About Cynthia Imperato
Cynthia Imperato has spent a lifetime making difficult decisions with calm, sound judgment and unobtrusive tenacity. A cop, prosecutor, judge, educator, and board member, she volunteered for challenging assignments, mentored young lawyers, and advocated for real-world reforms to make our courts safer and more just.
She has dedicated herself to public service and to improving the institutions that protect our communities, while demanding their most solemn trust.
Early Training and Academic Foundation
Cindy Imperato, as widely known, started her career as a police officer in Tallahassee, where she gained the practical experience that would later inform her approach to cases as a prosecutor and judge.
She has 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.
Her education provided the analytical framework and legal knowledge necessary for handling high-level criminal investigations and prosecutions.
From Patrol Work to the Statewide Prosecutor’s Office
After completing law school, Imperato joined the Office of Statewide Prosecution, where she served for thirteen years as a Senior Assistant Statewide Prosecutor. In this position, she managed grand jury presentations and led significant prosecutions of multi-jurisdictional organized crime.
Her caseload ranged from racketeering and homicide to home invasions, narcotics trafficking, white-collar fraud, police corruption, and gang-related violence.
Her work often involved coordinating investigations across county and state lines, which required both strategic vision and meticulous 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.
As a prosecutor, Imperato enjoyed the opportunity to speak at the Florida Intelligence Unit in 1994 and 1995. She also served as an instructor at the first-ever Multi-Agency Gang Task Force (MAGTF) Conference in 1996.
This work gave her invaluable experience in presenting intricate evidence before judges and juries while ensuring that prosecutions remained fair and evidence-driven.
Service on the Circuit Court Bench
In January 2003, Governor Bush appointed Cynthia Imperato to the Circuit Court bench. On the bench, she handled both criminal matters and statewide responsibilities for judicial education. She served for thirteen years on the bench before retiring in 2016.
She also played an important role in judicial education across Florida. Cindy trained members of Judicial Nominating Committees, chaired the Judicial Nominating Criminal Procedures Committee, and participated in statewide rule-making as part of the Criminal Rules Committee. Her colleagues frequently sought her counsel on procedural and evidentiary issues because of her deep understanding of trial law.
In 2006, Imperato was invited to speak at the 82nd Boot Camp graduation and was honored with a Community Service Award from all minority Bar Associations in the state.
Her judicial philosophy focused on fairness and accountability. She stressed transparency in sentencing, uniform application of the law, and courtesy toward all participants in the legal system. As a member of the Florida Judicial College video faculty, she helped train new judges and presented at other workshops on topics like probation violations, jury instructions, and capital caseload management.
Teaching and Scholarship
Cynthia Imperato has long believed in the power of education to strengthen the legal system. 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 courses at Tallahassee Community College.
Her lectures have reached audiences far beyond the classroom. She has presented at numerous state and national conferences on topics including organized crime, street gangs, white-collar fraud, diversity in the judiciary, and evidentiary standards in complex prosecutions.
Her 1993 publication, An Assessment of Florida Gangs and Recommendations for Law Enforcement, appeared in Women Police Magazine and continues to be referenced in criminology research.
Leadership and Professional Service
Cindy is a member of various bar associations and judicial organizations. She’s 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 in 2008-2009 and subsequently led the St. Thomas More Society of Broward County as its President from 2012 to 2014. Her memberships and committee work include 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
Those positions allowed her to help form curriculum, generate jury instruction supplements, and foster professionalism. She was part of a team that overhauled criminal procedure resources for judges and litigators across the state.
Community Involvement and Public Service
Outside the courtroom, Cynthia Imperato has been engaged on nonprofit and advisory boards. She has served on several 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 was also involved with Women in Distress and Covenant House, organizations dedicated to supporting families, protecting at-risk youth, and promoting public safety. In her community work, Cindy has emphasized prevention, helping at-risk youth, and improving systems to enable those without resources to access what they need.
Whether working with a community board or mentoring a student, she brings the same thoughtful approach that has defined her legal career.
Mentorship and Professional Philosophy
Cindy’s combination of exhaustive preparation and direct communication has made her a renowned mentor to young lawyers and judges, emphasizing courtroom skills, ethical practice, and professionalism.
She chaired judicial training sessions and often provided hands-on advice on handling difficult evidentiary questions, expert witnesses, and complex criminal schemes before juries.
Her teaching style is very results-oriented— she focuses on concrete examples and gives you step-by-step instructions. This has made her a popular teacher at judicial colleges and prosecutor conferences, where participants often appreciate her ability to translate experience into actionable lessons.
Recognition and Legacy
Cynthia Imperato’s accomplishments have been celebrated locally and statewide. She was named one of the Outstanding Women of Broward County in 2012. She received the Miami Herald Outstanding Leader Award in 2006, along with community service honors from minority bar associations that same year. Cindy Imperato also appeared in Who’s Who in Law Education, 2005 edition.
Imperato’s work in the community also includes service as Board Chair of the American Red Cross (2018-2021), a President’s Volunteer Service Award (awarded by the U.S. President in 2017), and Humanitarian of the Year honors in 2025. She also took home a Certificate of Appreciation for work performed after the Parkland school shooting, Hurricane Irma, the Fort Lauderdale floods, Hurricane Michael, and with the Sound the Alarm organization. In 2022, Imperato was honored with a Superior Public Service Award by the Broward County Crime Commission.
Her legacy is her work. Now retired, she left behind a judiciary better prepared to handle complex trials, a rising class of attorneys and judges fortified by her counsel, and a community enhanced by her involvement and leadership.
Those who know her as a colleague often remember a judge committed to the primacy of facts over rhetoric, reason over impulse, and fairness above all else.
