About Deborah S.
Deborah S. Moss is an attorney who has spent decades in criminal trial work. She earned her J.D. from Stetson University College of Law in 1987 and entered practice soon after. Her legal training at Stetson set the foundation for a courtroom-centered career.
Early in her career she served at the Office of the Public Defender for Florida’s Sixth Circuit. That period provided regular trial experience and exposed her to a wide range of criminal matters. The work demanded quick decisions, preparation under pressure and frequent appearances before judges and juries.
Moss later moved into private practice and joined Carlson, Meissner, Hayslett P.A. She has appeared in state and local courts on behalf of clients facing criminal charges. Her practice includes preparation for trial, handling motions and conducting hearings. She has handled cases that required sustained trial work and opposing counsel on complex procedural issues.
She is Board Certified in Criminal Trial Law by the Florida Bar Board. That certification reflects a sustained involvement in trial practice and peer review. It also signals ongoing work in courtroom litigation rather than an exclusively advisory role.
Beyond trial court work, Moss participates in professional associations and maintains current memberships in organizations related to criminal law and trial practice. Those connections keep her involved in continuing legal education and in exchanges with other trial lawyers. Colleagues describe her approach as matter-of-fact and focused on the practical steps needed to prepare a case for court.
Her courtroom experience is matched by routine client counseling on criminal procedures, plea considerations and pretrial strategy. She has managed the logistical details of trials, from witness preparation to evidence presentation, and handled the procedural filings that often determine the course of a case.
As of 2026 she remains based at Carlson, Meissner, Hayslett P.A., where she continues to take cases that require trial-level advocacy. Her work remains concentrated in criminal defense and trial practice at the firm.
