June 23, 2025 • 26 mins
Born and raised in Miami , Sue-Ann Robinson is an award winning renowned trial attorney, commentator and TV featured guest legal analyst for Court TV. She has become known for her in depth and common sense analysis on criminal justice reform, police misconduct and high profile cases. Sue-Ann’s breadth of experience and expertise has earned her acclaim across all media platforms. Her legal commentary has been featured on Revolt TV, VH1, Fox News, NBC, Black News Channel, The Young Turks, and Law and Crime. Sue-Ann is a dynamic speaker known for stimulating thought and inspiring action at corporate and academic events. She has moderated and served as keynote speaker for Universities, Municipalities, Community Organizations, and Corporations. Her Authentic and approachable style engages and motivates audience members to do what they can from wherever they may be to push forward the cause of social justice which she calls; “the most important work of our time.” As a former prosecutor, Sue-Ann offered her unique matter of fact perspective as a legal expert on Season 1 and 2 of STARZ’s investigative docuseries Wrong Man. On the team, Robinson re-investigated cases in which incarcerated defendants insisted on their innocence. Notably two defendants from the series were released from prison based on new evidence exposed by the series investigation.
Sue-Ann sits with our midday bae Stichiz to talk everything law.
Sue-Ann sits with our midday bae Stichiz to talk everything law.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
What's going on?
Speaker 2 (00:00):
Family and mid Davey Stitch is here and I'm excited
because we're sitting down. I call her a powerhouse and
didn't realize how much I did. When you see her,
you know it, but when you read a little bit more,
it's like, well, babe bee, babe bee powerhouse. She got
a lot of accolades. So I can't say everything, but
(00:22):
we are sitting down with the one and only, the
oh so fabulous Miss Sueanne run Zay. Sue Babe, that's
the new name I done gave you just today.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
How are you?
Speaker 3 (00:35):
I love a good nickname. It means that there's love
and there's love, and you know, I'm being honored to
have that. So I appreciate you so so much.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
Thank you for coming.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
For those who are being introduced to you for the
very first time, Please share with the beautiful people who
Sue Ane Robinson is.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
Absolutely I am born and raised in the County of Days.
Come on, hospital, you know I did my stuff fetch
the BONDI parks.
Speaker 1 (01:01):
Okay, Oh, so you're.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
From in the Days. I'm I'm a real Miami and
a lot of people don't know that because now in
my career My cases are all over the country.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
Right, she global internationals, right.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
But I'm a real, real Miami girl and I've been
practicing law eighteen years for this community, civil rights cases,
a lot of high profile cases, just doing the work
and really just doing everything I can every day to
kind of push our people forward, our movement forward, and
just help people because I feel like I was raised
(01:38):
on that a daye that to whom much is given,
much is required nice. So every day I'm always trying
to pay it forward.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
And we definitely see that, and I love how the
tag is not just a lawyer.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
And we're going to get into all of those things.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
But before then, for those who who may not know,
let's start from the beginning. So coming from Miami, going
and raised, how was it growing up for you? Were
you always that little one, always like getting into arguments
or what?
Speaker 1 (02:06):
How was it?
Speaker 2 (02:07):
I'm guessing it sound like it. Want well, you had
something to say.
Speaker 3 (02:10):
Something something. I'm definitely first generation Caribbean Americans, so we
had limited options with careers anyway, doctor lawyer, nothing about
you if you're not any of those, right exactly, But
I definitely, you know, as the youngest of six and
the only girl, you know, always felt like, you know,
there was a time where different people needed advocacy, even
(02:32):
my parents because I'm first generation Caribbean American, so even
just speaking up for my parents or family members. So
definitely got the whole, oh you're probably going to be
a lawyer thing from very young.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
Was there a and you said Caribbean turks.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
No, my mom is from Barbados and my dad is
from Dominique.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
Oh on, no, Caribbean. You got the good best of
all of them. So let's talk about this. Was there
a moment that you was there a particular killer situation
that came about even as a kid where it was like, Okay,
this is the lawyer in the family, or were there
other lawyers that you really looked up to in your family.
Speaker 3 (03:10):
I would say, I definitely think that there's there is
other lawyers in my family. But honestly, this is gonna
sound crazy, and I always say the same thing. It was.
It really was seeing Claire Huxtable, like seeing her being
a mom, being a family person, but also still having
her career and being very driven.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
Any yes, exactly, yes she was.
Speaker 3 (03:34):
And so that was like my representation of oh, okay,
you can have your career. You can have your family.
You don't have to just be one thing which goes
into not just a lawyer, but definitely you know, Claire
Huxtable had influence on me in representation and seeing it.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
Shout out.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
In that role you could say in Bill Cosby, so
shout out well to you sis for all that you
have been able to do and how the Lord has
just been using you in different places, like you said,
not just Miami. So we come from the South, we
get involved into law. Is this something that follows you
(04:17):
throughout your youth and then we get to college or
take us through that journey really quick? Right?
Speaker 3 (04:22):
My parents, as I said, we lived in Brownsville. They
were Caribbean American immigrants, so we didn't they didn't necessarily
know where they were buying a house. They were just
buying a house, right. And later on, you know, after
we lived there, after we lived in the neighborhood, became
part of the community. And I would say probably when
I was in my teens, I learned more about redlining
and how certain people were pushed and housed in certain
(04:46):
areas and just learned more about my community.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
And that's when I was like, what drove you though
to learn more. Who kind of directed you or was
that just an interest?
Speaker 3 (04:55):
I think it was just an intes and just seeing
how my experience, what my parents experience was in terms
of schools and what was happening in our neighborhood, and
just trying to figure certain things out. I was like,
I want to be a person who can help with
social engineering for my community. And all the people that
I saw at that time that were doing it, I'll
(05:16):
see Hastings, all those people. They were lawyer, you remember, Ali, Yes, absolutely,
So I was like, I'm going to be a lawyer.
