WORK EXPERIENCE

CIRCUIT JUDGE, Criminal Division, 11th Judicial Circuit, January 2013 -
Associate Administrative Judge, Criminal Division, 2015 - 2018
 Administrative Judge, Appellate Division, 2017-2019

ADJUNCT PROFESSOR, FIU College of Law, August 2017-
MANAGING PARTNER, de la O, Marko, Magolnick & Leyton, September 1994 - 2012
ASSOCIATE, Neal R. Sonnett, P.A., October 1993 - August 1994
ASSOCIATE, Sonnett Sale & Kuehne, P.A., August 1991 - September 1993
ASSOCIATE,  Steel Hector & Davis, September 1989 - August 1991

HONORS:

Justice Award, League of Prosecutors, 2016

AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell

Named a Florida Legal Elite by Florida Trend Magazine, 2004 – 2012

Named a Florida “Super Lawyer” by Law & Politics Magazine, 2007 – 2013

Named “Best of the Bar” by the South Florida Business Journal, 2005

Union Planters’ Young Hispanic Leadership Award, 2004

Named “Boss of the Year” by The Miami-Dade Legal Support Association, 2004

Fellowship, Miami Fellows Initiative, 1999-2000

Guardian Ad Litem of the Month, March 1992 and January 1994.

Nominated, 11th Judicial Circuit Guardian Ad Litem Award, 1994

2nd place, National Cross-Examination Debate Association Tournament, 1986

JUDICIAL ACTIVITIES

Florida Supreme Court, Criminal Courts Steering Committee, 2016-
Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee, 2015-
Co-Chair, Circuit Conference Ethics Committee, 2016- 

PRESENTATIONS

“Techniques for Cross-Examination and Closing Arguments,” October 3, 2013 (ABA Miami Regional CLE Workshop)

“Issues in Voir Dire,” Lunch and Learn CLE Seminar, March 26, 2014 (FACDL)

“Jury Selection: Learn How to Improve Your Jury Selection Skills,” October 17, 2014 (Pincus Seminars)

“Hot Topics in Criminal Law,” Florida Conference of Circuit Judges, August 4, 2015

“New Advertising Rules for Lawyers,” Dade County Bar Association, September 25, 2015

“Use of Technology in the Courtroom,” Legaltech MIAMI, November 6, 2015

“Jury Instructions,” Superstars in Trial, Dade County Bar Association, July 15, 2016

“Hot Topics in Criminal Law,” Florida Conference of Circuit Judges, August 9, 2016

“Pronouncing Sentence: Dos and Dont’s,” Florida Conference of Circuit Judges, July 26, 2017

“Voir Dire & Maximizing The Presentation for the Jury,” Dade County Bar Association, Fall Bench and Bar Conference, November 17, 2017

“Judicial Ethics,” Inns of Court, Bench and Bar Conference, March 1, 2019

"Hot Topics in Zoning,” Dade County Bar Association, Bench and Bar Conference, April 5, 2019

“Circuit Court Bootcamp,” June 6, 2019 (Pincus Seminars)

“Artificial Intelligence in Courtroom Practice,” February 27, 2020, National Judicial College

“Zooming in the Courtroom,” League of Prosecutors & Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Webinar, April, 21, 2020

“COVID-19 Courtroom Advocacy: How to Courtroom Zoom Like a Pro,” Florida Bar Criminal Law Section, May 15, 2020

“Professional and Ethical Considerations and Experiences in the Context of the COVID Pandemic,” Cuban American Bar Association, May 19, 2020

 “Connect: A Criminal Law Conversation Series,” Florida Bar Criminal Law Section, October 9, 2020

 “Litigating Civil Rights Cases: Due Process and State Law Claims in State or Federal Court,” Federal Bar Association Webinar, February 3, 2021

 “How to Courtroom Zoom Like a Pro,” Florida Association for Women Lawyers, February 26, 2021

 “Hot Topics in Criminal Law,” Florida Conference of Circuit Judges, August 2, 2022

 
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES

Board of Directors, Transition, Inc., 2015-
Chairperson, City of Miami Civil Service Board, 2004 – 2012
Board of Directors, Miami-Dade Urban Debate League, 2005 – 2009
Member, Coral Way K-8 Educational Excellence School Advisory Council, 2008 – 2012
Board of Directors, Dade County Bar Association, 2002 – 2006
Hearing Officer, Dade County School Board, 1995 – 2008
Member, Community Relations Board, City of Miami, 2003 – 2005
Member, Charter Review Committee, City of Miami, 2003 – 2004
Member, Civilian Investigative Panel Nominating Committee, 2002
Board of Directors, Human Services Coalition, 2001 – 2006
Board of Directors, People with Aids Coalition, 1996 – 1998
Guardian Ad Litem Attorney, 1990 - 1995

BAR

Admissions:

Florida, 1989
Southern District of Florida, 1991 (Trial Bar, 1992)
Middle District of Florida, 2002
Northern District of Florida, 2002
Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, 1991
Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, 1996
Second Circuit Court of Appeals, 1997
Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, 2008

Memberships:

Florida Association for Women Lawyers
Cuban-American Bar Association
Dade County Bar Association
Spellman-Hoeveler American Inn of Court

Activities:

Chair (2006-07), Florida Board of Bar Examiners, 2002 – 2007
Emeritus Member, Florida Board of Bar Examiners, 2007 – 2012
Chair (2006-07), Florida Bar Grievance Committee “B,” 11th Circuit, 2004 – 2007
Board of Directors, Dade County Bar Association, 2002 – 2006
Rules and Code of Evidence Committee, Florida Bar (1991 - 1993)

Publications:

M. de la O & D. Leyton, Worth the Wait: Do Copyright Holders Waive The Right To Protect Their Works By Waiting Too Long To File Suit?, Copyright World (Feb. 2003)

Comment, Admissibility of Prior Acquitted Crimes Under Rule 404(b): Why the Majority Should Adopt the Minority Rule, 16 Fla. St. U.L. Rev. 1033 (1989).

EDUCATION

Florida State University College of Law, Graduated April, 1989 with High Honors

Member

Law Review, Articles and Notes Editor
Moot Court, Editorial Chairperson

Awards

Privacy & Information Law Moot Court Competition, Fifth Place, 1987 & 1988; Second Best Brief, 1988
Book Awards: Legal Research & Writing, 1987; Moot Court, 1989
Vandercreek Award for Moot Court, 1989
Order of the Barristers, 1989

National Criminal Defense College, Macon, GA, Summer, 1992

Florida State University, B.S. in Political Science & Criminology, 1986 (Cum Laude)