Full Court Press Fall 2022
In this Issue:
- A Letter from the State Courts Administrator
- Welcome Justice Francis
- Domestic Violence Case Manager Training
- Dispute Resolution Center's 30th Annual Conference
- Public Service in the Courts and Beyond
- Four Trial Court Administrator Farewells and Hellos
- Hurricane Ian and the Courts
- Hybrid Hearings Initiative in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit
- National Adoption Day in the Courts
- Turning Points
- Around the State
A Letter from the State Courts Administrator
Allison C. Sackett
It has officially been more than a year since I joined the State Courts System in the fall of 2021. Although it’s been a year, I’m still meeting members of the justice system community, building relationships statewide, and learning from each and every one of you. I am excited to keep strengthening relationships with new and experienced members of our court system.
As I reflect on the transition from summer to fall, I am proud of the meaningful work we have accomplished together over the past few months. Sometimes we refer to the summer months as “conference season” because of the many trainings, conferences, and education programs held throughout the state. For instance, the Dispute Resolution Center’s Annual Dispute Resolution conference drew over 700 attendees and was the first in-person conference the Center has held since 2019. The Domestic Violence Case Manager Training taught audiences job-specific skills and relayed information about domestic violence trends and best practices. Conferences and education programs are integral to the continuing education of judges, court staff, and judicial partners, as well as helping maintain awareness of changes and trends across the legal landscape. Thank you to those across the state who develop and facilitate these quality programs.
While I couldn’t make it to every event, I was able to attend problem-solving court webinars as well as the Annual Education Programs of the district court, circuit court, and county court judicial conferences. And I was honored to address the Judicial Assistants Association of Florida at their annual education conference. I learned from each expert and attendee with whom I had the pleasure of speaking at these events. I hope you did, too.
Fall always feels like a time of change to me, and the State Courts System is no exception as we mark several retirements and appointments, not least of which was the appointment of Justice Renatha Francis to the Supreme Court.
As we know, public service is rewarding. However, people may not know that many of our judges and court staff have also served in various branches of the United States Armed Forces. In November, as we honor all former service members on Veterans Day, we also recognize those veterans now serving in our courts. These dedicated individuals have devoted much of their professional lives to public service in the court system and the military forces. I hope you enjoy the photos included in this issue of just a few of our colleagues who have served our nation and state well in both endeavors.
Each year, just before Thanksgiving, the trial courts commemorate Adoption Day. In 2022, courts across the state celebrated Adoption Day in various ways that not only celebrated these pivotal moments in the lives of newly-created families but also served to bring awareness to adoption. These happy occasions remind us of the judicial system's positive, life-altering role in our society.
On September 28, Hurricane Ian made landfall in Florida and swept across the state, leaving catastrophic damage from severe winds and storm surges. While some courthouses sustained damage, I am proud to report that all courts were functional and again serving Florida’s families and businesses by mid-October. Tropical Storm Nicole, hitting Florida in November, also affected court operations. Although we are still working to rebuild after both storms, the Court Emergency Management Group mobilized quickly to ensure courts received the resources they needed.
I am honored to be a part of Florida’s exceptional court system and never cease to be amazed by the diligence, integrity, grit, determination, and devotion of the public servants with whom I am fortunate to work. Here’s to many more years of working together and a happy holiday season!
Welcome Justice Francis
Justice Renatha Francis
Justice Francis’ story begins in Jamaica, where she grew up. She attended the University of the West Indies, majoring in political science and international relations. While attending university, Justice Francis managed two family businesses and yet, graduated with honors. The multitasking and long hours dedicated to both endeavors helped her develop skills she still uses today. “It was really a challenge because I was a full-time student. I didn’t have the typical college experience that a lot of students have,” she said. She described the undertaking as “a great balancing act.” “Being a small business owner is all-consuming, so you learn pretty quickly how to manage your time effectively.” She noted the skills she developed during that time prepared her for the judiciary in many ways. “Your role as a judge is not only about deciding the cases; it’s about the administrative responsibilities as well.”
In those administrative positions, such as presiding over the family law division in the circuit court in West Palm Beach, her professional and managerial foundation helped her manage the various people and processes for which a presiding judge is responsible. Justice Francis reflected that her experience managing two businesses and attending school impacted her worldview and her role as a public servant in the judiciary. Juggling many expectations “shapes the way you view your responsibilities; it shapes the way you view your commitments. When you’re in the eye of the storm, you’re just putting one foot in front of the other. And eventually, when you look back, you’re like, oh my, I can’t believe I was doing all that. But you just do it because you must do it.”
