Woman with brown hair smiling, wearing a purple blazer, and a brooch.
Five Black women in courtroom; wearing black suits and purple scarves; smiles.

Judge Sheree Davis Cunningham

In 1993, Judge Sheree Davis Cunningham made history when Governor Lawton Chiles appointed her to the Palm Beach County Court, becoming the first African American woman to serve on the bench in Florida’s 15th Judicial Circuit. For more than 26 years, until her retirement in 2019, she faithfully served the people of Palm Beach County with integrity, fairness, and compassion.


Judge Cunningham began her legal journey after earning her psychology degree from Rutgers University and her Juris Doctor from Howard University School of Law. She went on to clerk for the Honorable Paul H. Roney of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals before building her career as a prosecutor in Hillsborough and Palm Beach Counties. Rising through the ranks, she prosecuted major crimes and later presided over the Domestic Violence Court, where her decisions directly improved the lives of vulnerable individuals in the community.


A devoted mentor and role model, Judge Cunningham inspired generations of young lawyers by modeling professionalism, ethics, and service. Her faith, family, and three children—Whitney, Kendall, and Frank—remain her proudest accomplishments.

  • Community Service & Recognition

    Judge Cunningham’s leadership has been honored with numerous awards, including recognition among Florida’s 25 Most Influential and Prominent Black Women, the Thurgood Marshall Award from the F. Malcolm Cunningham, Sr. Bar Association, and the Heritage Leadership Award for community service.


    She actively served with Tabernacle Baptist Church in West Palm Beach, the Tabernacle Learning Center, The Links, Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, and multiple bar associations. In 2022, her legacy was further honored through the creation of the Sheree Davis Cunningham Black Women Lawyers Association.

  • Legacy

    Judge Cunningham’s career reflects grace, strength, and vision. A trailblazer who broke barriers and opened doors for countless African American attorneys and women in the legal field, she is remembered as a pillar of justice, mentorship, and faith.