Cynthia Schmidt
General Counsel at Ninth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida- Claim this Profile
Click to upgrade to our gold package
for the full feature experience.
Topline Score
Bio
Vanessa Merassaint, Esq.
Cynthia was my teacher Junior year of high school at Boone High School’s Law Magnet Program. Upon meeting, we instantly took a liking to each other. She was a firm teacher and a great mentor. She guided me through my path of becoming a lawyer. After graduation, our relationship as mentor and mentee continued while I was in college and law school. We eventually became family as her daughter and I shared the same birthday. While studying for the bar, she encouraged me on the days I thought I couldn’t study anymore and would not make it. Even now as a practicing lawyer of six (6) years, I still seek counsel from Cynthia about my career and life. She was truly born to be an educator and took serious her role in making a difference in the lives of the students who passed through her classroom. As a first generation college student, it helped to have people in my corner who supported me in ways my parents couldn’t, as they themselves did not have the opportunities I had to pursue higher education. Cynthia has been there every step of the way for the last 16 years since I met her that first day of 11th grade. She is an excellent educator and an even better mentor.
Vanessa Merassaint, Esq.
Cynthia was my teacher Junior year of high school at Boone High School’s Law Magnet Program. Upon meeting, we instantly took a liking to each other. She was a firm teacher and a great mentor. She guided me through my path of becoming a lawyer. After graduation, our relationship as mentor and mentee continued while I was in college and law school. We eventually became family as her daughter and I shared the same birthday. While studying for the bar, she encouraged me on the days I thought I couldn’t study anymore and would not make it. Even now as a practicing lawyer of six (6) years, I still seek counsel from Cynthia about my career and life. She was truly born to be an educator and took serious her role in making a difference in the lives of the students who passed through her classroom. As a first generation college student, it helped to have people in my corner who supported me in ways my parents couldn’t, as they themselves did not have the opportunities I had to pursue higher education. Cynthia has been there every step of the way for the last 16 years since I met her that first day of 11th grade. She is an excellent educator and an even better mentor.
Vanessa Merassaint, Esq.
Cynthia was my teacher Junior year of high school at Boone High School’s Law Magnet Program. Upon meeting, we instantly took a liking to each other. She was a firm teacher and a great mentor. She guided me through my path of becoming a lawyer. After graduation, our relationship as mentor and mentee continued while I was in college and law school. We eventually became family as her daughter and I shared the same birthday. While studying for the bar, she encouraged me on the days I thought I couldn’t study anymore and would not make it. Even now as a practicing lawyer of six (6) years, I still seek counsel from Cynthia about my career and life. She was truly born to be an educator and took serious her role in making a difference in the lives of the students who passed through her classroom. As a first generation college student, it helped to have people in my corner who supported me in ways my parents couldn’t, as they themselves did not have the opportunities I had to pursue higher education. Cynthia has been there every step of the way for the last 16 years since I met her that first day of 11th grade. She is an excellent educator and an even better mentor.
Vanessa Merassaint, Esq.
Cynthia was my teacher Junior year of high school at Boone High School’s Law Magnet Program. Upon meeting, we instantly took a liking to each other. She was a firm teacher and a great mentor. She guided me through my path of becoming a lawyer. After graduation, our relationship as mentor and mentee continued while I was in college and law school. We eventually became family as her daughter and I shared the same birthday. While studying for the bar, she encouraged me on the days I thought I couldn’t study anymore and would not make it. Even now as a practicing lawyer of six (6) years, I still seek counsel from Cynthia about my career and life. She was truly born to be an educator and took serious her role in making a difference in the lives of the students who passed through her classroom. As a first generation college student, it helped to have people in my corner who supported me in ways my parents couldn’t, as they themselves did not have the opportunities I had to pursue higher education. Cynthia has been there every step of the way for the last 16 years since I met her that first day of 11th grade. She is an excellent educator and an even better mentor.
Experience
-
Ninth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida
-
United States
-
Administration of Justice
-
1 - 100 Employee
-
General Counsel
-
Mar 2023 - Present
-
-
-
-
Supervising Staff Attorney
-
Jul 2021 - Mar 2023
The staff attorneys support the judges behind the scenes, with research and writing. I manage a team of 16 attorneys, and work on cases as well. The staff attorneys support the judges behind the scenes, with research and writing. I manage a team of 16 attorneys, and work on cases as well.
-
-
-
State Attorney's Office, Ninth Judicial Circuit
-
Orlando, Florida
-
Director of the Conviction Integrity Unit, State Attorney's Office
-
Mar 2019 - Jun 2021
Director of the Conviction Integrity Unit. Prior to this assignment I was the Director of Community Engagement; I hosted events in the community teaching folks about the law. If the citizens understand the law, they can better comply with it and avoid getting caught up in the Criminal Justice System. We participated in several Expunging and Sealing Events as well as Know Your Rights events. Director of the Conviction Integrity Unit. Prior to this assignment I was the Director of Community Engagement; I hosted events in the community teaching folks about the law. If the citizens understand the law, they can better comply with it and avoid getting caught up in the Criminal Justice System. We participated in several Expunging and Sealing Events as well as Know Your Rights events.
