Cynthia Imperato has spent a lifetime making difficult decisions with calm judgment and steady determination. She has served as a police officer, prosecutor, judge, educator, and board member, consistently taking on demanding roles and guiding others. She chose assignments that required responsibility, mentored young lawyers, and supported practical reforms to improve the fairness and safety of the courts. She has remained committed to public service and to strengthening the institutions that serve communities, while upholding the trust placed in them.
Cynthia began her career as a police officer in Tallahassee, gaining direct experience in law enforcement. This early work helped shape her later approach as both a prosecutor and a judge. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Virginia Tech, majoring in psychology and sociology. She later completed a Master of Science degree from the School of Criminology at Florida State University, followed by a Juris Doctor from the Florida State University College of Law. Her academic training provided her with a strong base in both analytical thinking and legal practice, which supported her work in criminal investigations and prosecutions.
After finishing law school, she joined the Office of Statewide Prosecution. She worked there for thirteen years as a Senior Assistant Statewide Prosecutor. In this role, she handled grand jury presentations and led major organized crime prosecutions across multiple jurisdictions. Her cases included racketeering, homicide, home invasions, narcotics trafficking, white-collar fraud, police corruption, and gang-related crimes.
Her responsibilities often required coordination across counties and state agencies. This work demanded careful planning and attention to detail. During her time in this role, Cindy contributed to drafting and revising Florida’s gang laws 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 served as an instructor at the first Multi-Agency Gang Task Force Conference in 1996. These experiences strengthened her ability to present complex evidence clearly while maintaining fairness in prosecution.
In January 2003, Imperato was appointed to the Circuit Court bench by Governor Bush. She served on the bench for thirteen years before retiring in 2016. During her time as a judge, she handled criminal cases and also contributed to judicial education across the state.
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. Her colleagues often relied on her guidance on procedural and evidentiary matters because of her strong understanding of trial law.
In 2006, Cindy Imperato was invited to speak at the 82nd Boot Camp graduation and received a Community Service Award from minority Bar Associations in the state. Her judicial approach focused on fairness, accountability, and clarity. She emphasized consistent application of the law, transparency in sentencing, and respect for everyone involved in the legal process. As part of the Florida Judicial College video faculty, she helped train new judges and led sessions on probation violations, jury instructions, and managing capital cases.
She has long supported education as a way to strengthen the legal system. 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 courses at Tallahassee Community College.
Her work as a lecturer extended beyond formal classrooms. She presented at many state and national conferences on topics such as organized crime, street gangs, white-collar fraud, diversity in the judiciary, and evidentiary standards. In 1993, her article titled "An Assessment of Florida Gangs and Recommendations for Law Enforcement" was published in Women Police Magazine. This work continues to be referenced in criminology studies.
Cynthia has been active in several bar associations and legal organizations. She is a member of the Florida Association of Women Lawyers and has been involved with 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 as President of the St. Thomas More Society of Broward County from 2012 to 2014.
Her professional involvement also includes work with the Florida Bar Criminal Law Section, its Executive Council, the Criminal Rules Committee, and the Professionalism Committee for the 17th Judicial Circuit. Through these roles, she contributed to developing legal education materials, improving jury instructions, and promoting professionalism within the legal field. She also helped update criminal procedure resources for judges and attorneys across the state.
Outside her formal legal roles, she has been involved in community service through various boards and organizations. Cindy Imperato has served on boards such as 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 has also supported organizations like Women in Distress and Covenant House, which focus on assisting families, supporting at-risk youth, and promoting safety. In her community work, she has focused on prevention, youth support, and improving access to resources for those in need. Whether working with organizations or mentoring individuals, she has applied the same careful, thoughtful approach she used in her legal career.
Imperato is known for her role as a mentor to lawyers and judges. Her approach combines careful preparation with clear communication. She has guided many young professionals in courtroom practice, ethical standards, and professional conduct.
She has led judicial training sessions and provided practical advice on handling evidence, working with expert witnesses, and presenting complex cases to juries. Her teaching style focuses on clear examples and step-by-step instruction. This has made her a valued instructor at judicial colleges and prosecutor conferences, where participants benefit from her practical insights.
Her work has received recognition at both the local and state levels. In 2012, she was named one of the Outstanding Women of Broward County. She received the Miami Herald Outstanding Leader Award in 2006 and community service honors from minority bar associations in the same year. Cynthia was also listed in Who's Who in Law Education in 2005.
Her service includes leadership as Board Chair of the American Red Cross from 2018 to 2021. She received the President’s Volunteer Service Award in 2017 and was honored as Humanitarian of the Year in 2025. She also received a Certificate of Appreciation for her work following events such as the Parkland school shooting, Hurricane Irma, the Fort Lauderdale floods, Hurricane Michael, and efforts with the Sound the Alarm organization. In 2022, she received the Superior Public Service Award from the Broward County Crime Commission.
Her legacy is reflected in her work and the people she has guided. After her retirement, she left behind a legal system better prepared to handle complex cases, a generation of legal professionals shaped by her mentorship, and a community strengthened by her service. Colleagues remember Cynthia Imperato as a judge who valued facts, reason, and fairness above all.
Portfolio 1: cynthiaimperato.com
Portfolio 2: cindy-imperato.com