Hendriks appointed as newest St. Lucie County judge

FORT PIERCE — The third time was the charm for Assistant State Attorney Jeffrey Hendriks, who was appointed Friday afternoon as St. Lucie County’s newest judge.

Hendriks, 47, said he received a call from a deputy chief in the General Counsel’s Office a few minutes before the end of his workday, congratulating him on his appointment to replace County Judge Phillip Yacucci Jr., whose resignation became effective on June 30.

“I’m still beside myself,” Hendriks said Friday evening. “It’s awesome.”

He said he hadn’t even told his parents yet, because his wife of nine years, Jennifer, a deputy in the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office, said they were coming for dinner Friday evening and he should wait to tell them when they arrived.

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Hendriks and his wife have two children, Samuel 6, and Claire, 3.

Hendriks said he phone blew up with messages of congratulations immediately after the announcement from the Governor’s Office.

Born in Ontario, Canada, Hendriks moved with his family to Martin County when he was 13 and graduated from Martin County High School before enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps at age 17.

During 14 years in the Marines, half on active duty and half in the Reserves, Hendriks rose through the ranks to staff sergeant, then went to Officer Candidate School and came out as a lieutenant, eventually achieving the rank of captain before he left the Corps in 2002.

Along the way, he served in a tank in Operation Desert Storm and in Somalia.

While in the Reserves, Hendriks earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Florida and his law degree from Stetson University.

Shortly after leaving the Corps, Hendriks was hired as a prosecutor in the 19th Circuit State Attorney’s Office, where he has been a major crimes prosecutor since 2016. He has previously served as a felony supervisor and an assistant state attorney.

He also has been an adjunct professor at Indian River State College since 2007, teaching advanced law enforcement and law classes.

Hendriks said he heard from St. Lucie County Judge Daryl Isenhower, who he expects will be assigned as his mentor when he meets next week with Chief Judge Elizabeth Metzger.

He said he’s not sure yet when he will make the transition from the State Attorney’s Office to the bench.

“I want to give (State Attorney) Bruce Colton as much time as I can to find a replacement,” he said.

This was the third time Hendriks had applied for a judicial vacancy, and each time his name was among the six submitted to the governor by the 19th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission.