For the first time, former county judge Charles Cofer lay out a specific case at a forum Wednesday night for why Public Defender Matt Shirk should not be re-elected. While Cofer, who resigned from his judgeship to run against Shirk, has long talked vaguely about restoring integrity and experience to Jacksonville’s Public Defender’s Office, this appeared to be the first time he criticized Shirk for his handling of three specific cases: read more