Chris Helinger
Chris Helinger was a judge of the Florida 6th Circuit Court. She left office on January 7, 2025.
Helinger won re-election for judge of the Florida 6th Circuit Court outright in the primary on August 28, 2018, after the general election was canceled.
Biography
Helinger was born in Chicago, IL. She graduated from the Stetson University College of Law in 1980.[1]
She is married to fellow circuit judge Jack Helinger.[2]
Career
Helinger worked as an assistant public defender for 25 years (the last nine of which were part-time) prior to her election to the Circuit Court bench in 2006.[3]
Elections
2018
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Florida 6th Circuit Court
Incumbent Chris Helinger won election outright against Claudia Elizabeth Blackwell in the primary for Florida 6th Circuit Court on August 28, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Chris Helinger (Nonpartisan) | 66.9 | 117,581 | |
Claudia Elizabeth Blackwell (Nonpartisan) | 33.1 | 58,112 |
Total votes: 175,693 | ||||
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Selection method
- See also: Nonpartisan elections
There are 597 judges on the Florida Circuit Court, each elected via nonpartisan elections. They serve six-year terms, after which they must run for re-election if they wish to retain their seat.[4]
The chief judge is selected by peer vote and serves in that capacity for two years.
Qualifications
To serve on this court, a judge must be:[4]
- a qualified elector;
- a state resident;
- admitted to practice law in the state for five years; and
- under the age of 75 (retirement at 75 is mandatory).
2012
Helinger was unopposed and automatically re-elected following the primary election on August 14, 2012.[5]
- See also: Florida judicial elections, 2012
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ St. Petersburg Times: TampaBay.com, "From different sides of the courtroom, they seek the same job," October 25, 2006
- ↑ St. Petersburg Times: TampaBay.com, "Crist picks Jack Helinger for circuit judgeship," December 6, 2008
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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- ↑ 4.0 4.1 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial selection: Florida," archived October 2, 2014
- ↑ Florida Division of Elections, "2012 Candidate Listing"
Federal courts:
Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Middle District of Florida, Northern District of Florida, Southern District of Florida • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Middle District of Florida, Northern District of Florida, Southern District of Florida
State courts:
Florida Supreme Court • Florida District Courts of Appeal • Florida Circuit Court • Florida County Court
State resources:
Courts in Florida • Florida judicial elections • Judicial selection in Florida