---
title: "Bonnie J. Helms | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/bonnie-j-helms"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-07-26"
---

# Bonnie J. Helms

Florida Sixteenth Judicial Circuit Court · Circuit Judge

## Profile

- Court: Florida Sixteenth Judicial Circuit Court
- State: Florida
- Role: Circuit Judge
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-07-26

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Before you appear

- Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed.
- Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance.
- Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding.

## Courtroom Rules

### media and still photography

Scope: statewide

Electronic media and still-photography coverage is allowed in Florida public trial and appellate proceedings under Rule 2.450's equipment and conduct standards, always subject to the presiding judge's control of decorum, distractions, and fair administration.

Evidence excerpt: Subject at all times to the authority of the presiding judge to: (i) control the conduct of proceedings before the court; (ii) ensure decorum and prevent distractions; and (iii) ensure the fair administration of justice in the pending cause, electronic media and still photography coverage of public judicial proceedings in the appellate and trial courts of this state shall be allowed

[Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.450, Media and Still Photography Coverage](https://ninthcircuit.org/florida-rule-judicial-administration-2450)
Source checked: 2026-07-26


## Sources

- [Official profile](https://keyscourts.net/judges-of-the-16th-circuit/)
- [Official roster](https://keyscourts.net/judges-of-the-16th-circuit/)
- [Florida Judicial Branch circuit court administration official judicial roster](https://keyscourts.net/judges-of-the-16th-circuit/)
- [Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.450, Media and Still Photography Coverage](https://ninthcircuit.org/florida-rule-judicial-administration-2450)

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## Biography

### Professional career

- Judge Bonnie J. Helms has been a Circuit Judge since 2015, presiding over the Family, Dependency, and Juvenile Courts at the Key West and Marathon courthouses in Florida.
- All communications with Judge Helms’ office are managed through her Judicial Assistant, Raquel Galvan, and must comply with the Florida Code of Judicial Conduct, which prohibits ex parte communications on substantive matters in pending cases
- Before joining the bench, Judge Helms practiced law and served as a mediator in the Florida Keys.

### Education

- University of Miami School of Law in — J.D. (1990)

### Additional information

- In July 2021, her colleagues elected her as Chief Judge, a term that extends through July 1, 2025
- In January 2022, she received the Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice’s Distinguished Judicial Service Award for her support of pro bono legal services.
- Her investiture as a circuit court judge was held on February 6, with a ceremony attended by over 200 friends, family, and community dignitaries at the Freeman Justice Center.
- Written communications must be copied to all parties and counsel to ensure transparency and fairness Judge Helms’ career reflects a strong dedication to family and juvenile justice, professional integrity, and community engagement, making her a respected figure in Florida’s 16th Judicial Circuit
- Her legal career emphasizes both litigation and alternative dispute resolution, providing a strong foundation for her judicial work
- She also leads specialized programs such as the Family Treatment Court and Juvenile Drug Court, reflecting her focus on rehabilitation and family-centered justice.



## Published courtroom rules

### Shared court rules

- [Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.450, Media and Still Photography Coverage](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-f9444c394a89ab9f4ffde994) — Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim.  Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](https://ninthcircuit.org/florida-rule-judicial-administration-2450). Collected 2026-07-26.