Carey Haughwout was the Public Defender for Palm Beach County for 24 years, retiring in January 2025. She has practiced criminal defense since 1983. As part of her duties as Public Defender, she worked with the legislature and local officials on criminal justice policy. She is a board-certified criminal trial lawyer and a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. Carey’s efforts have been recognized with the ACLU Harriet S. Glasner Freedom Award, The Lord’s Place Ending Homelessness Award, the Voter’s Coalition of Palm Beach County, the March of Dimes Women of Distinction Award, the Palm Beach County Bar Association’s Professionalism Award, and the Judge Barry M. Cohen “Champion of Justice” Award. She is a past president of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, served on the Board of Legal Specialization and Education, the Florida Bar Criminal Rules Committee, and on a variety of local committees dedicated to the improvement of the system of justice. She established and chaired the Reentry Task Force for the Palm Beach County Criminal Justice Commission, which has been credited with establishing services for ex-offenders to reduce recidivism. In addition to the administrative duties of managing a 200-person law office, Carey maintained an active trial practice in serious and death penalty cases throughout her career.