The Honorable Melissa Souto

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EDUCATION:

• • Florida State University College of Law, 2001
  • University of Central Florida, BA 1998

• Double Major Political Science and Liberal Studies

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PROFESSIONAL HISTORY:

• Seminole County Sheriff’s Office 2010-2015
  • Assistant and General Counsel
• Law Office of Sherman and Souto, 2008-2010
• Seminole County State Attorney’s Office, 2002-2008
  • Assistant State Attorney
• Volusia County State Attorney’s Office, 2001-2002
  • Assistant State Attorney

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JUDICIAL HISTORY:

• Appointed to the Circuit bench in 2015
• Assigned to Juvenile Delinquency, Juvenile Dependency, Probate, Guardianship, Mental Health (Baker Acts and Marchman Acts), Divorces and Domestic Violence Injunctions associated with Dependency cases
• Administrative Judge for Juvenile Delinquency and Dependency 2017-present
• Administrative Judge for Probate, Guardianship and Mental Health 2017-Present
• Elected to the Circuit bench 2018

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​ORGANIZATIONS, COMMITTEES AND COMMISSIONS:

• Seminole County Bar Association, Board of Directors
• Brevard County Bar Association
• Volie A Williams inns of Court (Seminole County)
• Central Florida Family Law Inn of Court
• Seminole County Community Leaders and Elected Officials
• Brevard County Civilian Military Council, 45th Space wing
• Sertoma Seminole County Chapter
• Student Advisory Council Seminole County Public Charter School (Past)
• Florida Association of Police Attorneys (Past)
• Volusia County Bar Association (Past)
• Phi Delta Phi Legal Honor Society (Past)
• Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society (Past)
• Golden Key Honor Society (Past)

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​AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS:

• Distinguished Service Award- Seminole County Bar Association 2018
• Sheriff’s Commendation 2014

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