Rex Martin Barbas
Rex graduated from Jesuit High School, Tampa. He attended Loyola University in New Orleans, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Religious Studies with a minor in philosophy. He then attended Loyola University Law School.
While in Law school he was research assistant to the Dean of the Law School and a teaching Fellow in Research and Writing. He graduated Law Review and in the top 9% of his class. As a senior he was voted the outstanding graduating senior by the faculty and Law Review Editorial Board.
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
After law school he accepted a position at the Hillsborough County State attorney’s office. There he quickly rose from the intake division to Felony division in six months. After two years in the Felony division he was made chief of the newly formed white collar crimes division and also assigned to homicides. After five years at the State Attorney’s Office, Rex left to go into private practice.
After two years in private practice Rex formed his own firm with B. Anderson Mitcham and Martha Weed, originally named Mitcham, Weed and Barbas; now known as Barbas, Nunez, Sanders, Butler & Hovsepian.
While in private practice Rex had a varied background. At one point he drafted construction and development contracts and wrote title insurance for Chicago Title. Eventually, Rex became specialized in medical malpractice and construction litigation. Before taking the bench in 1997 Rex had tried over 150 cases in circuit and federal district court. He was also a mediator before taking the bench.
JUDICIAL EXPERIENCE
In 1997 Rex was elected to the circuit bench. His initial assignment was to the Family division. During the next 27 years, Rex served in all circuit divisions, except for probate. (Although Rex did not serve in the probate division, he was assigned cases and litigated probate issues, when the probate judge declared a conflict.)
He spent 12 years in the civil divisions. Rex has tried the following types of cases (among others): Business Dissolution, Commercial/Business, Consumer Fraud, Contract Disputes, Debt Collections, Employment, Health Care Insurance, Land Use/Planning, Landlord/Tenant, Legal and Medical Malpractice, Nursing Homes, Personal Injury, Premises Liability, Product Liability, Professional Fees, Property Damage, Unfair Competition, and Wrongful Death, among others.
In 2014 Chief Judge Ronald Ficarotta named Rex as the Administrative judge over the civil divisions. Rex served in the position until his retirement.
During Rex’s tenure on the circuit bench he conducted in excess of 400 jury trials.
BAR AND JUDICIAL TEACHING
Rex has lectured extensively throughout his career for the Florida Bar, the Hillsborough County Bar Association and for private companies. He also taught at the College for Advanced Judicial Studies (AJS) and was Associate Dean. Rex is still teaching at the College for Advanced Judicial Studies. Rex continues to lecture at the Florida Conference of Circuit Court Judges. Rex has continued to be active on the Bench Bar Committee for the Hillsborough County Bar Association and with the Ferguson White Inns of Court, where he is presently on the board of directors.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Rex has been active in his community. He has been a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, having served on the Parrish council and continues to serve on the Finance Council. He has previously served as President of the Jesuit High School Alumni Association and on the Jesuit High School Foundation. He is presently on the Children’s Home Society Board of Directors. Since December, 2009 Rex has been a Santa Claus for the autistic children and since 2022 at the Santa Maria Mission. Rex is a member of the First US Calvary Regiment (Rough Riders) and a past president.
RECOGNITIONS
Rex is a Florida Bar Board Certified Civil Trial Attorney in the areas of medical malpractice and construction litigation.
Rex has been listed in Who’s Who in American Law and in Whose who In the World.
He is AV rated by Martindale–Hubbell.
Rex has been recognized by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Hispanic Advisory Committee with its Raymond E. Fernandez for his contributions to the community.
He was also recognized by the Lawyers Autism Awareness Foundation for his service as a sensory Santa.
A more extensive curriculum vitae will be provided upon request.
