Judge Michael J. Scionti: Professional Background and Legal Expertise

The Hon. Michael J. Scionti is a judge for the 13th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida in Hillsborough County. He was elected to the bench in 2014 and re-elected in 2020.

Prior to his election, Scionti was a Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Intergovernmental Affairs and Homeland Defense (2009) and a foreign policy advisor to the United States Department of State (2012). In that capacity, he was instrumental in the creation of a criminal justice system in Afghanistan, building the infrastructure that would make possible the prosecution of members of the Taliban.

Scionti earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Florida State University in 1990. He then completed a J.D. at South Texas College of Law in 1996. He also attended the United States Army’s Judge Advocate General School (2000), the Military Intelligence School (2007), and the Command and General Staff College (2011).

After graduating from law school, Scionti spent several years as an assistant attorney general for the Florida Office of the Attorney General, an assistant state attorney in the Office of the State Attorney for the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, and an assistant statewide prosecutor for the Florida Office of Statewide Prosecution. During this time, he prosecuted violent felony offenders, white-collar corruption, and organized crime.

His memberships have included the American Bar Association and the Florida Bar Association. He has also been involved with the West Tampa Chamber of Commerce, the Optimist Club of Greater Tampa Bay, the Hillsborough County Family Justice Center Advisory Board, and La Nuova Sicilia Sons of Italy Lodge.

Scionti is a veteran of the United States Army Reserve Judge Advocate General’s Corps. During his tenure there, he served as Team Chief for the Trial and Litigation Section of the 174th Legal Operation Detachment of the United States Army Reserve Legal Command. He completed two voluntary deployments to Iraq (2003 to 2004) and Afghanistan (2007 to 2008).

Born and raised in Tampa, Florida, Scionti identifies as Catholic. When not presiding over legal proceedings, he enjoys camping, hiking, and hunting. He and his wife have two dogs, General and JoJo.

A registered Democrat, Scionti represented District 58 in the Florida House of Representatives from 2006 to 2009. He sat as a Ranking Member of the House Public Safety and Security Council, the Criminal and Civil Justice Committee, and the Military and Veterans Affairs Committee.