The Honorable Michelle Sisco
Year appointed to the Bench: 2002
- 2002 - Appointed County Court Judge by Governor Bush
- 2004 - Elected
- 2005 - Appointed Circuit Court Judge by Governor Bush
- 2008 - Elected
- 2014 - Elected
- 2020 - Elected
- 2026 - Elected
Assignments:
Current Assignments:
- Administrative Judge of Circuit Criminal
- Trial Division I – Criminal Justice & General Civil; Post-Conviction Relief, Division J
Previous Assignments:
- County Criminal, Division B
- County Civil and Domestic Violence - Plant City
- County Civil, Division H
- Circuit Criminal, Division B
- Juvenile Delinquency, Division F
- Post-Conviction Relief, Division J
- General Civil, Division D
Education
- Law School: University of Florida 1991
- Undergraduate: Vanderbilt University 1988
Professional Background
Judge Michelle Sisco is a graduate of H.B. Plant High School, Vanderbilt University, and the University of Florida College of Law. After graduating from law school in 1991, Judge Sisco became an assistant state attorney with the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office, where she prosecuted thousands of cases, including capital murder, and became the deputy chief of a felony division. Judge Sisco left the State Attorney’s Office in 1998 to become an associate with the law firm of Trombley & Hanes, P.A, which specializes in white-collar criminal defense work. Judge Sisco was appointed by Governor Jeb Bush to both the County Court bench in August of 2002, and to the Circuit Court bench in October of 2005. Judge Sisco has presided over courts in County Criminal, County Civil, Family Law Domestic Violence, Juvenile Delinquency, Circuit Criminal, and Circuit Civil. Judge Sisco is currently assigned as the Administrative Judge for Circuit Criminal, and Trial Division I handling both civil and criminal jury trials and to Criminal Division J handling post-conviction relief matters. Judge Sisco is Board-Certified in Criminal Trial Practice and is a former legal intern for United States District Court Judge Elizabeth A. Kovachevich.
Community Involvement
- Vanderbilt University Alumni Association, Board of Directors (2018-2023)
- Beach Park Women's Club, President (2022-2024)
- Kappa Delta House Corporation Board, President (Delta Eta Chapter) – (2008-2013)
- Junior League Community Advisory Board (2008-2009)
- Parishioner of Christ the King Catholic Church
Professional Activities
- Criminal Punishment Code Task Force Chair Designee
- Commission on Trial Court Performance and Accountability
- 2018 Recipient of the Florida Bar's Judge of the Year Award
- Florida Bar's Criminal Procedure Rules Committee - Vice Chair
- Chair of the Florida Bar’s Constitutional Judiciary Committee (June 2015-2018)
- J. Clifford Cheatwood American Inn of Court, Master (2011-present)
- Herbert G. Goldburg – Ronald K. Cacciatore Criminal Law American Inn of Court, Master (alumnus)