THOMAS NELSON PALERMO
Circuit Judge
13th Judicial Circuit
401 North Jefferson Street, Chambers 615 Annex
Tampa, Florida 33602
TEL: (813) 272-5450
JUDICIAL BIOGRAPHY
Circuit Court (Group 41) commission date: May 13, 2019.
Elected without opposition, November 3, 2020.
Judicial assignments:
- Criminal Justice and Trial Division C (January 2025 – present)
- Unified Family Court (June 2019 – January 2025)
- Domestic Relations Division I (January 2022 – January 2025)
- Delinquency Division F (January 2020 – January 2022)
- Dependency Division C (June 2019 – January 2020)
2025 Jurist of the Year, Florida Chapters, American Board of Trial Advocates (July 2025)
2022 Luis A. “Tony” Cabassa Award (THBA) (November 3, 2022)
2020 Robert W. Patton Outstanding Jurist Award (HCBA YLD) (March 25, 2021)
Death-qualified – Handling Capital Cases (May 22, 2025)
Sat as Associate District Judge, Sixth District Court of Appeal:
McKinney v. Graham, No. 6D2023-2745, 2025 WL 1536813 (Fla. 6th DCA May 30, 2025)
EDUCATION
Master of Laws (LL.M.), University of London, King’s College (KCL) (2002)
Specialization: Banking & Finance Law
Juris Doctorate (J.D.), cum laude, The Florida State University College of Law (2001)
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), The American University (1998)
Major: Communications, Legal Institutions, Economics, Government (CLEG)
Minor: International Studies
Student body president (1996-1997)
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Adjunct Professor, University of Tampa (August 2023-present)
- Teaching one section of Law & Society (PSC 307-1) each Fall and Spring semesters.
Assistant United States Attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office (Tampa) (May 2007 – May 2019)
- Federal prosecutor in Tampa, Florida. Served in the Transnational Organized Crime Section, the Economic Crimes Section, the Organized Crime Section, and the Violent Crimes and Narcotics Section.
- District Opioid Coordinator, Middle District of Florida (MDFL) (2017-2019). Responsible for coordinating anti-opioid efforts of the second most populous District in the United States. Prosecuted opioid-related cases, prepared a revised 2018 MDFL anti-opioid strategy, created a new intelligence and evidence-collection process with Florida medical examiners, shared best practices amongst opioid-responsible colleagues, and collected and analyzed the best available data on the opioid threat to the District.
- As part of the Section chain of command, responsible for reviewing investigatory techniques (e.g., wiretap applications, search warrants, tracking warrants, pen registers) and certain pleadings prepared by other AUSAs before their presentation to the Court.
- Senior Litigation Counsel for the Criminal Division. Trained other AUSAs, including implementing a training program focused on new hires. Conducted fourteen training programs in one year, many of which were in collaboration with partners, including a district-wide wiretap training program attended by more than 140 law enforcement officers and Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs). Worked to develop and improve partnerships with client agencies.
- Prosecuted several significant, complex cases, including a completed murder-for-hire, an intended murder-for-hire of a federal witness, a significant health care fraud prosecution, a narcotics distribution with death case, a complex science-related fraud case, a maritime drug smuggling case, a stolen identity refund fraud (SIRF) case involving numerous vulnerable victims, and many others.
- Previously served as the Human Trafficking Task Force Coordinator, formed the original MDFL Mortgage Fraud Task Force with another AUSA, and served as the MDFL’s Mortgage Fraud Coordinator.
- Granted Top Secret/Secure Compartmentalized Information (SCI) clearance.
Assistant State Attorney, State Attorney’s Office, Thirteenth Judicial Circuit (July 2003 – May 2007)
- In addition to service as a general prosecutor, served as the Deputy Chief of the Economic Crimes Unit, its Lead Trial Attorney, and as a domestic violence prosecutor.
- Tried most major crimes prosecuted in Florida, including murder, trafficking, burglary, and sexual battery.
- Served as lead counsel in a civil case against a conglomerate of strip clubs.
Federal Judicial Law Clerk, U.S. Magistrate Judge (Tampa) (July 2002 – July 2003)
- Researched for and otherwise assisted in the adjudication of federal civil and criminal litigation, Social Security appeals, and other duties as assigned.
