"The Robing Room: FL State Judges

Hon. Jack Helinger	See Rating Details
Circuit Court
Pinellas County 6th Circuit	See Comments

Attorney Average Rating: 2.8 - 15 rating(s) Non-Attorney Average Rating: 1.0 - 19 rating(s)	Please send me alerts on this judge E-mail Address:

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General Rating Criteria

* Temperament		(1=Awful,10=Excellent)
* Scholarship		(1=Awful,10=Excellent)
* Industriousness		(1=Not at all industrious,10=Highly industrious)
* Ability to Handle Complex Litigation		(1=Awful,10=Excellent)
* Punctuality		(1=Chronically Late,10=Always on Time)
* General Ability to Handle Pre-Trial Matters		(1=Not all Able, 10=Extremely Able)
* General Ability as a Trial Judge		(1=Not all Able, 10=Extremely Able)
Flexibility In Scheduling		(1=Completely Inflexible,10=Very Flexible)

Criminal Rating Criteria (if applicable)

* Evenhandedness in Criminal Litigation		(1=Demonstrates Bias,10=Entirely Evenhanded)
General Inclination Regarding Bail		(1=Pro-Defense,10=Pro-Government)
Involvement in Plea Discussions		(1=Not at all Involved, 10=Very Involved)
General Inclination in Criminal Cases Pretrial Stage		(1=Pro-prosecution,10=Pro-defense)
General Inclination in Criminal Cases Trial Stage		(1=Pro-prosecution,10=Pro-defense)
General Inclination in Criminal Cases Sentencing Stage		(1=Pro-prosecution,10=Pro-defense)

Civil Rating Criteria (if applicable)

* Evenhandedness in Civil Litigation		(1=Not at all Evenhanded,10=Entirely Evenhanded)
Involvement in Settlement Discussions		(1=Not at all Involved,10=Very Involved)
General Inclination		(1=Pro-defendant, 10=Pro-plaintiff)

Comments

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What others have said about Hon. Jack Helinger

Comments

Other

Comment #: FL9740
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This judge is a lunatic. I was a witness in a case involving children and he was so disgusted that I was in a relationship with a police officer he didn’t approve of (totally unrelated to case) that he instructed the bailiff to force us to “sit on separate benches” outside the courtroom. He didn’t listen to any testimony, instead, he dragged on about his personal resume, and over a year later he is STILL writing about my relationship in orders that involve two completely different litigants! That is insane!

Litigant

Comment #: FL9738
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Extremely bias, unfair, and criminally negligent to the point of one of my children nearly needing hospitalization. It's still in the works and he is still aiming to keep my 2 minor children in the care of their abusive, explosive, drug/alcohol addicted and equally negligent "father". And I want it made public where ever I can that if I am incarcerated anytime in the near future,it is due to my trying to protect them as I have been for the past 4 yrs. Anyone reading this, if you have similar issues with the same judge, please reach out to me b/c we are NOT alone and I intend to keep trying to DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. And I will not stop.