Justice Francis had her sights set on attending law school since she was a child. She said, “I’ve had that dream for as long as I can remember. ‘Where I got that dream to go to law school?’ That is the million-dollar question.” Taking a class in contracts while preparing to go to university “really cemented” her desire to become a lawyer. She said she “absolutely loved” the contracts course and continued, “once I got to law school, it was over,” she thought, “I’m in heaven.”
While attending law school in Jacksonville, Justice Francis was a member of a nationally ranked moot court team and considers the team’s coordinator a pivotal mentor who “saw something in her” and inspired her to keep working toward her goals. Justice Francis met Judge Scott Makar in law school, and she later clerked for him at Florida’s First District Court of Appeal. She said her positive experience at the First District Court of Appeal “shaped [her] views on what [she] wanted to do as a career.”
Thinking back on those impactful experiences, she recalls engaging in discussions with Judge Makar and Judge Peter Webster, for whom she also clerked at the First District Court of Appeal. She remembers the conversations that prepared her for her career as a judge. She said, “I recall sitting in Judge Makar’s office discussing the merits of cases … it was wonderful.” Watching Judge Makar and Judge Webster lead and decide challenging cases influenced how she approached her judgeships. She continues to emulate their “kind, discerning, and thoughtful” leadership in her judicial roles.
Having lived in several cities across the state of Florida, including Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Miami, and West Palm Beach, Justice Francis definitively calls Florida home. She has family across the state and has found community within the judiciary and among many other Caribbean-Americans. Her experiences from Jamaica are still prevalent in her approach to the United States government. After experiencing both governments, she has a “deep appreciation” for and is “beyond grateful” she “get[s] to be a part of preserving” the United States government through her service in the judicial branch. With obvious reverence, she said, “the sky is the limit in the United States, definitely. It’s really a special place.”
When asked about her experience in the trial courts, where she presided over the Family and Probate Divisions, Justice Francis noted some of the skills learned then that she carries into her role on the supreme court. She discussed challenges she encountered in West Palm Beach, where Family and Probate cases make up the second largest caseload after civil cases. Justice Francis managed massive dockets and heard countless cases in family and probate matters. Hearing some of the most “intimate,” “emotionally charged” cases emphasized the power of practicing patience and grace in the courtroom, and Justice Francis said it still impacts her today. Her respect for trial court judges cannot be understated. “I have an immense respect for trial judges and the difficulties they face with these very large dockets. These judges have to make sure that they are deeply involved in their communities.”
Justice Francis worked in the trial courts during the height of the pandemic and conducted many remote and hybrid proceedings. While acknowledging that technology in the courtroom was, and still is, an adjustment, she welcomes technology and its power to increase access to the courts. She said she is “not afraid of technology” and is willing to continue learning and growing with the judiciary, especially considering remote proceedings are becoming a permanent part of the judicial rule of administration. After observing the increased access remote appearances allowed, she expressed excitement for the growth it symbolizes; it was time for the judiciary to move into the 21st century. However, she also noted that increased technology requires discipline from all parties and acknowledges that the learning curve will be present for many participants. Regarding the increased use of technology in courtrooms and courthouses, she remarked, “I think it’s wonderful. I welcome it.”
Justice Francis being sworn in by Chief Justice Muñiz in the courtroom of the Supreme Court Building
When asked about what challenges she anticipated from serving on the state’s highest court, Justice Francis noted that decisions made by the supreme court impact all residents of Florida, sometimes garner national attention, and influence other states and their residents. She further opined that the cases at this level are “so consequential[,]. . . It doesn’t matter what it is, people get very deeply invested in the outcome.” Therefore, justices have a responsibility to explain their rulings to the public thoroughly.
Justice Francis expressed that one of the significant issues facing the judiciary today is the crisis of confidence in the judicial system stemming from a lack of public knowledge of the role of the judicial branch. Education and outreach are a passion of hers, and she hopes to leave her mark on the court by increasing public trust and confidence in the judiciary. She noted that although confidence in institutions like the judicial branch are low, the lack of confidence is an “opportunity to explain the structure of our government, why it matters, the role of the courts, and just really educating the public.”
She observed that education and outreach initiatives primarily target justice partners such as lawyers. However, she believes in the effectiveness of building trust by speaking directly with communities and demystifying the judicial branch’s role within the three branches of government. “[Justices] have this responsibility to explain [them]selves thoroughly in a way that I think non-lawyers can understand. We should not be talking into an echo chamber.” She said there is often a misunderstanding of the judicial branch's power over the law, overlooking the function of the branch, which is to uphold the law. “If we try to do our jobs, and we do it with that goal [of openness and transparency] in mind, always to make sure that we’re informing people … I think it will go a long way.”
