Judge Donald E. Scaglione: Professional Background and Legal Expertise

Hon. Donald E. Scaglione is a judge for the 5th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida. He was appointed to the seat by former Governor Rick Scott in 2013, filling the vacancy created by the transfer of the Hon. Anthony M. Tatti to Marion County.

The 5th Judicial Circuit encompasses Citrus County, Hernando County, Lake County, Marion County, and Sumter County. Scaglione has held assignments in Hernando County, presiding over cases in the Veterans Treatment Court, Drug Court, and Mental Health Court. He also held an assignment in the Civil Division.

Prior to his appointment, Scaglione was a judge for the Hernando County Court, a position to which he was named in 2005. Before that, he spent fourteen years as an assistant state attorney with the Office of the State Attorney for the 5th Judicial Circuit (1990 to 2004).

He received a B.A. from the University of South Florida in 1981. Scaglione went on to complete a J.D. at South Texas College of Law Houston in 1985.

After graduating from law school, Scaglione began his legal career as an assistant public defender with the Office of the Public Defender for the 9th Judicial Circuit. He served in that capacity until 1990.

He sat as chair of The Florida Bars Criminal Procedure Rules Committee and was appointed by the Chief Judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit to serve as a referee for the Florida Supreme Court in 2018.