Litigant

Comment #: FL9590
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Judge Helinger is Extremely biased and will stand with the his good ole peeps. My case involved everyone that he is hand-in-hand with, and it’s all about money and friends.
It was a paternity case with NO Paternity blood test, no financial disclosure from father. We lived in separate homes . Child involved in the case my daughter has been with me from birth to five years old. She has an older brother from my previous marriage . Never once has daddy wanted to be a dad : any responsibility, care, or involvement. The bars were more important! I applied for child support after 5 years due to financial circumstances with the economy, and Dad hired an expensive attorney in the good ole system for 50/50 to avoid paying Child Support.. Dad spent huge $$$$ on representation, however stated he only makes $4000 a month as a general contractor of 30 yrs.Then all of a sudden several months later he makes $6000 a month. Daddy lives very lavishly.
.Judge Helinger stood by this attorney in the entire case, gave Dad everything he wanted . My case did not follow the Florida Statutes 61.13 (3), or any family Laws for that matter. I call it “Sesame Street Court”.
Judge Helinger verbally abused, insulted, bullied, and violated my due process. Judge Helinger refused to let me present substantial evidence , as well as case law, of child abuse, DUI, false DCF reports involving touching inappropriate with siblings. He ignored, all witness testimonies in regards to alcohol abuse, child endangerment, hospital visits due to intoxication, etc. All paper evidence was provided in the trial “notebook”. Judge Helinger made up his own evidence and stated it in my judgement order. Judge Helinger states information in the judgment order, but does it back up the supporting documents, his own verbal opinion.
He also allowed witnesses that testified in court to stay in the courtroom after their testimonies and discuss it with other witnesses that we’re going to testify later in court.
He accepted a false report from a Guardian Ad Litem ( Irene ) where witnesses testified that what she placed in her report was false statements. Mind me she’s a retired judge ( Pinellas county) and well in her 80’s. She was sleeping in the courtroom during our entire trial. The GA is also close friends with the opposing counsel and Judge Helinger . She uses her position to help attorneys, she is not at all in the best interest of children. Purely in my case, she alienated my daughter, made fun of my son , in front of his sister and fell off my daughters bed the first home visit. Still trying to figure out why she was on the bed. My daughter is extremely scared of her, and has anxiety when you mention the name “Irene”.
The judgement order is partially hand written, very vague on holidays, exchanges etc. ( note co parenting with a mental narcissistic person ). It has been a challenge and daughter is the victim now . So why would a judge write a judgment order that’s not written out clearly and thoroughly.
Child support guidelines were based on verbal of Dad making $4000 a month( General Contractor) . My income is $ 2000 a month . I provided all financial documents, however none from dad..Judge Helinger put Child Support as private school. This income purely shows we cannot afford private school.
So, to sum this up, my daughter is suffering mentally, socially and academically. With that being said, my daughter is now bouncing from two homes and school all in one week. We need Judges to follow The Code of Conduct for United States, involving the sub factors of determining the best interest of children. regardless of how much money somebody pays for an attorney.

Other

Comment #: FL9022
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
This judge is INCOMPETENT. He doesn’t listen to fathers in court . When there has been more than one motion filed for contempt he ignored the motion at the hearing . The respondent who was filed against didn’t show up in court and he held the hearing over the phone . She was given no consequences and was simply CONGRATULATED to keep with-holding her timeshare . This judge told me because I was a step-parent I had no say so in anything . While someone’s child is making accusations about me I had to sit and take it . He wouldn’t let me defend my character in court but allowed the other party to speak against it . This is not a JUDGE this is a person who enjoys and gets off not doing anything to bring someone JUSTICE . the reviews in which you will read are TRUE . He literally said he didn’t know what to do because he cares about the “child’s” feelings in which this child has been coached since she was the age of 3. I am filing a complain against this judge. He needs to be removed from the judicial system . He doesn’t care about the child’s best interest but he does care about making his court some money off the fathers pocket and not allowing the child TIME with their father . If a father doesn’t pay CHILD SUPPORT they are SUBPOENAED to court , if a mother denies time share when a father is paying CHILD SUPPORT they are let off the hook . FIRE THIS JUDGE . I’m taking a stand and I won’t stop until justice is RIGHTFULLY given !

Other

Comment #: FL8921
Rating:1.0

Comments:
An inmate he this pettifogger over a barrel demanded he answer , dishonorable Helinger wrote back yelling in answers stop filing , NO - you answer!! that why your paid. About the time coming to a head he would have to release inmate , he suddenly died in his wheelchair. Guess Helinger got off the hook, didn't have to respond anymore . RIP AP. His last chance to see the outside world died in prison he should have gotten out. Karma s a bitch not sure why this bad judge is allowed to keep this job SHAMEFUL . Get rid of this disgraceful disgusting creep , no room for this trash in a justice system ever , abusive to litigants .

