The focus of Ms. McManus’ legal education and career has been as a trial advocate. During law school, she had an active leadership role as a member of the trial team, completed multiple trial advocacy courses, and obtained certification from the Florida Bar to represent the State of Florida during criminal proceedings as a Certified Legal Intern. After graduation, Ms. McManus was sworn in as an Assistant State Attorney in the Ninth Circuit, and over the course of the next decade, had the pleasure of routinely representing the State during jury trials against criminal defendants accused of offenses such as drug trafficking, burglary, robbery, and homicide.

In 2016, Ms. McManus prosecuted a 26-co-defendant dog fighting case. The case went to trial resulting in guilty verdicts, and based on information learned during the investigation, Ms. McManus advocated for the creation of the first ever Animal Cruelty Unit in the Ninth Circuit. Later, Ms. McManus worked with stakeholders across the area to create the Central Florida Animal Cruelty Task Force, a group of prosecutors, veterinarians, law enforcement officers, and animal control professionals dedicated to ensuring Florida Statutes criminalizing animal cruelty are effectively investigated and prosecuted in their jurisdictions.

In 2019, Ms. McManus joined the Capital Homicide Unit at the State Attorney’s Office where she spent the next few years prosecuting capital murder, obtaining favorable jury recommendations and verdicts in multiple cases. Later, she served as the Deputy Chief Assistant of the Office of the State Attorney with responsibilities which included recruitment, training, and management of the attorney staff. She led the creation and implementation of an attorney training program focused on development of trial advocacy skills.

• “Champion for Animals Award” – American Society Prevention Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) – 2016
• “Top Ten Animal Defenders” – Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) – 2017
• Book Awards: Trial practice, Florida practice, Florida constitutional law, Professional responsibility

PROFESSIONAL INVOLVEMENT

• Florida Bar Association
• Central Florida Animal Cruelty Task Force

REPRESENTATIVE CASES

A complete list of Ms. McManus’s reported cases is available upon request.