Cynthia Imperato

Member of the Executive Council for the Criminal Law Section of the Florida Bar 

Cynthia Imperato has spent her life working in positions that require levelheaded judgment, careful preparation, and a strong sense of responsibility. Her career spans service as a cop, prosecutor, judge, educator, and board member, each role adding to her understanding of how communities depend on their legal institutions. Throughout her work, she focused on fairness, professionalism, and improving systems that protect the public.

Academic Foundation and Early Law Enforcement Work

She began her professional journey in Tallahassee as a police officer. The challenges she encountered in patrol work gave her direct insight into the realities of policing and the importance of clear procedures. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Virginia Tech, majoring in psychology and sociology. She continued her education with an M.S. from the School of Criminology at Florida State University, followed by her J.D. from the Florida State University College of Law. This academic background prepared her to manage high-level investigations and understand the legal standards needed for complex prosecutions.

Advancing Through the Office of Statewide Prosecution

After law school, Cindy Imperato joined the Office of Statewide Prosecution, where she served for thirteen years as a Senior Assistant Statewide Prosecutor. Her responsibilities included grand jury presentations and the prosecution of multi-jurisdictional organized crime. Her caseload involved racketeering, homicide, home invasions, narcotics trafficking, white-collar fraud, police corruption, and gang-related violence. Many of these cases required coordination across county and state lines, which depended on precise planning and clear communication.

During this period, she contributed to drafting and revising Florida’s gang legislation. She also led the first successful state racketeering prosecution of a street gang. As part of her work, Imperato had the opportunity to speak at the Florida Intelligence Unit in 1994 and 1995, and to teach at the first Multi-Agency Gang Task Force Conference in 1996. These roles strengthened her skills in explaining complex evidence to judges, juries, and law enforcement professionals while maintaining standards of fairness.

Appointment and Service on the Circuit Court Bench

In January 2003, Governor Bush appointed Cynthia Imperato to the Circuit Court bench. She served for thirteen years before retiring in 2016. Her judicial responsibilities included criminal matters and statewide work in judicial education. Cindy trained members of Judicial Nominating Committees, chaired the Judicial Nominating Criminal Procedures Committee, and worked as part of the Criminal Rules Committee on statewide rule-making initiatives. Colleagues often relied on her knowledge of trial law for advice on evidentiary and procedural questions.

In 2006, Imperato spoke at the 82nd Boot Camp graduation and received a Community Service Award from all minority Bar Associations in Florida. As a member of the Florida Judicial College video faculty, she helped train new judges and presented at workshops addressing probation violations, jury instructions, and capital caseload management. Her judicial approach emphasized fairness, consistent application of the law, and respect toward everyone participating in the legal process.

Teaching, Writing, and Legal Scholarship

Education has always been an essential part of Imperato’s professional life. For nearly two decades, she served as an adjunct professor at Nova Southeastern University’s College of Law, teaching Criminal Pretrial Practice. Earlier in her career, she taught criminal justice at Tallahassee Community College. She presented at numerous state and national conferences on organized crime, street gangs, white-collar fraud, diversity in the judiciary, and evidentiary standards.

Her publication, An Assessment of Florida Gangs and Recommendations for Law Enforcement, appeared in Women Police Magazine in 1993. The work has continued to be referenced in discussions on gang behavior and law enforcement strategy.

Professional Leadership and Organizational Service

Cindy is a member of the Florida Association of Women Lawyers and a former member of the Broward County Bar and Women Lawyers Associations. She served as President of the Stephen R. Booher Inn of Court from 2008 to 2009 and later as President of the St. Thomas More Society of Broward County from 2012 to 2014. She also served on the Florida Bar Criminal Law Section, the Executive Council of the Criminal Law Section, the Criminal Rules Committee, and the Professionalism Committee for the 17th Judicial Circuit. These roles allowed her to help develop curriculum, assist with jury instruction supplements, and support improvements to professional standards across the state.

Community Engagement and Recognition

Her service extends beyond the courtroom. She has been active on several nonprofit and advisory boards, including the American Red Cross, the Broward County Crime Commission advisory board, the PACE Center for Girls advisory board, Women in Distress, Covenant House, and the Fort Lauderdale Pre-Law Magnate Program advisory board. Her work emphasized prevention, youth support, and improving access to resources for vulnerable individuals.

She has been recognized with honors such as Outstanding Women of Broward County, the Miami Herald Outstanding Leader Award, the President’s Volunteer Service Award, Humanitarian of the Year, and a Superior Public Service Award.

A Legacy of Steady Service

Now retired, Cynthia Imperato is remembered for her fairness, preparation, and dedication to strengthening the justice system. Her influence continues through the lawyers, judges, and students she mentored throughout her career.

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