Other

Comment #: FL8747
Rating:1.0

Comments:
The judge needs to retire. He does not listen to arguments but instead makes up his own mind and then bullies the other side. He is a disgrace to the public. He hands over kids to unsafe parents, and says its in the best interest of the children. When I was represented by an ex intern of his he at least listened to reason. Once I had to change representation he flipped on me immediately. Ruined my kids life who hve been with me for the last 4 years, and just handed them over to their addict mother, completely ignoring our parenting plan, in fact re-wrote it. Get this judge off the bench. He is a dodard.

Other

Comment #: FL8529
Rating:1.0

Comments:
My name is Adam Hennessey, f.k.a. Adam Foulks. My case is 14-010246-FD-12 with the 6th Circuit Court in St. Petersburg, FL. I have been fighting to be a father to my twin daughters since before they were born but for this case, over the last 5 years I've been fighting the judge and his goons - former counsel William Bennett, opposing counsel Joseph Cairns, and former Guardian ad Litem Sean Costis. I have hundreds, if not thousands, of pages of documents and evidence proving the conspiracy against me and my right to be my children's father. Everyone keeps telling me I can't hold the judge accountable in his own courtroom. My response - I don't dance. I don't care if you're the Pope. If you lie to my face, I'm going to call you out on it.

1. In September 2017, Bennett and I had a 10 minute allotted meeting with Helinger to get Bennett dismissed from the case. When Helinger asked me if there was anything I wanted to add to Bennett’s motion to be dismissed from the case, Bennett, right in front of Helinger, grabbed my arm and said that if I did anything to prevent him from leaving, he would f[redacted] my case and world up by telling Helinger things about my case and I would never see either of my children again. Helinger just looked at the altercation and didn’t say anything about it. The bailiff standing behind us didn’t step in, either. I just stared at Bennett in complete shock and then looked at Helinger and shook my head no in response to if there was anything I wanted to add.

I have never spoken to anyone about this before now. To say I'm ashamed for allowing him to strong-arm me like that, literally and figuratively, is something I'll have to live with forever. I cowered when I should have risen. I didn’t file any complaint or police report for assault and/or battery against Bennett because with a judge and law enforcement officer refusing to lift a single finger or say or single word against any of it, what would be the point? It wouldn’t go anywhere. The message was clear – the law is only on the side of the law
2. Creating bullshit facts of the case that have nothing to do with the case and then enforcing those facts
3. Refusing to enforce his own current standing court orders
4. Submitting my personal medical information into public record
and so on.

If I have to be that guy where I'm the one with the target on my back, so be it. I won't let this stand. He needs to be held accountable for the injustices he's given and taken from us. He needs to be impeached by the Florida House so he loses everything. For all the mental anguish, undue hardship, and physical pain manifesting from dealing with so much stress for standing up for the right thing no matter what.

It is time for him to go forever. It is time for him to lose everything. It is time for the people of Florida to no longer have to suffer from his abuses of power and authority from that chair. I'm calling anyone who had been made to suffer by this man to reach out to Chief Rondolino and have him suspend Helinger while he is investigated for said abuses. From there, this needs to go to the Florida House and get him impeached so loses all of his benefits and stripped of his privileged status and cast out [redacted]

My name is Adam Hennessey and I'm standing. No matter how many times these guys knock me down, my daughters need me. Let's get it.

Other

Comment #: FL8462
Rating:1.0

Comments:
If I could give this judge a zero I would. I will never forget him. He completely favors certain lawyers. If you are not lawyered up with one of his “friends” you’re done. He was disrespectful , obnoxious, rude, as I was nervous and had never been to court before. I was there defending my at the time 8 year old daughter. This judge had no compassion as I was crying and trying to explain everything. He is cold hearted and I am telling you, again he is biased with certain lawyers. It shouldn’t be like that. I won’t ever forget the way he made me feel.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: FL8452
Rating:2.1

Comments:
Absolutely pathetic. Gave custody of my child to my abuser then ordered me to pay child support - while knowing I had just had a baby in a new abusive relationship and unemployed. Haven’t seen my son for over 6 years now and am too scared to go back to court now that I’m in a better place in my life of fear the judge will shit on me again. Literally counting the days till he is no longer a judge, maybe then I’ll get a fair chance in court. My son turns 18 in December.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL8299
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Decisions are not based on the merits and are not based on controlling law, but based on frivolus, delusions and fraud. Failed to follow 5.90.201, Fla evidence code . Hell bent on changing the Fla Constitution by using WILD case law to over rule legislative law and Fla Constitution ignoring court records that prove these judges are idiots and incompetent . His only title should be Pettifogger .

