Judges in Hillsborough County, FL
The judicial directory for the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit in Hillsborough County, FL, can be found at https://www.fljud13.org/JudicialDirectory.aspx.
The directory contains the judge’s name, phone number, courtroom number, office number, and judicial assistant’s name.
Each judge has a profile page that contains additional contact information, the judge’s procedures/preferences, forms, schedules, orders, related links, and announcements.
You can also find the court’s link for Zoom virtual hearings from the profile page, if available. Some judges have eliminated any option of appearing via Zoom.
Circuit Court Judges in Hillsborough County, FL
For the Circuit Criminal Division, Administrative Order A-2021-073 announced the new judicial assignments in Hillsborough County effective December 10, 2021.
Circuit Criminal Division
- Barbara Twine Thomas is assigned to Circuit Criminal Division “A.”
- Kimberly K. Fernandez is assigned to Circuit Criminal Division “B.”
- Christine A. Marlewski is assigned to Circuit Criminal Division “C.”
- G. Gregory Green is assigned to Circuit Criminal Division “D.”
- Mark D. Kiser is assigned to Circuit Criminal Division “E.”
- Robin F. Fuson is assigned to Circuit Criminal Division “G.”
- Elizabeth G. Rice is assigned to Circuit Criminal Division “1.”
- D. Michelle Sisco is assigned to Circuit Criminal Division “J” (PostConviction Relief Division).
- Nick Nazaretian is assigned to Circuit Criminal Division “K” (Violation of Probation Division).
- Michael J. Scionti is assigned to Circuit Criminal Division “M” (Mental Health).
- Laura E. Ward is assigned to Criminal Division “0” (Preliminary Proceedings) through May 31, 2024.
- Effective June 3, 2024, J . Logan Murphy is assigned to Criminal Division ”0″ (Preliminary Proceedings).
Specialty Divisions for Circuit Criminal
- Drug Court Division Denise A. Pomponio is assigned to PTI Drug Court Division “W.”
- Denise A. Pomponio is assigned to Drug Court Division “Y.”
- Denise A. Pomponio is assigned to Drug Court Division ”Z” (Marchman Act Division).
Trial Divisions
- D. Michelle Sisco is assigned to Circuit Criminal Trial Division “1.”
- Lyann Goudie is assigned to Circuit Criminal Trial Division “2.”
- Samantha L. Ward is assigned to Circuit Criminal Trial Division “3.”
Veterans Treatment Court Division
Protective Injunction Divisions
- Frances M. Perrone is assigned to Protective Injunctions Division “G.”
- Jessica G. Costello is assigned to Protective Injunctions Division “H.”
- Melissa C. Black is assigned to Protective Injunctions Division “K.”
Juvenile Delinquency Division
- Lawrence M. Lefler is assigned to Juvenile Delinquency Division “A.”
- Michael J. Scionti is assigned to Juvenile Delinquency Division “B”
(Mental Health). - Denise A. Pomponio is assigned to Juvenile Delinquency Division “E” (Drug Court).
- Kim Brennan is assigned to Juvenile Delinquency Division ”F.”
Juvenile Delinquency Drug Court Division
- Daryl M. Manning is assigned to Juvenile Dependency Division “C.”
- Lisa D. Campbell is assigned to Juvenile Dependency Division “D.”
- Katherine G. Essrig is assigned to Juvenile Dependency Division “I” (Independent Living Transition Services).
- Daryl M. Manning is assigned to Juvenile Dependency Division “J” (Family Dependency Treatment Court).
- Leslie K. Schultz-Kin is assigned to Juvenile Dependency Division “S.”
- Katherine G. Essrig is assigned to Juvenile Dependency Division “V” (Dependency Specialty).
Risk Protection Order Hearings
- Caroline Tesche Arkin is assigned to Probate, Guardianship, Mental Health and Trust Division “N” (Risk Protection Orders).
County Court Judges in Hillsborough County, FL
Except for domestic violence criminal offenses, the clerk assigns all misdemeanor offenses and criminal traffic offenses to a county criminal division according to the first letter of the defendant’s last name.
This rule applies to all cases going to the courthouse in Tampa, FL, because cases assigned to the Plant City Courthouse use a different procedure.
For non-domestic violence cases based in Tampa, FL, if the notice to appear, criminal report affidavit, or information is filed, then the clerk will assign the case according to the following alphabetical distribution:
- Division “A” with The Honorable Jack N. Gutman
- Division “B” with The Honorable Margaret R. Taylor
- Division “C” with The Honorable Scott A. Farr
- Division “D” with The Honorable Jeffrey M. Rich
- Division “E” with The Honorable Monique M. Scott
All Domestic Violence Cases go to Division “F.” Effective November 15, 2021, The Honorable Michael C. Bagge-Hernandez is assigned to County Criminal Division “F.”
All First Appearance Cases go to Division “O” with The Honorable Laura E. Ward.
If you are charged with a felony, your case will be assigned to a felony judge in Circuit Court in Hillsborough County, FL, the criminal division.
Judges for Civil Infractions in Hillsborough County, FL
- Christopher E. Brown is assigned to County Civil Division “T” (NonCriminal Non-Traffic Infractions).
Special Procedures for Court Appearances During COVID
During the COVID-19 crisis, the courts published information on how to attend court for each judge, including instructions for attending the court virtually using Zoom video conferencing with a particular Zoom Meeting ID number and password.
Most judges now require in-person attendance, although attendance via Zoom might be allowed. Some judges choose between appearing in person or remotely depending on the hearing type.
This article was last updated on Friday, March 10, 2023.
