Hon. Christopher N. Patterson

Christopher N. Patterson is the chief judge of Florida’s Fourteenth Judicial Circuit. He was elected to the circuit court in May 2010 and officially sworn in January 2011. In June 2019, he was selected as chief judge. Patterson earned a B.A. from Clemson University in 1982 and a J.D. from Nova University in 1985. His early career included service as an officer in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps and as a special assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. He practiced privately from 1991 until his election to the bench. He is board certified by the Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization. Patterson has received several honors, including Judge of the Year from the Justice Teaching Institute, Florida Bar Law Related Education in 2017, and the Pro Bono Service Award from the Florida Bar President in 1995.