BIOGRAPHY

Judge Michael J. Scionti is a Tampa native and lifelong resident of the State of Florida.  He earned his Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Florida State University in 1990 and his Juris Doctor from South Texas College of Law in 1996.  He was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1996 and later admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces.

Judge Scionti has served our community and country with honor and distinction upholding the rule of law in and out of the courtroom, on and off the battlefield, and throughout all branches of government.  Elected to the bench in 2014, Judge Scionti serves as a Circuit Court Judge in Florida’s Thirteenth Judicial Circuit and is currently assigned to the Circuit Criminal Division presiding over Veterans Treatment Court and other drug and mental health problem-solving courts.  As a veteran, Judge Scionti brings his own military service and experience to the bench in helping address unique challenges facing veterans suffering from military service-related mental health and substance use disorders, while ensuring the fair and impartial administration of justice.

Prior to his judicial service, Judge Scionti served as a Senior Diplomat and Foreign Policy Advisor with the  U.S. Department of State overseeing rule of law advancements and counter-terrorism prosecutions in Kabul, Afghanistan.  Judge Scionti also served as a Deputy Assistant Secretary with the U.S. Department of Defense overseeing legislative affairs for intergovernmental and homeland defense policy in Washington, DC.  Prior to his executive service, Judge Scionti served as a member of the Florida House of Representative serving as Ranking Member on the House Public Safety and Security Council, Criminal and Civil Justice Committee, and Military and Veterans Affairs Committee.  In addition to his executive and legislative service, Judge Scionti served as an Assistant State Attorney and Assistant Statewide Prosecutor working with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies prosecuting violent felony offenders, white-collar corruption, and organized crime throughout Florida.

Judge Scionti is a Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps where he has served since 2000.  Judge Scionti currently serves as Commander of the 8th Legal Operations Detachment headquartered in Independence, Missouri, and has served multiple overseas tours of duty as a Military Magistrate and Rule of Law Advisor in both Iraq and Afghanistan.  As a Military Magistrate, Judge Scionti presided over military-commissioned tribunals of suspected enemy prisoners of war, unlawful combatants, and international terrorists.

Judge Scionti’s military honors include the Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Joint  Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, and various other individual medals and awards.