So I went to FAM, and I was in a
big hurry because I was like, I want to be
a lawyer. I want to go to law school. I
want to go to law school. So I graduated early
from FAM, and then I went back, came back to
Miami and went to law school at FIU. But definitely
(05:38):
always something that was a part of me, just thinking
how can I get back, how can I effectuate change?
But would be the best degree that I can learn
the skills that I could be able to help my community.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
What was one thing that you because FAM, you and
I'm you know, shout out to FAM.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
I'm like an adopted adopted.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
Honorary honorary because and I have to say this gracefully,
even as an owl, they breed a certain type of people, right,
and I don't understand well, but it's grood No.
Speaker 3 (06:13):
Absolutely, FAMU is an HBCU. So we're our education is
centered around understanding ourselves culturally and historically in the context
of your being trained to go out there to be excellent,
to be great, and these are all the people that
came before you, and understand the context of what your
career is going to be, and also understand that you're
(06:35):
not just being sent in this career for you to
do well. It's for you to bring other people with you.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
I love that, and that's exactly what you're doing. So
we graduate from FAM. You cheers, We get the law degree.
Mama and Daddy, what did they do? What did they say?
Speaker 3 (06:50):
Well, again, Caribbean American parents. So they were like, that's nice.
Let's see when you get a job. This is.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
You can make the money with the degree. Okay, make
the money back that was spent to get to that.
Let's see what happens. But of course they're always supportive.
I went to FIU for Law School.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Shout out to the Panthers N I was in one
of their first classes, super small class, had a good experience,
and when I was leaving, I was like, you know what,
I want to be in the courtroom. I want to
learn those skills because that's what you see mostly. But
I think that I was leaning more towards being a
trial attorney, and so I went to work at the
(07:31):
Prosecutor's office in Broward under then State Attorney Michael J. Sattz.
Great experience and I got to see the criminal justice
system from the inside and got to see that it's
mostly my people, and also got to see that as
a prosecutor, which most people want to do public defender,
(07:52):
especially black people minorities. I learned that if you were
in the public defender's office, the person is already in triage.
As a prosecutor, you have more discretion to look into
the case and you can see if the person should
be prosecuted or how things can be done, and work
together with the public defender to see what the best
outcome is for the victims and for everybody involved. So
(08:17):
I learned a lot in that experience and did a
lot of trial work there and got to interact with
our community daily, you know, being a prosecutor.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
I'll tell you what, my mama would love you because
that situation. I went to shadow a prosecutor because I
was going to be the lawyer or whatnot.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
Child.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
I did one city and I said, oh no, baby, Lord,
use me for something else. And it ain't gonna be
this way.
Speaker 3 (08:41):
Social engineer. You're an engineer from where you.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
Are at one my mama was crashed, Honey. I said,
I don't know what that is, but that ain't what
I want to pray for.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
So it ain't me. So I applaud you for continuing.
It was your college and you're doing it well.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
And so we get to the point where a prosecutor
twenty three years old, we're in this field, one of
the youngest to do it. You've been really commended for
your work by so many It was it the National
Black Lawyers Association, right right, They for quite a few
times they've recognized you among other folks. So what is
(09:22):
it do you think about how you approach cases that
brings you much success.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
I think that the way that I approach every case
is as if it was me on the other side.
I put myself in my client shoes and opposing council shoes,
and I really try my best to understand the whole
case and then the people and the parties involved, because
to me, that's the only way to win. And to
(09:52):
understand what to advocate for someone is to understand where
they're coming from, right, And so I always approach it
in that way. My clients over time, you know, they're
very spoiled because they have direct communication with me. And
people are always like, oh, why do you do that? But
it's because I am putting myself in their shoes and
I would want someone to be as responsive to me
(10:14):
in the same circumstance. So I always, always, always, and
I'm always willing to stay up the latest. I'm always
willing to stay the longest. I'm always willing to learn more,
read more, research a little bit more, because it's it's
really my passion.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
It's in you and this is what you're supposed to
be doing, and that's beautiful to hear. And even with
the cases, the amount of cases that you've been able
to do, is there one case within your years of
doing this that always stands out for you and that
keeps you in the place of I asked somebody this yesterday.
I keeps you in the place of this is where
I'm supposed to be, this is what I'm supposed to do.
(10:50):
Is there a case that hits you like that?
Speaker 3 (10:52):
I would say all my civil rights cases. De Lucarol
who was here in Tamarak, who was beaten by the
I would say a mod Oarbury's case. I would say
George Floyd's case. I would say all those cases impact
me every day. That's what gets me up in the morning,
because I really think equality is one of the most
(11:13):
important works of our time, and police brutality is one
of those things where you have to chip away at
it every single day. And so those cases always stay
with me, in part because of the facts of the cases,
but also because I'm in communication with the families.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
Because you've been involved all the cases that you've named,
You've been involved yes with them, yes.
Speaker 3 (11:34):
Yes, And so I still communicate with the clients. We
still check in on each other, We still, you know,
make sure everybody's good. Even after the cases are over.
We're still like a family because you bond through that experience.
You watch a family go from just being a family
and then having to join a club they never ask
to be a part of, and also mourning a loved
(11:55):
one that has passed or been brutally beaten, and also
having to be an advocate at the same time. So
you watch them grow through that process, and so that
kind of makes a bond. So I definitely think all
my civil rights cases. I definitely wake up in the
morning and pray for all those families every day, and
families that I've never communicated with I do as well. Wow,
(12:15):
pray for them.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
That's it, you know yet what you're supposed to be,
that's when you know.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
Yeah, it's it's It's really an honor. I couldn't be
more happy in terms of where I landed, and all
my skills and my experience have come together to put
me in a place where I can do the work.
So it's an honor.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
Amen. And for you, how was it?
Speaker 2 (12:38):
How was it for you working with because you you
worked with Ben Crump? Yes, courb, so walk us through
that coming together. How did that come about?
