Marcia Giordano Hansen

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Marcia Giordano Hansen

Nonpartisan

Elections and appointments

Last election

August 18, 2020

Education

Bachelor's

Barnard College of Columbia University, 1998

Law

Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad College of Law, 2000

Personal

Birthplace

Perth Amboy, N.J.

Religion

Roman Catholic

Profession

Attorney

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Instagram

Marcia Giordano Hansen ran for election for judge of the Florida 11th Circuit Court. She lost in the primary on August 18, 2020.

Hansen completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Marcia Giordano Hansen was born in Perth Amboy, New Jersy. She earned a bachelor's degree from Barnard College of Columbia University and a J.D. from Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad College of Law, in 2000. Her career experience includes working as an attorney.

Elections

2020

See also: Municipal elections in Miami-Dade County, Florida (2020)

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Florida 11th Circuit Court

Incumbent Mavel Ruiz won election outright against Marcia Giordano Hansen in the primary for Florida 11th Circuit Court on August 18, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mavel Ruiz (Nonpartisan)	55.0	204,571
		Marcia Giordano Hansen (Nonpartisan)	45.0	167,255

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 371,826
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Campaign themes

2020

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Marcia Giordano Hansen completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Hansen's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

20 years ago, Marcia moved to Miami. She chose Miami to be her home because of it's cultural diversity. Marcia's mother is Chilean and her father is Italian American. Marcia began her legal career as an Assistant Public Defender in one of the most well respected Public Defender offices in the nation. Upon entering the courtroom, Marcia immediately fell in love with its energy. Five years later, with 28 jury trials under her belt, she went on to work for two civil defense firms. For the past ten years she has owned her own firm representing the people of Miami-Dade in civil disputes and criminal defense matters. She has the top AV rating by Martin Dale Hubbell. Her qualifications have been vetted by the Judicial Nominating Commission who has selected her, from a group of numerous applicants, four separate times, as a qualified nominee for a gubernatorial judicial appointment.

Marcia's career has culminated to the point where her legal experience is now best suited to serve the people of the city that she loves. She has always known that her temperament, integrity and passion for the law would make her a good judge and now she is hoping that the people of Miami-Dade county will give her this opportunity.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Marcia has 20 years of civil and criminal litigation experience
• Marcia has the temperament, integrity and passion for justice
• Marcia has a passion to serve and be fair in the courtroom to all.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

A judge must be impartial, neutral and strictly follow the law. As a judge, what I feel passionate about, cannot enter my courtroom or affect my decisions. I also cannot let public policy influence my decisions as I must adhere to the constitution and/or case precedent to render fair and just decisions.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up to my mother for her courage, patience, positivity and hard work ethic. My mother left her country and came to the United States when she was only 18 years old due to the political instability in her country at the time. She left her parents and siblings to help them all seek a better life and escape the dictatorship that was burgeoning in her country. Fortunately her country recovered. However, my mother decided to stay in the United States to learn English and pursue a career. She worked hard and excelled in the airline industry. She then met my father and helped him create a successful business by working hard to pursue their dreams. She dedicated herself to our family and always taught me that education, hard work and living by the mantra of "doing unto others as you would have them do to you" were the keys to success. Even through trials in our lives, my mother has been positive and strong and has dealt with adversity with composure and level headedness. I strive to be like my mother every day. Without her, I would not be who I am today. She is my hero and my role model.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I have a broad and diversified legal experience which has been developed over the past 20 years. I have always had an even temperament, calm demeanor and respectful nature to not only my colleages and opposing parties but to everyone that I meet. I am focused and organized. As a mother of two and owner of my own law firm, I have developed a strict sense of organization that will transcend into my courtroom and allow for a positive and successful working environment. Lastly, I have integrity and passion for the law which motivates me to make sound rulings in accordance with the law.

What legacy would you like to leave?

If I become a judge, I hope that I will be remembered as a judge who always treated every person who walked into my coutroom with respect and that each person felt like they had their full opportunity to be heard.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Assistant Public Defender at the Miami-Dade Public Defender's Office

What is your favorite book? Why?

To Kill a Mockingbird. I read this in high school and it was the first book that introduced me to the trials and tribulations of a courtroom and a defense attorney and it is what created in me the initial desire to become a lawyer.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Wonder Woman

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

One of my daughter's tic tok songs that she dances to daily.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Sometimes I can be too hard on myself.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

A judge has the power to make rulings that can affect an individual or corporations existence or livelihood. This is why it is so important for a judge to make sound rulings in accordance with the law. A judge must interpret the law and not make the law.

How would you describe your legal philosophy?

I firmly believe that a judge must interpret the law in accordance with the text of the consitution or statute. A judge must not legislate from the bench and must adhere to the duties of the judicial branch of our government.

Have you ever been rated by a Bar Association? If so, what was the rating?

Yes. I have an AV rating by Martin-Dale Hubbell

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See also

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Footnotes

Florida courts

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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