"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: 2.0 - 17 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

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!