Judges in Pinellas County for Criminal Cases

In Florida, felony cases are prosecuted in circuit court with circuit court judges, and misdemeanor cases are prosecuted in county court with county court judges.

In Pinellas County, the clerk’s office will assign any felony or misdemeanor courtroom division at the time of the first arrest. If the defendant is arrested again, the case is typically assigned to that same division.

In Pinellas County, most criminal cases are prosecuted at the Pinellas County Justice Center (CJC) courthouse at 14250 49th Street North in Clearwater, FL.

You can find more information by searching the Pinellas County Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS). The CJIS provides information about the judge, the criminal defense attorney, and the prosecutor assigned to the case, entries on the docket, upcoming court dates, and information about the final disposition.

Attorney for Criminal Cases in Pinellas County, FL

If you were arrested for a criminal offense in Pinellas County, FL, contact an experienced criminal defense attorney at Sammis Law Firm. We are familiar with the special procedures that vary from courtroom to courtroom.

Contact us for a free consultation to discuss the charges pending against you, the potential penalties for that offense, and the best defenses that can be used in your case to fight the charges.

Contact the attorneys at Sammis Law Firm to speak with an experienced criminal defense attorney for Pinellas County, FL.  Our office is located at 14010 Roosevelt Blvd Suite 701, Clearwater, FL 33762-3820, near the CJC Courthouse on 49th Street. 

Call 727-210-7004. 

Circuit Court Judges in Pinellas County

As explained in Administrative Order 2023-035 PI-CIR, beginning on December 1, 2023, the following judicial assignments for the criminal court sections in the Circuit Courts in Pinellas County took effect:

• Section A – Judge Philippe Matthey
• Section B  – Judge Keith Meyer
• Section C  – Judge Julie L. Sercus
• Section D  – Judge Joseph A. Bulone
• Section I  – Judge Chris Helinger
• Section J  – Judge Shawn Crane
• Section K  – Judge Susan St. John
• Section M – Judge Philip J. Federico
• Section N – Judge Kimberly Todd
• Section Q  – Judge Philip J. Federico
• Section T – Judge Pat Siracusa
• Section Z – Judge Kimberly Todd
• Protective Order Injunction Hearings for Domestic Violence
  • CV1  – Judge Doneene D. Loar
  • CV2 – Judge Aaron Hubbard
• Community Violence: Dating, Domestic, Repeat, and Sexual Violence Injunction Hearings
  • CV3 – Judge Della Cope

County Court Judges in Pinellas County

As explained in Administrative Order 2024-015 PI-CTY, beginning on March 25, 2024, the following judicial assignments for the criminal court sections in the Circuit Courts in Pinellas County took effect:

• Section E – Judge Diane Croff
• Section F – Judge Brett Szematowicz
• Section G – Judge Kathleen T. Hessinger
• Section H – Judge Cathy McKyton
• Section L – Judge Robert Dittmer
• Section R – Judge Holly T. Grissinger (all misdemeanor domestic violence cases)(all misdemeanor violations of probation DV cases)
• Section P – Judge Elizabeth Zuroweste –
  • conducts misdemeanor and felony advisories;
  • Local Ordinance Violations and non-criminal payable infractions;
  • bond calendars;
  • extradition matters; and
  • other duties assigned by the Court.

Judges for Traffic Court Cases in Pinellas County, FL

PINELLAS CJC – NORTH COUNTY TRAFFIC COURT

Traffic Court cases at the North County Traffic Court in Sections 51 and 52, are assigned to Judge Theodora C. Komninos

Cases filed in Pinellas County from the following agencies will be assigned to Sections 51 and 52 at the North County Traffic Facility:

• • Belleair Police Department
  • Clearwater Police Department
  • Largo Police Department
  • Tarpon Springs Police Department

When did the North County Traffic Court stop hearing DUI cases? In 2023, the rules were changed so that DUI cases are no longer heard at the North County Traffic Court. All new DUI cases are now funneled to the CJC Courthouse in Clearwater, FL.