Speaker 3 (12:47):
Sure? I mean it's a great it's a great story.
That's a great question. I've known Attorney Ben Crump since
I was in law school and later on in my career.
I was the president of TJ. Red Bar Association, which
is the Black attorney's association in Brower County. Great organization,
and through that organization, we were having a speaker and
(13:10):
I said, we got to have been because at that
time was right when Trayvon Martin was happening, and it
was something that you know, all the attorneys and black
attorneys especially at that time, we're like, what can we do?
We were like, what can we do? How can we help?
What can we add to the conversation or assist? And
so he came to speak and ever since then, you know,
(13:31):
we've been very, very close. He's the type of person
where he is very supportive of people who work hard,
who he's and he always said to me, you know,
I see something in you. You're very You're you're on it.
And so I would say, probably like seven or eight
years later, we had more cases, and at that time,
I had very my kids were very young, and I
(13:51):
was like, I don't want to do civil rights work.
I have these small kids, you know, let me just
focus on getting myself together. And he was very assistance
and he said, your skills as being a former prosecutor,
being a trial attorney. Your culture needs you in this
space at this time. And I would say it took
like a year until I finally said, you know, I agree,
(14:13):
you know I will do it. I will come in,
I'll be of counsel, I will work with the firm.
Speaker 1 (14:18):
And then what was your first case?
Speaker 3 (14:20):
My first case would be with Misswanda Ahmaud in that
relationship Wow. But I always worked with Ben peripherally on
different cases, but definitely that would have been the first
case where it was like, Okay, this is real. And
definitely the first case where you know we're in we're
live on CNN and he's like, you better say something.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
Do you remember what I'm trying to remember? Do you
remember what was the first thing you said or what
came through your mind?
Speaker 3 (14:47):
I definitely the first thing I said that came through
my mind was something he was always reminding me, which
is how important women were in the movement and how
important black mother's voices are, and how important it is
for miss Wanda to see that, hey, she has an
advocate that's also a mom, that's also a woman that's
standing with her to give her the inspiration to do
(15:10):
what she had to do. So shout out to Ben
every day, but definitely that was the time where I
was like, Okay, this is it.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
Wow, step it up. And from there, yeah, it kept going.
It kept going up.
Speaker 3 (15:22):
For sure.
Speaker 2 (15:23):
That is beautiful and thank you for sharing that. I
want to ask you this because with the success, there
are some challenges. What were some of the challenges that
you came across even as a I don't want to say,
but I'm going to have to because it is what
it is as a woman and being a Black woman
and a Caribbean black woman, right.
Speaker 3 (15:44):
I think the intersection of race and gender, you know,
it is a blessing and it does come with added
things because people have their expectations, their stereotypy pre thoughts. Yes,
you know, they have stereotypes of what you're supposed to be,
how you're supposed to act, what you should you know.
(16:06):
And I think kind of releasing myself from other people's
expectations of who I'm supposed to be and just being
authentically who I am was something that I had to
do early on in my career, like you said, because
I started early, and I think once I did that
and I said well I'm just going to be myself,
(16:27):
it was it was a total game changer. But definitely,
you know, as a black woman in a career predominated
predominantly male career, predominantly white male career, you always are
going to have something that you know you're battling or feel.
And I would just say to other women, other girls
in similar situations, don't lean into that. You are there
(16:49):
for a reason. And when you walk into the room,
walk in as if I'm there, Stitches is there, all
your girls are there, and we're boosting you up. We're
hyping you up because you're supposed to be there. Nice,
So have that confidence. Don't let your crown slip. That's
what my mom said.
Speaker 1 (17:03):
Don't let you She said it in an accident. How
she says, say how your mama said it.
Speaker 3 (17:07):
She would say, don't let your crown slip.
Speaker 2 (17:10):
Shout out to mama and I that coincide. I remember
of Felicia, she was the i think the co president
for the Grammy Academy, the Recording Academy, and I remember
she said that step in the place when she was
talking to us, like God put you there, and you're
not going to be moved.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
So that's good. Maybe that's good. That's good.
Speaker 2 (17:28):
So from Court, TV to CNN. The list goes on,
and even having your own law from now, let's talk
about that.
Speaker 3 (17:37):
Frontline law time law. I've kind of I've always had
my own practice because I think that it's important, you know,
just as an entrepreneur, as a businesswoman to be able
to and also as a lawyer, for me to be
able to take cases. I'm extremely passionate I care about
so I've always had my own practice. Frontline law is
(17:57):
the newest iteration of kind of me saying hey, I
know that every day I'm on the front lines for
my clients and it's my honor to do so and
to let people know, hey, we're here, you need to
call me, you can reach me here. This is how
you can get to me. Because we get tons of
mail every day, tons of phone calls every day. So
it's a way to kind of streamline and let people
(18:18):
have the opportunity to have a console if they need
to have a console or get help to the extent
that they can.
Speaker 2 (18:23):
So Sue, I want to ask, it is soe baby,
because it gets real as a prosecutor and the stories
because you're reading the details, you're reading things that people
probably are not privy to how are you because you
have a family, how are you able to detach or
are you able to detach sometimes to go home tap
(18:46):
in to family.
Speaker 3 (18:47):
Okay, that is such a good question, and I would
say I mastered I am in the course of mastering that.
It takes a lot of time. It's not really a
detachment word for that. It's more like at when I'm
at home, I am going to be mom, and I'm
going to be daughter, and I'm going to be sister.
(19:09):
And when I'm at work, I'm going to be who
I am. When I'm at work, I think I bring
all of my experiences to work with me, but I
do my best not to bring anything that's like down
or negative into my family nice and try to resolve
it before I get home, whether if it's in the
driveway or if it's calling Ben or calling another colleague,
(19:32):
to like kind of vent a little bit and try
to leave it outside. So I definitely would say, like
in the last five years is when people have even
asked attorneys about their mental health and us we have
even thought about it. So I do I appreciate the
question every time because it is something that no one
thinks about you're just dumped into kind of terrible situations.
