Melissa Polo
Melissa Polo is a judge of the Florida 13th Circuit Court. She assumed office on January 3, 2017. Her current term ends on January 2, 2029.
Polo won re-election for judge of the Florida 13th Circuit Court outright in the general election on November 8, 2022, after the primary and general election were canceled.
Biography
Polo earned her B.A. in criminology and law from the University of Florida in 1991 and her J.D. from Loyola University School of Law in New Orleans in 1995. She was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1996. In 2009, she began to practice as a solo attorney. She had worked for the firms of Trentalange & Kelley, Reynolds & Stowell, Wilkes & McHugh, and Martino, Price and Associates before starting her own practice. She also worked as an assistant state attorney for the Hillsborough State Attorney's Office from 1996 to 2000.[1]
Awards and associations
- 2006-Present: Florida Justice Association
- 2006-Present: Tampa Bay Trial Lawyers Association
- 2001-2007: Member, The Spring Auxilary
- 1999: Co-Chair, Juvenile Justice Council Planning Committee
- 1998-Present: Hillsborough Association of Women Lawyers
- 1997-Present: Member, L'Unione Italiana
- 1996-Present: American Bar Association
- 1996-Present: The Florida Bar
- 1996-Present: Hillsborough County Bar Association
- 1996-Present: Board Member, Tampa Preparatory School Alumni Association
- 1994-Present: Life Member, Phi Delta Phi International Legal Fraternity
- 1991-Present: Member, Tampa Gator Club
- 1991-Present: Life Member, University of Florida National Alumni Association
Elections
2022
See also: Municipal elections in Hillsborough County, Florida (2022)
General election
The general election was canceled. Melissa Polo (Nonpartisan) won without appearing on the ballot.
2016
| Florida 13th Circuit Court, Group 24 General Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Melissa Polo |
60.28% | 290,138 |
| Gary Dolgin | 39.72% | 191,179 |
| Total Votes | 481,317 | |
| Source: Florida Election Watch, "Circuit Court Judge," accessed November 9, 2016 These election results are unofficial and will be updated after official vote totals are made available. | ||
Florida's 20 circuit courts all had seats up for election in 2016. Of the 151 seats up for election, 125 saw only one candidate file for the election. The unopposed races were canceled and the sole candidates were automatically elected. Of the 26 opposed races, only 10 saw more than two candidates file. Candidates who received a majority of votes cast in the primary election on August 30, 2016, won the race and did not advance to the general election. Races where no candidate receives 50 percent plus one of the votes cast required a general election on November 8, 2016, between the top two primary vote recipients. Melissa Polo and Gary Dolgin defeated Isabel Boza Sevelin and Lanell Williams-Yulee in the Group 24 primary election for Florida's 13th Circuit Court.[2]
| Florida 13th Circuit Court, Group 24 Primary Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Melissa Polo |
41.31% | 56,769 |
| Gary Dolgin |
34.53% | 47,453 |
| Isabel Boza Sevelin | 15.00% | 20,612 |
| Lanell Williams-Yulee | 9.16% | 12,595 |
| Total Votes | 137,429 | |
| Source: Florida Department of State Division of Elections, "August 30, 2016 Primary Election," accessed December 19, 2016 | ||
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.[3]
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:[3]
- 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).
2014
See also: Florida judicial elections, 2014
Polo ran for election to the Thirteenth Circuit Court.
Primary: She was successful in the primary on August 26, 2014, receiving 29.51 percent of the vote. She competed against Robert Bauman (Florida) and Constance Daniels.
General: She was defeated in the general election on November 4, 2014, after receiving 48.7 percent of the vote. She competed against Robert Bauman (Florida).
[4][5]
Endorsements
For a full list of those who endorsed Melissa Polo, please click here.
Campaign themes
2022
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Melissa Polo did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
See also
2022 Elections
External links
|
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ The Tampa Tribune, "Diverse group seeks judgeships," July 6, 2014
- ↑ Florida Department of State, "Candidate Listing for 2016 General Election," accessed July 5, 2016
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial selection: Florida," archived October 2, 2014
- ↑ Florida Secretary of State, “Candidate Listing for 2014 General Election,” accessed May 5, 2014
- ↑ Florida Division of Elections, "Circuit Court Judge primary results," accessed August 27, 2014
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