Greg Holder

Retired Florida Circuit Court Judge | Mediator | Arbitrator | Special Magistrate

Hon. Gregory P. Holder (Ret.) is a nationally respected mediator, arbitrator, and special magistrate and a retired Florida Circuit Court judge who served more than 26 years on the bench in Florida’s 13th Judicial Circuit. Judge Holder mediates and arbitrates complex commercial, tort, insurance, and reinsurance disputes in federal and state courts throughout the United States. Since retiring from the bench in 2020, he has successfully mediated or arbitrated more than 3,100 matters involving claims totaling more than $750 million.

Judge Holder is frequently appointed as a mediator by federal court judges and regularly serves as a special magistrate addressing complex discovery disputes in high-stakes litigation. Known for his disciplined, analytical approach and deep courtroom experience, Judge Holder brings a practical understanding of how cases are evaluated and resolved both at trial and through alternative dispute resolution.

Judicial Experience

Judge Holder served for more than 26 years as a judge in Florida’s 13th Judicial Circuit in Hillsborough County, presiding over a wide range of matters across multiple divisions. During his tenure on the bench, he served 13 years in the general civil division, handling complex commercial disputes, business litigation, and high-value civil claims. He also spent 10 years in the felony division, presiding over serious criminal matters and jury trials.

From 2014 to 2016, Judge Holder presided over the Veterans Treatment Court, where he expanded the role of the court in addressing service-related challenges faced by veterans within the justice system. His work in this area helped contribute to the development of the national model for Veterans Treatment Courts, and he continues to support these programs as a member of the National Veterans Court Alliance, working to develop legislation supporting federal funding and oversight of veterans courts across the United States.

Judge Holder retired from the Florida Circuit Court on December 31, 2020, concluding a distinguished judicial career marked by fairness, preparation, and thoughtful decision-making across thousands of cases.

Mediation, Arbitration, and Special Magistrate Practice

Following his retirement from the bench, Judge Holder immediately began his full-time practice as a mediator, arbitrator, and special magistrate, focusing on complex civil disputes in both state and federal courts.
His practice includes matters involving:

• Complex commercial litigation
  
• Business and contract disputes
  
• Insurance coverage disputes
  
• Reinsurance litigation
  
• Professional liability matters
  
• Complex tort litigation
  
• High-value civil claims
  
• Discovery and case management disputes
  

Judge Holder has conducted commercial arbitrations under the rules of the American Arbitration Association (AAA), CPR Institute, and Florida statutes, and he is frequently appointed by courts to serve as a special magistrate in complex litigation matters requiring experienced judicial oversight.
Since beginning his neutral practice, Judge Holder has mediated or arbitrated more than 3,100 matters, representing disputes valued collectively at more than $750 million.

Military Service

Before entering the legal profession, Judge Holder served as an officer in the United States Air Force.  He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force.  While serving as an armament systems development engineer, he earned his Master of Business Administration from the University of West Florida in 1978.  Judge Holder was later selected to attend Stetson University College of Law through the Air Force Funded Legal Education Program, earning his Juris Doctor in 1981. During law school, he served as Associate Editor of the Stetson Law Review and authored several published legal articles. After graduation, he served at multiple stateside and overseas military bases as an assistant judge advocate and area defense counsel. In 1988, he transitioned from active duty to the U.S. Air Force Reserve, where he served at United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) from 1988 through 1996. Upon his retirement from the U.S. Air Force Reserve on February 1, 2004, Colonel Holder served as Chief Reserve Trial Judge for the United States Air Force.

Academic Experience

Judge Holder has also had a distinguished career in legal and aviation education.  He served as an adjunct faculty member at Webster University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU), and the University of South Florida, and was the lead faculty member and area chair for the Central Florida campus of the University of Phoenix until 2020.  As an adjunct professor for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Judge Holder taught aviation law for 30 years at the MacDill Air Force Base campus.

Professional Recognition

Judge Holder has been recognized nationally for his work in alternative dispute resolution and legal service.
His honors include:

• National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals (2021)
• Best Lawyers in America – Arbitration and Mediation (since 2023)
  

He is also a Florida Supreme Court-Certified Circuit Civil Mediator and is admitted as both attorney and mediator in the United States District Courts for the Middle District and Southern District of Florida.

Personal

Judge Holder and his wife, D.A. (“Dee”) Kobliska, have been married for more than 49 years. Dee served more than 23 years of active duty in both the United States Army and the United States Air Force, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1993, and now works as a nurse practitioner providing gynecological care.