Biography of Cynthia Imperato

Cynthia Imperato has spent her professional life making difficult decisions with calm judgment and consistent focus. Her work as a cop, prosecutor, judge, educator, and board member reflects a long commitment to public service and to improving the systems that support community safety. Whether taking on challenging assignments or mentoring young lawyers, she relied on practical experience and steady preparation to guide her decisions.

Early Training and Academic Development

She began her career as a police officer in Tallahassee, where the day-to-day demands of patrol work shaped her understanding of how communities interact with the justice system. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology and sociology from Virginia Tech, followed by an M.S. from the School of Criminology at Florida State University. She later completed her J.D. at the Florida State University College of Law. This education prepared her for work that required a firm grasp of criminal investigations, legal standards, and courtroom procedures.

From Police Work to Statewide Prosecution

After graduating from law school, Cindy Imperato joined the Office of Statewide Prosecution. Over 13 years as a Senior Assistant Statewide Prosecutor, she handled

grand jury presentations and prosecuted multi-jurisdictional organized crime. Her cases involved racketeering, homicide, narcotics trafficking, home invasions, white-collar fraud, police corruption, and gang-related violence. She worked with agencies across county and state lines, coordinating investigations that required careful planning and attention to detail.

During her tenure, 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. These opportunities strengthened her ability to present complex evidence while ensuring that prosecutions remained fair and grounded in the available facts.

Appointment to 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 work on the bench included criminal cases as well as roles in statewide judicial education. Cindy trained members of Judicial Nominating Committees, chaired the Judicial Nominating Criminal Procedures Committee, and participated in the Criminal Rules Committee. Because of her understanding of trial law, colleagues often sought her guidance on procedural and evidentiary issues.

In 2006, she spoke at the 82nd Boot Camp graduation and received a Community Service Award from all minority Bar Associations in the state. As a member of the Florida Judicial College video faculty, she trained new judges and presented on probation violations, jury instructions, and capital caseload management. Her approach centered on fairness, accountability, and clear communication with everyone in the courtroom.

Teaching, Writing, and Scholarship

Education has always played an essential role in Imperato’s career. For nearly twenty years, she served as an adjunct professor at Nova Southeastern University’s College of Law, where she taught Criminal Pretrial Practice. Earlier, she taught criminal justice at Tallahassee Community College. She also presented at state and national conferences on organized crime, street gangs, white-collar fraud, diversity in the judiciary, and evidentiary standards.

Her 1993 publication, An Assessment of Florida Gangs and Recommendations for Law Enforcement, appeared in Women Police Magazine and continues to be cited by scholars of criminal behavior and policing.

Leadership in Professional Organizations

Cindy is active in bar associations and judicial organizations. She 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 served as President of the St. Thomas More Society of Broward County from 2012 to 2014. She contributed to the Florida Bar Criminal Law Section, its Executive Council, the Criminal Rules Committee, and the Professionalism Committee for the 17th Judicial Circuit. Her work supported curriculum development, jury instruction supplements, and improvements to criminal procedure resources.

Community Engagement and Public Service

Beyond her legal work, she served on boards including the American Red Cross, the Broward County Crime Commission advisory board, the PACE Center for Girls advisory board, and the Fort Lauderdale Pre-Law Magnate Program advisory board. She also supported Women in Distress and Covenant House, focusing on youth, prevention, and access to resources.

Recognition and Continuing Impact

Imperato’s service has been recognized with honors such as Outstanding Women of Broward County in 2012, the Miami Herald Outstanding Leader Award in 2006, and appearances in Who’s Who in Law Education. She also received the President’s Volunteer Service Award in 2017, Humanitarian of the Year honors in 2025, and a Superior Public Service Award in 2022.

Now retired, Cynthia Imperato leaves behind a judiciary strengthened by her work and a generation of lawyers and judges shaped by her guidance. Her career is remembered for its fairness, consistency, and dedication to public service.