COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Current chair since 2020, Commissioner in Tallahassee for the Justice Administrative Commission.
1992 to present Director for CORE/Comprehensive Offender Rehabilitation & Education Program - Misdemeanor Probation. President of the Board 2010 to present.
1993 Chairperson for Domestic Violence Task Force/19th Circuit
1994 Director for Learn to Read
1994 to 1996 Vice President - Statewide Public Defenders Association
1994 to present WPSL Christmas Kids Host
1995 to 1998 Appointed by the Florida Bar to serve on the 19th Judicial Circuit Bar Grievance Committee. Chairperson from 1996 to 1998
1997/1998 Chairperson for March of Dimes
1997 Chairperson for BB/BS (Big Brothers/Big Sisters) - Bowl For Kids’ Sake
1999/2000 Chairperson for the United Way Campaign
1997 to present Host of “Legal Affairs” T.V. show.
2000 to present Florida State Employees Contribution Campaign - Chairperson for four years
2000 to present BB/BS “Jump into Reading” Tutor
2001 to 2009 Director for Restoration House,
2006 to present - past President 3 years.
2003 to present Board of Trustees - Lawnwood Regional Medical Center
2004 Chairperson for American Red Cross Heroes Campaign
2004 Director for Alzheimer’s Community Care
2004 to present Member of Treasure Coast Police Chiefs & Sheriffs Association
2009 to present Board of Director/President - LifeBuilders of the Treasure Coast, Inc.
2011 to 2013 Advisory Board – John Carroll High School
2012 to present BB/BS – Big Sister 2015 Director for Florida Aquaculture Foundation
2016 to present Director for New Horizons of the Treasure Coast
PERSONAL AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS:
1995 Volunteer of the Year Award - March of Dimes
1997 Indian River Community College Distinguished Alumni Award
1999 Special Recognition Award from the St. Lucie County School Board for the television program “Legal Affairs” on Channel 13 hosted by Diamond
2000 Republican Woman of the Year.
2000 Recipient of the Paul Harris Fellow Award.
2004 to 2006 Appointed by the Governor to serve on the 19th Judicial Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission.
2006 Appointed by the Governor to serve on the Statewide Ex-offender Taskforce.
2006 Awarded “Most Valuable Public Defender” by the statewide Public Defenders Association.
2008 19th Judicial Circuit Probation & Parole Award – “for support of Re-entry initiatives, indigent defendants & citizens of the 19th Judicial Circuit.”
2008 Catholic Lawyers Guild – St. Thomas More Award.
2011 United Way of St. Lucie County, “Spirit of St. Lucie Community Angel” Award
2011 St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office for “Spirit of a Leader” award for commitment to the criminal justice system and St. Lucie County citizens
2012-2013 John Carroll High School Alumna of the Year Award
2014 “Creating a Better World Through the Rule of Law” Award given by The Friends and Trustees of the Rupert J. Smith Law Library of St. Lucie County
2016 Children’s Hero of the Year “Treasure” Award given by Eckerd Kids Project
2018 “Woman of the Month” Award – Fort Pierce Woman’s Club
2018 Appointed to Attorney General Ashley Moody’s transition team.
2019 P.A.C.E. Center for girls—The “Finding the Great in Every Girl” award.
2019 Honorable Ben L. “Buck” Bryan distinguished career award given by the St Lucie County Bar Association
OFFICE AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS:
1999 J.C. Penney Golden Rule Award - Some think of the Golden Rule Award as the community service equivalent to the Pulitzer or Academy Award. The Golden Rule Award recognizes that accomplishments by nonprofit organizations would not be possible without caring volunteers. The program rewards both the volunteer and the organization. The Public Defender’s Office Intern Investigator Program were the recipients of this award.
1998, 1999 Davis Productivity Award - The Davis Productivity Award is administered by the Florida Tax Watch Group and Florida Council of 100. This was awarded in recognition and in conjunction with State Attorney Bruce Colton for the “Fast Track” program and their shared computer database.
2002 Best Place to Work Award - The Public Defender’s Office was awarded this by the Chamber of Commerce
2002 & 2003 Law Firm Commendation Award - The Public Defender’s Office received this award for their pro bono work above and beyond normal duties.
2003 Davis Productivity Award - The Public Defender’s Office, Investigator Intern Program, was a recipient of this Award in 2003. Both the Intern Investigator and Fast Track programs have saved taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars and helped streamline the complexities of the Judicial System
2003 to 2009 United Way Circle of Honor Award - The Circle of Honor Award. recognizes not only dollar contributions, but also the quality of the agency’s campaign.
2009 Davis Productivity Award - The Davis Productivity Award was awarded to the Public Defender’s Office Ex-Offender Re-entry Program and the Mental Health Court Advocacy Team
2023 Presidents award from the FPDA
AGENCY ACCOMPLISHMENTS UNDER DIAMOND LITTY’S TENURE
- Collected Public Defender Fees and helped write the legislation to assist the Courts in levying and collecting Public Defender fees.
- Perfect State audits conducted by the State Auditor General’s Office since elected.
- Received the Davis Productivity Award, one of the most prestigious awards earned by a Public Official, three times.
- Initiated the Investigator Intern Program which was adopted by Indian River Community College as a college credit class. The Program utilized volunteers to help with client interviews and investigations. The Program has received, along with the Davis Productivity Award, the J.C. Penney Golden Rule Award.
- Created Client Services Program to assist misdemeanor & juvenile clients identified with mental illness or intellectual disabilities with individualized rehabilitation plans for sentencing.
- Created and developed the Ex-offender Re-entry Program - The program was a collaborative effort between the Public Defender’s Office and local law enforcement to help reduce recidivism by assisting clients with jobs and skills in preparation for their release from county jail.
- Initiated Mental Health Court to help clients charged with minor offenses who are identified with mental health illness.
- Volunteer Intern Unit - This program utilizes volunteers in all facets of the Public Defender’s Office and helps prepare young people for the workplace. It also utilizes our retired resources.
- Create LifeBuilders of the Treasure Coast, Inc., a non-profit organization in an attempt to help those involved in the court system be successful. The Program seeks to reduce crime, recidivism, and assist low-income individuals who come in contact with Treasure Coast courts as a consequence of criminal behavior or a dependency action.
- Created and developed the Journey Forward Program in 2003. The Program, located in the St. Lucie County Jail, is the only licensed therapeutic community housed in a jail and run by the Public Defender’s Office in the State of Florida.
PERSONAL INTERESTS & HOBBIES:
- Marathon Runner
- Triathlon Competitor
- Paddleboarding
- Fishing
- Surfing
- Hiking
- Golfing
- Skiing
