Cynthia Imperato
Cynthia Imperato has spent her career in public service, known for steady judgment and consistent commitment to the legal system. Her work as a cop, prosecutor, judge, educator, and board member reflects years of responsibility, mentorship, and service to the community. She accepted challenging assignments, guided young lawyers, and supported reforms that helped improve courtroom practices. Throughout her professional journey, she remained focused on strengthening institutions that depend on public trust.
Early Career and Academic Path
She began her career as a police officer in Tallahassee. This early work offered firsthand experience that shaped her approach as she advanced into prosecution and judicial roles. Her academic background supported her throughout her career. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Virginia Tech, majoring in psychology and sociology, followed by an M.S. from the School of Criminology at Florida State University and a J.D. from the Florida State University College of Law. Her studies provided a strong foundation for understanding criminal behavior, legal processes, and the complexities of case development.
Work with the Office of Statewide Prosecution
After law school, Imperato joined the Office of Statewide Prosecution. She served for 13 years as a Senior Assistant Statewide Prosecutor, handling grand jury presentations and large-scale, multi-jurisdictional organized crime cases. Her caseload included racketeering, homicide, narcotics trafficking, home invasions, white-collar fraud, police corruption, and gang-related violence. Many of these matters required coordination between various agencies across county and state lines.
During her time in this office, she helped draft and revise Florida’s gang legislation. She also led the first successful state racketeering prosecution of a street gang. Cindy Imperato spoke at the Florida Intelligence Unit in 1994 and 1995, and she served as an instructor at the first Multi-Agency Gang Task Force Conference in 1996. These experiences strengthened her ability to organize complex evidence and present it clearly.
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 time on the bench involved handling criminal cases while also contributing to statewide judicial education. Cindy trained members of Judicial Nominating Committees, chaired the Judicial Nominating Criminal Procedures Committee, and served on the Criminal Rules Committee.
In 2006, she spoke at the 82nd Boot Camp graduation and received a Community Service Award from all minority Bar Associations in the state. She also served as a faculty member of the Florida Judicial College, teaching subjects such as probation violations, jury instructions, and capital caseload management. Her colleagues often relied on her for guidance on procedural and evidentiary issues.
Teaching and Scholarly Contributions
Education has always played an essential role in her career. For nearly two decades, Cynthia Imperato 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 has also presented at state and national conferences on organized crime, street gangs, white-collar fraud, diversity in the judiciary, and complex evidentiary issues.
Her 1993 publication, An Assessment of Florida Gangs and Recommendations for Law Enforcement, appeared in Women Police Magazine and remains part of criminology research discussions.
Leadership and Community Work
Cindy is a member of the Florida Association of Women Lawyers and has participated in several legal organizations. She served as President of the Stephen R. Booher Inn of Court and later as President of the St. Thomas More Society of Broward County. She has also worked with the Florida Bar Criminal Law Section, the Executive Council for the Criminal Law Section, the Criminal Rules Committee, and the Professionalism Committee for the 17th Judicial Circuit.
Her community involvement includes roles with 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. These roles allowed her to support youth, families, and public safety efforts.
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