Tallahassee Criminal Appellate Attorney

Florida Bar Certified Criminal Appellate Lawyer

Michael Ufferman is board certified in criminal appellate law and considered an expert in criminal appeals.

Résumé

Legal Experience

  • Michael Ufferman Law Firm, Tallahassee, Florida
    (2004 – present)
  • Robert Augustus Harper Law Firm, Tallahassee, Florida
    (2002 – 2004)
  • Supreme Court of Florida, Tallahassee, Florida
    Senior Staff Attorney for Justice Major B. Harding
    (1997 – 2002)

Honors & Distinctions

  • Received the 2016 Richard W. Ervin Equal Justice Award- an award given by the Capital City Bar Presidents Counsel
  • Board Certified in Criminal Appeals by The Florida Bar, 2006 to present
  • Received the Pro Bono Award from The Florida Bar Appellate Practice Section, June 2013
  • Received the 2012 Inspirational Service Honor from Tallahassee Women Lawyers
  • “Florida Super Lawyers” 2013 to present
  • Selected in 2010 as a “Legal Elite” in the area of appellate practice by Florida Trend magazine
  • “Top Lawyers”, Corporate Counsel, July 2010
  • Received the 2009 and the 2012 Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers President’s Extra Mile Award
  • Received the 2010 Gene Taylor Memorial Award – an annual award given by the Tallahassee Chapter of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
  • Received the 2010 Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers President’s Appreciation Award
  • Recognized by the top legal guide The Best Lawyers in America in the area of Appellate Law (2007 – present)
  • AV® Peer Review Rating by Martindale-Hubbell – an AV® certification mark is a significant rating accomplishment – a testament to the fact that a lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence
  • Member of the Criminal Justice Act Panel, Northern District of Florida

Publications

  • Michael Ufferman, FLORIDA CRIMINAL PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE, 2024 ed. (Vol. 22, Florida Practice Series)
  • Michael Ufferman and Glen Gifford, Criminal Appeals and Juvenile Delinquency Appeals, in FLORIDA APPELLATE PRACTICE 9-1 (10th ed. 2017)
  • Michael Ufferman, Criminal Appeals and Juvenile Delinquency Appeals, in FLORIDA APPELLATE PRACTICE 9-1 (9th ed. 2014)
  • Michael Ufferman, Criminal Appeals and Juvenile Delinquency Appeals, in FLORIDA APPELLATE PRACTICE 9-1 (8th ed. 2012)
  • “Big Macs and Sentences: Under What Circumstances Can a Judge Increase the Original Sentence That Was Imposed?” Michael Ufferman, Florida Defender (a publication of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers), Volume 23, No. 3, Fall 2010, at 10
  • “Representing noncitizens in criminal cases after Padilla v. Kentucky?” Michael Ufferman, The Ex Parte (a publication of the Brevard County Bar Association), September 2010, at 16
  • “Jury Questions in Criminal Cases: Neutral Arbiters or Active Interrogators?” Robert Augustus Harper and Michael Robert Ufferman, The Florida Bar Journal, Feb. 2004 at 8; reprinted with permission in the Florida Defender, Vol. 16, No. 1, Spring 2004, at 24
  • “Right to Be Let Alone? – Has the adoption of article I, section 23, in the Florida Constitution, which explicitly provides for a state right of privacy, resulted in greater privacy protection for Florida citizens?” Major B. Harding, Mark J. Criser, and Michael R. Ufferman, 14 Notre Dame Journal of Law, Ethics and Public Policy, Issue No. 2, 2000, at 945