Justice Francis sitting behind her nameplate in the Supreme Court Building courtroom
When asked what she likes to do in her free time, Justice Francis laughed. The little free time she has to herself, she shares with her family. She is married with two young children whom she takes to birthday parties, playdates, and spoils with her exceptional cooking skills. She loves to experiment in the kitchen and show off her “Iron Chef skills” by making food from around the world. She noted that lately, she has been preparing Indian and Thai food, gaining a seal of approval from her husband and children. “I’m going to blow my own horn here,” she said, “I’m a pretty good cook!”
Justice Francis says she “views this position as a privilege.” Her passion for the judiciary was evident when she stated firmly, “my commitment to the rule of law, my commitment to the people of this great state are unwavering, and I want people to know that I’m going to do my absolute best for them on each and every case that comes before me.”
Domestic Violence Case Manager Training
In September, 37 domestic violence case managers from nearly every judicial circuit in Florida attended a two-day training in Kissimmee presented by the Office of the State Courts Administrator. The training covered various topics, including “Promising Practices,” “The Weaponization of Technology in Domestic Violence Cases,” and “A Relay for Life: Collaborative Communication Stakeholders.” The Office of the State Courts Administrator’s Kathleen Tailer was instrumental in ensuring the two-day program was well-programmed and well-delivered. She noted this is one of few domestic violence trainings within the State Courts System designed to educate court staff specifically, without the inclusion of judges or other justice partners. Additionally, she pointed out these training events are developed to equip case managers with the tools to succeed at what is often a challenging job.
The presenters ranged from the Office of the State Courts Administrator’s Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinator Debbie Howells, Orange County Clerk of Court Tiffany Moore Russell, and Pasco County Sheriff’s Department Corporal Alan Wilkett, among others. Each presenter brought a unique area of expertise to the training to extend case managers’ knowledge and prepare them for the complexities of domestic violence case management.
Case managers participating in the experiential session led by Debbie Howells
One highlight of the event for many participants was the interactive session on disability facilitated by Debbie Howells. Statistics reflect persons with disabilities are more likely to experience domestic violence, and the effective inclusion of persons with disabilities in domestic violence proceedings is a topic the case managers were eager to learn more about. The experiential component of the session paired a sighted case manager with a blindfolded partner, and the duo had to safely navigate a route simulating movement within a courthouse
Case managers also enjoyed a session about the potential risks associated with technology and how social media can contribute to domestic violence. Steve Bradley — a safety and technology expert specializing in domestic violence — led the interactive session and fostered a lively discussion that prepared case managers for encounters with domestic violence, harassment, and abuse through the use of technology.
Participants received continuing legal education credits for attending the training. For those participants unable to attend this training, the Office of the State Courts Administrator’s Office of Family Courts provides other opportunities for continuing education credits, including webinar recordings. It also maintains many case management resources, such as the Case Management Guidelines handbook on the Florida Courts website.
Dispute Resolution Center's 30th Annual Conference
Justice Canady Accepting the Award of Appreciation
The Office of the State Courts Administrator’s Dispute Resolution Center is responsible for certifying, supporting, and disciplining alternative dispute resolution professionals such as mediators, arbitrators, and parenting and eldercare coordinators. The Center also helps alternative dispute resolution professionals maintain certification through educational events and various live, virtual, and pre-recorded courses. The annual conference is one of the many resources the Center provides to help neutrals gain credit hours toward their certification.
Judges Munyon and Orfinger presenting at the conference
The Center convened its 30th annual conference in August 2022, its first in-person conference in two years. In 2020 and 2021, the conference was held virtually through webinars, and though well-received, based on attendee feedback, the event returned to the in-person format this year. Nearly 700 dispute resolution professionals attended the two-and-a-half-day event. The 2023 conference will be held virtually to expand the opportunity to those who cannot travel or take time away from work or home to attend in person.
Judges, lawyers, and subject-matter experts lead sessions on various topics. The sessions included “What to Expect When You’re Expecting (to Mediate),” “Effective Mediation of Global Disputes,” and “Generational Differences: The Effects on Mediation,” among other subjects. The speakers included Chief Judge Lisa Munyon, Judge Michael Orfinger, judicial officers, former Dispute Resolution Center Director Susan Marvin, and many more subject-matter experts.
