Bridgette N. Thornton, Esq. is a graduate of Duke University where she was a cum laude double major in Public Policy Studies and African-American Studies and minored in Political Science. After completing her undergraduate studies, Ms. Thornton attended Harvard Law School. As a law student, Ms. Thornton served as an Executive Editor for the Black Letter Law Journal and, in her spare time, was the point guard and captain for a highly successful intramural basketball team.  Upon graduating from law school, Ms. Thornton worked as an associate in Arnold & Porter, LLP’s Washington, D.C. Office. There, she litigated commercial, securities, and antitrust matters. Then, from 2005 to 2007, Ms. Thornton served as a Law Clerk to the Honorable Marcia G. Cooke, U.S. District Judge for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. After completing her Federal Clerkship, Ms. Thornton served as an Assistant County Attorney for the Miami-Dade County Attorney’s Office from 2007 through 2012. As an Assistant County Attorney, Ms. Thornton litigated Tort cases, Unsafe Structures matters, Federal Civil Rights cases, Code Enforcement appeals, and advised Community Zoning & Appeals’ Boards as well as the County’s Unsafe Structures Board. Moreover, during her tenure as an Assistant County Attorney, Ms. Thornton served as the Chief of the Federal Litigation Section as well as the Appeals Section.

 

In 2012, Ms. Thornton joined the City Attorney’s Office for the City of Coral Gables as the Deputy City Attorney. There, she advised the Historic Preservation Board and the Board of Adjustment. She also was responsible for drafting and reviewing City contracts, pleadings and other litigation related filings, researched and prepared legal opinions, supervised outside counsel, and otherwise assisted the City Attorney as needed.

 

Ms. Thornton is a member of the Florida Bar, the Maryland Bar, and the District of Columbia Bar. She is also admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.