JUDICIAL BIOGRAPHY
Appointed to the bench in 2017
ASSIGNMENTS
County Civil, Division L, February 2018 – January 2020
Traffic Division F, February 2018 – January 2020
Unified Family Court, Juvenile Dependency Division, Division C, January 2020 – January 2022 (Acting Circuit)
County Criminal, Division A, January 2022 – December 2022
Unified Family Court, Family Law, Division A, January 2023 - Present
EDUCATION
Stetson University College of Law, Juris Doctorate 1995
University of Florida, Bachelors of Science 1992
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
Prior to her appointment, Judge Oster was a Senior Assistant County Attorney in the Employment and Regulatory Services Division of the Hillsborough County Attorney’s Office, where she was employed for over eighteen years. As a Senior Assistant County Attorney, Judge Oster provided full-time legal services to the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners, the County Administrator, departments under the County Administrator, and various boards and councils. These services ranged from rendering legal advice pertaining to employment decisions, contract review, drafting and enforcement of various county ordinances and representing the County in administrative, state, and federal court litigation.
From 1997 to 2000, Judge Oster served as an Assistant State Attorney for the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, where she was responsible for discovery, motion practice, and trying both non-jury and jury trials related to criminal prosecution.
From 1996 to 1997, Judge Oster served as an Assistant Public Defender for the Tenth Judicial Circuit, where she provided criminal defense representation to those who are indigent. Such representation included discovery, motion practice, and trying both non-jury and jury trials.
CERTIFICATION
Board Certified in City, County and Local Government Law, 2012
PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT (PAST AND PRESENT)
Hillsborough Association for Women Lawyers - Vice-President of Programs, Vice-President of Membership, Treasurer, Member of the Hillsborough Association for Women Lawyers Board of Directors, co-chair of Judicial Relations Committee, co-chair of Diversity Committee, Mentor
Hillsborough County Bar Association – member, co-chair of the Diversity Committee, co-chair of the Judicial Pig Roast Committee
Second District Court of Appeal Judicial Nominating Commission – Past Chair and Member
Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission – Past Chair and Member
Ferguson-White Inn of Court – Bencher, Master, Barrister
Cheatwood Inn of Court - Barrister
The Florida Bar Grievance Committee “E” - Member
Tampa Connection – Member of the Board of Directors (Tampa Connection is a working board that screens and selects non-profit organizations for its class members to work on year-long projects that fulfill a specific agency need, providing class members with an opportunity to directly impact their local community)
Bay Area Legal Services Pearl Society – Member (Pearl Society is an informed giving circle of women united in their support of legal aid and the desire to make a difference)
Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Professional Awards Subcommittee – Chair and Member
George Edgecomb Bar Association – Member
Former Martial Arts Instructor and Fourth Degree Black Belt – trained both adults and children in Tae Kwon Do for over ten years
AWARDS, ACHIEVEMENTS AND PUBLICATIONS
Florida Trend’s Legal Elite for Government Lawyers (2014 – 2017)
Hillsborough Association for Women Lawyers Professionalism Award
Florida Association for Women Lawyers Leaders in the Law Award
Published in the Hillsborough County Bar Association’s The Lawyer Magazine the following articles: Lilly Ledbetter: A Crusader for Equal Pay for All and Disability Diversity in the Legal Profession, in addition to several others
Presenter to the Florida Association of County Attorneys on substantive matters
Presenter and guest speaker to the Hillsborough Association of Women Lawyers on the pathway to the judiciary
Presenter and guest speaker to the Hillsborough County Bar Association on the pathway to the judiciary
COURT ADMISSIONS
Florida State Courts
United States District Court, Middle District of Florida
United States Supreme Court