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 United States Supreme Court, the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, and the United States 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 himself, Judge Scionti brings his own military service and experience to the bench in helping address the 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 United States 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 United States Department of Defense overseeing 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 where he served 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 Attorney General, an Assistant State Attorney, and an Assistant Statewide Prosecutor working with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in prosecuting violent felony offenders, white-collar corruption, and organized crime in Tampa, Florida.

Judge Scionti is also a Colonel in the United States Army Reserve, Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps where he has served since 2000. Judge Scionti currently serves as the 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.

Among his military honors, Judge Scionti has been awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Presidential Unit Citation.