Distinguished Law Record: Tough on Crime
For the past thirty years, Maria has been a trailblazer in the legal and business communities. Her distinguished career began with service as one of the first prosecutors hired by State Attorney Janet Reno, in Miami-Dade County. Her skills as an advocate developed as she rose to the ranks of Major Crimes Prosecutor. Maria then went on to work as Division Chief of Drug Trafficking and Narcotics Trade of the Broward County State Attorney’s Office. The years working as a prosecutor taught her the importance of effective law enforcement and the continued need for rehabilitation for drug offenders and juveniles.
After her years as an assistant state attorney, Maria went to work for Ruden Barnett McClosky Schuster & Russell, P.A., a prestigious Broward-based commercial litigation firm. Soon, she was assigned to help open the Miami branch. This civil litigation experience honed her skills as an effective trial lawyer.
Wanting to strike out on her own, Maria opened her own practice, specializing in family law and representation of juveniles. The practice has continued to grow: the firm has successfully defended thousands of clients in all areas of criminal, civil and family law.
She never forgot the beginning of her career in the defense of juveniles. Maria has become an advocate for children’s issues. She served as Vice Chair for the 15th Judicial Circuit Juvenile Justice Board and Chair of the Advisory Board to the Juvenile Detention Center. Moreover, she has become actively involved in Teen Court and lectures often on civic issues throughout Palm Beach county’s high schools. Maria was a moving force in the investigation of past abuses at the Palm Beach County Juvenile Detention Center and continues to monitor its progress.
Always seeking to give back to her community, Maria was elected President of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers, Broward Chapter, when the association became affiliated with the statewide organization of the FAWL. For her service, she was awarded the Vista Award by the National Association of Women Business Owners. Additionally, after sponsoring two bills for family law, Maria was awarded the Legislative Award of Merit by the Florida Bar Family Law Section.
The advent of gang violence in Palm Beach county saw Maria getting involved. The first criminal prosecution in the state focusing on gang violence centered here in south Palm Beach county. Maria defended the victim of a brutal gang beating by the notorious “Folk Nation“. More than ten years later, Maria was instrumental in a legislative bill that toughened prosecution and made it easier to put members of gangs behind bars.