F R O M T H E T H I R T E E N T H J U D I C I A L C I R C U I T C H I E F J U D G E R o n a l d F i c a r r o t t a - C h i e f J u d g e , T h i r t e e n t h J u d i c i a l C i r c u i t
new Judges for ThirTeenTh JudiCial CirCuiT
Leslie Schultz-Kin Joseph Tompkins Michael Hooi Jeffrey Rich Matthew Smith Susan Lopez James Giardina
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Clerk on the Second District Court of Appeal for the State of Florida . He is assigned to County Civil Division O and Civil Traffic Division R .
● Michael Hooi served as an Associate Attorney at Stichter , Riedel , Blain , & Postler , P . A . before becoming a judge . He was also a Law Clerk and Staff Attorney to Judge Charles R . Wilson of the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals . He is assigned to County Civil Division N and Civil Traffic Division F .
● Jeffrey Rich worked as a sole practitioner since 2008 . Previously he was an Assistant Public Defender in the Twelfth Judicial Circuit . He is assigned to County Criminal Domestic Violence Division F .
● Matthew Smith served as an Assistant Statewide Prosecutor in the Attorney General ’ s Office of Statewide Prosecution . He previously served as a
Chief Assistant State Attorney in the Thirteenth Circuit . He is assigned to County Civil Non- Criminal , Non-Traffic Division T , and Unified Family Dependency Drug Court Division J .
● Susan Lopez served as an Assistant State Attorney in the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit before her appointment . She is assigned to County Civil Division P .
● James Giardina was the owner and lead attorney at The Consumer Rights Law Group , PLLC prior to his appointment . He is assigned to County Civil Division H .
A great group of new judges has joined our bench ! I know that their impact on the circuit will be a lasting one . And we are an amazing circuit ! I am proud to serve as the Chief Judge and am thankful for the support of members of the Hillsborough County Bar Association . # WeAre13Strong . n
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