(19:55):
And next yeah, and it's like the next funeral and
the next funeral and the next funeral. And there was
a period of time where we were in funerals back
to back to back to back, and it got so overwhelming.
I was like, I'm not going to any more funerals.
But in me saying I wasn't going to any more funerals,
I also was shutting down. And I had to realize, like, hey,
you not wanting to go to the funerals doesn't have
(20:17):
to do with the funerals themselves. It has to do
with the emotions and you need to process that. So
now I would say me, other colleagues of Arms, Baker Series,
all those people, we all talk more about mental health,
about how we're feeling about how cases are affecting us,
and not try to be stoic all the time. Yeah,
(20:40):
because that's something you could fall into very easily because
obviously you're there to do a job, so it's easy
to be like, I'm just going to be stoic. But
there's a time to be stoic, and there's a time
to respond to what's actually happening. And I think the
more responsive I have become in my career, the more
successful I have become.
Speaker 1 (20:58):
That's good. And did someone make you realize that or
was that something that you just kind.
Speaker 3 (21:02):
Of Definitely probably would have been a Ben Crump special
because he's very he will call you out. He will
call any of us out. It'll be like, I don't
see you being in your purpose. I don't see you
being your full self. So definitely had to be one
of those days where he was accountability. You got folks
who hold you accountable. That's good. That is really good.
Speaker 2 (21:21):
So we're on the tailor bedgem, we're traveling, we're representing
folks and families who need it.
Speaker 1 (21:28):
What is next?
Speaker 3 (21:29):
I think what's next for me? There's so much that
there's I feel like my work has never done. I
always feel like there's so much more to do. I
feel like I would like to do more legal analyst stuff,
only because I feel like our community doesn't get the
information the way that it can be helpful to us.
(21:53):
Sometimes with legal issues. I think sometimes we're just stuck
in kind of like TV Land Lawn and Order said,
or Judge Judy said or whatever, and it's like, no,
that's not really how it's going down. No, that's not it. No, no, no,
they cannot down to the school. Once you lead a school,
they can't start your batmany like what you got to right,
(22:17):
And so that's why I say, like, I think that's
part of next steps for me is how can I
get real actual legal information about our community what they
need in a way that's suggestible. I don't want it
to be like law school because that wasn't fun. As
you know, call soup that you can mind call soup.
Speaker 1 (22:40):
You don't we call soup.
Speaker 3 (22:42):
Callsuit something, so that we are informed and empowered. And
especially in times like these where we feel like, oh
everybody's on edge, everybody's fight or flights, response is so
heightened because we feel like we're under attack. It's like
there's ways to fight back, there's ways to maneuver, there's ways.
We come from that drivers, yes' legal. We come from
(23:04):
survivors and thrivers. Our ancestors have done so much with less.
So I don't want people to be down in the dumps.
I want people to be like, okay, okay, so sad, right,
so we can okay, so we can still okay cool?
You know, that's that's kind of one of my main goals,
and then of course to raise my babies. I have
a ten eleven excuse me, eleven and thirteen year old, so.
Speaker 2 (23:26):
Thirteen twelve years old? Talking about you got a thirteen
years old? Ye, twelve years old. I haven't thirteen.
Speaker 3 (23:33):
Years but yeah, so those are kind of something that
are on the horizon.
Speaker 1 (23:38):
Okay, books do we have?
Speaker 3 (23:40):
I don't have any.
Speaker 1 (23:42):
I might need, you know, if the people want to
read it.
Speaker 2 (23:46):
No, by this time, No, I ain't even by this
time before the end of the year, because I know
it's a book in you and you've been you ain't
just been doing it, all right. I don't know who
get Grandma mom signing like right now, but you have
the book out there.
Speaker 1 (23:59):
The youn't even listen or I don't know. Maybe I
need to talk.
Speaker 3 (24:05):
All right, get it on, So I'm gonna put you
in the prologue. I'm all right.
Speaker 2 (24:10):
It is told me Jesus. I just put it on
ere all right, you grab it, all right, So it's.
Speaker 1 (24:17):
Grab grab ladies and gentlemen. Sue and Robinson.
Speaker 2 (24:23):
Tell the people where they can find you, where they
can connect where to go.
Speaker 3 (24:26):
So sure you Sue and Robinson. You can find me
on all social media platforms at Not Just a Lawyer
or on our firm website at Frontline Firm dot com.
Speaker 2 (24:38):
And I didn't ask you this the REA a recent
case that you're working on that you want people to
know about.
Speaker 3 (24:43):
Please, Shinquola Robinson, Yep, for sure. We're still fighting for
justice for her. We're currently in litigation with the FBI
and the US State Department and the six travel mates.
We are currently litigating that case. But to the extent
you could lift her family up in prayer because we
are obviously suing the federal government in part, which is
(25:05):
a big thing. Yeah, and it just takes a lot
of work, a lot of resources, a lot of time,
which I absolutely don't mind. But you know, prayers and
support definitely welcomed.
Speaker 2 (25:16):
And this is the case that took that took place
in Mexico where the young lady traveled with friends and
didn't come back.
Speaker 3 (25:23):
Yes, Shinquila Robinson went on a trip to Cabo, Mexico
with six travel mates I don't call them her friends.
She died on the trip and then after the friends
came back and said she passed away from alcohol poisoning.
A video came out a few weeks afterwards showing that
she was brutally beaten, and so it's just a horrible, horrible,
(25:47):
tragic case. Her mom, her sister, her whole family just
are amazing, amazing, just salt of the earth, amazing people,
and she was an amazing person. Unfortunately, just in my field,
I meet a lot of my clients and I don't
meet them. I meet them through their family because they
passed away. And you know, over time, Shankquila her whole
(26:09):
family have become part of my family. And definitely justice
for Shanequila Robinson for sure.
