Michael R. Ufferman
Top rated Appellate attorney in Tallahassee, Florida
Michael Ufferman Law Firm PA
Practice areas: Appellate; view more
Licensed in Florida since: 1997
Education: Florida State University College of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2013 - 2025 
Selected to Rising Stars: 2009, 2011 - 2012 Call today:
850-812-5514
Michael Ufferman Law Firm PA
2022-1 Raymond Diehl RoadTallahassee, FL 32308 Visit website
Details
Michael R. Ufferman, a highly accomplished attorney, has been recognized for his proficiency in criminal appellate practice. He has earned the prestigious board certification in criminal appellate practice from The Florida Bar and focuses exclusively on criminal appeals and post-conviction motions. Mr. Ufferman is the founder of Michael Ufferman Law Firm, P.A., in Tallahassee, Florida, serving clients across the surrounding areas.
In addition to his successful practice, Mr. Ufferman holds prominent positions within several esteemed legal organizations. He has served on the board of directors for the Innocence Project of Florida and as the president of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Furthermore, he holds the position of vice-chair on The Florida Bar’s Appellate Court Rules Committee, a testament to his influential role in shaping appellate court procedures. He is also a member of:
- The Tallahassee Bar Association
- The Federal Bar Association
- The American Bar Association
- The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- The First District Appellate American Inn of Court, charter member
- The Christian Legal Society
Throughout his career, Mr. Ufferman has been the recipient of numerous accolades and awards. Notably, he received the Gene Taylor Memorial Award and the President's Appreciation Award in 2010, an esteemed recognition bestowed annually by the Tallahassee Chapter of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. His professional reputation has also led to his inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America for the area of appellate law since 2007.
In addition to these achievements, Mr. Ufferman has been acknowledged by Florida Trend's Legal Elite and he holds an AV Preeminent* peer-review rating through Martindale-Hubbell, a prestigious recognition that reflects the highest level of professional excellence and ethical standards. He also has a 10/10 rating on Avvo. Moreover, he has received a Pro Bono Award from The Florida Bar’s Appellate Practice Section and the 2012 Inspirational Service Honor from the Tallahassee Women Lawyers.
Mr. Ufferman's educational background is equally impressive. He obtained his B.A. from Miami University in Ohio and went on to earn his Juris Doctor from Florida State University. During his time at law school, he showcased his intellectual prowess by serving on the law review and graduating magna cum laude. Following his graduation, he gained invaluable experience by clerking for Justice Major B. Harding at the Florida Supreme Court for a period of five years.
*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer-review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.
Practice areas
AppellateFocus areas
Appeals
- 100% Appellate
First Admitted: 1997, Florida
Professional Webpage: https://www.uffermanlaw.com/resume/
- Florida, 1997
- United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit
- The American Bar Association, Member
- Supreme Court of the United States
- United States Court of Appeals Eleventh Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals Ninth Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals Sixth Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals Third Circuit
- United States District Court Middle District of Florida
- United States District Court Northern District of Florida
- First District Appellate American Inn of Court, Charter Member, 2008 - present
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Member
- The Federal Bar Association, Member
- Tallahassee Bar Association, Member
- The Florida Bar, Criminal Law Section, Executive Council, 2021 – present; Criminal Law Section, Program Chair: Criminal Law Update, 2017; Appellate Court Rules Committee, 2007 - 2013: Vice Chair, 2010 - present; Criminal Practice Subcommittee, Chair, 2009 - present; Criminal Practice Subcommittee, Vice Chair, 2008-2009; Criminal Law Certification Committee, Member, 2015-2021; Rules of Judicial Administration Committee, 2013 – 2015, 2021 - present
- Board of Directors/Secretary, Innocence Project of Florida (2007 - present)
- The Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers: Secretary/Executive Committee/Board of Directors (2011); Board of Directors/Director At Large (2009 – 2011); Chair of the Amicus Committee (2008 – 2010); Co-Chair of the Amicus Committee (2006-2007, 2010 - present); Co-Chair of the CLE Committee (2009 – 2010)
- First District Appellate American Inn of Court, Charter Member (2008-present)
- Board Certified in Criminal Appeals, The Florida Bar, 2006 - present
- Christian Legal Society
- Academic Support Program, Property Tutor
- Richard W. Ervin Equal Justice Award, Capital City Bar Presidents Counsel, 2016
- Phi Delta Phi International Legal Fraternity
- Katzentine-Simon Scholarship
- Book Award, Race and the Criminal Justice System
- Florida State University Law Review
- Top Lawyers, Corporate Counsel, 2008
- Recipient, 2013 - present, Florida Super Lawyers
- Inspirational Service Honor, Tallahassee Women Lawyers, 2011
- Pro Bono Award, The Florida Bar, Appellate Practice Section, 2012
- Recipient, 2007 - present, The Best Lawyers in America
- Gene Taylor Memorial Award, Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Tallahassee Chapter, 2010
- Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers President’s Appreciation Award, 2010
- AV Peer Review Rating, Martindale-Hubbell
- Recipient, 2009, 2012, President’s Extra Mile Award, Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2009
- Florida Trend's Legal Elite, 2010
