Rachel Gause, the newest prosecutor at the 14th Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office in Bay County, knew from an early age Bay County would one day be home.
She just didn’t know that marrying a man who lived here would be the reason for leaving her job as a public defender in Georgia and becoming an Assistant State Attorney here.
“My parents have had a house down here for about 20 years, so I basically grew up coming here on weekends to go to the beach,” Gause said. “I always told myself growing up that I was going to end up here one way or the other, so luckily this is where my husband lives.”
Gause grew up in Donalsonville, Ga., before moving to Atlanta where she received her bachelor’s degree from Georgia State University. Next was Savannah Law School, where she obtained her law degree.
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Gause worked at the Public Defender’s Office, South Georgia Judicial Circuit, for nearly four years. She handled a wide variety of cases involving everything from misdemeanor assault to homicide.
Last fall she married a Bay County resident and made the move to Panama City Beach. After passing the Florida Bar for her license here, she started looking for work. When she saw the prosecutor’s position, she knew that was what she wanted to do.
“When I saw this, I just thought it would be a real challenge, and fun, because I think there is going to be a greater satisfaction in being a prosecutor,” she said. “You are still seeking an outcome that is fair for everyone, but I saw the satisfaction of prosecutors who were there for the victims.”
Gause said her work as a public defender sets her up to be a successful prosecutor.
“That role not only solidified my commitment to protecting the rights of the accused but also broadened my appreciation for the broader pursuit of justice — one that includes victims and the community at large,” she said. “This perspective has inspired me to seek a position where I can continue serving the public interest through a new lens.”