A football injury propelled Andrew Eppling into the field of law, and he hasn’t looked back as he joins our team of prosecutors at the State Attorney’s Office.
A native of both Florida and Georgia, Eppling initially planned on joining the military before going into law. His trajectory changed in high school, however, when a back injury sustained while playing football shifted his focus toward the legal field.
Determined to serve his community in a new way, Eppling obtained his law degree and began his search across the southeast. When he interviewed with State Attorney Larry Basford and his team, Eppling knew he’d found the right fit.
“When I got on the call with Mr. Basford and his team, I was talking about what I thought a prosecutor could do and my vision of justice,” Eppling said. “I listened to what they wanted to do and how they approach the law, and it really lined up with how I feel. I knew that this is where I wanted to be. I have felt great peace about it ever since.”
RELATED NEWS: Florida native puts roots in Bay County as new prosecutor
RELATED NEWS: Former correctional officer guilty of smuggling meth into state facility
Eppling’s path to the State Attorney’s Office included experience as a law clerk in two different prosecutors’ offices, where he gained firsthand insight into the criminal justice system. Clerking exposed him to real-world exposure to inmates, police officers, judges, and attorneys. Through that, Eppling developed an understanding of the system’s many layers and the importance of remembering that everyone is human and deserves to be treated fairly.
“These experiences taught me that for our system to work, all its components must strive to operate as effectively as possible,” Eppling explained. “I also learned that the human element cannot be forgotten. The criminal justice system is dealing with people’s lives and freedoms. We must pursue excellence not just in our technical work but in the human aspect as well.”
Eppling earned his law degree from Liberty University School of Law.
For more information, contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov, or call 850–381–7454.