---
title: "Phillip A. Pena | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/phillip-a-pena"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-07-26"
---

# Phillip A. Pena

Florida Eighth Judicial Circuit Court · Circuit Judge

## Profile

- Court: Florida Eighth 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://circuit8.org/eighth-judicial-circuit-telephone-directory/)
- [Official roster](https://circuit8.org/eighth-judicial-circuit-telephone-directory/)
- [Florida Judicial Branch circuit court administration official judicial roster](https://circuit8.org/eighth-judicial-circuit-telephone-directory/)
- [Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.450, Media and Still Photography Coverage](https://ninthcircuit.org/florida-rule-judicial-administration-2450)

## JSON-LD

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@graph": [
    {
      "@type": "WebPage",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/phillip-a-pena",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/phillip-a-pena",
      "name": "Phillip A. Pena | KnowJudges",
      "description": "Phillip A. Pena, Florida Eighth Judicial Circuit Court. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.",
      "dateModified": "2026-07-26",
      "isPartOf": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website"
      },
      "mainEntity": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/phillip-a-pena#judge"
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Person",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/phillip-a-pena#judge",
      "name": "Phillip A. Pena",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/phillip-a-pena",
      "jobTitle": "Circuit Judge",
      "worksFor": {
        "@type": "GovernmentOrganization",
        "name": "Florida Eighth Judicial Circuit Court"
      },
      "sameAs": [
        "https://circuit8.org/eighth-judicial-circuit-telephone-directory/"
      ]
    },
    {
      "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
      "itemListElement": [
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 1,
          "name": "KnowJudges",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 2,
          "name": "Florida",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/florida"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 3,
          "name": "Phillip A. Pena",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/phillip-a-pena"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}
```

## Biography

### Professional career

- Judge Phillip A. Pena was elected to the 8th Judicial Circuit Court in 2014 and re-elected in 2020
- Before his judicial appointments, Pena served as an assistant state attorney for the 8th Judicial Circuit from 2001 to 2009 and again from 2011 to 2014.
- Prior to his election to the circuit court, Pena held the role of a judge for the Alachua County Court, appointed by former Governor Rick Scott in March 2012
- He also spent a year in private practice at the Keller Law Office
- As a judge of the 8th Judicial Circuit, Pena adheres to the Code of Judicial Conduct, which prohibits discussing pending cases with the public

### Education

- Juris Doctor (J.D.) from Florida State University College of Law in 1996
- Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) from the University of Florida in 1992

### Additional information

- overseeing a range of cases across the circuit.
- Judge Pena has held assignments in Alachua, Gilchrist, Union, and Baker Counties
- handling a variety of civil, criminal, and specialty court cases.
- His legal experience spans criminal prosecution, civil matters, and specialized court programs
- He has presided over specialized divisions such as the Veterans Treatment Court (Division VIII) and the Felony Drug Court (Division VII).
- He is a licensed member of the Florida Bar



## 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.