Chief Judge Christopher C. Sabella
It is my pleasure to welcome you to the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit’s website. The Thirteenth Circuit is one of twenty circuits in the State of Florida. Each circuit is comprised of at least one county, and it is in these courts where trials occur within the State of Florida. The Thirteenth Circuit is comprised solely of Hillsborough County, and within the County we have two courthouses which are staffed with a total of 68 judges. On this website you will find many resources which have been developed to make your interactions with the Circuit as smooth as possible.
As Chief Judge, I serve as the administrative officer of the Thirteenth Circuit, I am the liaison between the Circuit and the Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court, and I identify local priorities and procedures to promote the efficient use of our court system.
One of the most common complaints I hear from people is that the court system is “too expensive and takes too long.” I plan to address these concerns by continuously developing, improving, and executing policies which address those concerns. To address the concerns of the taxpayer, I promise to ensure that within the Circuit we are acting fiscally responsible in how we conduct the business of the court. As Chief Judge, I will ensure we are placing judges in appropriate roles, addressing the concerns of the people we serve, and protecting the rights of all those who pass through our courts.
As Chief Judge I plan on leaning on my principles when it is time to make decisions for this Circuit. As a Judge of the State of Florida I swore an oath to support the Constitution of the United States and of the State of Florida. When making decisions in my courtroom, and now for the courthouse, I strive to fulfill this oath to the best of my ability. During my tenure as Chief Judge I want to ensure that all people passing through the doors of our courthouses receive all rights afforded to them by the laws of this land. Our Courts should be accessible, timely, effective, accountable, and always fair.
Should you have any feedback or suggestions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Your input is essential in helping us improve and better serve our community.
I hope this website helps you with your business before our courts,
Chief Judge Christopher C. Sabella
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It is our desire to continuously improve in what we do, so we welcome your comments. Please submit suggestions to publicinfo@fljud13.org. Help us make this site more comprehensible, responsive and accessible to all.