Governor Appoints Bruce L. Bartlett Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL — On Thursday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Bruce L. Bartlett as state attorney for the Sixth Judicial Circuit, replacing the late Bernie McCabe.

McCabe, 73, died Jan. 1 after serving as the chief prosecutor for the Sixth Judicial Court for 28 years. The Sixth Judicial Court covers both Pinellas and Pasco counties.

Following McCabe's death, Pinellas-Pasco Chief Judge Anthony Rondolino appointed McCabe's longtime chief assistant county attorney, Bruce Bartlett, to serve as acting state attorney until the governor could appoint an interim state attorney. DeSantis has now chosen to keep Bartlett in the office.

Bartlett, McCabe's longtime friend and chief assistant county attorney for the circuit, will assume McCabe's responsibilities at least until the next election.

McCabe ran unopposed in November and died just before beginning his eighth term as state attorney. The next election for state attorney is in 2022.

“I’m truly grateful to Gov. DeSantis for his trust in me to represent the people of Pinellas and Pasco County as their state attorney," said Bartlett. “My life’s work has been to strive to achieve justice on behalf of victims and our entire community - through treatment and diversion to prevent future crimes, through pathways to recovery, and, when necessary, by delivering swift justice for victims and their families."

Bartlett vowed to continue the legacy that McCabe began.

“I had the honor of working with my friend Bernie McCabe for over 40 years. His legacy, and the legacy of our office, is to work every single day to maintain the highest level of justice on behalf of the people of Pinellas and Pasco Counties; you have my word that I will," he said.

Rondolino swore Bartlett into office Friday in the grand jury room at the County Justice Center.

In his opening remarks, Rondolino noted that Bartlett will be only the third full-time state attorney since Pinellas County came into existence roughly 110 years ago.

On hand for the ceremony was one of McCabe's former prosecutors, Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor, who is now the speaker of the Florida House of Representatives.

Sprowls endorsed DeSantis's decision to appoint Bartlett.

“There is no person in the state of Florida more qualified for the job of sixth circuit state attorney than Bruce Bartlett,” Sprowls said. “He was the chief assistant to State Attorney Bernie McCabe for nearly three decades and served in the prosecutor’s office for 40 years. He continues to serve the people in a way that shows compassion, integrity and great character. I am his first and most enthusiastic supporter.”

Sprowls has recommended that the Pinellas County Commission rename the Pinellas County Justice Center, 14250 49th St. N., Clearwater, after McCabe, who he said “left an unrivaled legacy in the pantheon of Florida justice seekers."

His letter to the county commission was signed by Bartlett, Rondolino, Pinellas Clerk of Circuit Court Ken Burke and Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri.

“Naming the building that he walked into every day to serve as a minister of justice, well ... it’s the right thing to do. We hope you will," Sprowls said in the letter.

In a statement released by Sprowls, he called McCabe "a true public service."

"He led a life committed to justice, fairness and truth," Sprowls said, "Bernie was my mentor and my friend.”