Bob Sombathy has represented thousands of clients over his 31 years of courtroom experience. He has been the lead attorney on over 150 felony jury trials.
Proven Experience
Bob Sombathy has represented thousands of clients over his 31 years of courtroom experience. He has been the lead attorney on over 150 felony jury trials. Bob has defended clients charged with murder, manslaughter, aggravated battery, DUI manslaughter, DUI, leaving the scene of an accident, grand theft, robbery, burglary, drug trafficking, and many more. Several of Bob Sombathy’s high-profile trials have appeared on Court TV, WMBB, WJHG, and local newspapers all over the Florida Panhandle.
Board Certified
Bob Sombathy is a Board Certified Criminal Trial Lawyer as designated by the Florida Bar. Certification is the highest level of recognition the Florida Bar awards upon a lawyer for competency and experience. This honored designation requires a lawyer to pass a rigorous exam, demonstrate excellence in the courtroom, and earn recommendations from both their peers and judges.
Less than 1% of practicing Florida lawyers are Board Certified in Criminal Trial Law. Bob Sombathy has maintained Board Certification since 1999, and can legally hold himself out as a “specialist” in the area of criminal trial law.
Former Homicide Prosecutor
In addition to his 22 years on the defense side of criminal law, Bob Sombathy has earned valuable experience as a homicide prosecutor. Under State Attorney Glenn Hess, Bob was promoted to Chief of Major Crimes and maintained an undefeated record in murder trials for over 9 years.
Deep Roots in the Panhandle
Bob Sombathy has lived in Bay County Florida for over 45 years. His father was the Plant Manager at Arizona Chemical Company, and his mom worked at Bay Art and Frame in St. Andrews. Bob graduated from Mowat Middle School and Mosley High School in Lynn Haven, Florida. Before going off to college and law school, Bob worked various jobs all over Bay County from fast food service to cleaning the inside of train tank cars.
Bob Sombathy met his future wife while attending law school in Birmingham. As luck would have it, she was also from Bay County, graduated from Mosley High School, and even attended the same church. Bob and Julie Sombathy have been married for 28 years and both their children also graduated from Mosley High School.
In 2007 Bob and Julie purchased the building at 434 Magnolia Avenue in Panama City and today they proudly offer their legal advice and experience as The Sombathy Law Firm.
