I'm proud to announce that I'm running for Seminole County Judge. Last time, with your help, we were able to win 7 precincts - this time I'm hoping we can win many more. I've been asked by many voters what my judicial philosophy is. In a nutshell, I believe in upholding the Constitution and not legislating from the bench. I share the view of Chief Justice John Roberts who once said:
"Judges and justices are servants of the law, not the other way around. Judges are like umpires. Umpires don't make the rules; they apply them. The role of an umpire and a judge is critical. They make sure everybody plays by the rules. But it is a limited role. Nobody ever went to a ball game to see the umpire."
Please take a moment to read about my background and experience here on my website and if you like what you see please help spread the word about my candidacy. The primary election day this year is August 14th with the general election to be held on November 6th, so please ask everyone you know in Seminole County to consider voting for me. Thanks for your help!
Regards,
Greg
-Greg's prior candidacy for Seminole County Judge (Group 5) in 2010 was endorsed
by the Orlando Sentinel - click HERE for the endorsement article for his 2010
campaign
-Greg is originally from Lincolnshire, Illinois, but he grew up in Seminole County since 1980
-Greg was confirmed at St. Stephen's Lutheran church in Longwood in 1981
-Greg is a proud Rock Lake Raider, Lake Brantley Patriot, and Florida Gator graduate
-Greg earned money for college bagging groceries at Albertson's and busing tables at Disney
-In his freshman year, Greg was elected President of the University of Florida's Beaty Towers
Area Government (TAG) which governs one of the largest residence halls on campus
-During law school at Valparaiso University, Greg served as a Legal Intern for the
Seminole County Legal Aid Society and the IRS District Legal Counsel in Chicago
-In 1997 Greg left his job as a prosecutor for the State Attorney's Office in Brooksville (Fifth
Judicial Circuit) to accept a position with the Seminole County Attorney's Office in Sanford
-Greg worked from 1997 to 2001 as an Assistant Seminole County Atttorney where he:
--defended Seminole County in Federal, State, and County courts, including a federal radio
tower zoning case all the way up to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta
--negotiated for Seminole County an agreement with Time Warner (Bright House Networks)
whereby Time Warner provided to Seminole County the money, equipment, and channel
space needed for creation of Seminole Government Television (SGTV) which provided
unprecedented levels of access by citizens to local Seminole County government
meetings ("government in the sunshine")
--fought for a new Circuit Court Administrative Order (01-07-S) to help bring court
appointed attorney's fees (for indigent criminal defendants) to be more in line with the
lower fees of neighboring Orange and Volusia counties. Greg recognized the unfairness
of the old Administrative Order for Seminole County taxpayers and he took the initiative to
draft and successfully advocate for the adoption of the new Administrative Order by Chief
Judge Silvernail in 2001
-Greg serves as a volunteer Hearing Officer for the Seminole County Prosecution Alternatives
for Youth ("P.A.Y.") Program. Greg completed the extensive Hearing Officer training course
in 1999 and 2009. The thirty hour training course includes Juvenile Justice Procedures,
Juvenile Criminal Law, Communication/Conflict Resolution, Hearing Procedures, and
Sanction Philosophy
-Greg also serves as a volunteer Teen Court Judge for Seminole County's P.A.Y. Teen Court
Program. Please note that service as a volunteer Hearing Officer and volunteer Teen Court
Judge is a voluntary community service and is not service as a "judicial officer"
-Greg is certified by The Florida Supreme Court to teach the Constitution in our schools as part
of the Justice Teaching initiative
-Greg is a volunteer Judge for the Florida High School Mock Trial State Finals Competition
-Greg is a volunteer Moot Court Judge for the FAMU College of Law in Orlando. Please note
that service as a volunteer Mock Trial Judge and volunteer Moot Court Judge is a voluntary
community service and is not service as a "judicial officer"
-Greg is a graduate of the Seminole County Sheriff's Community Law Enforcement Academy
-Greg has been a member in good standing of The Florida Bar since 1995
-Greg is the only candidate in his race that is Board Certified by The Florida Bar
-Greg has been Board Certified by The Florida Bar since 2001 in:
--City, County and Local Government Law (2001 - 2006), and
--Real Estate Law (2006 - present)
--According to The Florida Bar: "Certification is the highest level of evaluation by The Florida
Bar of the competency and experience of attorneys in the areas of law approved for
certification by the Supreme Court of Florida. Board certification recognizes attorneys'
special knowledge, skills, and proficiency in various areas of law and professionalism
and ethics in practice."
-Greg was admitted to the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida in 1997, the U.S.
Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals in 1999, and the United States Supreme Court in 2000
-Greg worked from 2002 to 2012 as Senior Counsel in the Office of Law & Policy for the
Florida Association of Realtors at its Orlando headquarters. Greg has also served as
General Counsel for FAR's various charitable 501(c)(3) endeavors, including the FAR
Disaster Relief Fund, the FAR Silent Angels Fund, and the newly created FAR Education
Foundation, Inc., which has awarded $382,000.00 of college scholarships to Florida students
in its first 2 years.
-Before accepting his position with FAR, Greg worked as a prosecutor in Orlando for the State of
Florida's Department of Business & Professional Regulation - Division of Real Estate (2002)
where he worked to revoke the professional licenses of convicted criminals
-Since 2006 Greg has served on The Florida Bar's Charitable Organizations & Philanthropic
Planning Committee
-Greg is a member of the Association of Corporate Counsel - Central Florida Chapter
-Greg is a member of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of The Florida Bar
and serves on the Landlord/Tenant Law Committee
-Greg is a member of the Seminole County Bar Association
-Greg is the proud son of Mike and Nancy Hass who have lived in the same home in
Seminole County since 1980 and recently celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary.
They both continue to work in the community: Mike, a Korean War Veteran, is a
CPA / accounting professor and Nancy is a Realtor. Greg is also extremely proud of his
wife Jeannine (a CPA in Heathrow) and their son who competes on the Rock Lake Middle
School Math Team and the Sanlando Stars for USTA Junior Team Tennis
-Greg is a Dividend Volunteer for Seminole County Public Schools
-Greg has been a member of the Sabal Point Home Owner's Association since 1998
-Greg is a member of the Seminole County Gun & Archery Association (SCGAA)
-Greg and his family were active in Cub Scout Pack # 773 from 2006 - 2011
-Greg has served as Captain of Sanlando Park's 12 & under USTA Junior Tennis Team
-Greg is a member of the Rotary Club of South Seminole County
-Greg is a member of the Sons of The American Legion (SAL) - Sanford Post # 53
-Greg serves on the American Lung Association's Cars for the Cure Planning Committee
-Greg is a member of the Central Florida Gator Club (CFGC)
"I would consider it an absolute honor and privilege to be elected to serve as your Seminole County Judge. I grew up in this wonderful community and chose to start my own family here. If elected, I will be patient, dignified, and courteous to all litigants, jurors, witnesses, and lawyers. I will perform the duties of Seminole County Judge with honor and impartiality, and without bias or prejudice."
Sincerely,
Greg Hass
