Board Members

Ralph P. Vickers
President

Ralph P. Vickers is the founder of Suncoast Lawyer, PLLC, where he practices criminal defense and family law throughout the Tampa Bay area. Originally from Philadelphia, Ralph has lived in Pinellas County for a decade and is proud to call Florida’s Suncoast home.

Ralph earned his degree in Business Administration from West Chester University of Pennsylvania before attending Stetson University College of Law, where he graduated cum laude. Following law school, Ralph served as an Assistant Public Defender in Florida’s Sixth Judicial Circuit. After leaving the Public Defender’s Office, he founded Suncoast Lawyer, PLLC and continues to represent clients in criminal defense, family law, injunction matters, personal injury, and other civil matters throughout the region.

In addition to serving as President of the Pinellas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Ralph is a member of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Pinellas County Trial Lawyers Association, the St. Petersburg Bar Association, and the Clearwater Bar Association. He is passionate about protecting constitutional rights, advocating for his clients, and supporting the criminal defense bar in Pinellas County.

Cara Zimmerman
Vice President

Cara Zimmerman is a Trial Attorney focusing on criminal defense and personal injury litigation throughout the Tampa Bay area. Originally from South Florida, she earned her Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Central Florida before obtaining her Juris Doctor from Stetson University College of Law.

Prior to entering private practice, Cara served as a Judicial Clerk to Hillsborough County Circuit Court Judge Kelly Ayers and later as an Assistant Public Defender in Florida’s Sixth Judicial Circuit. Through these roles, she gained extensive experience with Florida’s courts and criminal justice system while representing clients in both county and circuit court.

Cara is active in the local legal community and has previously served as Vice President of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers. She is also a member of the St. Petersburg Bar Association.

Kimberly Mills Kuhn
Secretary

Kimberly Mills Kuhn is a dedicated criminal defense attorney with over 15 years of experience. She opened her private practice in 2012 after serving as a public defender in Broward, Pasco, and Pinellas counties and working in civil and criminal appeals at the Third District Court of Appeals. She has defended clients facing misdemeanor, DUI, and felony charges and has extensive experience handling community violence injunctions.

Passionate about justice and rehabilitation, Kimberly provides pro bono expungement services for survivors of human trafficking and domestic violence. She also teaches legal courses at St. Petersburg College’s Police Academy.

Since May 2023, she has served as Assistant General Counsel for the Fraternal Order of Police, representing officers in critical incidents.

A Florida native, Kimberly earned her B.S. from the University of Florida and her J.D. from St. Thomas University College of Law. She has taken over 40 jury trials to verdict and remains committed to upholding justice in every case.

Education

• B.S. University of Florida
• J.D. St Thomas University College of Law

Experience

• Assistant Public Defender, Public Defender’s Office (Broward, Pasco, and Pinellas counties)
• Law Clerk, Third District Court of Appeals

Internships

• Third District Court of Appeals with Chief Judge David Gersten
• Office of the Attorney General, Florida – Civil Litigation and Criminal Appeals

Member of the Florida Bar Association 2007

CJ Bauer
Treasurer

CJ Bauer is the Vice President and a Trial Attorney at the Law Office of Timothy Sullivan, where he practices criminal defense and DUI litigation throughout the Tampa Bay area. A lifelong Florida resident with deep roots in the local community, CJ earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of South Florida before graduating with honors from Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad College of Law.

During law school, CJ was actively involved in Nova Law Review, the Nova Trial Association, and Nova’s Moot Court Team. He was also inducted into the Order of the Barristers in recognition of his advocacy and courtroom skills.

CJ began his legal career as a prosecutor in Pinellas County, where he handled a wide range of criminal cases from misdemeanors to serious felonies. Through extensive courtroom experience and jury trials, he developed a strong foundation in litigation and trial advocacy. Today, CJ focuses his practice on criminal defense and DUI defense, representing clients throughout Tampa Bay and the surrounding areas.

Tracey L. Sticco, Esq.
Immediate Past President

Tracey is committed to the ideal that every citizen deserves a thorough, well-researched, and perhaps most importantly, compassionate defense. She enjoys interacting with clients and takes great pride in ensuring that each and every client feels respected and supported from start to finish.

One of many factors which set her apart from other defense attorneys is her deep sense of empathy. Apart from her legal knowledge and advocacy skills, her clients find Tracey to be uniquely genuine, down-to-Earth, and attentive to their needs and concerns.

Experience

• In 2012, Tracey decided to apply the knowledge and experience gained as a prosecutor to criminal defense, where she continues to focus primarily on DUIs and traffic tickets.
• She served as an Assistant State Attorney for the Sixth Judicial Circuit of Pinellas and Pasco Counties for over eight years.
• In her spare time, Tracey also serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Tampa and USF, teaching both criminal law and theories of criminal behavior.

Organization

• President, Pinellas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (2025)
• St. Petersburg Bar Association
• Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Education

• B.A. in English from the University of Florida (2000)
• M.A. in Political Science with a Certificate in Campaigning and Lobbying from the University of Florida (2003)
• J.D., Stetson University College of Law (2007)
• Ph.D Candidate in Criminology at the University of South Florida (2017-2021, A.B.D.)