- Drafted proposed orders, memoranda of law, and assisted in the preparation of legal presentations.
Tried more than sixty cases to verdict (2003–2019).
PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS
- Articles: After the Storm, HCBA Family Law Section, Fall 2024
Adventures in Family Law, HCBA Lawyer, September/October 2024
Opioids: From Fields of Poppies to Fatal Fentanyl, GPSolo, to be published in April 2023
The Opioid Crisis, Crim. Just., Winter 2019
Going “Cocoanuts:” Looking at Modern Mortgage Fraud, 57 Fed. Law. 38 (June 2010)
- Presented more than 100 times on various substantive topics, including legal writing, search & seizure, wiretaps, rules of evidence, trial skills, Daubert, social media evidence, identity theft, fraud, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, domestic violence, money laundering, mortgage fraud, technology, juvenile delinquency, shelter & detention hearings, legal writing, and criminal procedure.
SELECT NON-JUDICIAL AWARDS
- Numerous agency awards and recognition as a prosecutor, including:
- 2019 FBI recognition for excellence in prosecuting a major criminal case (United States v. Gary Todd Smith).
- 2019 Special Achievement for Program Contract/Grand Fraud Investigation Award, Tampa Region Financial Crimes and Inspectors General Council.
- 2019 Complex Financial Crime Investigation Award, Tampa Region Financial Crimes and Inspectors General Council.
- 2018 HHS-OIG Inspector General’s Cooperative Achievement Award (in recognition of efforts on the Shire Pharmaceuticals investigation team).
- 2018 NASA-OIG presentation of KSC-81PC-137, Space Shuttle Columbia on Pad 39A (in recognition of performance in United States v. Akbar Fard).
- 2018 Case of the Year Award, Tampa Region Financial Crimes and Inspectors General Council (for prosecutions related to Advanced Biohealing).
- 2017 U.S. Department of Labor-Inspector General Team Award (for investigation and prosecution of major healthcare-related case).
- 2017 U.S. Coast Guard (Citation) Meritorious Team Commendation (for meritorious service while serving on the United States v. Polshyn trial team as sole prosecutor).
- 2017 FBI recognition for demonstrated excellence in prosecuting a major criminal case (United States v. Polshyn).
- 2017 FBI challenge coin (for participating in the post-Pulse nightclub attack response efforts and embedding immediately in the Fort Pierce FBI-RA in the aftermath of the attack).
- 2017 U.S. Postal Service Office of the Inspector General plaque (for significant work identifying healthcare fraud by Amerimed, leading to the prosecution of four cases).
- 2016 NASA Office of the Inspector General recognition for outstanding contribution to the mission of the NASA Inspector General.
- 2016 Public Corruption Investigation Award, Tampa Region Financial Crimes and Inspectors General Council (investigation into corruption at the U.S. Postal Service).
- 2016 Complex Financial Crime Investigation Award, Tampa Region Financial Crimes and Inspectors General Council (investigation into a complex ring of identity theft targeting veterans receiving healthcare at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and using their identities to file fraudulent tax returns to obtain refunds).
- 2016 Department of the Army, Patriotic Civilian Service Award for leadership and dedication to ensure the investigation and prosecution of major fraud procurement cases and contributing to the readiness of the U.S. Army.
- 2016 DEA, FBI, Coast Guard Investigative Service, and U.S. Coast Guard recognition for United States v. Polshyn
- 2015 Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency Award for Excellence (sponsoring agency: National Science Foundation).
- 2015 Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency Award for Excellence (sponsoring agency: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs).
- 2015 NASA recognition for dedication to public service and significant contributions to the NASA Office of the Inspector General’s mission (presented with an American flag flown in space aboard Space Shuttle Endeavor, STS-108, launched December 5, 2001).
- 2015 Defense Criminal Investigative Service and U.S. Army recognition for major contributions to the Department of Defense and U.S. Army through the prosecution of United States v. Aldissi (presented with an American flag flown over the U.S. Embassy, Kabul, Afghanistan on July 4, 2011).