Other

Comment #: FL8215
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
This judge is a disgrace to the legal system! He cut you off while your answering the questions, try to tell you how to answer them and he grant custody to unfit abusive parents in spite of factual evidence. He does favor attorneys and when you’re representing yourself, he talks down to you… law abiding, registered voter, tax paying citizens… Its a sweet day when he’s no longer a “judge”. He will have his day of Judgement and no mercy will be given to him- and thats Judgement from a Higher Court!

Litigant

Comment #: FL8204
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Projects his own family issues on litigants. Acts as counsel to a favored side. Intentionally goes against court procedure to flaunt his arrogance like comedy. Writes orders that repetitively note his duty that he intentionally avoids later.

Ex: awards visitation to a sober parent + Awards primary custody to drug addled parent Then not only allows the custodial parent to deny the awarded visitation. Also he makes a request that the parent be let off of probation to abandon the children and leave the state.
Argues as counsel that based on false realities his lack of service is justified.
Ex:
Him: Obviously if it was never brought back to the courts attention the court wouldnt know the ordered visitation was being denied
TheRecord: It had been brought to his attention annually for a decade

Litigant

Comment #: FL8010
Rating:1.0

Comments:
WORST JUDGE EVER!! Totally biased, unfair, rude, arrogant, disrepectful and does NOT seperate his own personal opinions in his courtroom - he sat and agreed with everything my husband and his attorney provided and proved in court about his ex wife's spending and her keeping the children from my husband, he ridiculed his ex wife, told her she was one of the most careless people he has ever seen with finances and carless and selfish in wanting everyone including her own parents to give her money to pay bills so she can shop but at the end of the court hearing, he still awarded her alimony and did nothing about her refusing to let my husband get his kids even with the Sheriff's office was called, paperwork was shown that it was his time to get them! The kids were in the window crying wanting to go and our worthless legal system allowed it to happen! Wonder why we have the crime and the fraud and everything else - it is because of Judges who do not do their job and a legal system that allows them to be on the bench [redacted by Ed.] We are four years later and his ex still threatens to go to Judge Helinger because she thinks she can continue to break the rules and not follow the Court order because she knows [Redacted] I despise this Judge with every ounce of me for what he has allowed to happen with this woman and how it has totally shredded my husbands relationship with his own kids because she keeps them whenever she wants to be a raging Bi***!

Litigant

Comment #: FL8005
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Judge Jack Helinger presided over my family law case. He favors attorneys that he knows and will show his bias blatantly. He will ignore bonafide evidence. He will not read motions unless you specifically ask him to in open Court. He ridiculed me and questioned my intelligence in direct line of questioning. He acted and counsel for the mother and endlessly cross-examined and ridiculed me. He punished me with severe consequences for myself and my child and supported mother’s animosity and behavior saying I deserved it because of FALSE testimony from the opposing party with the well connected attorney. He prefers testimony over hard evidence. Helinger does not like to follow procedure. I made many motions for co-parenting counseling and he told me he has enough psychological experience and denied all motions. This Judge ruined my life and my child’s life Helinger set me up for harassment by the Mother. I am ordered to be harassed by the mother and have been stripped of everything. I feel completely helpless. The Judgment has been made.

The only hope is if more people speak up and come together to right this wrong. Not all Judges are bad. I have seen outstanding judges before and unfortunately Helinger is far from it.

Please make sure have a court reporter at EVERY hearing, even the short case management conferences he likes to have.