Speaker 2 (26:15):
Man and God bless you Sue Baby, Sue, Sue Baby,
thank you for everything that you do and that you've
been able to really help and be a blessing to families.
Speaker 1 (26:24):
We pray blessings onto you. Sis. You continue to thrive
and rise and shine.
Speaker 3 (26:29):
Get that book and the movies doing all right, There's
gonna be a movie about Sue Ayne Robinson. Watch call Sue,
Ladies and gentlemen, Sue and Robinson
Speaker 1 (26:38):
Hashtag She's doing it.
What's going on?
Speaker 2 (00:00):
Family and mid Davey Stitch is here and I'm excited
because we're sitting down. I call her a powerhouse and
didn't realize how much I did. When you see her,
you know it, but when you read a little bit more,
it's like, well, babe bee, babe bee powerhouse. She got
a lot of accolades. So I can't say everything, but
(00:22):
we are sitting down with the one and only, the
oh so fabulous Miss Sueanne run Zay. Sue Babe, that's
the new name I done gave you just today.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
How are you?
Speaker 3 (00:35):
I love a good nickname. It means that there's love
and there's love, and you know, I'm being honored to
have that. So I appreciate you so so much.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
Thank you for coming.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
For those who are being introduced to you for the
very first time, Please share with the beautiful people who
Sue Ane Robinson is.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
Absolutely I am born and raised in the County of Days.
Come on, hospital, you know I did my stuff fetch
the BONDI parks.
Speaker 1 (01:01):
Okay, Oh, so you're.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
From in the Days. I'm I'm a real Miami and
a lot of people don't know that because now in
my career My cases are all over the country.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
Right, she global internationals, right.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
But I'm a real, real Miami girl and I've been
practicing law eighteen years for this community, civil rights cases,
a lot of high profile cases, just doing the work
and really just doing everything I can every day to
kind of push our people forward, our movement forward, and
just help people because I feel like I was raised
(01:38):
on that a daye that to whom much is given,
much is required nice. So every day I'm always trying
to pay it forward.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
And we definitely see that, and I love how the
tag is not just a lawyer.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
And we're going to get into all of those things.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
But before then, for those who who may not know,
let's start from the beginning. So coming from Miami, going
and raised, how was it growing up for you? Were
you always that little one, always like getting into arguments
or what?
Speaker 1 (02:06):
How was it?
Speaker 2 (02:07):
I'm guessing it sound like it. Want well, you had
something to say.
Speaker 3 (02:10):
Something something. I'm definitely first generation Caribbean Americans, so we
had limited options with careers anyway, doctor lawyer, nothing about
you if you're not any of those, right exactly, But
I definitely, you know, as the youngest of six and
the only girl, you know, always felt like, you know,
there was a time where different people needed advocacy, even
(02:32):
my parents because I'm first generation Caribbean American, so even
just speaking up for my parents or family members. So
definitely got the whole, oh you're probably going to be
a lawyer thing from very young.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
Was there a and you said Caribbean turks.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
No, my mom is from Barbados and my dad is
from Dominique.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
Oh on, no, Caribbean. You got the good best of
all of them. So let's talk about this. Was there
a moment that you was there a particular killer situation
that came about even as a kid where it was like, Okay,
this is the lawyer in the family, or were there
other lawyers that you really looked up to in your family.
Speaker 3 (03:10):
I would say, I definitely think that there's there is
other lawyers in my family. But honestly, this is gonna
sound crazy, and I always say the same thing. It was.
It really was seeing Claire Huxtable, like seeing her being
a mom, being a family person, but also still having
her career and being very driven.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
Any yes, exactly, yes she was.
Speaker 3 (03:34):
And so that was like my representation of oh, okay,
you can have your career. You can have your family.
You don't have to just be one thing which goes
into not just a lawyer, but definitely you know, Claire
Huxtable had influence on me in representation and seeing it.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
Shout out.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
In that role you could say in Bill Cosby, so
shout out well to you sis for all that you
have been able to do and how the Lord has
just been using you in different places, like you said,
not just Miami. So we come from the South, we
get involved into law. Is this something that follows you
(04:17):
throughout your youth and then we get to college or
take us through that journey really quick? Right?
Speaker 3 (04:22):
My parents, as I said, we lived in Brownsville. They
were Caribbean American immigrants, so we didn't they didn't necessarily
know where they were buying a house. They were just
buying a house, right. And later on, you know, after
we lived there, after we lived in the neighborhood, became
part of the community. And I would say probably when
I was in my teens, I learned more about redlining
and how certain people were pushed and housed in certain
(04:46):
areas and just learned more about my community.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
And that's when I was like, what drove you though
to learn more. Who kind of directed you or was
that just an interest?
Speaker 3 (04:55):
I think it was just an intes and just seeing
how my experience, what my parents experience was in terms
of schools and what was happening in our neighborhood, and
just trying to figure certain things out. I was like,
I want to be a person who can help with
social engineering for my community. And all the people that
I saw at that time that were doing it, I'll
(05:16):
see Hastings, all those people. They were lawyer, you remember, Ali, Yes, absolutely,
So I was like, I'm going to be a lawyer.
So I went to FAM, and I was in a
big hurry because I was like, I want to be
a lawyer. I want to go to law school. I
want to go to law school. So I graduated early
from FAM, and then I went back, came back to
Miami and went to law school at FIU. But definitely
(05:38):
always something that was a part of me, just thinking
how can I get back, how can I effectuate change?
But would be the best degree that I can learn
the skills that I could be able to help my community.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
What was one thing that you because FAM, you and
I'm you know, shout out to FAM.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
I'm like an adopted adopted.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
Honorary honorary because and I have to say this gracefully,
even as an owl, they breed a certain type of people, right,
and I don't understand well, but it's grood No.
