On Monday, March 23, 2026, the Florida Supreme Court suspended attorney Reva Leigh Viola following a determination of guilt in a criminal case.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Reva Leigh Viola,” with case number SC2026-0460.
The suspension stems from a notice filed by The Florida Bar on March 20, 2026, after Viola entered a guilty plea to unlawful use of a two-way communications device, a third-degree felony, on March 10, 2026. The charge was reduced from an initial arrest offense involving written threats to kill or injure, for which she was taken into custody on January 2, 2024.
According to the filing, Viola, who was admitted to The Florida Bar on November 25, 2020, was sentenced to one year of probation with credit for two days served. Adjudication was withheld, and additional conditions were imposed as part of her probation.
In its order, the court directed that Viola be suspended pursuant to Rule 3-7.2(f) of the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar. The suspension is set to take effect 30 days from the date of the order to allow her time to close her legal practice and protect the interests of existing clients. The court noted that if Viola confirms she is no longer practicing law, the suspension could be made effective immediately.
The order also prohibits Viola from accepting new business from the date of the ruling until she is reinstated. She is required to comply with rules governing suspended attorneys, including notifying clients, opposing counsel, and relevant courts or agencies of her suspension and submitting an affidavit confirming such notifications.
The case has been referred to the chief judge of the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit for the appointment of a referee to conduct further proceedings, including a hearing on potential sanctions.
The Florida Bar, in its filing, argued that Viola’s conduct violated professional conduct rules prohibiting criminal acts that reflect adversely on a lawyer’s honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness to practice law.
The court’s order is not final until the period for filing a motion for rehearing has expired or any such motion has been resolved. However, the filing of a rehearing motion will not alter the effective date of the suspension.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
