Michelle Suskauer was recently sworn in as the President-Elect of The Florida Bar.
In a recent article by The Florida Bar News, Senior Editor, Jan Pudlow wrote the following:
Newly sworn-in Bar President Michael Higer looked over at Michelle Suskauer on the dais at the General Assembly and described her as a passionate Bar leader who will make a passionate president.
“But today, and only today, she is speechless, so I’ll leave it at that,” Higer said with a grin.
As is the custom, the Bar’s president-elect does not give a speech, but Suskauer was sworn in by Chief Justice Jorge Labarga and introduced by her close friend, 15th Circuit Judge Lisa Small, who serves on the bench with Michelle’s husband, 15th Circuit Judge Scott Suskauer.
After listing highlights of Suskauer’s career accomplishments, Judge Small said: “Let me tell you what the bio doesn’t say: I asked Michelle’s colleagues, opposing counsel, and her closest friends to describe Michelle in just one word: And here are the top responses: ‘Dedicated, passionate, inclusive, fierce, genuine, energetic, compassionate, relentless, decisive, loyal.’”
“Justice Barbara Pariente has known Michelle since Michelle became a lawyer and is a very close mentor to Michelle. And she sums it up best: ‘Her drive, energy, passion for justice, and singular determination to strive to do the very best are what define Michelle.’”
“Most definitely, Michelle would attribute these qualities to the strong example set by her parents. She deeply cares about the future of our profession, and she will do the best she can for all members of the Bar and the judiciary,” Small said.
“She is a lawyer’s lawyer, a tireless advocate for our profession who can relate to all members of the Bar, irrespective of what area you practice or what form of practice, whether it is solo, small, big firm, government practice, in-house counsel. Michelle understands the daily demands and pressures of being an attorney, while being able to balance family and participate in the legal community,” Small said.
“But she’ll be the first one to tell you that she cannot do all that she does for our community without the support and sacrifice from her family,” said Small, who called her friend “an incredible wife of 24 years to her husband, Scott, and an amazing mother to her daughters, Talia and Becca.”
Highlights of Suskauer’s bio include being a “25-year criminal defense attorney, who has helped countless individuals and families during their toughest times navigate through our criminal justice system,” Small said, noting Suskauer is managing partner of the criminal defense boutique firm… in West Palm Beach, where the motto is “the defense never rests.”
Suskauer is also a “nationally recognized TV legal analyst, and a seven-year member of The Florida Bar Board of Governors, having chaired some of the most important and key committees,” Small said.
She’s served as president of the Palm Beach County Bar, president of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers, Palm Beach County chapter, and is the current president of the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County.
“Now, I’m not going to name all of the awards that Michelle has received over the years, but I am going to name two that are very important to her: She’s a recipient of the Justice Barbara Pariente Leadership Award from FAWL and is also a recipient of the Serving Justice Award from the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County,” Small said.
“So, if everyone would please join with me right now in congratulating and wishing the very best to our President-elect Michelle Suskauer.”