Judge Deborah Cunningham was appointed to the Collier County Court bench by Governor Ron DeSantis in July of 2024. She is a graduate of Brandeis University and the University of Florida Levin College of Law. Prior to joining the bench, Judge Cunningham was an Assistant State Attorney for the Office of the State Attorney, Twentieth Judicial Circuit for almost twenty-five years. As a prosecutor, Judge Cunningham prosecuted crimes involving homicide, sexual violence, human trafficking, domestic violence, and crimes against children. In 2020, she was promoted to Circuit Court Chief for Collier County. In that role, Judge Cunningham managed the Felony Division, which included the administrative and prosecutorial functions of the division. She educated and mentored other Assistant State Attorneys on professionalism, ethics, and trial skills. At the same time, she continued to prosecute some of Collier County’s most high-profile cases.

Judge Cunningham is active in the legal community and has helped to educate attorneys throughout the State of Florida. She has assisted in developing programs geared toward aiding attorneys with trial advocacy. In addition, she often participates in presentations aimed at teaching our youth about the court system. She is also an active participant and member of the Collier County Bar Association, the Collier County Women’s Bar, and the Michael R. N. McDonnell chapter of the American Inns of Court.

Judge Cunningham has served on the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee for the Florida Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers, the Board of Directors for the Collier County Shelter for Abused Women and Children, and she served on the school advisory committee (SAC) for a local elementary school. Judge Cunningham is a proud member of the Leadership Collier Class of 2025.

Judge Cunningham has won various awards during her legal career. In October 2003, Judge Cunningham was named Assistant State Attorney of the Year for the Twentieth Judicial Circuit. In October 2021, she was honored to be named the Lion of the Law by the Judiciary of Collier County. And, in June of 2023, she was named Woman Lawyer of the Year by the Collier County Women’s Bar Association.