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Profile

         Michael J. Hooi is a circuit judge in the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida. He first joined the bench in 2021, when Governor Ron DeSantis appointed him to the Hillsborough County Court.

 

         Before becoming a judge, Hooi practiced at Stichter, Riedel, Blain & Postler, P.A., in Tampa, Florida, where he handled both litigation and transactions. He represented creditors and debtors in corporate and consumer bankruptcies, out-of-court workouts, and alternatives to bankruptcy, and litigated in trial and appellate state and federal courts. He also worked on complex transactions, some of which involved international clients. While in private practice, he was recognized in multiple years by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star, by Best Lawyers as a One to Watch, and by the Florida Supreme Court for exceptional pro bono service.

 

         Judge Hooi began his legal career as a law clerk at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit for Judge Charles R. Wilson after graduating from the University of Florida. While in law school, Hooi was a managing editor of the Florida Law Review, a research assistant for a criminal-procedure treatise, and a teaching assistant for courses in business law, legal research and writing, and appellate advocacy. He also received the Gertrude Brick Award from the law review and interned for Judge Elizabeth A. Kovachevich at the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. He majored in philosophy at Vanderbilt University, where he was an Arts & Science College Scholar.

 

          Judge Hooi is a descendant of Chinese immigrants. His paternal grandfather emigrated with his family from China and served in the U.S. Army during World War II. His mother is a naturalized Chinese-American citizen from Indonesia.

 

         When he is off the bench, Judge Hooi enjoys writing, speaking, and serving the community in legal and nonlegal matters alike. His writings have appeared in publications including Cramdown, The Federal Lawyer, Florida Law Review, and Lawyer. He volunteers at nonprofit organizations and his church, both at the local and state-conference levels. He is also an adjunct professor at the University of Tampa.