Dispute Resolution Center staff
Florida Supreme Court Justice Charles T. Canady received the Center’s Award of Appreciation in honor of his leadership as chief justice during the pandemic and, more specifically, for his continued leadership within and support of the alternative dispute resolution community.
The Dispute Resolution Center not only hosts a conference but also provides a multitude of prerecorded training courses on the Florida Courts YouTube page to help satisfy continuing education requirements and keep alternative dispute resolution professionals abreast of any changes in rules or operations that may impact them. The Center also produces a Continuing Mediator Education Guide, available on the Florida Courts website, for reference at any time.
Public Service in the Courts and Beyond
On November 11, the United States celebrates Veterans Day. According to a 2021 survey completed by the US Census Bureau, an estimated 1,356,882 veterans in Florida make up almost eight percent of Florida’s population. This represents the second-largest veteran population in the United States after Texas.
Some of these veterans can now be found working in courtrooms and courthouses across the state, serving our communities in various roles. These veterans, whether judges or court staff, have devoted their lives to public service, and Veterans Day is a special opportunity to honor their service to the United States and the residents of Florida.
With Florida’s large population of veterans, the courts utilize Veteran Treatment Courts to give back to the veteran community. There are 31 such courts in Florida. County Judge Augustus Aikens is a retired Army colonel and currently presides over veteran treatment court in Leon County. Here, he reflects on his experience in the Army and how it influences his role as a judge.
Judge Aikens
Veteran treatment courts are created to address the underlying causes of a veteran’s involvement with the judicial system using specialized dockets, multidisciplinary teams, and evidence-based treatment. Specialized dockets and evidence-based treatment are effective tools to eliminate future unwanted judicial involvement. Although the multidisciplinary treatment problem-solving approach may be a critical component of the veteran treatment courts, it is not new to my military experience.
From serving as a captain HHC Commander of the 400th Military Police Camp Army Reserves early in my career and continuing throughout my military career to a colonel in the position as Staff Judge Advocate Florida National Guard Area Command, I was responsible for all that my unit did or failed to do.
It may first appear that the commander must personally supervise every action or decision for which his unit is responsible. Due to the complexity of military jobs, that is physically impossible. At each level in the chain of command above the very lowest, the commander has a group of assistants or staff who advise and inform him on the matters for which he is responsible.
The staff secures information and furnishes such advice as may be required by the commander, translates his decisions and plans into orders, and transmits orders to the troops.
That is exactly how the multidisciplinary treatment team operates in the veteran treatment court. This team includes Treatment Providers, a Veteran Treatment Court Coordinator, a Criminal Court Coordinator, an Assistant State Attorney, an Assistant Public Defender, a Lead Mentor, a Veteran Pretrial Officer, a Department of Corrections Officer, and a Veterans Justice Outreach Specialist. The team shares information, discusses issues, and determines actions necessary to assist the veteran to successfully complete the program. All team members are expected to provide input to the veteran treatment court Judge in this decision-making process. The Judge has the final determination, if the multi-disciplinary team is unable to reach a unanimous decision.
The goal of the veteran treatment court is to ensure every veteran successfully completes the program by assisting the veteran with treatment specific to his or her needs to the avoid future unacceptable judicial involvement.
The primary responsibility of a military leader is the accomplishment of his assigned mission. In accomplishing this paramount institutional role, the military leader must make difficult decisions. At the same time, the military leader is charged with the responsibility for the welfare of the men and women of his command. By looking out for his men and women, the leader secures their willing cooperation and improves their capability to perform the mission.
As a retired colonel and veteran treatment court judge, I relied on the unique aspects of military culture to develop camaraderie with the veteran participants. On a regular basis veterans are required to attend status reviews before the judge to establish and reinforce the program policies, ensure veterans’ needs are being met, and receive encouragement directly from the Judge. Through this process, the veteran should understand his or her success is the mission of the veteran treatment courts.
We are pleased to take this opportunity to recognize and honor some of the veterans working in the Florida State Courts System. They have served our country as part of the military and now facilitate access to judicial processes for all of Florida’s citizens. If you see one of these veterans in your community, we encourage you to thank them for their service.
Four Trial Court Administrator Farewells and Hellos
Sixth Judicial Circuit
Gay L. Inskeep
Gay Lynne Inskeep, the trial court administrator of Florida’s Sixth Judicial Circuit, retired in October after 35 years of service to the circuit. As trial court administrator, Ms. Inskeep made executive decisions to ensure the smooth administration of justice and led with compassion. Her over 100 staff revered her as a shrewd and efficient leader known for finding creative ways to attract and retain passionate, qualified staff. She made her mark on the judicial community and the community at large, serving on the Steering Committee on Families and Children in the Court, and sponsoring free Thanksgiving dinners in the St. Petersburg area for nearly two decades, to name two examples, and will be missed by those who had the privilege to work alongside her.
