Cynthia Imperato

Cynthia Imperato has spent her career committed to public service, applying steady judgment and preparation to every role she has held. As a cop, prosecutor, judge, educator, and board member, she approached each responsibility with care, focusing on fairness, professionalism, and strengthening the legal system. Her dedication is reflected in the assignments she accepted, the reforms she supported, and the many young lawyers she mentored. She began her professional path as a police officer in Tallahassee. The lessons she learned in patrol work shaped how she later understood the movement of a case from an initial investigation to courtroom litigation. This early law enforcement experience provided context that influenced her future work as a prosecutor and judge. Her academic background supported her advancement. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Virginia Tech with majors in psychology and sociology, then earned an M.S. from the School of Criminology at Florida State University, followed by a J.D. from the Florida State University College of Law. These studies strengthened her understanding of criminal behavior, legal theory, and procedural structure. After completing law school, Cindy Imperato joined the Office of Statewide Prosecution. For thirteen years, she served as a Senior Assistant Statewide Prosecutor, handling grand jury presentations and major cases involving multi-jurisdictional organized crime. Her caseload included racketeering, homicide, home invasions, narcotics trafficking, 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. Her experience also included speaking at the Florida Intelligence Unit in 1994 and 1995 and teaching at the first Multi-Agency Gang Task Force Conference in 1996. In January 2003, Governor Bush appointed her to the Circuit Court bench, where she served for thirteen years before retiring in 2016. Cindy handled criminal matters and contributed significantly to statewide judicial education. She trained members of Judicial Nominating Committees, chaired the Judicial Nominating Criminal Procedures Committee, and participated in statewide rule-making through 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 on the Florida Judicial College video faculty, presenting on probation violations, jury instructions, and capital caseload management. Education has been an essential part of her professional life. For nearly two decades, she served as an adjunct professor at Nova Southeastern University’s College of Law, where she taught Criminal Pretrial Practice. Earlier in her career, she taught criminal justice at Tallahassee Community College. Her publication, An Assessment of Florida Gangs and Recommendations for Law Enforcement, appeared in Women Police Magazine. Beyond the courtroom, Cynthia Imperato served on several 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 career reflects a long-standing commitment to fairness, service, and professional integrity.