We are proud to announce that attorneys Samara Ballard and Alec Waid have been selected to serve as the Vice Chairs of the Criminal Law Section of the St. Petersburg Bar Association for 2026. These positions reflect the trust placed in them by their peers, dedication to the legal community, and ongoing commitment to protecting the rights of individuals facing criminal charges.
The Criminal Law Section plays an important role within the St. Petersburg Bar Association, which is one of the oldest legal professional organizations serving Pinellas County. Its membership includes more than 1,200 attorneys, judges, and legal professionals dedicated to supporting the administration of justice and the practice of law in the community. Criminal Law Section leaders help guide programming, support professional development among criminal law practitioners, and foster collaboration between defense attorneys, prosecutors, and the broader legal community. Being selected is a meaningful recognition by peers, signaling confidence in an attorney’s knowledge, judgment, and leadership.
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Alec Waid: Criminal Law Section Vice Chair
Alec M. Waid is a trial attorney with Battaglia, Ross, Dicus & McQuaid, P.A., representing clients throughout St. Petersburg and the Tampa Bay region in criminal and complex civil matters. A Tampa Bay native, he earned his undergraduate degree from the University of South Florida and his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the University of Miami School of Law, where he received recognition for courtroom advocacy. Before entering private practice, Alec spent nearly four years as a prosecutor with the Pinellas County State Attorney’s Office, including service as a Special Prosecutor in the Gang Unit and the Traffic Homicide Unit. His work has earned statewide and national recognition, including selection to the 2026 Florida Super Lawyers Rising Stars list and recognition in the 2026 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America for litigation and criminal defense.
Samara Ballard: Criminal Law Section Chair
Samara Ballard is an attorney with Battaglia, Ross, Dicus & McQuaid, P.A., where she focuses her practice on criminal defense and civil litigation. She earned her undergraduate degree in Sociology from the State University of New York at Oneonta before beginning her professional career in St. Petersburg as a Juvenile Probation Officer. In that role, she worked closely with young offenders and their families, supporting rehabilitation and reintegration while gaining firsthand insight into the challenges individuals face within the criminal justice system. Motivated to make a broader impact through legal advocacy, she earned her Juris Doctor from Stetson University College of Law. Today, Samara brings a unique perspective shaped by both frontline justice system experience and courtroom advocacy, combining compassion, strategic judgment, and determination in representing clients facing complex criminal and civil matters.
Both attorneys’ appointments also reinforce our firm’s longstanding tradition of involvement in professional organizations and bar leadership. Active participation helps ensure that attorneys remain effective advocates for their clients.
Leadership You Can Trust in Criminal Defense
For those facing criminal allegations, leadership recognition like this matters. It reflects not just experience, but the respect of fellow attorneys and the confidence of the broader legal community. When your freedom, reputation, and future are on the line, working with Florida criminal defense attorneys who are trusted leaders in their field can make a meaningful difference.
If you or someone you care about is facing criminal charges, our criminal defense team is ready to help. From investigation through trial, we provide strategic, aggressive representation designed to protect your rights at every stage of the process.
Legal problems can feel overwhelming, but you do not have to face them alone. Contact us today to schedule a free, confidential consultation and learn how we can help you move forward with confidence.