Speaker 3 (06:13):
Absolutely, FAMU is an HBCU. So we're our education is
centered around understanding ourselves culturally and historically in the context
of your being trained to go out there to be excellent,
to be great, and these are all the people that
came before you, and understand the context of what your
career is going to be, and also understand that you're
(06:35):
not just being sent in this career for you to
do well. It's for you to bring other people with you.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
I love that, and that's exactly what you're doing. So
we graduate from FAM. You cheers, We get the law degree.
Mama and Daddy, what did they do? What did they say?
Speaker 3 (06:50):
Well, again, Caribbean American parents. So they were like, that's nice.
Let's see when you get a job. This is.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
You can make the money with the degree. Okay, make
the money back that was spent to get to that.
Let's see what happens. But of course they're always supportive.
I went to FIU for Law School.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Shout out to the Panthers N I was in one
of their first classes, super small class, had a good experience,
and when I was leaving, I was like, you know what,
I want to be in the courtroom. I want to
learn those skills because that's what you see mostly. But
I think that I was leaning more towards being a
trial attorney, and so I went to work at the
(07:31):
Prosecutor's office in Broward under then State Attorney Michael J. Sattz.
Great experience and I got to see the criminal justice
system from the inside and got to see that it's
mostly my people, and also got to see that as
a prosecutor, which most people want to do public defender,
(07:52):
especially black people minorities. I learned that if you were
in the public defender's office, the person is already in triage.
As a prosecutor, you have more discretion to look into
the case and you can see if the person should
be prosecuted or how things can be done, and work
together with the public defender to see what the best
outcome is for the victims and for everybody involved. So
(08:17):
I learned a lot in that experience and did a
lot of trial work there and got to interact with
our community daily, you know, being a prosecutor.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
I'll tell you what, my mama would love you because
that situation. I went to shadow a prosecutor because I
was going to be the lawyer or whatnot.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
Child.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
I did one city and I said, oh no, baby, Lord,
use me for something else. And it ain't gonna be
this way.
Speaker 3 (08:41):
Social engineer. You're an engineer from where you.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
Are at one my mama was crashed, Honey. I said,
I don't know what that is, but that ain't what
I want to pray for.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
So it ain't me. So I applaud you for continuing.
It was your college and you're doing it well.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
And so we get to the point where a prosecutor
twenty three years old, we're in this field, one of
the youngest to do it. You've been really commended for
your work by so many It was it the National
Black Lawyers Association, right right, They for quite a few
times they've recognized you among other folks. So what is
(09:22):
it do you think about how you approach cases that
brings you much success.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
I think that the way that I approach every case
is as if it was me on the other side.
I put myself in my client shoes and opposing council shoes,
and I really try my best to understand the whole
case and then the people and the parties involved, because
to me, that's the only way to win. And to
(09:52):
understand what to advocate for someone is to understand where
they're coming from, right, And so I always approach it
in that way. My clients over time, you know, they're
very spoiled because they have direct communication with me. And
people are always like, oh, why do you do that? But
it's because I am putting myself in their shoes and
I would want someone to be as responsive to me
(10:14):
in the same circumstance. So I always, always, always, and
I'm always willing to stay up the latest. I'm always
willing to stay the longest. I'm always willing to learn more,
read more, research a little bit more, because it's it's
really my passion.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
It's in you and this is what you're supposed to
be doing, and that's beautiful to hear. And even with
the cases, the amount of cases that you've been able
to do, is there one case within your years of
doing this that always stands out for you and that
keeps you in the place of I asked somebody this yesterday.
I keeps you in the place of this is where
I'm supposed to be, this is what I'm supposed to do.
(10:50):
Is there a case that hits you like that?
Speaker 3 (10:52):
I would say all my civil rights cases. De Lucarol
who was here in Tamarak, who was beaten by the
I would say a mod Oarbury's case. I would say
George Floyd's case. I would say all those cases impact
me every day. That's what gets me up in the morning,
because I really think equality is one of the most
(11:13):
important works of our time, and police brutality is one
of those things where you have to chip away at
it every single day. And so those cases always stay
with me, in part because of the facts of the cases,
but also because I'm in communication with the families.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
Because you've been involved all the cases that you've named,
You've been involved yes with them, yes.
Speaker 3 (11:34):
Yes, And so I still communicate with the clients. We
still check in on each other, We still, you know,
make sure everybody's good. Even after the cases are over.
We're still like a family because you bond through that experience.
You watch a family go from just being a family
and then having to join a club they never ask
to be a part of, and also mourning a loved
(11:55):
one that has passed or been brutally beaten, and also
having to be an advocate at the same time. So
you watch them grow through that process, and so that
kind of makes a bond. So I definitely think all
my civil rights cases. I definitely wake up in the
morning and pray for all those families every day, and
families that I've never communicated with I do as well. Wow,
(12:15):
pray for them.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
That's it, you know yet what you're supposed to be,
that's when you know.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
Yeah, it's it's It's really an honor. I couldn't be
more happy in terms of where I landed, and all
my skills and my experience have come together to put
me in a place where I can do the work.
So it's an honor.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
Amen. And for you, how was it?
Speaker 2 (12:38):
How was it for you working with because you you
worked with Ben Crump? Yes, courb, so walk us through
that coming together. How did that come about?
Speaker 3 (12:47):
Sure? I mean it's a great it's a great story.
That's a great question. I've known Attorney Ben Crump since
I was in law school and later on in my career.
I was the president of TJ. Red Bar Association, which
is the Black attorney's association in Brower County. Great organization,
and through that organization, we were having a speaker and
(13:10):
I said, we got to have been because at that
time was right when Trayvon Martin was happening, and it
was something that you know, all the attorneys and black
attorneys especially at that time, we're like, what can we do?
We were like, what can we do? How can we help?
