Carmen Vizcaino
Adjunct Professor of Law
Email: cvizcaino@stu.edu
Mail:
St. Thomas University College of Law
16401 NW 37th Ave
Miami Gardens, FL 33054
Education:
B.A., Florida International University
J.D., St. Thomas University School of Law
Carmen Vizcaino
Born, raised and educated in Miami, Carmen Maria Vizcaino is a member of the Florida Bar, Federal Southern District of Florida, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. She has been practicing for 25 years and is an Attorney, a Mitigation Specialist and a Law Professor.
As the daughter of Cuban immigrants, Carmen worked her way through school and graduated salutatorian of her law school class. Carmen is now on the Faculty of St. Thomas University Benjamin L. Crump College of Law as an Adjunct Law Professor.
Carmen has litigated landmark and high-profile cases such as the State v. Hardy decision which extended Gideon’s right to counsel to jailed defendants in misdemeanor cases, and others. In her 25 years of practice Carmen has litigated in both State and Federal Courts in South Florida routinely dealing with not merely the legal aspects of a case but also the public relations fallout from a case.
Carmen has worked on several national security cases in New York, Virginia and Florida and has litigated one of the first cases to arise under the then newly enacted Patriot Act. Carmen is also certified to handle death penalty cases.
Carmen is the past president of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers-Miami Chapter. During her presidency and since then, she worked closely with the judiciary and other criminal justice partners to ensure appropriate access and process to those whose daily work is securing justice and sits on several committees which set forth policy within the Miami Dade criminal justice system. Carmen spearheaded a lawsuit against the State of Florida to ensure the due process of individuals charged with crimes.
She sits on the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Screening committee which recommends approval of practicing attorneys for court appointment to the Chief Judge.
Carmen has also been involved in politics and policy. Carmen has been a mentor to many young women attorneys in her efforts to bring equality and diversity to the legal field. Carmen has been a legal commentator on certain issues for media outlets such as Univision, and the Miami Herald.
