BIOGRAPHY

The Honorable Kristy Nunez was born and raised in Miami, Florida.  She graduated from Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart and attended the University of Miami where she earned a Bachelor of Business Administration. Kristy then earned her law degree from St. Thomas University School of Law. While in law school, Kristy served as a Judicial Law Clerk for the Honorable Magistrate Ted E. Bandstra of the United States District Court and interned at the Office of the State Attorney in Miami-Dade County. 

Upon graduation, she accepted a full-time position as an Assistant State Attorney, which she held for the 13 years. Kristy prosecuted thousands of criminal cases, argued hundreds of motions, and tried over 50 cases before a jury. In 2016, Kristy served as the Chief of the Human Trafficking Unit where she specialized in prosecuting sex and labor trafficking cases until she took the bench in 2019. 

Prior to 2016, Kristy served as a Felony Division Chief for four years where she focused on investigating and prosecuting homicide cases and supervising junior prosecutors. Kristy also specialized in prosecuting violent career criminals during her time in the Career Criminal and Robbery Unit, and spent almost four years in the Sexual Battery and Child Abuse Unit advocating for the rights and safety of minor victims and rape victims. 

Kristy’s passion for youth advocacy and dedication to crime prevention extend beyond the walls of the State Attorney’s Office, and in 2010, she was compelled to action. Kristy co-founded Urban Promise Miami (UPM), a nonprofit organization committed to serving at-risk youth and their families in under-resourced communities within Miami-Dade County. For approximately 11 years, Kristy served as Board Chair of UPM. Kristy has also served as a Board Member of The Melissa Institute and the Miami Dade League of Prosecutors.

Kristy has received numerous awards and honors for the significant impact she has made in the community - particularly with respect to issues affecting children and minorities. To name a few, she was honored as the ‘2013 Miracle Maker’ by the Women’s Committee of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Miami, the ‘2014 Mujeres Giving Back Honoree’ by The Women’s Fund, the ‘2015 Susan Keely Community Service Award’ from The Melissa Institute, the ‘2016 PayIt4ward Honoree’ by BMW USA and Made Magazine, the ‘2017 Advocate of the Year’ by the Miami-Dade County Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board, and the ‘2018 Justice for All Recipient’ from the Coral Gables Police Department and the National Crime Victims’ Rights Week Committee. 

In 2019, Kristy began serving her community as a Miami Dade County Court Judge in the criminal division. She has since presided over thousands of cases, calendar calls, evidentiary motions, jury and bench trials. She serves as a yearly faculty member at the Advanced Judicial College teaching Florida judges on topics such as Human Trafficking and Sexual Battery on Minor children, and spreads awareness on these issues in many community events. She takes great pride in serving as mentor to young attorneys and is known for her efficiency and ability to expedite cases.

Kristy has dedicated her professional career and personal life to public service. It is her passion for the law, as well as her love for the community, that ignites her desire to continue to serve Miami-Dade County from the bench.