-
-
-
University of Central Florida
-
United States
-
Higher Education
-
700 & Above Employee
-
Director of the Center for Law & Policy
-
Jul 2012 - Dec 2018
Founding Director of the Center for Law and Policy. The Center for Law and Policy was housed within the Department of Legal Studies at UCF. My vision for the Center was two-fold: service, and the promotion of innovative ideas that advance the legal field and benefit the broader community. I was the Head Coach of the UCF Moot Court team, and during the last few years of my time as coach the team was ranked 5th place in the country. Founding Director of the Center for Law and Policy. The Center for Law and Policy was housed within the Department of Legal Studies at UCF. My vision for the Center was two-fold: service, and the promotion of innovative ideas that advance the legal field and benefit the broader community. I was the Head Coach of the UCF Moot Court team, and during the last few years of my time as coach the team was ranked 5th place in the country.
-
-
-
Orlando Together
-
United States
-
Professional Training and Coaching
-
Facilitator
-
Jan 2018 - Apr 2018
Facilitator for the first cohort of this new nonprofit. We created a place-based hard conversation about race through the prism of civics, looking at (1) policing, (2) mass incarceration and (3) reentry. I facilitated conversations over three months for a dozen people of diverse backgrounds. I created panel discussions with representatives from Neighborhood Watch in College Park, Florida, and Holden Heights, Florida, then with the Chief Judge, the State Attorney, the Chief Assistant Public Defender, the President of FRRC, and lastly an Assistant Federal Public Defender and a returning citizen turned volunteer in the Department of Corrections. Through these discussions about civics the group wrestled with how our experiences shape our paradigim in a deep, systemic way. Show less
-
-
-
City of Sanford, Florida
-
Sanford, Florida
-
Facilitator
-
Dec 2012 - May 2013
Facilitator of the Blue Ribbon Panel, which assessed the strengths and challenges of the Sanford Police Department. This Panel was called together as a result of the tragic death of Trayvon Martin. Over the course of six months I worked with a diverse group of community members to recommend changes to the Sanford Police Department, resulting in a unanimous report; over 90% of the recommendations were implemented within the following 12 months. The work of the Blue Ribbon Panel is one reason of many why the City of Sanford did not become a Ferguson in the response to George Zimmerman's jury verdict. Show less
-
-
-
Orange County Public Schools
-
Primary and Secondary Education
-
700 & Above Employee
-
teacher at Boone High's Law Magnet
-
Nov 2004 - Jun 2012
I taught law all day to delightful college-bound students, some of whom went on to be lawyers, many did not, but all learned to become active jurors and informed voters. The students studied the Constitution and Bill of Rights, with current events woven throughout. Coach of the Boone High Mock Trial team, which out of nearly 200 teams placed in the top 5 for the state of Florida for four years. Recipient of the Orange County Bar's Liberty Bell Award in April 2012. For an assessment of my work, please read this review by one of the students' parents, Mayanne Downs, past president of the Florida Bar: http://www.floridabar.org/DIVCOM/JN/JNJournal01.nsf/8c9f13012b96736985256aa900624829/979670b7a493e245852577490066d43f!OpenDocument Show less
-
-
-
-
adjunct professor
-
2003 - 2012
Legal Studies Instructor Legal Studies Instructor
-
-
-
-
Attorney
-
Jan 2001 - Nov 2004
Solo practitioner, criminal defense. I handled cases in state and federal court. During this point in my career I served as President of the Central Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Solo practitioner, criminal defense. I handled cases in state and federal court. During this point in my career I served as President of the Central Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
-
-
-
-
Assistant Public Defender
-
Jan 1991 - Jan 2001
Assistant Public Defender for 10 years- a job that was immensely important and interesting. For eight of the ten years I was the Assistant County Court Division Chief. I was responsible for training the young lawyers, as well as handling my own caseload. In 1994 I received the Franklin Graham Award, which is given to an attorney who demonstrates compassion and excellence in defending indigent people accused of crime. Assistant Public Defender for 10 years- a job that was immensely important and interesting. For eight of the ten years I was the Assistant County Court Division Chief. I was responsible for training the young lawyers, as well as handling my own caseload. In 1994 I received the Franklin Graham Award, which is given to an attorney who demonstrates compassion and excellence in defending indigent people accused of crime.
-
-
Education
-
1988 - 1990
University of Florida
Juris Doctorate, Law -
1984 - 1987
University of Central Florida
BA, Legal Studies
Community
