PERSONAL HISTORY & BACKGROUND
Deborah was born in 1963, in DeLand, Florida. Deborah has also lived in Jacksonville, Florida; Atlanta, Georgia; Virginia; Alabama; and Tallahassee, Florida. Deborah’s family has lived in Jacksonville and the Northeast Florida area since before the civil war. Deborah is married to her law partner, Steven P. Combs and they have two children: a 9 year old daughter, and an 18 year old son.
Deborah graduated from Wolfson High School in Jacksonville in 1981, after which she attended her first year of college at Lynchburg College in Virginia, where she was a Montgomery Scholar and was inducted into the Phi Eta Sigma Academic Honor Society. After graduating with a degree in Studio Art from Florida State University in 1985, Deborah worked in advertising and as a graphic artist until she began attending law school in 1988. In 1991, Deborah received her Juris Doctor, with high honors, from the Florida State University College of Law (graduating in the top 10% of her class).
While obtaining her education (from high school all the way through law school), Deborah always worked, including waiting tables at the famous Beach Road Chicken Dinners in Jacksonville, Florida, teaching piano lessons, working as a secretary, and playing the piano in the piano bar at the Tallahassee Hilton Hotel.
Deborah grew up as a member of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) when it was still downtown and she participated (as a youth board member) in the historic debate and vote which ultimately led to its relocation to Mandarin, where it is still located. Deborah was a member of the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Fayetteville, North Carolina, where she lived between attending college and law school. Deborah was also a member of Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), where she served on the Board and Diaconate and as an adult Sunday School teacher. Deborah and Steve were on the Board of Central Christian Church when it merged with Eastside Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) (a predominantly African American congregation), and when its name was changed to Springfield Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Deborah has also been a youth sponsor, youth Sunday School teacher, church camp counselor, and the pianist for Sunday services. Deborah and her husband, Steve, are currently members and serve as Deacons at Riverside Avenue Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), in Jacksonville, Florida.
Deborah still enjoys playing composing music (both the melodies and lyrics), and she also enjoys interior decorating. She has not only decorated her own home, but she also helps her friends decorate their homes, as well. Deborah and her husband, and law partner, Steven, also enjoy reading books together, attending movies together, the piano and traveling (both at home and abroad).
HONORS, ACTIVITIES & MERBERSHIPS
The Florida Bar Association Member
Jacksonville Bar Association Member
United States District Court Middle District of Florida Member
United States District Court Bankruptcy Court Member
United States District Court District of Arizona & Central District, California Previous Member
Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeal Previous Member
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal Previous Member
Florida Family Law Inn of Courts Master of the Inn
Jacksonville Women’s Lawyer’s Association President 2005 to 2006
The Florida Bar Local Grievance Committee “C” Chair 2008 Vice Chair 2007
The Florida Bar Rules of Judicial Administration Committee Member Starting 2009
Jacksonville Bar Association Current Member Previously Served on Professionalism Committee
Book Award Law & Groups 1989
Book Award Civil Rights Survey 1990
Phi Alpha Delta Florida State University Vice-Justice 1990 to 1991
The Women’s Law Symposium Florida State University President 1990 to 1991
Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society Lynchburg College Lynchburg, Virginia Inducted 1981
National Honor Society Wolfson High School Jacksonville, Florida Inducted 1979
The Society of Distinguished American High School Students Jacksonville, Florida 1979
SPEAKING & PROGRAMS
Moderator Annual Judicial Panel Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association 2006
Moderator Judicial Candidate Forum Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association 2006
Speaker Mandarin Newcomers Club Jacksonville, Florida 2006
Presenter Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association Women Lawyer of the Year Award to Judge Eleni Derke 2006
Presentations on behalf of Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association to Judges at Investitures Judge Dan Wilensky 2007 Judge Kevin Blazs 2006 Judge Mallory D. Cooper 2005 Judge Angela Cox 2005
Member of Panel for Panel Discussion The Women’s Law Students Association Florida Coastal School of Law Jacksonville, Florida 2004, 2005 and 2006
Speaker Rotary International Baker County, Florida Chapter 2004
Program Participate The Florida Family Law Inn of Court Jacksonville, Florida 2003, 2004
Speaker Practicing With Professionalism Seminars Jacksonville, Florida 1999, 2000
REPORTED CASES
(Listed in Date Order)
Myers v. Sullivan* 916 F.2d 659 (11th Cir. 1990) (Cited by the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 9th Circuit Courts of Appeal)
Adoption of Baby James Doe 572 So.2d 986 (Fla. 1st DCA 1990) Cited by Numerous Florida Courts, By 711 N.E.2d 42, and By 61 A.L.R.5th 151, 163
Perfetto v. Perfetto* 592 So.2d 1092 (Fla. 1st DCA 1991)
Clark v. State* 613 So.2d 14 (Fla. 1st DCA 1993)
Hamlin v. East Coast Properties, Inc.* 616 So.2d 1175 (Fla. 1st DCA 1993) Cited by Other Florida Courts
Blue Grass Shows, Inc. v. Randy* 624 So.2d 264 (Fla. 1993)
In re Olympia Holding Corp. a/k/a P.I.E.* 176 B.R. 962 (B.R. Middle District Fla. 1994) Cited by Several Federal Courts
Peters v. Ocean way Properties, Inc. 694 So.2d 743 (Fla. 1st DCA 1997)
General Commercial Packaging, Inc. v. TPS Package Engineering, Inc.126 F.3d 1131 (9th Cir. 1997) Cited by Several Other Courts
Solo v. Crown Life Insurance Company 720 So.2d 522 (Fla. 1st DCA 1998)
Chemical Residential Mortgage Corp. v. Rector 742 So.2d 300 (Fla. 1st DCA 1998), review denied, 727 So.2d 910 (Fla. 1999) Cited by numerous Florida Courts
Smith v. State 737 So.2d 1083 (Fla. 1st DCA 1999)
Peacock v. Peacock 741 So.2d 502 (Fla. 1st DCA 1999)
Pough v. State 743 So.2d 1081 (Fla. 1st DCA 1999)
Jones v. Peacock 768 So.2d 1074 (Fla. 1st DCA 2000)
Hill v. Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission 774 So.2d 695 (Fla. 1st DCA 2000
Valliere v. Valliere 848 So.2d 314 (Fla. 1st DCA 2003)
ZC Insurance Co. v. Brooks 847 So.2d 547 (Fla. 4th DCA 2003) Cited by Florida & Federal Courts
Strickland v. Oberfoell 890 So.2d 290 (Fla. 1st DCA 2004)
Dice v. Dice 959 So.2d 720 (Fla. 1st DCA 2007)
Lahodik v. Lahodik 969 So.2d 533 (Fla. 1st DCA 2007)
Leonard v. Leonard 971 So.2d 263 (Fla. 1st DCA 2008)
Wannamaker v. Wannamaker 986 So.2d 607 (Fla. 1st DCA 2007)
Glass v. Regions Bank 4 So.3d 1224 (Fla. 1st DCA 2009)
J.V. v. M.H. 35 Fla. L. Weekly D 824 (Fla 1st DCA April 13, 2010)
* Indicates Deborah Greene Prepared 50% or More of Briefs as Associate or Law Clerk
but Her Name Is Not Listed as Attorney in Case
