Judge Pacheco was appointed to serve as Lee County Judge by Governor DeSantis in July 2025. Prior to taking the bench, Judge Pacheco was a Board Certified Specialist in Business Litigation. Judge Pacheco has 20 years of experience as an attorney in complex civil litigation, representing clients in a wide range of disputes involving construction, real estate, homeowner and condominium associations, intellectual property, landlord/tenant disputes, negligence and torts, products liability, insurance coverage, and employment litigation in federal and state trial and appellate courts in multiple states.

Judge Pacheco was born in Lima, Peru, and his family moved to the U.S. to escape communist terrorists when he was 9 years old. Judge Pacheco and his wife, Paula, moved to Bonita Springs in 2008 from Cleveland, Ohio, where they raise their 2 children and enjoy driving them all over the State for various sports and school activities. Judge Pacheco enjoys coaching, playing, and refereeing soccer, playing pickle ball, basketball, and tennis, volunteering, fishing, cooking, and travel.

Judicial Assignment

Education

• Case Western Reserve University School of Law, J.D., Magna Cum Laude, 2005
• The Ohio State University, B.A., Magna Cum Laude, 2002

Prior Work Experience

• Partner, Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP, 2005-2025

Professional Experience

• The Florida Bar
  • Trial Lawyers Division
• Lee County Bar Association
• Collier County Bar Association
  • Board Member 2024-2025
• Calusa Inns of Court
• Michael R.N. McDonnell Inns of Court
  • President, 2020-2021
• Twentieth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee
• U.S. Court for the Middle District of Florida’s Merit Selection Panel for Fort Myers U.S. Magistrate Judge

Community Associations

• Community Advisory Board for the Bonita Springs branch of YMCA of Southwest Florida
• Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Volunteer
• Royal Palm Academy Catholic School, Volunteer
• Immokalee High School Mock Trial Team: Coach
• SWFL, Inc. (formerly the Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce)
  • Board of Directors 2016-2019; YP Steering Committee Co-Chair 2017-2018; Impact SWFL Steering Committee and co-founder, 2017
• Cancer Alliance Network
  • Board of Directors 2014-2020; President 2019-2020
• Cub Scout Pack 226, St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church
  • Pack Camping Chair, 2015-2017
• Florida Fire Juniors, board of directors 2019.
• Florida West F.C., ECNL-R soccer coach 2019-2025, U.S. Soccer Federation “C” License
• SCORE Naples, Volunteer Business Counselor, 2011-2016
• Leadership Bonita, Class of 2015
• Council of Hispanic Business Professionals
  • 2008-2015; Board of Directors/Vice President, 2013-2015
• Esperanza, Inc.
  • Board of Directors, 2006; Second Vice President, 2007

Awards and Honors

• Board Certified Specialist in Business Litigation Law, 2015-2025
• Southwest Florida Federal Court Bar Association, Extraordinary Pro Bono Service Award, 2016
• Best Lawyers in America 2025, 2024, 2023
• Best Lawyers: Ones To Watch, Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Construction, 2021
• Naples Illustrated, Top Lawyers, Construction Law, 2021
• Florida Super Lawyers®, Rising Stars Edition, 2009-2011,2013-2022
• Gulfshore Business, 40 Under 40, 2014
• Lawyers of Color’s Hot List, 2013
• Kaleidoscope Magazine, Cuarenta/Cuarenta Club (40 Hispanic leaders, ages 45 and under), 2007
• Clinical Legal Education Association, Outstanding Student Award, 2005
• The Ohio State University, Outstanding Criminology Student, 2002
• Order of the Coif