What can we add to the conversation or assist? And
so he came to speak and ever since then, you know,
(13:31):
we've been very, very close. He's the type of person
where he is very supportive of people who work hard,
who he's and he always said to me, you know,
I see something in you. You're very You're you're on it.
And so I would say, probably like seven or eight
years later, we had more cases, and at that time,
I had very my kids were very young, and I
(13:51):
was like, I don't want to do civil rights work.
I have these small kids, you know, let me just
focus on getting myself together. And he was very assistance
and he said, your skills as being a former prosecutor,
being a trial attorney. Your culture needs you in this
space at this time. And I would say it took
like a year until I finally said, you know, I agree,
(14:13):
you know I will do it. I will come in,
I'll be of counsel, I will work with the firm.
Speaker 1 (14:18):
And then what was your first case?
Speaker 3 (14:20):
My first case would be with Misswanda Ahmaud in that
relationship Wow. But I always worked with Ben peripherally on
different cases, but definitely that would have been the first
case where it was like, Okay, this is real. And
definitely the first case where you know we're in we're
live on CNN and he's like, you better say something.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
Do you remember what I'm trying to remember? Do you
remember what was the first thing you said or what
came through your mind?
Speaker 3 (14:47):
I definitely the first thing I said that came through
my mind was something he was always reminding me, which
is how important women were in the movement and how
important black mother's voices are, and how important it is
for miss Wanda to see that, hey, she has an
advocate that's also a mom, that's also a woman that's
standing with her to give her the inspiration to do
(15:10):
what she had to do. So shout out to Ben
every day, but definitely that was the time where I
was like, Okay, this is it.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
Wow, step it up. And from there, yeah, it kept going.
It kept going up.
Speaker 3 (15:22):
For sure.
Speaker 2 (15:23):
That is beautiful and thank you for sharing that. I
want to ask you this because with the success, there
are some challenges. What were some of the challenges that
you came across even as a I don't want to say,
but I'm going to have to because it is what
it is as a woman and being a Black woman
and a Caribbean black woman, right.
Speaker 3 (15:44):
I think the intersection of race and gender, you know,
it is a blessing and it does come with added
things because people have their expectations, their stereotypy pre thoughts. Yes,
you know, they have stereotypes of what you're supposed to be,
how you're supposed to act, what you should you know.
(16:06):
And I think kind of releasing myself from other people's
expectations of who I'm supposed to be and just being
authentically who I am was something that I had to
do early on in my career, like you said, because
I started early, and I think once I did that
and I said well I'm just going to be myself,
(16:27):
it was it was a total game changer. But definitely,
you know, as a black woman in a career predominated
predominantly male career, predominantly white male career, you always are
going to have something that you know you're battling or feel.
And I would just say to other women, other girls
in similar situations, don't lean into that. You are there
(16:49):
for a reason. And when you walk into the room,
walk in as if I'm there, Stitches is there, all
your girls are there, and we're boosting you up. We're
hyping you up because you're supposed to be there. Nice,
So have that confidence. Don't let your crown slip. That's
what my mom said.
Speaker 1 (17:03):
Don't let you She said it in an accident. How
she says, say how your mama said it.
Speaker 3 (17:07):
She would say, don't let your crown slip.
Speaker 2 (17:10):
Shout out to mama and I that coincide. I remember
of Felicia, she was the i think the co president
for the Grammy Academy, the Recording Academy, and I remember
she said that step in the place when she was
talking to us, like God put you there, and you're
not going to be moved.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
So that's good. Maybe that's good. That's good.
Speaker 2 (17:28):
So from Court, TV to CNN. The list goes on,
and even having your own law from now, let's talk
about that.
Speaker 3 (17:37):
Frontline law time law. I've kind of I've always had
my own practice because I think that it's important, you know,
just as an entrepreneur, as a businesswoman to be able
to and also as a lawyer, for me to be
able to take cases. I'm extremely passionate I care about
so I've always had my own practice. Frontline law is
(17:57):
the newest iteration of kind of me saying hey, I
know that every day I'm on the front lines for
my clients and it's my honor to do so and
to let people know, hey, we're here, you need to
call me, you can reach me here. This is how
you can get to me. Because we get tons of
mail every day, tons of phone calls every day. So
it's a way to kind of streamline and let people
(18:18):
have the opportunity to have a console if they need
to have a console or get help to the extent
that they can.
Speaker 2 (18:23):
So Sue, I want to ask, it is soe baby,
because it gets real as a prosecutor and the stories
because you're reading the details, you're reading things that people
probably are not privy to how are you because you
have a family, how are you able to detach or
are you able to detach sometimes to go home tap
(18:46):
in to family.
Speaker 3 (18:47):
Okay, that is such a good question, and I would
say I mastered I am in the course of mastering that.
It takes a lot of time. It's not really a
detachment word for that. It's more like at when I'm
at home, I am going to be mom, and I'm
going to be daughter, and I'm going to be sister.
(19:09):
And when I'm at work, I'm going to be who
I am. When I'm at work, I think I bring
all of my experiences to work with me, but I
do my best not to bring anything that's like down
or negative into my family nice and try to resolve
it before I get home, whether if it's in the
driveway or if it's calling Ben or calling another colleague,
(19:32):
to like kind of vent a little bit and try
to leave it outside. So I definitely would say, like
in the last five years is when people have even
asked attorneys about their mental health and us we have
even thought about it. So I do I appreciate the
question every time because it is something that no one
thinks about you're just dumped into kind of terrible situations.
(19:55):
And next yeah, and it's like the next funeral and
the next funeral and the next funeral. And there was
a period of time where we were in funerals back
to back to back to back, and it got so overwhelming.
I was like, I'm not going to any more funerals.
