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Public defender supervisor opens home to judge

Judge Philip Federico temporarily lives rent-free with Ron Eide of the Pinellas-Pasco Public Defender's Office. Observers see no conflict.

LARGO - Judge Philip Federico was going through a divorce and needed a place to stay. One of the criminal judge's best friends offered to help.

For several months, Federico has been the housemate of Ron Eide, an attorney who is one of the top supervisors at the Pinellas-Pasco Public Defender's Office. The judge confirmed that he lives with Eide in a St. Pete Beach house without paying rent or utilities.

Federico said the arrangement is temporary, and he will move into his own place next month.

The judge's living situation hasn't raised concerns with prosecutors or Eide's boss.

"I don't think it's an issue," Federico said. "If it were a permanent living arrangement, I could see there would be a definite question. Ron and I have been friends for 20 years."

Eide works as a trial attorney on only a few murder cases. Eide is working with several other attorneys on one active case in Federico's courtroom, court records show. He supervises assistant public defenders assigned to the judge's division.

Eide is on vacation and could not be reached for comment.

Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney Bernie McCabe is aware the judge lives with Eide and said he isn't troubled.

"I've never had reason to question Judge Federico's integrity," McCabe said Monday. "I've known Ron Eide forever. I don't think he'd take advantage of the situation. If this were permanent, or if they had a business relationship, I would re-evaluate."

Public Defender Bob Dillinger said he doesn't think a temporary living situation is cause for concern.

"They're old friends," he said.

Federico said he shows no favoritism. In fact, the judge said lawyers in his courtroom have even joked about it.

"He's doing me a favor as a friend," Federico said. "I'd reciprocate."

Stetson University College of Law professor Bobbi Flowers said such relationships are a problem only if the attorney practices in front of the judge.

"If he doesn't appear before the judge, then it doesn't raise a red flag," Flowers said. If a lawyer practiced in front of a judge and lived with him, "then you'd have concerns about actual prejudice or the appearance of impropriety."

Having Federico as a housemate doesn't appear to have helped Eide's client in the one case he had in Federico's division.

Last month, the judge denied a motion by the Public Defender's Office to suppress evidence in the first-degree murder case.