The office remembered Shorstein as a decorated Marine who returned from Vietnam to serve his community. Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan said his commitment to public service and mentorship helped shape city leaders, and recalled his belief that Jacksonville should not become “a tale of two cities.”

Shorstein grew up in Riverside and attended Lee High School. He earned undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Florida in 1965, then served as a captain in the 3rd Marine Division during the Vietnam War. His honors included the Bronze Star with Combat “V,” the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry and the Combat Action Ribbon.

After returning to Jacksonville, he worked in the Public Defender’s Office and later joined the State Attorney’s Office. In 1974, at 33, he became the city’s youngest general counsel. He warned that a proposed joint venture involving Westinghouse and Tenneco to bring offshore nuclear power plants to Jacksonville could bankrupt the city and expose officials to personal liability. The deal was not finalized.

Following 15 years in private practice, Shorstein was appointed state attorney in 1991 by Gov. Lawton Chiles, filling the vacancy left when Ed Austin became mayor. During his tenure, the office handled several cases that drew wide attention, including the prosecution of white supremacist George Loeb for killing a Black sailor, medical examiner William Sybers for killing his wife, and Josh Phillips for the murder of 8-year-old Maddie Clifton.

Shorstein also gained national attention for a juvenile justice approach that sought to intervene early in offenses such as truancy and auto theft, which he viewed as possible entry points into more serious crime. The model combined prevention, intervention and prosecution. Shorstein said consequences should increase as young offenders got older. His work was featured on “60 Minutes” and in The New York Times.

State Attorney Melissa Nelson said Shorstein demonstrated integrity and professionalism and that his “do the right thing” legacy would endure in the office. Deegan said he believed in both delivering justice and offering second chances, particularly for at-risk young people.

Shorstein was admitted to the American College of Trial Lawyers, a distinction held by a small group of state and district attorneys. In 2019, the State Attorney’s Office unveiled a portrait honoring him at the Duval County Courthouse.

In reflecting on his years in office, Shorstein credited the attorneys and staff around him, saying he was proud of the work they did and the office family they built.