DEBORA J. TURNER- FIRST ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY                         

Education: University of Miami (B.A., 1979, Magna Cum Laude); University of Miami School of Law (J.D., 1982).

Member: The Florida Bar; Supreme Court of the United States of America; United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit; United States District Court, Southern District of Florida; Florida Bar Appellate Rules Liaison Committee (1997-1999).

Born: Washington, D.C.

Ms. Turner joined the City Attorney's Office in March 1989. She specializes in land use litigation and appeals. Ms. Turner has extensive experience handling claims and litigation involving the Bert J. Harris, Jr., Private Property Rights Protection Act and has lectured on that subject at various CLE conferences throughout the State. She also handles general civil and commercial litigation, as well as administrative law matters, and serves as co-counsel to the City's Zoning Board of Adjustment, Historic Preservation Board, Design Review Board, and Planning Board. Also, her responsibilities include the drafting of ordinances, resolutions, and legal opinions on a variety of topics. She also handles Sunshine Law issues, including board member compliance. In addition, Ms. Turner supervises the City's creditors' rights litigation in bankruptcy court and lien enforcement matters.

Prior to joining the City Attorney's Office, Ms. Turner's areas of practice included civil litigation in the private sector, and handling major felonies and death penalty cases for the Florida Attorney General's Office. Ms. Turner is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell.