Meet Linette | Proven Leader with Integrity and a Heart for Service    

The MOST QUALIFIED

Award-Winning Attorney | Hearing Officer | Trusted Servant Leader with a Proven track record of excelling in the courtroom, inspiring in the classroom, and making a difference in our community!

"...[H]a[s] the professional experience and personal demeanor to be effective in the courtroom...Linette “Starr” Brookins stands out for the even keel she would bring to the justice system...Brookins said she would work as a judge “to make people feel heard, feel seen.” That’s important in a system where the heavy caseload can often make litigants feel like a number.

She shows a quick ability to size up a situation, and an understanding of what it takes to ably manage opposing sides. Brookins...has supporters across the political spectrum and is widely lauded for her professionalism...

Brookins...seems a better fit. She has rounded experience in and outside the courtroom, and the lens she brings through her vast community experience would benefit the litigants before her. She is a great communicator and widely respected among her peers for her legal skills and leadership qualities."  

The Tampa Bay Times recommends Linette “Starr” Brookins for Hillsborough County Court Judge, Group 11

"It is important to have a [judge] that has knowledge of law in many areas, wide range life experiences and has been committed to the community...

Brookins has all the tools needed to be a good judge. She is well known in the legal community and has worked in many capacities to make this community better."

The Sentinel endorses Linette "Starr" Brookins

From Our Community. For Our Community.

• 4th Generation Tampa Native 
  • Parents are Chamberlain High School graduates
  • Maternal grandparents are Middleton High School graduates
• Attended McLane Middle School and Riverview High School
• Graduate of Jefferson High School (a title 1 school): Salutatorian of the Magnet Academies & Valedictorian of the Law & Criminal Justice Magnet Academy
• University of Tampa Graduate in three years with magna cum laude distinction
• Joined Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. at The University of South Florida
• Girls State, American Legion Auxiliary Department of Florida

Honors & Accolades

• Graduated from a top 20 law school, The George Washington University Law School as a Presidential Merit Scholar 
• Lawyers of Distinction Nominee
• The National Black Lawyers Top 100 in Florida
• Leader in the Law, Florida Association for Women Lawyers
• President's Award, Hillsborough Association for Women Lawyers
• Best Lawyers®: Ones to Watch
• Tampa Bay G.I.R.L.S. Rock Honoree – Civic Award
• Tampa Bay Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 Awards Nominee
• Pro Bono Teen Court Award
• Judge Carol Draper Teen Court Service Award, Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida
• Exceptional Pro Bono Service Award
• Outstanding Attorney Award, Children’s Legal Services
• Finer Womanhood Award, Epsilon Epsilon Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
• The Guardian of Justice Pro Bono Award, Community Legal Services
• Anne Frank Humanitarian Award

• Hearing Officer with Hillsborough County for the past six (6) years.  In this quasi-judicial role, she has presided over hearings and rendered decisions, always showing compassion while strictly adhering to the rule of law. 
• No stranger to the courtroom, and is a proven trial attorney.  She has tried jury trials to verdict, and bench trials to judgment. She knows the courtroom inside and out.
• Appellate experience, in both civil and criminal law.  
• She has litigated on both sides of the aisle - serving in both a prosecutorial role, as well as a defense role. Everyone who appears before her will be treated with respect and compassion, and will get a fair shake.  
• She is an Educator, teaching middle and high school students about having healthy relationships with themselves and others.

Bipartisan Support | Endorsed by Our Community Leaders and Heroes

• The Tampa Firefighters IAFF Local 754
• The Tampa Bay Times
• The West Central Florida Labor Council, AFL-CIO
• The Florida Sentinel
• Muslims for Democracy and Fairness
• The Honorable Ronald Ficarrotta, Immediate Former Chief Judge of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit (Hillsborough County)
• The Honorable Retired Judge Gregory P. Holder (Hillsborough County)
• The Honorable City Councilman Luis Viera, Esq., Former Chairman
  
• The Honorable Bear McCullough, Hillsborough Soil & Water Conservation District
• The Honorable School Board Chair Karen Perez
• The Honorable Andrew Learned, Former Member of the FL House of Representatives
• The Honorable Dr. Sonja P. Brookins, Former Treasurer of the Hillsborough County Soil & Water Conservation District
• Erin Aebel, Esq. 
• Karen Barnett, Esq. 
• Liz Brewer
• Connie Burton
• Ronald Cacciatore, Esq.
• Christopher Chambers
• Jennifer Feld, Esq.
• Paige Greenlee, Esq.
• Danielle Hernandez, Esq.
• Erin Jackson, Esq.
• Peggy Land
• Tiffany Love, Esq.
• Cory Person, Esq. 
• Dr. Richard Piper
• Colonel D.J. Reyes
• John Schifino, Esq. 
• Karen Skyers, Esq. 
• Dotti and Roger Skipper
• Dr. Amy Solomon
• Fran Tate
• Jeanne Tate, Esq.
• And many, many more...
• We'd love to earn YOUR support, as well! 

Proven Leader with a Deep Commitment to Our Community

• President, Hillsborough Association for Women Lawyers [dedicated to giving women a voice in our justice system and promoting gender equality in the legal profession and under the law]
• Vice President, Guardian Ad Litem Foundation of Tampa Bay [advocate for and support youth impacted by abuse and neglect]
• Chair, Young Women of Promise, The Athena Society [honor extraordinary young women that are juniors in Hillsborough County public and private schools]
• Board Member, The Regent [we aspire to meet the needs of the Greater Brandon community in Eastern Hillsborough County by forging connections and building a sense of civic pride]
• Board Member, The Athena Society [Tampa professionals who have demonstrated leadership in the community and committed themselves to promoting equality and opportunity for women]
• Board Member, Tampa Bay Tiger Club [non-partisan political forum]
• Board Member, The University of Tampa Board of Counselors  [serves as Ambassador and helps mentor students]
• Board Member, Girl Scouts of West Central Florida [building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place]
• Member, Rotary Club - Ybor City [We provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through our fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders. We are people of action, community builders, and problem solvers who value Service over Self]
• Member, Indo Chamber of Commerce
• Volunteer Judge, Teen Court (delinquency diversionary program)
• Immediate Past Chair, Human Relations Board, Hillsborough County [we encourage equality among all people by reviewing complaints filed under Hillsborough County's Human Rights Ordinance promoting fair treatment and equal opportunity for all]
• Immediate Past Chair, Hillsborough County Black Chamber of Commerce
• Former Historical Committee Chair, George Edgecomb Bar Association [dedicated to the promotion and recognition of African Americans within the legal profession and judiciary]
• Former Criminal Justice Committee Member, NAACP
• Former Scribe, Code & Rules of Evidence Committee, Florida Bar