- 2015 Case of the Year Award, Tampa Region Financial Crimes and Inspectors General Council (for prosecution of United States v. Aldissi).
- 2015 National Science Foundation Office of the Inspector General plaque in recognition of leadership, effort, and dedication in the investigation and prosecution of Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)/Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) fraud cases.
- 2015 U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of the Inspector General plaque for dedication and professionalism, greatly furthering the mission of protecting the homeland.
- 2010 Raymond E. Fernandez Award from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Hispanic Advisory Council for outstanding contributions to the criminal justice system.
- 2009 U.S. Postal Office of the Inspector General plaque in recognition of outstanding efforts and contributions through mail theft prosecutions.
- 2009 U.S. Attorney’s Office Mortgage Fraud Award for outstanding contributions in mortgage fraud prosecutions.
- 2009 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Integrity Award for major contributions to the Office of the Inspector General’s goals and objectives.
OTHER EXPERIENCES AND ACTIVITIES
- Honorary Wing Commander, 6th Air Mobility Wing, U.S. Air Force, MacDill AFB (2022 – present)
- Leadership Programs
- Leadership Florida, Cornerstone Class 42.
- Leadership Tampa, Class of 2022. Class Champion
- Boy Scouts of America (BSA) (2016 – present)
- Vice President, GTBAC District Operations (2023 – present)
- Fort Brooke District Chair (2020 – 2022)
- District Award of Merit (2022)
- Greater Tampa Bay Area Council, Board (2020 – present)
- Pathfinder Committee (2020 – present)
- Troop 4 adult leader (2021 – present), including ASM
- Assistant Cub Master, Pack 23 (2016 – 2021)
- Master, Herbert G. Goldburg Criminal Law Inn of Court (2002 – present)
- Master, Cheatwood Inn of Court (2009 – 2023)
- Master, Givens Family Law Inn of Court (2023-2025)
- Master, Ferguson-White Inn of Court (2019 – 2021)
- Member, Florida Bar’s Criminal Section Executive Council (2018 – present)
- Member, Florida Bar’s Federal Court Practice Committee (2012 – 2018)
- Voluntary Bar Associations
- Hillsborough County Bar Association
- Co-chair, Bench Bar Committee (2017 – present)
- Federal Bar Association
- Executive Board (Tampa Bay Chapter) (2008 – 2011)
- Tampa Hispanic Bar Association (2019 – present)
- Cuban American Bar Association (CABA) (2020 – present)
- Commissioner, Second District Court of Appeal Judicial Nominating Commission (2006 – 2010)
- Member, Merit Selection Panel (MDFL, retention of USMJ Porcelli) (2017)
- Member, Initial Screening Committee, 13th Circuit Professionalism Committee (2019 – present)
- Florida Bar Grievance Committee (13A) (2015 – 2019)
- Florida State University College of Law
- Board of Visitors (2023-2025)
- Saint John’s Episcopal Parish Day School
- Board of Trustees (2022 – 2024)
- Board Guest/Committee Member (2021- 2022)
- Member, Federalist Society, Tampa Bay Lawyers Chapter (2019 – present)
- Member, Economic Club of Tampa (2004 – present)
LAW SCHOOL AND UNDERGRADUATE EXPERIENCES
- Movie Extra, Casting Collective (London, UK) (2001-2002)
- Graduate Intern, Fla. House of Representatives (Academic Excellence Council) (1999-2000)
- Intern, NATO Partnership for Peace (PfP) Partnership Coordination Cell (Brussels, Belgium) (PCC) (1997)
- Staff Assistant, U.S. House of Representatives (1995-1996)
- Intern, U.S. Senate (1994-1995)
PERSONAL BIOGRAPHY
I am a native of Tampa, Florida. My mother, whose first language is Spanish, is from Ybor City. She served a full career as a professor and, before that, as an English teacher at Leto High School. My father is from Seminole Heights. He owned a marine-related business in Drew Park. My brother and sister-in-law are attorneys, and my sister is a real estate agent. My wife works at Moffitt Cancer Center, and my son is an Eagle Scout. Rounding out the Palermo family is our rescue dog, Apollo.