Kienstra, Jeff

Debra J. Sutton is Board Certified in the areas of Appellate Practice and Marital and Family Law by the Florida Bar. She was born in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, where her father served in the Army. Early on, her favorite show was Perry Mason. After working as a legal assistant to a local lawyer for many years, she decided to become an attorney.

After receiving her degree in psychology, Debra attended Stetson University College of Law and received her Juris Doctor with Honors in 1989. She represented Stetson on its Moot Court Board, was a Dana Scholar and on the Dean's list, was President of the Trial Advocacy Society, and was Vice Justice of the Phi Alpha Delta law fraternity. Debra was named in Who's Who Among American Law Students. In 2005, Ms. Sutton was appointed to Stetson's Alumni Advisory Board.

Upon graduation from Stetson, Debra became a staff attorney to Judge John M. Scheb at the Second District Court of Appeal. After her service there, she opened her private practice in 1990 in Bartow. Not long afterward, she was listed in Who's Who Among Rising Young Americans. Ms. Sutton has successfully argued cases before appellate courts, has tried cases before juries in county and circuit court, and has tried numerous complex custody and family law cases. In 1997, she was sworn in as a member of the Bar of the United States Supreme Court. In 1999, Debra was certified by the Florida Supreme Court as a Family Law mediator. She was named an Honorary Master of the Willson American Inn of Court in 2001 for her many years of service to the Inn. Debra was appointed and served as a member of the Appellate Practice Certification Committee and was appointed and continues to serve on the Marital and Family Law Certification Committee.