J. Michael Hunter
J. Michael Hunter
District: Circuit Judge
Comments
Article
By JASON GEARY
THE LEDGER
J. Michael Hunter handles the most complex criminal cases in the circuit, and lawyers seem to think he's still a good fit for the job.
Hunter ranked eighth out of 28 circuit judges, according to The Ledger's biennial survey of local lawyers.
Hunter is the main judge assigned to handle first-degree murder cases, including ones where prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.
His overall rating was 7.90 out of 10, which was a tie with Judge Angela Cowden.
His highest individual category was 8.05 for professional conduct. His lowest was 7.72 for written decisions.
In 2008, Hunter ranked seventh among 25 circuit judges with an overall rating of 7.89.
Two critical comments accused Hunter of talking too much and being late to court.
Most comments were favorable, using words like reliable, consistent, pleasant, courteous, and fair to describe Hunter. "Down-to-earth," one lawyer wrote. "Good common sense."
Hunter said his philosophy is pretty simple: "I always want to treat lawyers and litigants the way that I would want to be treated in front of a judge."
Hunter is overseeing murder cases pending against more than 30 defendants.
One lawyer wrote Hunter has done a "good job of managing" the hefty case load.
"Judge Hunter needs to be given special consideration for expertly handling all the most complicated cases in the judicial circuit," another wrote.
Hunter said he was pleased by the compliments and credits his judicial assistant with helping him schedule and manage the difficult docket.
Hunter was a Polk County sheriff's deputy before earning a law degree from Chase College of Law at Northern Kentucky University in 1986.
He was a lawyer for the Polk County Sheriff's Office and an assistant state attorney. He also worked in private practice.
He was elected to the Polk County bench in 1994 and appointed by Gov. Lawton Chiles to the circuit bench in 1998.
Hunter, 61, and his wife, Denise, live in Lakeland. He has two sons and four grandchildren.
| 2010 Overall | Legal Ability | Communication Ability | Written Decisions | Professional Conduct |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.90 | 7.84 | 8.00 | 7.72 | 8.05 |
Comments
Fair to defendants.
Solid jurist.
Extremely fair in decisions. Very courteous to all.
Does the best with what he has.
An excellent judge who has done a very good job of managing the division handling murder cases.
OK judge, but can be nasty.
Good judge.
Tough position to be the judge assigned to homicide cases.
Very good judge.
Good demeanor.
Very pleasant jurist.
Extremely professional and a pleasure to appear in front of.
Always well adjusted.
Down-to-earth; good common sense.
Competent. Easy to practice in front of.
Works hard.
Would make the top five but for his tendancy to talk too much at the wrong times.
One of the worst. Glad he is just doing capital cases.
Pragmatic. A little too result oriented at times; fair in rulings.
Reliable and consistent.
Fast learning. Had no family law experience and became an excellent family law judge. Is now doing murder cases.
Judge Hunter needs to be given special consideration for expertly handling all the most complicated cases in the judicial circuit.
Consistently late to court.
Solid jurist.
Extremely fair in decisions. Very courteous to all.
Does the best with what he has.
An excellent judge who has done a very good job of managing the division handling murder cases.
OK judge, but can be nasty.
Good judge.
Tough position to be the judge assigned to homicide cases.
Very good judge.
Good demeanor.
Very pleasant jurist.
Extremely professional and a pleasure to appear in front of.
Always well adjusted.
Down-to-earth; good common sense.
Competent. Easy to practice in front of.
Works hard.
Would make the top five but for his tendancy to talk too much at the wrong times.
One of the worst. Glad he is just doing capital cases.
Pragmatic. A little too result oriented at times; fair in rulings.
Reliable and consistent.
Fast learning. Had no family law experience and became an excellent family law judge. Is now doing murder cases.
Judge Hunter needs to be given special consideration for expertly handling all the most complicated cases in the judicial circuit.
Consistently late to court.
Article
By JASON GEARY
THE LEDGER
J. Michael Hunter handles the most complex criminal cases in the circuit, and lawyers seem to think he's still a good fit for the job.
Hunter ranked eighth out of 28 circuit judges, according to The Ledger's biennial survey of local lawyers.
Hunter is the main judge assigned to handle first-degree murder cases, including ones where prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.
His overall rating was 7.90 out of 10, which was a tie with Judge Angela Cowden.
His highest individual category was 8.05 for professional conduct. His lowest was 7.72 for written decisions.
In 2008, Hunter ranked seventh among 25 circuit judges with an overall rating of 7.89.
Two critical comments accused Hunter of talking too much and being late to court.
Most comments were favorable, using words like reliable, consistent, pleasant, courteous, and fair to describe Hunter. "Down-to-earth," one lawyer wrote. "Good common sense."
Hunter said his philosophy is pretty simple: "I always want to treat lawyers and litigants the way that I would want to be treated in front of a judge."
Hunter is overseeing murder cases pending against more than 30 defendants.
One lawyer wrote Hunter has done a "good job of managing" the hefty case load.
"Judge Hunter needs to be given special consideration for expertly handling all the most complicated cases in the judicial circuit," another wrote.
Hunter said he was pleased by the compliments and credits his judicial assistant with helping him schedule and manage the difficult docket.
Hunter was a Polk County sheriff's deputy before earning a law degree from Chase College of Law at Northern Kentucky University in 1986.