Lectures

  • Appellate Issues, Blood, Breath & Tears 2023, Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, November 2023
  • Case Law Update, Criminal Law Update 2023, The Florida Bar Annual Convention, Florida Bar Criminal Law Section, June 2023
  • Preservation of Error, Eighth Judicial Circuit Bar Association, April 2023
  • What’s Happening in Florida’s District Courts, Florida Law Con, Miami Dade Bar Association, March 2023
  • Supreme Court 2022 Year in Review, American Constitution Society, January 2023
  • A Discussion on Race and Our Criminal Justice System, Ufferman Files, Florida Bar Criminal Law Section, January 2023
  • A Lunch Conversation with Judge Alice Batchelder of the United States Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, Ufferman Files, Florida Bar Criminal Law Section, December 2022
  • Any Appeals Issues from Yesterday’s Trial?, Blood, Breath & Tears 2022, Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, September 2022
  • County Court Appeals: New Rules, Ethics, Record Preservation, Practice Tips, and More, presented during “Misdemeanor Madness: How to Better Navigate Florida County Court Part II,” The Florida Bar Criminal Law Section, August 2021
  • Better Error Preservation in Criminal Law, The Florida Bar President’s Showcase, The Florida Bar Annual Convention 2021 (presented with Carey S. Haughwout and Michael T. Davis)
  • Sixth Amendment Right to a Jury Trial and Its Application to Florida Law, Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers’ Tallahassee Chapter, May 2020
  • Avoiding Ineffective Assistance of Appellate Counsel (IAAC) Claims, Florida Public Defender Association Summer Training, August 2019
  • Preservation of Error, Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers’ Tallahassee Chapter, July 2019
  • Preservation of Error, Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers’ Annual Meeting 2019
  • Criminal Case Law Update, Florida Associate of Criminal Defense Lawyers’ Tallahassee Chapter, November 2018
  • Preservation of Error, Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers’ Annual Meeting 2018
  • Preservation of Error for Criminal Appeals, Broward County Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, March 2018
  • Mathis v. State: Protecting the Profession, Jacksonville Bar Association Professionalism and Mentoring Committee, February 2018 (presented with Kelly Mathis and Mitch Stone during the panel discussion at the conclusion of the presentation)
  • Appellate Issues Relating to Jury Selection Proceedings, Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Tallahassee Chapter, January 2018
  • Preservation of Error for Criminal Appeals, Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers’ Annual Meeting 2017
  • Keynote Speaker, Central Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Luncheon, April 2016
  • Professionalism/Ethics: Counseling the Appellate Client and Managing the Appellate Practice, The Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education Course, April 2015
  • Preserving Claims for Appeal and Handling an Appeal, Legal Services of North Florida, November 2015
  • Florida Case Law Update, Tallahassee Bar Association’s Second Annual Legal Community Conference, September 2014
  • Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.850 CLE, Second Judicial Circuit Public Defender’s Office, November 2013
  • Criminal Appeals and Postconviction, The Florida Bar Appellate Practice Section’s Tallahassee Outreach, May 2013
  • Preparation of an Appellate Brief, Research & Writing Class Lecture by Justice Grimes, FSU College of Law, February 2013
  • Criminal Case Law Update, “Hot Topics in Appellate Practice 2011,” Appellate Practice Section of The Florida Bar, March 2011
  • Graham on Appeal, “Litigating Graham in Florida” seminar, Juvenile Life Without Parole Defense Resource Center, Barry University School of Law, December 2010 (presented with Bryan Gowdy and Andrew Stanton)
  • Preserving Jury Selection Issues For Appeal, Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers’ Annual Meeting, Orlando June 2010 (presented with D. Todd Doss and James T. Miller)
  • “Post-Decision Action,” The Florida Bar Appellate Practice Section, Monthly Appellate CLE Teleconference, March 2010 (presented with Susan Fox and Wendy S. Loquasto)
  • “Postconviction Remedies,” Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers’ Showcase on Sentencing, November 2009
  • “Ethical Issues in Criminal Appellate Practice,” The Florida Bar Appellate Practice Section, Tallahassee Outreach Lunch, December 2008 (presented with Glen Gifford)
  • “An Analysis of Changes in Florida’s Sentencing Laws,” Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers’ Showcase on Sentencing, November 2008
  • “State Sentencing Caselaw Update,” Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers’ Showcase on Sentencing, November 2007

Committees

Leadership Positions

  •  President, Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (FACDL) (2015 -2016)
  • Chair of The Florida Bar Criminal Law Certification Committee (2019 – 2020)
  • Chair of The Florida Bar Appellate Court Rules Committee (2012 – 2013)
  • Board of Directors/Secretary, Innocence Project of Florida (2007 – 2014)
  • Chair/Co-Chair of the FACDL Amicus Committee (2005 – 2010, 2016 – 2020)

Education

Legal:

  • Florida State University College of Law, Tallahassee, Florida
    Juris Doctor with High Honors, May 1997
    Honors:

    • Florida State University Law Review
    • Book Award – Race and the Criminal Justice System
    • Katzentine-Simon Scholarship recipient
    • Phi Delta Phi International Legal Fraternity
  • Activities:
    • Christian Legal Society
    • Property tutor – Academic Support Program

Undergraduate

  • Miami University, Oxford, Ohio
    Bachelor of Arts degree, Cum Laude, May, 1994
    Primary Major: Political Science – 3.8/4.0 G.P.A.
    Secondary Major: History – 3.6/4.0 G.P.A., Departmental
  • Honors:
    • Golden Key National Honor Society; SPERS – Junior Honorary
    • Pi Sigma Alpha – Political Science Honorary
    • Phi Alpha Theta – History Honorary
  • Activities:
    • Delta Chi Fraternity:
      • Pledge Chairman
      • Rush Chairman
      • Social Chairman

Admissions & Professional Associations

Florida Bar Volunteer Activities

  • Appellate Practice Section
  • Criminal Law Section
Best Law Firms of 2024
Best Lawyers Award for 2024
Best Lawyers Award for 2020
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