--- title: "Christopher C. Sabella | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/christopher-c-sabella" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-07-28" --- # Christopher C. Sabella Florida Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Court · Circuit Judge ## Profile - Court: Florida Thirteenth 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 ### electronic trial exhibits Scope: 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. Evidence excerpt: parties are strongly encouraged to file electronically-stored exhibits through the Portal. [Administrative Order S-2024-046, Circuit Civil Division](https://www.fljud13.org/Portals/0/AO/DOCS/S-2024-046.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-28 ### 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://www.fljud13.org/Directory/Judges/Judge-Sabella) - [Official roster](https://www.fljud13.org/Directory/Judges/Judge-Sabella) - [Florida Judicial Branch circuit court administration official judicial roster](https://www.fljud13.org/Directory/Judges/Judge-Sabella) - [Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.450, Media and Still Photography Coverage](https://ninthcircuit.org/florida-rule-judicial-administration-2450) - [Administrative Order S-2024-046, Circuit Civil Division](https://www.fljud13.org/Portals/0/AO/DOCS/S-2024-046.pdf) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/christopher-c-sabella", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/christopher-c-sabella", "name": "Christopher C. 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Sabella", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/christopher-c-sabella" } ] } ] } ``` ## 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 ## 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.