Louis O'Melville "Lou" Frost, Jr. (September 19, 1931 – January 16, 2008)[1] was an American lawyer who served for 36 years as the elected public defender for Florida's Fourth Judicial Circuit, which consists of Duval, Nassau, and Clay counties.
He was a local legal institution who nurtured the careers of hundreds of young lawyers,[2] with two dozen appointed to state and federal judgeships, and one seated on the Florida Supreme Court.
He attended law school at the University of Miami before serving two years as an officer in the United States Army First Infantry during the Korean War.
[4] In the 1963 Gideon v. Wainwright decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that defendants charged with felonies (besides murder) were also entitled to legal representation by the State.
[2] Frost was elected public defender later that year and retained the post until he retired in January 2005, running unopposed 9 times.
He was also active with Jacksonville's Morocco Temple, elected Illustrious Potentate in 1987,[4] and a Master Mason, 33rd degree Scottish Rite, and a Jester.
"[4] Chief Circuit Judge Donald Moran commented, "He was so well-respected throughout the state of Florida, not only for his civic work but as a lawyer.
[2] In 1975, Frost was honored by the National Legal Aid & Defender Association with their distinguished Reginald Heber Smith Award.
He received the Mary L. Singleton Justice, Peace and Social Harmony Award in 2001, and the D.W. Perkins Bar Association recognized him in 2004 for his "trail-blazing" dedication to hiring African-American lawyers.
Frost commented, "It is a distinct honor to be recognized in the same group with former governors Farris Bryant and Leroy Collins and State Supreme Court Justices (B. K.) Roberts and Adkins and Sandy D'Alemberte.
"[6] That same year, the Criminal Law Section of The Florida Bar bestowed the Selig Goldin Award in recognition of his distinguished career.