Judge Deb Sammons Blechman is a life long Central Florida resident. She attended local schools, graduating from Winter Park High School in 1973 and University of Central Florida, Magna Cum Laude in 1976. She graduated from the University of Florida College of Law in 1980 and has practiced law and served as a county judge in Central Florida ever since.

Deb's mother still lives in Winter Park in the same house that Deb grew up in. Deb's daughters Rebecca and Sarah graduated from Winter Park High School and are currently in college. Deb currently serves as an Orange County Judge in the criminal jail division, reviewing arrest warrants for all persons arrested within 24 hours of their detention as well as reviewing and setting bond where appropriate. Deb has served as an Orange County Judge for 15 years, in the criminal and civil divisions, having won elections in 1994 and 2004. She serves in two organizations devoted to promoting professionalism within the practice of law, recently served 5 years on the Board of Directors of the United Safety Council, and serves frequently as a mock trial judge for college and high school competitions.

In recent years, Deb volunteered service to the Jail Oversight Commission, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Subcommittee. She served one year as a literacy volunteer at Great Oaks Village. She provided legal assistance to a citizen committee redrafting the Orange County Commission Rules of Procedure, and in the early years of law practice and during law school served as a Domestic Violence advocate.

Prior to becoming a judge Deb practiced as a legal aid lawyer, public defender, private practioner, Assistant City Attorney and Chief Assistant City Attorney for the City of Orlando. Deb also spent five years as a full time mother when her daughters were young, while teaching as an adjunct professor in land use law at the University of Central Florida and authoring the textbook for that course, as well as performing part time hearing officer functions for Orange County. During her school years, Deb worked as a law clerk, law librarian assistant, waitress, store clerk, teacher's aide in Orange County Schools, tutor & gas station attendant. She was a crisis agency volunteer and was Student Government Senator of the Year in 1976. Deb's current hobbies include her family & friends, ballroom dancing, lap swimming & gardening.