Larry L. Eger is a longtime and proud resident of Sarasota County. He graduated from the University of Florida College of Law in 1985 and interned with the Office of the Public Defender in the 12th Circuit as much as he could while going to law school. Upon graduation, he knew that indigent criminal defense in his hometown is what he was called to do.

Mr. Eger served as an assistant public defender in the 12th Circuit for 24 years. During his time as an assistant public defender, Mr. Eger defended all levels of crime from simple misdemeanors and traffic cases to capital sexual battery and homicides. He also trained and managed new staff and mentored incoming attorneys. Mr. Eger was elected in 2008 as Public Defender for the 12th Judicial Circuit.

He is currently serving his fourth term as the elected Public Defender. As the elected Public Defender Mr. Eger oversees four offices in the counties of Desoto, Manatee, and Sarasota. He manages a staff of approximately 90 individuals dedicated to indigent criminal defense.

Outside of the office Mr. Eger continues to champion the needs of the community through his volunteer work. His efforts focus on education and the needs of the marginalized. He was a co founder and past president of the Sarasota School of Arts & Science, one of the first and longest serving public charter schools. Mr. Eger is the president of Legal Aid of Manasota. He is a Board Member of the Florida Public Defender Association and has chaired the Education Committee. Mr. Eger was chosen to serve as a member of the Statewide Criminal Punishment Task Force for the State of Florida. Mr. Eger is also active in environmental causes as reflected in his board membership for the Centre for Ocean Research and Education.

When he is not engaged in community service, Mr. Eger enjoys time with his wife Susan Burns, Editor and Chief of the Sarasota Magazine, and his children Isaac, Anna, and his dog Leda, the office mascot.