If Helinger is assigned to your case make sure you get a very well connected attorney that he is friends with. It shouldn’t have to be this way.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL7900
Rating:3.8

Comments:
Makes excess effort toward keeping the "peace" in his courtroom even to the extent of ignoring perjury and evidence of fraud, the equity of his decision was a distant second. Also favored the attorney that was familiar to him and flattered him.

Other

Comment #: FL7899
Rating:10.0

Comments:
This judge made a difficult call that finally brought my step children back to safety. I am so grateful.

Other

Comment #: FL7844
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
This judge went off on me in the middle of testimony and humiliated me to the point of tears. I thought it was highly inappropriate how he acted. I also was able to prove the guy lied on his affidavit but the judge ignored it and indicated at the end of the hearing that he favored the lawyer on the other side. It absolutely traumatized me and I hope someday he is exposed for the fraud that he is.

Other

Comment #: FL7647
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
He is rude, unkind, and arrogant. He verbally abused me for no reason. Not once in three occasions. I felt unsafe

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL7630
Rating:2.3

Comments:
Sadly he has been on the Bench too long. He has favorite attorneys within the legal community and heaven forbid that you appear in front of him and are not one of the favorites. He has a total lack of judicial temperament both on and off the Bench. I am not sure why he is so angry all the time but heaven help you if you are near him when he is exploding.

Other

Comment #: FL7465
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Very strong bias against religious folks. Will ignore evidence once his opinion has been formed by his bias against Christians in particular. He could also have bias towards those attorneys that join him in his case law discussions to stroke his ego.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: FL7414
Rating:9.4

Comments:
A dedicated individual and a terrific judge. Some may see him as standoffish or even short tempered, but he really isn't he just does not suffer fools.

Other

Comment #: FL7375
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Should be removed from bench. Highly biased for his lawyer friends in his circle. To the point ignored illegal immigrant information evidence provided.
Political views mentioned in trial, he endorses Trump but keeps illegal aliens in USA if it benefits his buddies...

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL7020
Rating:9.9

Comments:
This is a dedicated judge. He has probably rubbed some people the wrong way because he is decisive and once he has made up his mind, holds people's feet to the fire.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: FL6904
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Now here is a crap judge.

Litigant

Comment #: FL6596
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This judge told me I was bitter. And because my kids were adults. Their father didn't have to pay his court ordered child support, which was ordered in our divorce decree. Hence Ex husband got away without paying delinquent child support
I was so disappointed and emotionally upset about him (Judge) calling me bitter, which had absolutely no validity.. Infact my ex was shown great compassion and empathy by me for years while he fought drug addictions and homelessness. This judge chose to believe the ridiculous unfounded lies of my ex which I proved was untrue with documents concerning child support arrangements he made only wben he wanted his rights restored after being a convicted felon.

Other

Comment #: FL6455
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Came into troal with a clear bias to high conflict litigant's lawyer because the lawyer's father was a judge. Reluctantly recognized that he had been injudicious and failed to ibsure equity in a previous hearing before the court. Then, reluctantly recognized that the injustice was unconscionable and made a half-hearted attempt to set it right.
He tolerated outrageous behavior from the high conflict litigant, tolerated clear perjury in hearings from one litigant, to such a degree that durimy one hearing he wouldn't swear the litigant in, because he knew tgey were committing perjury. Ultimately didn't decide on the merits of the case, or on fairness or equity, just what was most likely to keep the high conflict litigant quiet while trying to set right an injustice in his own court. It failed, and resulted in further expensive litigation. Though he did appear to attempt, at least, to deliver a wan imitation if justice in the matter before the court, he should have been more insistent that truth was adhered to in his court and more attentive to federal law and equity.

