Episode Article
On a recent episode of the Rise and Thrive Podcast from Make It Viral Media, host Anusha interviewed Louis "Louie" Aguila, a Hillsborough County prosecutor with 12.5 years of experience who is running for Circuit Court Judge in 2026. They talked about Aguila's Tampa roots, his journey from a college internship to the courtroom, how Florida's judicial system works, and why he thinks local business communities and judicial races should get more attention.
Tampa Roots: A Cuban and Italian Upbringing
Aguila was born and raised in Tampa. His father's family is Cuban. His father was born in Cuba in the early 1960s, when the Castro regime took power. Aguila's father, uncle, and grandparents moved from Cuba to New York when his father was still a baby. After a few years in New York, the family settled in Tampa and has lived there ever since.
Aguila's father went on to serve Hillsborough County as a firefighter for 34 years before retiring. During his career, firefighter shifts ran 24 hours on duty, followed by 48 hours off.
Aguila's mother is primarily of Italian heritage, with some additional mixed ancestry. The blended household meant double the holiday cooking: Cuban-style food, including pork, on Christmas Eve, followed by Italian dishes like lasagna on Christmas Day.
Aguila is the oldest of three brothers. The family went to St. Lawrence Catholic School in the Himes neighborhood, then Tampa Catholic High School near Hillsborough Avenue and Rome Avenue. Sports were always part of his life. Aguila played baseball from age 4 to 21, including his first two years of college, and also played basketball in high school.
Family Life Alongside the Campaign
Aguila and his wife were friends in high school and reconnected later. They will celebrate 12 years of marriage at the end of 2026. His wife has taught for about 15 years and now teaches fourth grade. They have two daughters, ages 8 and 5, and Aguila coaches their youth softball team. He says his family's support has been essential during the 14-month judicial campaign.
From a USF Internship to Assistant State Attorney
Aguila graduated from the University of South Florida (USF). As part of his degree, he did an "externship," which is an internship for class credit, at the Hillsborough County State Attorney's Office. He was about 20 years old and worked there Monday through Friday from January to May that year. After law school, he returned to the same office as a "certified legal intern", a designation that, once a student has accumulated enough law school credit, allows them to appear on the record in court on behalf of the attorney they're assigned to. After passing the Florida Bar exam, the office offered him a position, and he has worked there ever since.
Aguila has worked as a prosecutor for 12.5 years and will start his 13th year at the end of 2026.
How Prosecution and Defense Actually Work
Aguila explained the basics of how a criminal case works for listeners who might not know the process:
| Police | Investigate an alleged crime and make an arrest |
| State Attorney's Office (prosecution) | Reviews the police investigation, decides whether to file formal charges, and handles the case in court — including at trial |
| Defense attorney | Represents the accused, who is constitutionally entitled to legal representation |
| Prosecutor and defense attorney together | Negotiate case outcomes, including plea deals, based on the facts and evidence |
Note: "State Attorney's Office" and "District Attorney's Office" mean the same thing. The name just changes depending on the state or county.
12.5 Years of Caseload: From Domestic Violence to Drug Trafficking
Over the course of his career, Aguila has moved through several specialized divisions within the Hillsborough County State Attorney's Office:
- ~1 year in: Assigned to the office's dedicated Domestic Violence division
- Special Victims Unit (SVU): Handled sex crimes against both children and adults, plus child abuse and aggravated child abuse cases (aggravated meaning the child was seriously injured)
- Homicide cases
- Gang-related cases
- Currently: Cold case homicides and missing persons cases
- Currently: Large-scale drug trafficking organization cases, frequently involving fentanyl moving through and out of the county
The Circuit Court Judge Race: How Florida's Judicial System Works
Aguila is running for a Circuit Court Judge seat in Hillsborough County. The seat is open because the current judge is retiring. Aguila is not running against an incumbent, but is competing with other attorneys for the open position.
Florida's trial court system splits authority between two types of judges:
| Criminal jurisdiction | Misdemeanors — e.g., theft, DUI without a fatality | Felonies — e.g., murder, rape |
| Civil jurisdiction | Lawsuits under $50,000 | Lawsuits over $50,000 |
| Family law | Not handled at this level | Handled at this level |
Election Mechanics
- Judicial elections in Florida are nonpartisan, so no party affiliation appears on the ballot next to a judicial candidate's name.
- Since the race is nonpartisan, every registered voter sees the same judicial candidates on their ballot, regardless of party registration (Republican, Democrat, or no party affiliation).
- Hillsborough County judicial races are countywide, not district-based. They cover areas from Wimauma and Ruskin in the south to Lutz in the north, and east to Plant City and Temple Terrace.
- A Circuit Court Judge term runs 6 years
- If a sitting judge has no opponents when their term ends, they automatically get a new 6-year term without a campaign. If someone challenges them, it starts a full election cycle.
- Voter registration deadline for this election: July 2026
- Early voting: August 3–16, 2026, 10 a.m.–6 p.m., across 27 early voting sites countywide
- Election Day: August 18, 2026, polls open 7 a.m.–7 p.m. at each voter's assigned precinct
- Winners take office in January 2027
- As of this interview, Aguila's campaign had been running for 14 months.
Small-Business Roots: 30+ Years in Tampa's Restaurant Industry
Aguila's connection to Tampa's business community is also personal. His family ran restaurants in the city for over 30 years. His grandfather opened La Ideal, a Cuban restaurant on Tampa Bay Boulevard about 10 blocks from Raymond James Stadium. The restaurant served Cuban sandwiches, breakfast, and Cuban-style food from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Aguila's father worked there on his days off from the fire department, and his mother worked there too.
Later, the family changed the business to Aguila Sandwich Shop on Hillsborough Avenue, across from the post office near Jamaica Street. By then, Aguila was old enough to work at the front of the shop and interact with customers.
Connecting with Tampa's Business Community
Aguila is an active member of the Carrollwood Area Business Association (CABA), where he has built relationships with local business owners in recent months. He also mentioned two other Tampa-area networking groups he is involved with or considering: Millionaires Club and BNI (Business Network International). Aguila and his family attended CABA's Taste of Carrollwood event, which brought together over 100 local business owners.
Aguila's Definition of Justice
When asked what justice means to him, Aguila said it is simply fairness: following the law, listening to both sides, and putting aside personal feelings. He pointed out that a not-guilty verdict or a case dismissed for lack of evidence is just as much justice as a conviction. He also noted that case timelines can vary a lot. Some criminal cases finish within a year; others take longer; and civil and family law cases take severallast several years.
His Advice for Aspiring Legal Professionals
Aguila's advice for anyone considering a legal career or becoming a judge is not to fear failure. He says to be realistic about your goals, but go after them anyway. He believes people often learn more from their losses than their wins. He also credits his career progress to the mentors and supporters who helped him, not just his own efforts.
How to Learn More or Vote
- Race: Circuit Court Judge, Hillsborough County
- Election Day: August 18, 2026
- Website: louieforjudge.com
- Facebook: Louie for Judge
- Instagram: @electlouieforjudge