Circuit Court Judge Wesley Tibbals is a 4th generation Floridian raised in Lake County, Florida. Judge Tibbals graduated from Umatilla High School as valedictorian. An avid athlete, Judge Tibbals was captain of the football and baseball teams, played basketball, and pole-vaulted on the track team while in high school. Judge Tibbals earned his bachelor of science and juris doctor degrees from the University of Florida, and is a proud Florida Gator.

Judge Tibbals was appointed Circuit Court Judge in the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit in 2015. He began service on May 8, 2015, his grandmother’s birthday. Judge Tibbals initially served in the Unified Family Court Division in Tampa, handling family law cases. In early 2019, Judge Tibbals voluntarily transferred to Plant City to preside over family law and civil cases while working with the Chief Judge to restructure court boundaries to alleviate the excessive case load in the Plant City division. In January 2021, he moved back to the Tampa courthouse, returning to the Unified Family Court Division

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VOTE TO KEEP JUDGE SMITH ON AUGUST 23RD

Judge Jared Smith has been serving Hillsborough County for the last five years as both a County and Circuit Judge. He has presided in the Unified Family Division, Domestic Violence Division, County Civil division and County Criminal division.

Judge Smith is a United States Air Force veteran, having answered the call to serve his country shortly after the 9/11 attacks. He served for three years as a USAF JAG officer at MacDill AFB, and was awarded the Air Force Achievement medal in 2004 for his efforts in overseeing the legal affairs related to the first MacDill Airfest post 9/11. He was twice awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal for his meritorious service at MacDill AFB and Goodfellow AFB, Texas.

Judge Smith graduated summa cum laude with his Bachelor’s of Business Administration, majoring in accounting, in 1996. He graduated magna cum laude and tied for third in his class of 134 students from Washburn University School of Law in 2000. After graduating from law school, Judge Smith served as the law clerk for Justice Edward J. Larson of the Kansas Supreme Court. He joined the Air Force in 2002, relocating his family to Tampa, Florida, during his first duty assignment to MacDill AFB. In addition to prosecuting military crimes, Judge Smith was appointed Special Assistant U.S. Attorney to prosecute civilian crimes committed on military installations.

Judge Smith joined the Florida firm of Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell, P.A., where he became a partner and helped develop the construction law practice. Judge Smith is a former Florida Bar Board Certified Construction Law expert (presently on a judicial inactive status).

Judge Smith is married to Suzette, his wife of 23 years, and they have four children. Judge Smith is a deacon and long time member of Idlewild Baptist Church. In 2014, he was selected as recipient of the Heroes at Work award by the Tampa Bay Business Journal for his community impact as a military veteran. Judge Smith is the president of the Stann Givens Family Law Inn of Court, promoting professionalism in the legal community.

In his many years on the bench, Judge Smith has developed a reputation for being fair and impartial, and he consistently exhibits the care and patience necessary for the sensitive situations facing the court. Judge Smith is a true public servant and a great asset to the Circuit Court bench. Please show your support in helping to keep Judge Smith as your Circuit Court judge!