He was a lawyer for the Polk County Sheriff's Office and an assistant state attorney. He also worked in private practice.
He was elected to the Polk County bench in 1994 and appointed by Gov. Lawton Chiles to the circuit bench in 1998.
Hunter, 61, and his wife, Denise, live in Lakeland. He has two sons and four grandchildren.
District: Circuit Judge
Comments
Article
By BILL RUFTY
THE LEDGER
Michael Hunter remained in the top third of the 10th Judicial Circuit judges in the 2008 survey and improved his rating slightly.
As he did in 2006, Hunter finished seventh among 25 circuit judges. His overall rating went from 7.86 to 7.89. He scored highest in communication ability and professional conduct and activities, each at 8.05. His lowest score was a 7.64 for written decisions.
Hunter replaced Susan Roberts as the main judge presiding over first-degree murder cases when she became ill last year. Roberts has since retired.
His new assignment brought several comments in the vein of "The best choice for the homicide division," and "Doing an outstanding job with homicides."
Among the few negatives was that Hunter talks too much and explains his process at arriving at a decision.
"No, I don't talk too much, but sometimes when I have a difficult ruling and I tell them this, I talk it out," he said. "I am not one who always takes everything under advisement. Instead, I try to make quick decisions. I am not one of those judges who lectures litigants, and I don't lecture attorneys. But I do talk out my decisions."
Hunter, 59, grew up Tavares and graduated from the University of Central Florida in 1975. He worked as a Polk County sheriff's deputy, rising to sergeant. He received a master's degree in criminal justice from Rollins College and a law degree from Chase College of Law at Northern Kentucky University in 1986.
In 1987 he became the lawyer for the Polk Sheriff's Office and then worked in private practice. Hunter was elected as a Polk County judge in 1994. He was appointed to the Circuit Court by Gov. Lawton Chiles in 1998, later winning election to the seat. His current term expires in 2012.
Hunter and his wife, Denise, live in Lakeland. He has two sons and four grandchildren.
| 2008 Overall | Legal Ability | Communication Ability | Written Decisions | Professional Conduct |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.89 | 7.82 | 8.05 | 7.64 | 8.05 |
Comments
J. Michael Hunter
Cold.
Common sense is his forte.
Doing an outstanding job with homicides.
Excellent demeanor; good all-around jurist.
Excellent judge; knows and applies the law with the spirit of the law in mind.
Gives due consideration to the facts and law presented in most situations; also, very personable and cordial to
attorneys and litigants.
Good to work with.
Great demeanor; very fair!
Have not read a decision by Judge Hunter.
Judge Hunter uses good common sense in making his rulings.
Knows the law and applies it fairly.
Very poor judge--needs opposition.
Needs to not comment on his thought processes while on the bench on the record.
One of our best judges.
One of the best; we need to see more of Mike at bar functions.
One of the very best.
Still a good judge despite his absence.
The best choice for the homicide division.
Well-intentioned.
Would be a better judge if he would keep his mouth shut.
Talks when he doesn't need to.
Cold.
Common sense is his forte.
Doing an outstanding job with homicides.
Excellent demeanor; good all-around jurist.
Excellent judge; knows and applies the law with the spirit of the law in mind.
Gives due consideration to the facts and law presented in most situations; also, very personable and cordial to
attorneys and litigants.
Good to work with.
Great demeanor; very fair!
Have not read a decision by Judge Hunter.
Judge Hunter uses good common sense in making his rulings.
Knows the law and applies it fairly.
Very poor judge--needs opposition.
Needs to not comment on his thought processes while on the bench on the record.
One of our best judges.
One of the best; we need to see more of Mike at bar functions.
One of the very best.
Still a good judge despite his absence.
The best choice for the homicide division.
Well-intentioned.
Would be a better judge if he would keep his mouth shut.
Talks when he doesn't need to.
Article
By BILL RUFTY
THE LEDGER
Michael Hunter remained in the top third of the 10th Judicial Circuit judges in the 2008 survey and improved his rating slightly.
As he did in 2006, Hunter finished seventh among 25 circuit judges. His overall rating went from 7.86 to 7.89. He scored highest in communication ability and professional conduct and activities, each at 8.05. His lowest score was a 7.64 for written decisions.
Hunter replaced Susan Roberts as the main judge presiding over first-degree murder cases when she became ill last year. Roberts has since retired.
His new assignment brought several comments in the vein of "The best choice for the homicide division," and "Doing an outstanding job with homicides."
Among the few negatives was that Hunter talks too much and explains his process at arriving at a decision.
"No, I don't talk too much, but sometimes when I have a difficult ruling and I tell them this, I talk it out," he said. "I am not one who always takes everything under advisement. Instead, I try to make quick decisions. I am not one of those judges who lectures litigants, and I don't lecture attorneys. But I do talk out my decisions."
Hunter, 59, grew up Tavares and graduated from the University of Central Florida in 1975. He worked as a Polk County sheriff's deputy, rising to sergeant. He received a master's degree in criminal justice from Rollins College and a law degree from Chase College of Law at Northern Kentucky University in 1986.
In 1987 he became the lawyer for the Polk Sheriff's Office and then worked in private practice. Hunter was elected as a Polk County judge in 1994. He was appointed to the Circuit Court by Gov. Lawton Chiles in 1998, later winning election to the seat. His current term expires in 2012.
Hunter and his wife, Denise, live in Lakeland. He has two sons and four grandchildren.