Sheryl C. Johansen

Attorney Sheryl C. Johansen is a seasoned criminal defense attorney with nearly fifteen years of criminal courtroom experience and a proven track record of winning difficult cases. As an Assistant Public Defender, she tried over fifty criminal cases to verdict - ranging from homicide cases to kidnapping, trafficking, and complex financial crime cases - while managing high-volume dockets of up to 180 cases at a time.

Known for her meticulous case preparation and strategic advocacy, Ms. Johansen has secured dismissals through well-crafted motions and obtained critical post-conviction relief, including a granted Writ of Habeas Corpus in Perosino v. Gualtieri, 277 So. 3d 84 (Fla. 2d. DCA 2019). She is equally skilled at developing mitigation, negotiating favorable plea agreements, and communicating clearly and compassionately with clients facing the most serious consequences.

Ms. Johansen’s perspective is informed by experience on both sides of the courtroom. Before becoming a public defender, she served in the State Attorney’s Office as a certified legal intern, where she participated in charging decisions, pretrial motion practice, and trial work, and at the United States Attorney’s Office, where she conducted research and drafted motions in both the criminal and civil divisions, including providing pretrial support for white-collar criminal trials.

Ms. Johansen’s courtroom success is rooted in a strong academic foundation. Ms. Johansen earned her Juris Doctor from Barry University School of Law, graduating in the top 6% of her class (10th of 156). While in law school, she served on Law Review as the Business Editor, received multiple book (for receiving the highest grade in her class) awards, won the Best Legal Brief Award, and earned an Honors Certificate in Trial Advocacy. She was a standout member of Barry Law’s Trial Advocacy Team, reaching the Final Four at the AAJ Trial Advocacy Competition, winning a National Championship at the Quinnipiac ABA Trial Advocacy Competition, and finishing as runner-up at the Florida Bar Competition.

Before her legal career, Ms. Johansen worked in the financial services industry in Portland, Maine, an experience that sharpened her strategic thinking and acumen. Ms. Johansen holds a Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies and Communications from the University of Southern Maine. She is an active member of the Goldburg-Cacciatore Criminal Law Inn of Court, the Pinellas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.