Tom Palermo

Circuit Judge

Hillsborough County 13th Judicial Circuit

Company

Hillsborough County 13th Judicial Circuit

Cornerstone

Home Region

West Central

Class

Cornerstone Class 42

Special Designation

Lifetime Member

Areas of Expertise

Attorneys, Criminal Justice, Elected Official / Candidate, Public Safety, Legal

Elected Official - Role

Circuit Judge

Elected Official - Location

13th Judicial Circuit (Hillsborough County)

Biography

Thomas N. Palermo has served as a Circuit Judge since 2019, presiding in Unified Family Court (Dependency, Delinquency, and Domestic Relations). Palermo is the recipient of the Patton Outstanding Jurist Award and the Cabassa Award for leadership in the Hispanic community. He previously served for 12 years as a federal prosecutor at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida. There he served in the Transnational Organized Crime, Violent Crime & Narcotics, Economic Crimes, and Organized Crime Sections. He served as the District Opioid Coordinator, leading the anti-opioid efforts for the second largest district in the U.S., and also as the Human Trafficking Task Force Coordinator. He had TS/SCI clearance. Palermo was recognized more than 26 times for his work on behalf of the United States. Palermo has an LL.M. from King's College London in Banking & Finance, his J.D. from FSU College of Law, and his B.A. from American University. He is the proud father of a 14 year old future Eagle Scout and owner of his rescue dog, Apollo.