Cynthia Imperato

Cynthia Imperato built her career through steady public service and careful judgment. Her work as a cop, prosecutor, judge, educator, and board member reflects years of responsibility and a commitment to improving the legal system. She mentored young lawyers, supported practical reforms, and worked to help courts operate with fairness and consistency. She began her path as a police officer in Tallahassee, gaining early experience that shaped her later approach to prosecution and judicial service. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Virginia Tech with majors in psychology and sociology, an M.S. from the School of Criminology at Florida State University, and a J.D. from the Florida State University College of Law. This academic foundation supported her work as she moved into complex criminal matters. Cindy Imperato spent thirteen years as a Senior Assistant Statewide Prosecutor in the Office of Statewide Prosecution. Her work included grand jury presentations and cases involving racketeering, homicide, narcotics trafficking, home invasions, white-collar fraud, police corruption, and gang-related violence. She helped draft and revise Florida’s gang legislation and led the first successful state racketeering prosecution of a street gang. She also spoke at the Florida Intelligence Unit in 1994 and 1995 and taught at the first Multi-Agency Gang Task Force Conference in 1996. In January 2003, Governor Bush appointed Cynthia Imperato to the Circuit Court bench, where she served for thirteen years before retiring in 2016. Cindy trained Judicial Nominating Committees, chaired the Judicial Nominating Criminal Procedures Committee, served on the Criminal Rules Committee, and received a Community Service Award from all minority Bar Associations in the state.