SAO4’s Prosecutors Sweep Outstanding Government Lawyer Awards

The State Attorney’s Office and State Attorney Melissa Nelson are proud to announce two prosecutors, Octavius Holliday and Marcus Isom, have been honored by The Florida Bar in two prestigious government award categories.

Holliday, a director in the office’s Special Prosecution Unit and head of the Human Rights Division, was named the 2024 Claude Pepper Outstanding Government Lawyer. The statewide honor is given to a Florida attorney who has made “an extraordinary and exemplary contribution as a practicing government lawyer” with at least 10 years of government practice. The award is named in honor of Pepper, a Florida attorney, U.S. Senator, and U.S. Representative.

Holliday has more than 16 years of public service under his belt and continues to serve the community outside of the office through his volunteer work. He is the Vice President of the Jacksonville Graduate Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and oversees all chapter committees, including its award-winning in-school mentoring committee and the Lamplighter Male Mentoring Program. Holliday has been a member of 100 Black Men of America’s Jacksonville Chapter since 2009.

Isom, a senior attorney in the office’s Targeted Prosecution Unit, was named as The Florida Bar’s 2024 Young Lawyers’ Division Outstanding Government Lawyer. The award recognizes a young attorney who excels in the field and possesses a reputation for integrity, dedication to the community, and commitment to the success of young government lawyers.

Isom joined the office in 2018 following his graduation from Wofford College and Florida Coastal School of Law, quickly rising through the ranks. He then found a home in the office’s Targeted Prosecution Unit, which prosecutes some of our community’s most serious offenders. Outside the office, Isom is an active member of Alpha Phi Alpha, the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity for African American Men.

“Octavius Holliday and Marcus Isom are leaders in our office, excellent prosecutors in the courtroom, and community-focused ambassadors outside of it,” said State Attorney Melissa Nelson. “They are dedicated public servants who are extremely worthy of this prestigious recognition.”

Both prosecutors will receive their honors during The Florida Bar’s annual conference the week of June 17, 2024. You can watch our video on Holliday and Isom to learn more about their stories of success.