Judicial Excellence Awards

Judge Anthony Rondolino, Sixth Judicial Circuit, Receives the 2023 Chief Justice Excellence Award

Judge Anthony Rondolino received the 2023 Chief Justice Excellence Award in recognition of his exceptional contributions to Florida’s Sixth Judicial Circuit. The award was presented by Justice John D. Couriel at the annual education program of the Conference of Circuit Court Judges.

Rondolino’s dedication to serving the people of Florida and the judicial branch led Chief Justice Muñiz to award him the 2023 Chief Justice Award for Judicial Excellence. Rondolino ended eight years as chief judge in the Sixth Judicial Circuit of Pinellas and Pasco counties and has been a judge for more than 30 years.

Judge Anthony Rondolino embarked on his career at the Sixth Circuit Public Defender’s Office. In January 1990, he began his work as a circuit judge and earned a reputation for his extensive knowledge of the law, rigorous research, and unparalleled preparation. His dedication to accessibility and willingness to provide legal guidance to colleagues was noted by his peers and those who nominated him for the award.

A skilled collaborator and consensus builder, Judge Rondolino fostered strong relationships across the legal and judicial communities, working closely with bar associations, state attorneys, public defenders, clerks of court, sheriffs, and police chiefs.

As noted by the administrative judges of the Sixth Circuit, Judge Rondolino’s “judicial excellence, strong character, integrity, legal knowledge, ethics, courage, compassion and decisiveness integrity, ethics, courage, compassion, and decisiveness,” earned him unanimous election as the Chief Judge of the Sixth Judicial Circuit for four terms.

Throughout his eight-year tenure as Chief Judge, Judge Rondolino has been committed to ensuring the Sixth Circuit operates efficiently and effectively. Under his guidance, the circuit developed and implemented robust hurricane preparedness plans, which proved instrumental during Hurricanes Irma and Ian. Additionally, he collaborated with stakeholders to devise innovative methods for administering justice safely during the pandemic and continues to lead the circuit in adopting post-COVID rules that strike a balance between remote and in-person proceedings.

Judge Rondolino also led the establishment of the Community Violence Division, which oversees all protective injunctions, as well as the Circuit’s Mental Health Court, which addresses critical mental health issues in the judicial process.

“I would suggest our cherished judicial values may be summarized in three words: diligence, competence, and integrity. There is no judge whose career more fully embodied these values than Anthony Rondolino,” wrote Second Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Jonathan Sjostrom.

Judge Gordon Murray, Miami-Dade County, Receives the 2023 Chief Justice Award for Judicial Excellence

Miami-Dade County Judge Gordon Murray received the 2023 Chief Justice Award for Judicial Excellence from Florida Chief Justice Carlos G. Muñiz at the Annual Education Program of the Conference of County Court Judges. Judge Murray, appointed in 2017 and elected in 2020 currently serves as the County Court Administrative Judge where he presides over the county civil division.

The Chief Justice Awards for Judicial Excellence, established in 2015, recognize one county court judge and one circuit judge who demonstrate exceptional commitment to the judicial branch.  Recipients personify judicial excellence by exhibiting qualities such as strength of character, integrity, fairness, open-mindedness, knowledge of the law, sound judgment, professional ethics, intellectual courage, compassion, and decisiveness. Judge Murray’s commitment to the judicial branch and skilled leadership led Chief Justice Muñiz to award Judge Murray the 2023 Chief Justice Award for Judicial Excellence.

Judge Murray began his career in public service in 1986 as an assistant state attorney. He has experience in private legal practice and served as a magistrate for the City of South Miami and the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida. Since he was elected to the bench, Judge Murray has presided over civil divisions and served as Associate Administrative Judge. He currently serves as Miami-Dade County’s Administrative Judge.

Judge Murray has worked tirelessly to improve access to the courts. During the pandemic, Judge Murray helped ensure an efficient and effective transition to remote hearings, successfully maintaining safe access to the courts.

He played a key role in creating CourtHELP, an online early dispute resolution portal designed to assist landlords and tenants. Judge Murray's efforts have helped institute an online early dispute resolution portal for credit card cases to enhance CourtHelp.  Judge Murray also worked to create a blind filing system for the county Civil Division to relieve the burden of a substantial increase in court filings.

Judge Murray is also committed to the Miami-Dade area legal community. He has been an Adjunct Professor at Miami-Dade College since 1995 and participates annually at their Miami-Dade College Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) Summer Program. Judge Murray has lectured for the Miami-Dade County Medical Association, teaching doctors and other medical professionals on understanding and responding to victims of possible domestic violence. He has presided over the final round of the Honorable Earle Zehiner Memorial Mock Trial Competition sponsored by the Florida Justice Association for many years.

Reflective of his character, the admiration of his colleagues, and his positive impact across the legal community, Judge Murray has been the recipient of numerous honors. He received The Florida Bar’s 2023 William M. Hoeveler Judicial Professionalism Award; The Florida Bar President's Pro Bono Service Award; The Cuban American Bar Association Distinguished Service Award; The Miami-Dade County Community Pillar Award; and The Women’s History Coalition of Miami-Dade County, Inc. 15 Years of Outstanding Service Award.

“Judge Murray is a judge of the people who has spent countless hours implementing programs that provide better access and justice for our community,” stated Miami-Dade County Court Associate Administrative Judge Milena Abreu.