Christopher C. Sabella at a glance
- Current role
- Circuit Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Florida · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Christopher C. Sabella
Circuit Judge · Florida Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Court
Biography
Professional career
- Elected Chief Judge of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit on February 28, 2023, becoming the 14th judge to hold this position, with a two-year term beginning July 1, 2023 Florida Courts
- Named Tampa Bay’s Top Lawyer in Law Enforcement by Tampa Bay Magazine in 2010
Education
- John B. Stetson College of Law in — J.D. (1992)
- Sabella is a Tampa native who obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Florida State University in 1989
Additional information
- Joined the 13th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida in 2006 by Governor Jeb Bush, and he has served continuously since then.
- He also worked as the Sheriff’s legal adviser for twelve years.
- Before joining the bench, Sabella held the role of an Assistant United States Attorney in the Middle District of Florida and later as Deputy Chief Legal Advisor to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
- As Chief Judge, Sabella oversees administrative operations, including the assignment of 68 judges to various divisions, development and implementation of local policies, and representation of the judiciary at both local and state levels
- His judicial assignments have included the Civil, Family, Criminal Justice & Trial, and Probate, Guardianship, and Trust Divisions.
- He currently presides over the Criminal Justice & Trial Division 2 of the Thirteenth Circuit
- He has also contributed to legal education by teaching trial skills at Western Michigan University Cooley Law School, St.
- Sabella has been a member of the Herbert G. Goldburg Criminal Inn of Court, the Hillsborough County Bar Association, and the Florida Bar Association
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Exhibits
Courtwide
The Thirteenth Circuit strongly encourages electronically stored exhibits through the Portal as individual PDF or PDF/A files; exhibits over 50 MB may be delivered on USB, CD, or another agreed electronic method.
parties are strongly encouraged to file electronically-stored exhibits through the Portal.Administrative Order S-2024-046, Circuit Civil Division ↗
Media And Still Photography
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.
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 allowedFlorida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.450, Media and Still Photography Coverage ↗
Published courtroom rules
Shared court rules
Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.450, Media and Still Photography Coverage
Florida Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Court
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 ↗ · Collected 2026-07-26Sources
Identity source checked July 26, 2026.
Biography sources checked July 26, 2026.
Florida Judicial Branch circuit court administration official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Florida Judicial Branch circuit court administration official judicial roster ↗Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.450, Media and Still Photography Coverage
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.450, Media and Still Photography Coverage ↗Administrative Order S-2024-046, Circuit Civil Division
Courtwide source · PDF · Source checked July 28, 2026
View Administrative Order S-2024-046, Circuit Civil Division ↗