Attorney Profile

Anita Viciana joined the County Attorney's Office in 2015, and currently practices in the Public Safety and Governmental Affairs sections. Anita is an accomplished federal litigator with more than a decade of experience handling federal matters at all stages of litigation. As counsel for Miami-Dade County and its officers and employees, Anita has achieved favorable outcomes-including dismissals, summary judgments, and full defense verdicts-in dozens of federal lawsuits. Anita is also an experienced appellate attorney, and has on multiple occasions presented oral argument before the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, all of which have resulted in the County and its employees prevailing on appeal. Anita's work on behalf of Miami-Dade County and its employees has resulted in several favorable published decisions from the Eleventh Circuit.

As a member of the Public Safety section, Anita advises Miami-Dade County regarding matters relating to and impacting public safety, and represents the County and its employees in litigation involving such matters. Anita works closely with the Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department, the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner's Office, and other County departments whose operations intersect with public safety. Anita previously served as counsel to the Miami-Dade Police Department and continues to work with the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office on matters arising from the County's former role as a law enforcement agency. Anita also advises various County departments on matters relating to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and represents the County and its employees in ADA litigation.

Anita previously practiced in the Federal Litigation section of the Office, defending the County and its employees in federal civil rights cases, most often dealing with qualified immunity, governmental liability, and civil rights issues.

In addition to her litigation and advisory work, Anita also practices in the Governmental Affairs section of the office, supporting the County's lobbying efforts in Tallahassee before the Florida Legislature. Her work includes analyzing the thousands of bills filed each legislative session, assessing potential impacts to the County, and collaborating with the County's lobbying team in advocating for the County's interests and legislative priorities throughout the state legislative session. Anita also works with the Board of County Commissioners in preparing and reviewing ordinances and resolutions on behalf of the Board.

Anita graduated from Yale Law School, where she was the Editor-in-Chief of the Yale Journal on Health Policy, Law, and Ethics and served as a Student Director with the Jerome N. Frank Legal Services Organization.