Criminal Law Section to present free CLE on juvenile resentencing
Discussion panel to include client freed after 25+ years
Michael Ufferman
Redemption and second chances take center stage in The Florida Bar Criminal Law Section’s upcoming free CLE, “Ufferman Files Part 4 — Juvenile Resentencing,” on Friday, October 31 from noon to 1:30 p.m.
The program will explore strategies for representing juvenile defendants eligible for resentencing or review under Miller v. Alabama, 567 U.S. 460 (2012), the U.S. Supreme Court decision that found mandatory life sentences for juveniles unconstitutional.
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Hosted live on Zoom, the program will be presented by Michael Ufferman of Tallahassee, a Florida Bar board-certified criminal appellate lawyer known for his work on juvenile resentencing cases.
Joining in the discussion will be Jennifer Marshall of Office of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel; Don Pumphrey of Pumphrey Law; Kate O’Shea of Suzerain Capital Defense; and Michael Rosado, a former juvenile lifer who was released in 2024.
Convicted of murder at 16 and sentenced to life imprisonment, Rosado spent more than 25 behind bars. Ufferman represented Rosado pro bono for nearly a decade before a judge found him rehabilitated and ordered his release in June 2024.
Michael Rosado
Ufferman first took Rosado’s case in 2015, while serving as president of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (FACDL). During his tenure, he made training and support for attorneys handling Miller resentencing cases a top priority.
“When I was FACDL president, one of my priorities was to provide training and support for lawyers representing juveniles in resentencing hearings,” Ufferman said. “I encouraged our members to take one of these cases on a pro bono basis — because at the end of the process, you will have gained more than you gave. Michael Rosado’s case proved that beyond measure.”
After years of hearings and testimony from prison staff, ministry volunteers, and others who spoke to Rosado’s transformation, a judge determined that he had been rehabilitated.
“When I was able to tell Michael he was going home, he cried in my arms,” Ufferman said. “That night was the first time he had freedom since he was 16 years old.”
The October 31 CLE is part of the “Ufferman Files” series. Panelists will offer guidance for lawyers representing Miller defendants, as well as practical approaches for attorneys preparing to present mitigation in sentencing hearings.
“Ufferman Files Part 4—Juvenile Resentencing,” course number 8914, has been approved by The Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education Department for 1 CLE credit, including one certification credit each in Criminal Appellate, Criminal Trial, and Juvenile Law. The CLE is free for Criminal Law Section members. Non-members may join the Section during registration for $40.