PINELLAS CJC – SOUTH COUNTY TRAFFIC COURT

Traffic Court cases at the South County Traffic Court at the Pinellas County Justice Center (CJC) are assigned to South County Traffic II – Judge Dorothy Vaccaro for citations issued by any of the following agencies:

• Florida Highway Patrol
• St Petersburg Police Department

Traffic Court cases at the South County Traffic Court at the Pinellas County Justice Center (CJC) are assigned to South County Traffic I – Judge Joseph Lawhorne for citations issued by any of the following agencies:

• Bay Pines V.A. Police Service
• Department of Transportation
• Gulfport Police Department
• Indian Shores Police Department
• Kenneth City Police Department
• Pinellas County Schools Police
• Pinellas Park Police Department
• Treasure Island Police Department
• University of South Florida

Additionally, civil traffic infraction cases where a county judge is requested under Florida Rules of Traffic Court Rule 6.630(k) are assigned to Traffic I and II.

According to Administrative Order Number 2020-037 PI-CIR, cases filed in Pinellas County from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will be assigned to either the North County Traffic Facility or the Pinellas County Justice Center based on the assignment of the deputy, trooper, or officer issuing the citation.

Deputies, troopers, and officers will be assigned to either the North County Traffic Facility or the Pinellas County Justice Center in a manner that results in an even distribution of cases between Sections 51 and 52, South County Traffic I, and South County Traffic II.

When did the South County Traffic Court move to the CJC courthouse in Clearwater? The South County Traffic Facility closed on January 1, 2019. Any criminal traffic cases pending in South County Traffic Court were moved to the Criminal Justice Center (CJC) Courthouse on 49th Street in Clearwater, FL, as explained in Administrative Order No. 2018-058 PI-CIR.

Criminal Appellate Judges in Pinellas County, FL

On September 26, 2023, Chief Judge Shawn Crane signed administrative order number 2023-034 PA/PI-CIR that assigned the appellate judges in north county and south county. The judges assigned to handle criminal appeals in Pinellas – North County include:

• Judge Joseph A. Bulone (Primary)
• Judge Sherwood Coleman
• Judge Pat Siracusa

The judges assigned to handle criminal appeals in Pinellas – South County include:

• Judge Keith Meyer (Primary)
• Judge Christopher M. LaBruzzo
• Judge Patrice Moore

*Rotating Panel of 3 from group as determined by the Primary Appellate Judge.

Temporary Judicial Assignments in Pinellas County, FL

When the COVID-19 crisis began, the dockets became more crowded, stretching the courts’ resources. As a result, the courts sought to maximize the efficient administration of justice and provide more flexibility.

For this reason, on October 1, 2020, the Chief Judge entered an order regarding the appointment of Circuit Judges as acting County Judge, the appointment of County Judges as acting Circuit Judges, and the appointment of County Judges as acting County Judges in another county.

The order was intended to improve the prompt dispatch of the business of the circuit and county courts in the Sixth Judicial Circuit or Pasco County and Pinellas County by permitting circuit judges to be temporarily assigned to duty in the county court, and that county judges be temporarily assigned to duty in the circuit court.

The order also allowed county judges in Pasco County to proceed temporarily and be assigned to duty in county court in Pinellas County and county judges in Pinellas County to proceed temporarily and be assigned to duty in county court in Pasco County.

The order was not intended to divest a court of jurisdiction. Furthermore, the order is limited in duration because it was scheduled to be rescinded on March 31, 2021.

Additional Resources

List of Judges in Pinellas County – Visit the website of the Sixth Judicial Circuit to find a list of the judges, the judicial assignments, the calendar of the judges, the duty assignments, addresses, phone numbers, divisions, and sections, and the names of the judicial assistants. The website also provides information about the chief judge and links to the practice requirements published by individual judges. The practice requirements outline the preferences, policies, and procedures for each judge and each courtroom. Find links to JAWS and the search features for the Clerk of County Court in Pinellas.

This article was last updated on Friday, April 26, 2024.