
Judge Marie Elizabeth Mato
175 NW 1st Avenue
Miami, Florida 33155
MAP & DIRECTIONS
Judge Marie Elizabeth Mato
Marie Elizabeth Mato is a Circuit Court Judge for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit. She was elected without opposition in April 2024 and began her six-year term on January 7, 2025. She is currently assigned to the Domestic Violence Division at the Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse. Prior to joining the bench, Judge Mato served as an Assistant State Attorney for the Miami-Dade County State Attorney’s Office from 2001-2024. During that time, she prosecuted all kinds of crimes, including first and second degree murder cases, sexual battery cases, armed robberies, gun crimes, domestic crimes, and drug crimes. She was assigned to the Career Criminal Unit from 2003-2005 where she prosecuted some of the most violent repeat offenders. From 2005-2024, she served as a Felony Division Chief prosecuting homicide cases, handling postconviction motions, and supervising the prosecutors assigned to her division. During her career as an Assistant State Attorney, she tried close to 100 trials, including 26 homicide cases to verdict. As an Assistant State Attorney, Judge Mato trained police officers, prosecutors, and victim advocates on homicide prosecutions as well as criminal law issues including discovery, crime scene, and trial strategy.
Judge Mato is a double Cane. She graduated magna cum laude from the University of Miami with a Bachelor of Science in Communication with a double major in broadcast journalism and political science and a minor in English. She graduated cum laude and received her juris doctor from the University of Miami School of Law in 1999. Upon graduation, Judge Mato worked as an associate for a year at the law firm of Wess Serota Helfman Cole and Bierman before joining the State Attorney’s Office.
Judge Mato has been active in various voluntary bar organizations, including the Cuban American Bar Association (CABA), the Florida Association of Women Lawyers (FAWL), and the Catholic Lawyers Guild. In April 2023, then Assistant State Attorney Mato was appointed to The Florida Bar Board of Governors by Florida Bar President Scott Westheimer to serve as a government liaison for the Eleventh Circuit. Judge Mato has also chaired a Florida Bar grievance committee, served as a member of the City of Miami Charter Review and Reform Committee, coached high school students on the mock trial team at her alma mater of Our Lady of Lourdes Academy, volunteered as a judge for mock trial competitions for UM Law and FIU Law, and participated in Justice Teaching and Career Days at local schools. Prior to filing for a judicial seat, she served on the board of the League of Prosecutors for many years. Judge Mato’s professionalism and trial skills as a lawyer have been recognized by various organizations with the following honors: Prosecutor of the Year Award by the League of Prosecutors (2014), State Prosecutor of the Year by the Dade Chiefs of Police L.E.O Award (2016), Outstanding Member Award by the Cuban American Bar Association (2011); and Prosecution Award of Honor by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) (2013, 2016)