- Miami University, Bachelor of Arts, Majors: Political Science, 3.8/4.0 G.P.A.; History – 3.6/4.0 G.P.A., Honors: Cum Laude; Golden Key National Honor Society; SPERS, Junior Honorary; Pi Sigma Alpha, Political Science Honorary; History Honorary, 1994
- Michael Ufferman, FLORIDA CRIMINAL PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE, 2021 ed. (Vol. 22, Florida Practice Series)
- County Court Appeals: New Rules, Ethics, Record Preservation, Practice Tips, and More, presented during “Misdemeanor Madness: How to Better Navigate Florida County Court Part II,” The Florida Bar Criminal Law Section, August 2021
- Better Error Preservation in Criminal Law, The Florida Bar President’s Showcase, The Florida Bar Annual Convention 2021 (presented with Carey S. Haughwout and Michael T. Davis)
- Sixth Amendment Right to a Jury Trial and Its Application to Florida Law, Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers’ Tallahassee Chapter, May 2020
- Avoiding Ineffective Assistance of Appellate Counsel (IAAC) Claims, Florida Public Defender Association Summer Training, August 2019
- Preservation of Error, Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers’ Tallahassee Chapter, July 2019
- Preservation of Error, Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers’ Annual Meeting 2019
- Criminal Case Law Update, Florida Associate of Criminal Defense Lawyers’ Tallahassee Chapter, November 2018
- Preservation of Error, Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers’ Annual Meeting 2018
- Preservation of Error for Criminal Appeals, Broward County Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, March 2018
- Mathis v. State: Protecting the Profession, Jacksonville Bar Association Professionalism and Mentoring Committee, February 2018 (presented with Kelly Mathis and Mitch Stone during the panel discussion at the conclusion of the presentation)
- Appellate Issues Relating to Jury Selection Proceedings, Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Tallahassee Chapter, January 2018
- Preservation of Error for Criminal Appeals, Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers’ Annual Meeting 2017
- Keynote Speaker, Central Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Luncheon, April 2016
- Professionalism/Ethics: Counseling the Appellate Client and Managing the Appellate Practice, The Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education Course, April 2015
- Preserving Claims for Appeal and Handling an Appeal, Legal Services of North Florida, November 2015
- Florida Case Law Update, Tallahassee Bar Association’s Second Annual Legal Community Conference, September 2014
- Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.850 CLE, Second Judicial Circuit Public Defender’s Office, November 2013
- Criminal Appeals and Postconviction, The Florida Bar Appellate Practice Section’s Tallahassee Outreach, May 2013
- Preparation of an Appellate Brief, Research & Writing Class Lecture by Justice Grimes, FSU College of Law, February 2013
- “Jury Questions in Criminal Cases: Neutral Arbiters or Active Interrogators?” Robert Augustus Harper and Michael Robert Ufferman, The Florida Bar Journal, Feb. 2004 at 8; reprinted with permission in the Florida Defender, Vol. 16, No. 1, Spring 2004, at 24
- Michael Ufferman, Criminal Appeals and Juvenile Delinquency Appeals, in FLORIDA APPELLATE PRACTICE 9-1 (8th ed. 2012)
- Michael Ufferman, Criminal Appeals and Juvenile Delinquency Appeals, in FLORIDA APPELLATE PRACTICE 9-1 (9th ed. 2014)
- Michael Ufferman and Glen Gifford, Criminal Appeals and Juvenile Delinquency Appeals, in FLORIDA APPELLATE PRACTICE 9-1 (10th ed. 2017)
- "An Analysis of Changes in Florida’s Sentencing Laws," Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers' Showcase on Sentencing, Tampa, November 2008, Lecture
- “Ethical Issues in Criminal Appellate Practice,” The Florida Bar Appellate Practice Section, Tallahassee Outreach Lunch, Tallahassee, December 2008 (presented with Glen Gifford), Lecture
- "Postconviction Remedies," Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers' Showcase on Sentencing, Sandestin, November 2009, Lecture
- "Post-Decision Action," The Florida Bar Appellate Practice Section, Monthly Appellate CLE Teleconference, March 2010 (presented with Susan Fox and Wendy S. Loquasto), Lecture
- "State Sentencing Caselaw Update," Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers' Showcase on Sentencing, Tampa, November 2007, Lecture
- Preserving Jury Selection Issues For Appeal, Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers' Annual Meeting, Orlando, June 2010 (presented with D. Todd Doss and James T. Miller), Lecture
- “Right to Be Let Alone? – Has the adoption of article I, section 23, in the Florida Constitution, which explicitly provides for a state right of privacy, resulted in greater privacy protection for Florida citizens?” Major B. Harding, Mark J. Criser, and Michael R. Ufferman, 14 Notre Dame Journal of Law, Ethics and Public Policy, Issue No. 2, 2000, at 945
- "Representing noncitizens in criminal cases after Padilla v. Kentucky," Michael Ufferman, The Ex Parte (a publication of the Brevard County Bar Association), September 2010, at 16, article
- "Big Macs and Sentences: Under What Circumstances Can a Judge Increase the Original Sentence That Was Imposed," Michael Ufferman, Florida Defender (a publication of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers), Volume 23, No. 3, Fall 2010, at 10, article
- Graham on Appeal, “Litigating Graham in Florida” seminar presented by the Juvenile Life Without Parole Defense Resource Center, Barry University School of Law, Orlando, December 2010 (presented with Bryan Gowdy and Andrew Stanton), Lecture
- Criminal Case Law Update, “Hot Topics in Appellate Practice 2011” seminar presented by the Appellate Practice Section of The Florida Bar, Jacksonville, March 2011, Lecture
Office location for Michael R. Ufferman
2022-1 Raymond Diehl Road
Tallahassee, FL 32308
Phone: 850-812-5514
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2013 - 2025
- Rising Stars: 2009, 2011 - 2012
Certificates and credentials
Criminal Appellate
