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Judge Essrig

The Honorable Katherine G. Essrig

UFC: Independent Living Transition Services, Divisions I
UFC: Dependency Specialty, Division V
  • Edgecomb Courthouse800 E. Twiggs St., Room #320D
    Tampa, Florida 33602
    Courtroom #307
  • Judicial Assistant: Shambra Patrick
  • (813) 272-5080
  • Zoom Meeting ID: 820-737-8005
    Password: Not required Court Zoom LinkFamily Administrative Orders Dependency Administrative Orders Judicial Biography
Judicial Biography

The Honorable Katherine G. Essrig

Year elected to the Bench: 1997


Assignments:

  • Circuit Unified Family Court, Dependency Specialty Division V (current)
  • Circuit Unified Family Court, Independent Living Transition Services, Division I (current)

Education

  • Law School: J.D., with honors, University of Florida College of Law, 1981
  • Undergraduate: A.B., cum laude, Public Policy Studies, Duke University, 1978
  • Local public schools, Tampa, Florida

Honors

  • Brian McEwen Award for Outstanding Service to Children and Families, Champions for Children, 2023
  • Lifetime Achievement Award for Children’s Advocacy, Early Childhood Council of Hillsborough County, 2018
  • Luminary Award (awarded to Tampa’s “greatest community leaders”), The Junior League of Tampa, 2017
  • Second Chances for Children Champion Award, Eckerd Kids, 2016
  • National Judicial Leadership Award, Casey Family Programs, 2015
  • Lifetime Achievement Award, Heart Gallery of Tampa Bay, 2015
  • William E. Gladstone Award (awarded at statewide Dependency Summit) for judicial leadership and service to Florida’s children, 2012
  • 13th Judicial Circuit Outstanding Service Award (awarded at statewide Dependency Summit), Florida Department of Children and Families, 2009
  • Board of Editors, University of Florida College of Law Appellate Advocacy, 1979-1981
  • Honors, Appellate Advocacy, University of Florida College of Law, 1979
  • Honors, Legal Writing, University of Florida College of Law, 1979

Work Experience

  • Elected Circuit Court Judge, Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, 1997-present
  • Administrative Judge, Unified Family Court, Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, 2010-present
  • Administrative Judge, Juvenile Dependency Division, Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, 2002-present
  • Elected County Court Judge, Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, Hillsborough County, 1991-1996
  • Attorney, Law Offices of John M. Fitzgibbons, Tampa, Florida 1989-1991
  • Special Assistant United Stated States Attorney, 1988-1989
  • Assistant State Attorney, Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, Hillsborough County, 1985-1989
  • Judicial law clerk to the Honorable Paul Game, Jr., United States Magistrate Judge, United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Tampa, Florida, 1981-1985

Professional Activities

  • Member, Florida Supreme Court Steering Committee on Families and Children in the Courts, 2010-2018
  • Chair, Florida Dependency Model Courts Panel, 2012-2016
  • Member, Florida Dependency Model Courts Panel, 2010-present
  • President, Ferguson-White Chapter, American Inns of Court, 2002-2003
  • Member, Ferguson-White Chapter, American Inns of Court, 1987-present
  • Chair, 13th Judicial Circuit Committee on Judicial Assignments and Reassignments, 2015
  • Vice-Chair, Children’s Board of Hillsborough County, 2007-2011
  • Member, Children’s Board of Hillsborough County, 2001-present
  • Chair, 13th Judicial Circuit Dependency Judicial Engagement Project, Casey Family Programs, 2013-2020
  • Chair, 13th Judicial Circuit Safe Reduction Workgroup, 2013-2020
  • President, Athena Society, 2007-2008
  • Member, Athena Society, 1991-present
  • Member, 13th Judicial Circuit Facility Dog workgroup, 2013-present
  • Chair, 13th Judicial Circuit National Adoption Day committee, 2006-present
  • Member, 13th Judicial Circuit Reunification Day workgroup, 2012-present
  • Chair, 13th Judicial Circuit Dependency Court Improvement Panel, 2002-present
  • Member, National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, 2012-present
  • Member, Florida Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, 2012-present
  • Member, Executive Board, Hillsborough County Bar Association, 1988-1990
  • Member, Hillsborough County Bar Association, 1982-present
  • Member, Florida Association of Women Lawyers, 1986-present
  • Member, Hillsborough Association of Women Lawyers, 1986–present
  • Member, Florida Judicial Mentoring Program, 2002-present
  • Member, 13th Judicial Circuit Professionalism Committee, 2006-present
  • Member, 13th Judicial Circuit Technology Executive Committee, 2008-present
  • Member, Duke University Alumni Admissions Committee, 1982-1986, 1990-2010
  • Member, Friends of the Arts, 1982-present
  • Member, Tampa Museum of Art, 1982-present
  • Volunteer attorney, Hillsborough County Bay Area Volunteer Lawyers Program, 1985-1991
  • Member, Community Security Council, Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, 1984-1988
  • Mayoral appointee, Tampa-Hillsborough County Library Board, 1982-1986
  • Procedures & Preferences

ZOOM Information

Join the Zoom Meeting through https://zoom.us/j/8158596094 OR go to www.zoom.us/join OR Dial: 1 786 635 1003.  Enter the Meeting ID: 815 859 6094  


***Zoom will be recording all participants*** It will be the responsibility of each parent and caregiver to appear at the hearing through Zoom or phone.  The Court will no longer be calling parents or caregivers at the beginning of the hearing.  It will be the responsibility of the case manager and/or attorney to notify the child, parent(s) and/or caregiver(s) of the information about how to attend the hearing through Zoom or by telephone.


Dependency Court Hybrid Procedures

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