Other

Comment #: FL6454
Rating:1.0

Comments:
He should be removed from the bench. Judge Rondolino should be made to sit and listen to transcripts of the way he conducts himself in the courtroom and his chambers. As a chief judge, Rondolino should know just how rude and unprofessional Judge Jack Helinger is. All of the cases before him should be resumed under a different judge who is truly fair and impartial and follows the law. He told the respondent she could ignore the court ordered visitation so long as she didn't have a car or claimed that one of the children were sick. Neither of these is a valid or acceptable reason for cancelling court ordered visitation which is the same day and time each week.

Other

Comment #: FL6372
Rating:1.0

Comments:
He was extremely rude, insulting and unprofessional. He called me a liar, horrible person, question my intelligence and refused to see any evidence I had prepared. His hostility and predisposition towards me made me feel very unsafe in his courtroom. He needs counseling and anger management.

Other

Comment #: FL6029
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Minus 1000. This judge lacks humanity to say the least. My ex's attorney was in politics so it was a done deal for me. Endless motions, extreme bias and one day I will expose it all. RECUSE this judge at your first opportunity.

Litigant

Comment #: FL5896
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Jack the Family Ripper!

Litigant

Comment #: FL5893
Rating:1.0

Comments:
A rude and obnoxious little man, and a cruel bully. He is supposed to be there to seek fair, impartial resolution to family matters, yet he completely ignores factual evidence and fabricates facts based on his bias, presumptuous favoritism of his RAPIDLY chosen party.
Forgets what he ordered and does not evaluate motions or reads them.
Quote Hon Jack Helinger “Well you married this nutcase!” This man went on to attack my relationship with my son insinuating that I did not care for him as much as I should. My son is a 26 year old father, battling a brain tumor and Helinger knows this.
Case management after case management hearing for what? The petitioner and respondent are in better control and management of this case than Helinger.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: FL5319
Rating:3.9

Comments:
Very emotional. Can become very subjective very quickly. Never reads the actual motions filed. relies completely on you explaining the motions during the hearing. If you say one thing he does not like, consider yourself in his bad light for the rest of the hearing.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL5301
Rating:2.4

Comments:
Very emotional judge. Rarely reads entire motions. He prefers to listen to summaries. He makes up his opinion early on without exploring all evidence. He literally said in court that he doesn't require expert psychiatrists or psychologist opinions because of his vast experience.

Other

Comment #: FL4975
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Wow.
Unbelievable that a supposed judge is permitted to conduct himself with such arrogance and disrespect for justice,balance, or just plain fairness. He actually presented a flat faced lie in judges chamber when speaking about his being"stayed" after an appeal was done on an unequivocally wrong and Illegal order done be him. He decided to overturn a colleagues decision without any real rhyme or reason other than his clear intent and purpose in the court-- to constantly satisfy his ego and feelings of authority. Ridiculous judge and an embarrassment to St.Pete

Other

Comment #: FL4626
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Worst judge on the bench. Beware if he is the one making decisions in your case!!! He should be locked away!

Other

Comment #: FL4220
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Honorable Jack Helinger, was one of 3 judges I had through out my child support case of almost 3 years and in my opinion was the best judge and the only one who really gave me a fair hearing that I deserved..

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: FL3847
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Unethical, bias, prejudice and corrupt is unfortunately the Judge Jack Helinger I know. I pray for him and all of his victims.

Other

Comment #: FL3796
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This judge is smug, arrogant,liar who is rude and obnoxious, ignores bona fide evidence and makes up his own who has the audacity to say in open court, there is no justice i my courtroom. Maybe he has forgotten he works for the citizens of Florida

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL3686
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This judge has been repeatedly unfair and unprofessional to say the least, so much so that one attorney has filed a stipulation in one case stating this judge has not done "anything close to what would be fair or in the best interest of these children," "going in front of this person again "would make undersigned counsel physically ill," and the rulings "are not consistent with the Court's own findings or the prior judges' findings."

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: FL3548
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This dishonorable man believes men should raise their children via text messages. This person has significant issues.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL3447
Rating:1.4

Comments:
Florida's worst circuit judge. Easily.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: FL3336
Rating:1.1

Comments:
This judge is afraid to rectify or amend other judges' rulings.