JUDICIAL CORNER
JUDICIAL CORNER
JEAN MARIE MIDDLETON ERIC REICHENBERGER
Judicial Profile: Judge Danielle A. Sherriff( Continued from Front Page)
Judge Sherriff is proud of her Haitian heritage and the support and love she has always received from her hardworking parents. Upon graduating from Miami Norland High, Judge Sherriff attended Florida International University. Throughout her college career, Judge Sherriff’ s mother worked tirelessly as a nurse to pay for Judge Sherriff’ s tuition each semester, so that she could focus on her schoolwork and graduate debt-free. At Judge Sherriff’ s investiture ceremony, there was not a dry eye in the courtroom( or in any of the overflow rooms) as Judge Sherriff recounted with heartfelt gratitude her mother’ s great sacrifices.
Judge Sherriff credits her parents with instilling in her work ethic, faith, and selfbelief. She used those foundational tools to excel in college, law school, and in her legal career. She has always had a strong dedication to public service and the rule of law. Prior to attending law school at Florida State University, Judge Sherriff served as a Child Support Investigator in the State Attorney’ s Office. While attending FSU, Judge Sherriff was a dedicated and successful Certified Legal Intern, winning every case she handled. After receiving her law degree in 2008, she was hired as an Assistant State Attorney by State Attorney Barry Krischer.
Judge Sherriff built her career and her stellar reputation at the State Attorney’ s office over the course of thirteen years. Over time, she worked in the misdemeanor, juvenile, and homicide units, ascending in responsibility and stature along the way. She ultimately served as Chief of the Traffic Homicide Unit. Judge Sherriff was an extremely hardworking and dedicated prosecutor, feeling a deep sense of duty and drive to pursue justice for victims of traffic homicide. Traffic homicide prosecutions are legally, technically, and emotionally challenging. However, Judge Sherriff handled each case with an extraordinary combination of legal acumen, toughness,
and empathy, earning profound respect from colleagues as well as from courtroom adversaries at the defense table.
After her tenure at the State Attorney’ s Office, Judge Sherriff pursued justice for victims in civil court, working at the law firm of Lesser, Lesser, Landy & Smith, PLLC. Next, before her appointment to the bench, she returned to public service, serving as an attorney for the School District of Palm Beach County.
Judge Sherriff has always believed in the importance of serving the community and in mentoring. As a first-generation Haitian-American woman fluent in Creole, she recognizes that she is uniquely positioned to represent what is possible with exceptional hard work, grit, and trust in God and oneself. She accepts with equal grace and humility prestigious awards and frequent expressions of gratitude from lawyers and others inspired by her history-making achievement.
Judge Sherriff’ s community service and Bar leadership accolades are too numerous to list. Some of the ones she is most proud of include her membership as a Fellow in the Florida Bar Leadership Academy, Class III( 2015-16), her leadership in the F. Malcolm Cunningham, Sr. Bar Association( including a term as president in 2018-19), and her leadership in the Florida Association for Women Lawyers, Palm Beach Chapter( including a term as President in 2021-22), with the distinction of being the organization’ s first Black president.
Judge Sherriff is currently assigned to County Civil Division RB. She takes great pride in her judicial service and strives to give every case and every issue the best of her experience, judgment, and thoughtfulness. She works hard to stay up to date on the latest research as well as best practices for an efficient and civil courtroom. She believes in the importance
PBCBA BAR BULLETIN 21 of treating the litigants and counsel who appear before her with the utmost respect and civility, and she proudly displays in her courtroom a sign urging all who appear before her to do the same.
Judge Sherriff has been married for twelve years to attorney Eric Reichenberger, with whom she shares two beautiful children. Despite the many demands on her time from her career and community involvement, Judge Sherriff prioritizes her family, including spending quality time with her mother as well as with her husband and their son and daughter.
Judge Sherriff deeply misses her father, who passed away in 2019. He would be extremely proud of her historic accomplishment, the reputation she has built as a community leader and lawyer, and his two beautiful growing grandchildren. She keeps his memory alive in the hearts of his grandchildren, especially when she shares with them her love of music. Judge Sherriff’ s father listened to all kinds of music and had over 1,000 records. To the great distress of some of her friends, Judge Sherriff enjoys country music. Despite this debatable choice of music, Judge Sherriff is cherished by her family and friends, who believe she is one of the most effective yet humble trailblazers in the legal profession.
Jean Marie Middleton has the pleasure of serving as an Assistant General Counsel for the Palm Beach County School District practicing employment and labor litigation. She can be reached at jean. middleton @ palmbeachschools. org.
Eric Reichenberger also has the pleasure of serving as a Senior Attorney for the Palm Beach County School District practicing personal injury litigation. He can be reached at eric. reichenberger @ palmbeachschools. org.
( on behalf of the Judicial Relations Com.)