But in me saying I wasn't going to any more funerals,
I also was shutting down. And I had to realize, like, hey,
you not wanting to go to the funerals doesn't have
(20:17):
to do with the funerals themselves. It has to do
with the emotions and you need to process that. So
now I would say me, other colleagues of Arms, Baker Series,
all those people, we all talk more about mental health,
about how we're feeling about how cases are affecting us,
and not try to be stoic all the time. Yeah,
(20:40):
because that's something you could fall into very easily because
obviously you're there to do a job, so it's easy
to be like, I'm just going to be stoic. But
there's a time to be stoic, and there's a time
to respond to what's actually happening. And I think the
more responsive I have become in my career, the more
successful I have become.
Speaker 1 (20:58):
That's good. And did someone make you realize that or
was that something that you just kind.
Speaker 3 (21:02):
Of Definitely probably would have been a Ben Crump special
because he's very he will call you out. He will
call any of us out. It'll be like, I don't
see you being in your purpose. I don't see you
being your full self. So definitely had to be one
of those days where he was accountability. You got folks
who hold you accountable. That's good. That is really good.
Speaker 2 (21:21):
So we're on the tailor bedgem, we're traveling, we're representing
folks and families who need it.
Speaker 1 (21:28):
What is next?
Speaker 3 (21:29):
I think what's next for me? There's so much that
there's I feel like my work has never done. I
always feel like there's so much more to do. I
feel like I would like to do more legal analyst stuff,
only because I feel like our community doesn't get the
information the way that it can be helpful to us.
(21:53):
Sometimes with legal issues. I think sometimes we're just stuck
in kind of like TV Land Lawn and Order said,
or Judge Judy said or whatever, and it's like, no,
that's not really how it's going down. No, that's not it. No, no, no,
they cannot down to the school. Once you lead a school,
they can't start your batmany like what you got to right,
(22:17):
And so that's why I say, like, I think that's
part of next steps for me is how can I
get real actual legal information about our community what they
need in a way that's suggestible. I don't want it
to be like law school because that wasn't fun. As
you know, call soup that you can mind call soup.
Speaker 1 (22:40):
You don't we call soup.
Speaker 3 (22:42):
Callsuit something, so that we are informed and empowered. And
especially in times like these where we feel like, oh
everybody's on edge, everybody's fight or flights, response is so
heightened because we feel like we're under attack. It's like
there's ways to fight back, there's ways to maneuver, there's ways.
We come from that drivers, yes' legal. We come from
(23:04):
survivors and thrivers. Our ancestors have done so much with less.
So I don't want people to be down in the dumps.
I want people to be like, okay, okay, so sad, right,
so we can okay, so we can still okay cool?
You know, that's that's kind of one of my main goals,
and then of course to raise my babies. I have
a ten eleven excuse me, eleven and thirteen year old, so.
Speaker 2 (23:26):
Thirteen twelve years old? Talking about you got a thirteen
years old? Ye, twelve years old. I haven't thirteen.
Speaker 3 (23:33):
Years but yeah, so those are kind of something that
are on the horizon.
Speaker 1 (23:38):
Okay, books do we have?
Speaker 3 (23:40):
I don't have any.
Speaker 1 (23:42):
I might need, you know, if the people want to
read it.
Speaker 2 (23:46):
No, by this time, No, I ain't even by this
time before the end of the year, because I know
it's a book in you and you've been you ain't
just been doing it, all right. I don't know who
get Grandma mom signing like right now, but you have
the book out there.
Speaker 1 (23:59):
The youn't even listen or I don't know. Maybe I
need to talk.
Speaker 3 (24:05):
All right, get it on, So I'm gonna put you
in the prologue. I'm all right.
Speaker 2 (24:10):
It is told me Jesus. I just put it on
ere all right, you grab it, all right, So it's.
Speaker 1 (24:17):
Grab grab ladies and gentlemen. Sue and Robinson.
Speaker 2 (24:23):
Tell the people where they can find you, where they
can connect where to go.
Speaker 3 (24:26):
So sure you Sue and Robinson. You can find me
on all social media platforms at Not Just a Lawyer
or on our firm website at Frontline Firm dot com.
Speaker 2 (24:38):
And I didn't ask you this the REA a recent
case that you're working on that you want people to
know about.
Speaker 3 (24:43):
Please, Shinquola Robinson, Yep, for sure. We're still fighting for
justice for her. We're currently in litigation with the FBI
and the US State Department and the six travel mates.
We are currently litigating that case. But to the extent
you could lift her family up in prayer because we
are obviously suing the federal government in part, which is
(25:05):
a big thing. Yeah, and it just takes a lot
of work, a lot of resources, a lot of time,
which I absolutely don't mind. But you know, prayers and
support definitely welcomed.
Speaker 2 (25:16):
And this is the case that took that took place
in Mexico where the young lady traveled with friends and
didn't come back.
Speaker 3 (25:23):
Yes, Shinquila Robinson went on a trip to Cabo, Mexico
with six travel mates I don't call them her friends.
She died on the trip and then after the friends
came back and said she passed away from alcohol poisoning.
A video came out a few weeks afterwards showing that
she was brutally beaten, and so it's just a horrible, horrible,
(25:47):
tragic case. Her mom, her sister, her whole family just
are amazing, amazing, just salt of the earth, amazing people,
and she was an amazing person. Unfortunately, just in my field,
I meet a lot of my clients and I don't
meet them. I meet them through their family because they
passed away. And you know, over time, Shankquila her whole
(26:09):
family have become part of my family. And definitely justice
for Shanequila Robinson for sure.
Speaker 2 (26:15):
Man and God bless you Sue Baby, Sue, Sue Baby,
thank you for everything that you do and that you've
been able to really help and be a blessing to families.
Speaker 1 (26:24):
We pray blessings onto you. Sis. You continue to thrive
and rise and shine.
Speaker 3 (26:29):
Get that book and the movies doing all right, There's
gonna be a movie about Sue Ayne Robinson. Watch call Sue,
Ladies and gentlemen, Sue and Robinson
Speaker 1 (26:38):
Hashtag She's doing it.
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