Michelle R. Suskauer — Attorney At Law

West Palm Beach Criminal Defense Lawyer

Michelle R. Suskauer is a Florida Bar Board Certified Criminal Trial Attorney. Board Certification is the highest level of recognition by the Florida Bar for competency and experience as a criminal trial lawyer. She is also AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell, which indicates that an attorney has reached “the height of professional excellence” and “is recognized for the highest levels of skill and integrity.” Michelle is one of only 351 attorneys in the state to have this distinction and has served on the Florida Bar's Criminal Certification Committee.

Michelle began her legal career as an assistant public defender in West Palm Beach. She has been practicing in Palm Beach County since 1991 and specializes in criminal law in both state and federal courts. Michelle joined The Suskauer Law Firm in 1997 and concentrates her practice in the areas of domestic violence, DUI, juvenile offenses, narcotics offenses, sexual offenses, violent offenses, white collar crimes and federal offenses.

Michelle is one of the most experienced, dedicated and compassionate trial lawyers in Palm Beach County. She is highly regarded by judges, prosecutors, law enforcement and her peers. She is known for her creative solutions to complicated problems and for her client advocacy. She is passionate about helping her clients receive the needed services to correct their circumstances so that they do not become repeat offenders.

Michelle is also a nationally known legal analyst who regularly appears on CNN, FOX News, MSNBC, NBC, and CNBC. She has made hundreds of television appearances including The O’Reilly Factor, The Abrams Report, The Today Show, Good Morning America, NBC Nightly News, Hannity & Colmes, Nancy Grace, Anderson Cooper 360, and The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch. Michelle also appears locally as a legal analyst for Palm Beach County’s NBC affiliate WPTV NewsChannel 5 and has been a weekly host and legal analyst for NEWSRADIO 1290 WJNO.

Michelle has been actively involved in the leadership of numerous local and state legal organizations. She is currently the President of the Palm Beach County Bar Association and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County and is the Past-President of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers – Palm Beach County Chapter.

As President of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers – Palm Beach County Chapter, she was recognized by the Governor's Office, the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice and the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County for her initiation of the “Breakfast and Books” Mentoring Program for juvenile offenders.

Practice Areas:

• Criminal Defense
• Domestic Violence
• DUI Offenses
• Juvenile Offenses
• Narcotics Offenses
• Sexual Offenses
• Violent Offenses
• White Collar Crimes
• Federal Offenses

Bar Admissions:

• Florida, 1991
• U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, 1994

Education:

• Boston University (Communications), B.A., 1988
• American University, J.D. degree, 1991

Certifications / Specialties:

• Board Certified Criminal Trial Lawyer, Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education

Awards & Honors:

• Martindale Hubbell – AV Rating
• Florida Super Lawyers
• Florida Trend Magazine’s Legal Elite
• The Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County honored the Palm Beach County Chapter of FAWL during Michelle’s presidency with a Pro Bono Award for both the Adopt-A-Case and Breakfast and Books program

Professional Associations and Leadership Activities:

• President: Palm Beach County Bar Association
  
  • Member since 1993, Board Member since 2004
  • Past Chair of Judicial Relations Committee
  • Past Chair Criminal Practice Committee
  • Past Chair Bench Bar Conference
• Member: Florida Association for Women Lawyers
  • Past President
  • Initiated Adopt-A-Case program
  • Initiated Breakfast and Books mentoring program, gaining statewide recognition and honors from Department of Juvenile Justice and Just Read, Florida. This program provides mentoring to at-risk girls both in the Department of Juvenile Justice residential custody as well as through the PACE Center for Girls.
  • Chairperson of the Children’s Bookfest at Barnes & Noble supporting Legal Aid’s Children’s Fund (2003 – Present)
• Member: American Inns of Court
  • Past Chair of Programming
• Member: Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
  • Past Board Member Palm Beach County Chapter
• Board of Directors: Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County (2005-Present)
  • 2007 & 2008 Co-Chair Pro Bono Recognition Event & Auction
• Member: The Florida Bar
  • Past Member Criminal Law Certification Committee (2002-2006)

Speaking Engagements:

• Guest lecturer, Department of Juvenile Justice
• Mentoring Programs at Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) Residential Facilities

Media Appearances – Legal Analyst:

• ABC (Good Morning America)
• CNBC (The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch)
• CNN (Anderson Cooper 360, Headline News, Nancy Grace)
• Fox News (Hannity & Colmes, The O’Reilly Factor)
• MSNBC (The Abrams Report, Verdict with Dan Abrams)
• NBC (The Today Show, Nightly News)
• WPTV News Channel 5
• 1290 WJNO