Meet Our Brevard County Criminal Defense Lawyers

Rodney M. Kernan, Esquire

Rodney M. Kernan was born in Rockledge, Florida and is considered a dying breed of locals here in Brevard County. Rod is an avid motorcycle rider and lifetime member of ABATE, participating in several motorcycle-related events each year. Rod's collection of motorcycles includes a 2007 Harley Davidson Road Glide, 2000 Honda Shadow Aero, 1990 Kawasaki ZX10, 1954 Honda 305cc Superhawk and a 1965 305cc Honda Dream along with a few other bikes and scooters. As one of Rod's hobbies, he enjoys restoring vintage motorcycles. In addition to motorcycles, Rod is a car enthusiast who enjoys doing his own repair and restoration.

Rod attended Merritt Island High School, and upon graduation, he worked as a local mechanic. He was then hired to work with the space program with Lockheed in 1988. In 1993 while with Lockheed, Rod finished his Bachelor's Degree at Barry University.

In 1996, Rod was accepted to law school and finished his law studies at Touro Law Center in New York, where he was a Notes and Comments Editor for Touro's Law Review and Treasurer of the Irish Law Society. Upon graduating from law school, Rod returned to Florida and was employed with the Brevard County State Attorney's Office. A short time afterward, he accepted a position with the Public Defender's Office in Osceola County and continued with that office for another year and a half.

Education

• Barry University
• Touro Law Center

Bar Memberships

• Florida Bar
• Brevard County Bar Association
• U. S. Middle District Court of Florida.

After gaining trial experience with the government, Rod worked with two Orlando firms, gaining more criminal, traffic and civil experience. When the second firm we worked for was about to close its doors to relocate in 2002, Rod opened his own practice in Orlando serving hundreds of clients in the surrounding six counties.

Although Rod has always resided in Brevard County, in 2005 he relocated his office from Orlando to Brevard to eliminate the long daily drive, but he still serves clients in the six surrounding counties. Rod is a member of the Florida Bar, Brevard County Bar Association, and is a bar member of the U. S. Middle District Court of Florida.

Rod is a proud father of three daughters. His oldest daughter is a graduate of the University of Central Florida and is currently employed as a computer programmer. Rod's second and third daughters are currently finishing their studies at the University of Florida and are in their fourth and second years, respectively. Rod has been member of a local dart league and enjoys spending time with family and friends in a variety of recreations, from boating to mountain climbing. Rod recently climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa.

Richard W. Austin

Richard W. Austin is a native of Maryland who came to Brevard County, Florida in the spring of 2007. Rich graduated magna cum laude from the University of Baltimore, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Jurisprudence. He was accepted early to the University of Baltimore School of Law after completion of his junior year of undergraduate study. There, Rich received his Juris Doctor with a Certificate of Concentration in Real Estate in 2006.

Rich was admitted to the Maryland Bar in 2006 and the Florida Bar in 2007. Rich began his legal career working for law firms that handled cases in the areas of criminal defense, personal injury, social security disability, worker's compensation, and family law. Rich also worked in a solo practice limited to real estate law.

After coming to Central Florida, Rich continued his legal career with the Office of the State Attorney, 18th Judicial Circuit as an Assistant State Attorney. Rich left the Office of the State Attorney in 2010 to form Kernan & Austin, LLC.

Education

• University of Baltimore
• University of Baltimore School of Law

Bar Memberships

• Maryland Bar
• Florida Bar

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