Terry J. Shoemaker
Terry has focused on DUI defense and criminal law since 2007. During this time he has successfully defended countless defendants. Prior to 2007, Terry spent nearly four years as an Assistant State Attorney in the Seventh Judicial Circuit.
His trial experience includes homicide, DUI manslaughter, sexual battery, robbery, and drug cases. In addition to his career as an attorney, Terry has over fifteen years of diverse professional experience. After receiving a Masters degree in Athletic Training, he worked as a faculty member in the Sports Medicine program at Mount Union College, then as an Athletic Trainer with the Houston Astros Professional Baseball Club. Terry left the Houston Astros to attend law school after the 2000 season. Prior to completing his education, Terry served in the United States Navy.
Education
• Florida Coastal School of Law, Jacksonville, Florida, 2003 J.D.
Honors: Top 10 of Graduating Class
• State University of New York (SUNY), Brockport, NY 1990 - B.S.
Honors: Dean’s List
Major: Physical Education and Athletic Training
• Indiana State University, Terre Haute, Indiana, 1992 – M.S.
Honors: Dean’s List
Major: Sports Medicine
Professional Associations and Memberships
• St. Johns County Bar Association
• Association of Professional Ball Players of America
• Florida Bar Association
• St Johns County Canvassing Board
• Shrine Club
• Masonic Lodge
• Board of Directors for Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
• American Association of Premier DUI Attorneys
• Member of National College for DUI Defense
Honors and Awards
• Nominated for Mount Union College, Great Teacher Award, 1995
• Sailor of the Year, Destroyer Squadron 13, 1986
• Nominated for Sea Sailor of the Year, United States Navy, 1986
• Ultimate Attorneys 2018 - Criminal Law
• Sailor of the Quarter, USS Elliot, DD 967 and Destroyer Squadron 13, 1986
• Voted Ultimate DUI Attorney for Duval County, 2018
Prior Experience
• State Attorney’s Office, Assistant State Attorney, 2003 – 2007
• Houston Astros, Athletic Trainer, 1998 – 2000
• Mount Union College, Associate Head Athletic Trainer/Instructor, 1992-1997
• US Navy Veteran 1983 – 1987
Tim Pribisco
Tim has experience as a prosecutor and defense attorney throughout the 7th Judicial Circuit (St. Johns, Flagler, Putnam, and Volusia Counties). Tim has tried over 40 jury trials ranging from first degree misdemeanors to capital felonies.
Tim grew up in Hollywood, Florida, and attended Bridgewater College in Bridgewater, VA. Knee injuries ended his college football career early, but Tim graduated from Bridgewater College with a degree in International Studies in 2008. After graduation, Tim returned to Florida to attend Florida Coastal School of Law, where he participated as both a competitor and board member of the Mock Trial Team. In 2011, Tim graduated cum laude from Florida Coastal School of Law and was admitted to the Florida Bar.
After a brief stint in civil private practice, Tim accepted a position as an Assistant State Attorney in Daytona Beach, FL, and was quickly promoted to a felony docket in Flagler County. Once there, he worked closely with the Special Investigations Unit of the Flagler County Sheriff's Office, who investigated drug and vice crimes. In 2016, Tim was assigned to the prosecution and trial of a 31-count white collar securities fraud case in Flagler County.
Tim recently passed the Board Certification Exam for Criminal Law, and is now considered an expert in criminal law. He is Co-Chair FACDL Legislative Committee and VP of the St. Johns County Bar Association.
Tim is married to Emily, who practices insurance defense for a Jacksonville firm, and has two sons, Elijah and Hank. When Tim is not busy working hard for his clients, he spends his time with his family, fishing, and trying to play guitar like Jimi Hendrix.
Tim recently passed the Board Certification Exam for Criminal Law, and is now considered an expert in criminal law. He is Co-Chair FACDL Legislative Committee and VP of the St. Johns County Bar Association.
Tim is married to Emily, who practices insurance defense for a Jacksonville firm, and has two sons, Elijah and Hank. When Tim is not busy working hard for his clients, he spends his time with his family, fishing, and trying to play guitar like Jimi Hendrix.
Norma Wendt
Norma joined Shoemaker Law in 2022, bringing 30 years of experience as a prosecutor and criminal defense attorney in St. Johns, Putnam, and Flagler counties. During this time, Norma handled juvenile delinquency, misdemeanor, and felony cases as a prosecutor as well as a criminal defense attorney.
Prior to becoming an attorney, Norma earned a Master’s Degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Florida and worked for United Way and the Hillsborough County Public School System in Plant City, Florida. After 5 years in that field, Norma returned to the University of Florida and earned her law degree. While at UF, she was elected President of the John Marshal Bar Association, competed as a member of the Trial Team for 2 years, interned with an attorney who specialized in malpractice cases, clerked for Eighth Judicial Circuit Judge Benjamin Tench, was admitted to Florida Blue Key and was a student member of the Chester Bedell Inn of Court in Jacksonville.
When Norma was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1988, she was working as an associate at Margol, Fryefield and Pennington, handling product liability and medical malpractice cases, carrying that experience into Harris, Guidi, Rosner and Dunlap. In 1993, Norma left private practice to become a prosecutor in the State Attorney’s Office until joining the Public Defender’s Office in 2005. She became Division Chief for both the Putnam and St. Johns Offices of Public Defender, continuing in that role until her retirement at the end of 2020. That retirement lasted 2 months. Norma joined Gennusa Law, gaining exposure to family law but criminal justice is where her passion lies.
Along life’s way, Norma has been a rancher, learned to fly, became a Major in the Civil Air Patrol, was a fencer (sabre was her favorite), competed in USPSA pistol competitions and has a daughter working in the criminal defense field. Growing up on the Space Coast, and through her father’s work and position in the space program, Norma has been fortunate to meet, interact and work with astronauts and celebrities as part of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation and Buzz Aldrin’s ShareSpace Foundation.
Gay Durand
Gay comes to Shoemaker Law with 20 years of experience in criminal law. During her career, she has assisted in numerous high-profile cases, including death penalty and appellate. She was Terry’s first paralegal when he made the move to private practice in 2007 and has since come back home where she belongs. Gay has lived in St. Augustine for 35 years and is the proud mother of three sons. Downtime includes traveling to her mountain retreat and spending time with her children’s children.
Alexine
Karen Bonnar
Karen Bonnar is our experienced Receptionist. Native to the UK, Karen made her trip across the pond in 2015 and has been in the State ever since. She has had numerous jobs in a variety of professions from being an IT Systems Trainer to Welfare Assistant. When she’s not at Shoe Law answering the phones and welcoming clients in with a smile, Karen can be found spending time with her children and their four cats. She is an avid reader of novels and she enjoys traveling to sunny destinations.
