LEGAL SERVICES

About the Legal Services Division:

The Sheriff’s Office maintains a Legal Services Division which consists of the General Counsel, Assistant General Counsel, and Legal Executive Assistant. 

The General Counsel and Assistant General Counsel serve as the legal advisors to the Sheriff of Marion County and as staff attorneys for the Office of the Sheriff, providing advice and services in a wide range of civil, criminal, and administrative matters.  They represent the Sheriff in court proceedings, including matters involving civil asset forfeitures and risk protection orders, and work closely with outside legal counsel to defend the legal interests of the Office of the Sheriff.  The General Counsel and Assistant General Counsel are also responsible for a host of other duties, including reviewing contracts and public records requests, advising on Internal Affairs investigations and other employment matters, providing legal updates and training to members of the agency, reviewing agency policies and procedures, reviewing and drafting search and arrest warrants, and other duties as may be requested or required.

The General Counsel and Assistant General Counsel also serve as legal advisors to the Ocala Police Department, representing the Ocala Police Department in actions for risk protection orders and civil asset forfeiture, as well as providing legal guidance, assistance, and training regarding criminal investigations and law enforcement actions. 

The Legal Executive Assistant provides paralegal services, clerical support, and other assistance to the General Counsel and Assistant General Counsel and the agency in all matters, including litigation, civil asset forfeiture, risk protection orders, contract administration, and public records requests.

The legal services division does not provide legal advice to members of the public. If you require legal advice, the Florida Bar provides an attorney referral service which may be contacted at (800) 342-8011 or accessed by clicking here.

Frequently asked questions may be found below by clicking here.

Marissa Duquette currently serves as General Counsel to Sheriff Billy Woods and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.

Ms. Duquette previously served as an Assistant State Attorney in the Fifth Judicial Circuit. During her tenure at the State Attorney’s Office, Ms. Duquette gained criminal law experience in the criminal traffic, misdemeanor, and felony divisions. From there, she was selected to be a Targeted Crimes Prosecutor, and given the responsibility of litigating cases involving repeat offenders and enhanced sentences. In addition to her prosecutorial responsibilities, Ms. Duquette served as the State Attorney’s Office Liaison to the Marion County Veteran’s Treatment Court and volunteered as a Marion County Teen Court Judge. 

Ms. Duquette received her law degree, with honors, in 2015, from Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad College of Law. She received undergraduate degrees in Criminology and Religion in 2012, from The Florida State University. In Ms. Duquette’s academic endeavors, she became a published author and contributed to works in both local and nationally circulated law journals.