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Diverse Experience Matters
Harley graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in Political Science with High Honors. He continued on at the University of Florida's Levin College of Law, where he acquired his law degree and excelled in trial team competitions, winning the 2001 Florida Bar Trial Team Competition and serving as Vice President of the Trial Team.
Harley has over 21 years of experience as a practicing attorney in both criminal and civil law and has the overall experience, across multiple areas of law, to be a successful judge. In 2002, after graduating from law school, Harley became a prosecutor, first serving Lee and then Glades County. In one sting alone, as a prosecutor in Glades County, Harley helped the Glades County Sheriff's Office successfully prosecute nearly 20 defendants accused, and eventually convicted, of drug sales and trafficking. Harley has both prosecuted and defended several serious and life felony cases in Glades County and several counties around the state of Florida. In fact, he has practiced in over 30 counties in the state of Florida, in front of countless different judges.
After leaving the State Attorney's Office, Harley went into private practice where he handled primarily criminal defense and family law cases, along with other civil matters. In 2008, Harley had the privilege of returning to Glades County to serve as a Traffic Hearing Officer, where he presided in a quasi-judicial role over thousands of cases over multiple years. Currently, he is the managing attonrey of a statew-de law firm in Florida.
When people ask Harley when it was that he decided to run for Glades County Judge, the answer is easy. It was in 2004, when he stood in Judge Lundy's chambers and said aloud that one day, he hoped to be the judge in Glades County. Twenty years later, he will have the opportunity to make that dream a reality.
Harley has been married to Teresa Brook for over 20 years and they have two children, Harley Cole, 17, and Sophia Marie, 16. Teresa has been a teacher for over 20 years. Their children are very active in sports and the arts. Harley enjoys volunteering for Harry Chapin Food Bank, spending time with his wife and kids, and cannot be pulled away from the TV (or the stadium) when his beloved Gators are playing.
Harley possesses broad experience in multiple areas of the law, experience behind the bench as a traffic hearing officer, and has the drive and passion to faithfully serve Glades County as your next County Court Judge. He hopes he can earn your support and vote in 2024.