MSJLAW.US - Key Persons

Carla Miller graduated from Florida State University with a B.A. Degree in Criminology in 1972. She worked for 5 years as a drug abuse counselor and a crime prevention specialist before she attended University of Florida Law school. She graduated with a Juris Doctorate from law school in 1979 with high honors. Carla was a federal prosecutor with the United States Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Florida prior to entering private practice in Jacksonville. She handled public corruption cases and drug prosecutions with federal law enforcement agencies, mainly the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Carla's current civil litigation practice includes personal injury, wrongful death and products liability cases. Carla has volunteered in numerous civic activities in Jacksonville and received the Times Union "EVE" award for her volunteer work as the City's first Ethics Officer. In this capacity, Carla has worked to set up an ethics program for the city of Jacksonville and training for government employees. She also received the Volunteer Jacksonville "Heart of Gold" award for her work in ethics and mental health reform for senior citizens.

Howard W. Skinner was born in Anderson, South Carolina. He grew up in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Howard graduated from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. in 1974 with a B.S. degree in Psychology. He attended and graduated from Stetson University College of Law in St. Petersburg, Florida with a degree of Juris Doctor. Howard was admitted to the Florida Bar, United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, and the Fifth Circuit United States Court of Appeals in 1977. He was admitted to the Eleventh Circuit United States Court of Appeals in 1981. He was admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court in 1983. Howard has been a member of the American Bar Association, the Jacksonville Bar Association and the Florida Trial Lawyers Association. Before entering private practice, he was an assistant Federal Public Defender from 1979 to 1985. Howard served as a member of a Jacksonville Grievance Committee for the Florida Bar.

Job Titles:

• Instructor at the University of Florida

John Jolly joined Miller Skinner & Jolly P.A. in December of 2003. His practice includes a variety of personal injury matters. Prior to joining Miller Skinner & Jolly P.A., Mr. Jolly was the head of Tort Litigation Defense for the Office of General Counsel, City of Jacksonville. His practice included the defense of civil rights and personal injury matters in state and federal courts. He supervised a staff of nine lawyers that provided defense in personal injury and worker's compensation matters. Before joining the Office of General Counsel, Mr. Jolly was a prosecutor for eleven years. While an Assistant State Attorney, Division Chief, and Director, he handled over seventy-five jury trials, including notable homicide and serial rape cases. Additionally, he prosecuted the first criminal jury trial in Jacksonville involving the use of DNA evidence. Mr. Jolly has been an instructor at the University of Florida, Trial Clinic Program; instructor and lecturer with the NITA Trial Advocacy Workshop at the University of North Florida; Chairman of the Jacksonville Bar Association Admissions and Membership Committee; and a Barrister with the Chester Bedell American Inn of Court. Mr. Jolly was instrumental in the creation of the City of Jacksonville's Ethics Code and was appointed as the City's Ethics Officer in 1999. Mr. Jolly received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Florida in 1979 and graduated with honors from the University of Florida College of Law in 1981.