw from Cardenas’ case at that time. He began working for the State Attorney’s office in November 2021 in their Conviction Integrity Unit.

The complaint states that Carter failed to ensure a virtual “wall” was established between himself and Cardenas’ ongoing criminal case, which was still being prosecuted by the same State Attorney’s office. Cardenas continued to believe Carter was still representing him until February 2023 when Carter’s employment with the State Attorney ended.

In addition, the Bar alleges Carter did not disclose on a September 2022 document that he was employed by the State Attorney’s office at that time. He also initially filed a motion to withdraw from Cardenas’ case in August 2023 without obtaining his client’s signature.

If found guilty of violating Rules Regulating the Florida Bar cited in the complaint, Carter could face penalties ranging from probation to disbarment.

The Charge states:

“WHEREFORE, The Florida Bar prays respondent will be appropriately disciplined in accordance with the provisions of the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar as amended.”

According to Avvo, Mr. Carter is an attorney in Longwood, Florida. He graduated from Florida A&M University, College of Law in 2009. He obtained his law license in Florida in the same year.

A copy of the original filing can be found here.