Upon the retirement of Ms. Inskeep, former court counsel Jennifer Parker was selected as trial court administrator. Before joining the Sixth Judicial Circuit as court counsel, Ms. Parker served as general counsel for two state agencies: the Department of Corrections and the Department of Juvenile Justice. She earned a law degree from the University of Florida College of Law and has over 29 years of public service experience.
As court counsel, Ms. Parker was the primary legal advisor to the Sixth Circuit’s chief judge, the trial court administrator, and administrative judges, ensuring the circuit’s policies, procedures, and programs complied with Florida law and administrative rules. She brings an extensive knowledge of the Sixth Circuit’s rules and procedures to her administrative role.
Eighth Judicial Circuit
The Eighth Judicial Circuit’s trial court administrator Paul Silverman will retire in December after 40 years of commitment to the legal community.
Paul Silverman
Mr. Silverman began his legal career at the Office of the Public Defender, followed by 25 years in private law practice in Alachua and surrounding counties. He started his work in the Eighth Judicial Circuit as a general magistrate in 2010 and was subsequently selected as trial court administrator in 2014.
During his tenure as trial court administrator, Mr. Silverman worked with four chief judges and oversaw the improvement of services provided to pro se litigants, including opening the Alachua County Self-Help Center.
Regarding Mr. Silverman’s notable service, the Eighth Judicial Circuit’s Chief Judge Mark W. Moseley said, “Paul Silverman gave himself fully as a servant of The Eighth Judicial Circuit for seven years as our trial court administrator. Paul has provided extraordinary leadership during his tenure - perhaps at his very best while helping us navigate through the Covid crisis. He will be greatly missed.” Looking to the future, Judge Moseley continued, “Nevertheless, one of Paul’s final gifts to the circuit has been mentoring a worthy successor, Michael Reeves, [who] is well-equipped to assume the responsibility of being our next [trial court administrator]. Together we look forward to facing the challenges of the future.”
Michael Reeves
Mr. Reeves will succeed Paul Silverman as trial court administrator in December. Mr. Reeves earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Bachelor of Science in Economics at the University of Florida and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Alabama School of Law.
He joined the Eighth Judicial Circuit in 2013 as a court analyst, where he examined statistical trends and conducted analyses that helped transform case management practices. He was promoted to court operations consultant, which included serving as the circuit’s public information officer. In this position, he managed the deployment of new technological initiatives, such as the transition to paperless court files. In July 2019, Mr. Reeves was selected as the Eighth Circuit’s chief technology officer and oversaw the court’s shift to remote and hybrid events during the COVID-19 pandemic. Michael brings varied experience and in-depth knowledge of the Eighth Judicial Circuit’s rules, procedures, and administration to his new role.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit
Kathleen Pugh
Kathleen Pugh has served as trial court administrator in the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit since her appointment in 2011 and retired in October after nearly 22 years of service to Florida’s second-largest circuit. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Empire State College of the State University of New York, her Juris Doctor from Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law School, and her Master of Law degree from the University of Miami. A member of both the New York and Florida Bars, Ms. Pugh worked as a senior court clerk and a court attorney for Nassau County, NY, before beginning her career with the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit in 1999 as a staff attorney. In 2011, prior to her selection as the trial court administrator, Ms. Pugh was supervising the circuit’s 16 staff attorneys. She recently received the 2022 Commitment to Justice Award from Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida for her work as trial court administrator during the pandemic and her commitment to improving the lives of low-income residents in Broward County through advocacy, representation, and empowerment.
Joseph D’Amico
Joseph D’Amico was selected to succeed Kathleen Pugh as trial court administrator. He joined the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit in 2011 as a staff attorney assigned to the general civil and complex business litigation divisions. He was promoted to general counsel in 2017 and chief deputy court administrator in 2020. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Barry University in Miami Shores, Florida, and his Juris Doctor from Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law School in New York, where he was a member of the Law Review. He is licensed to practice law in both Florida and New York. He brings extensive legal experience to the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit, his new role, and a robust understanding of the circuit’s rules and procedures.
Eighteenth Judicial Circuit
Mark Van Bever
Mark Van Bever has served as the trial court administrator for Florida’s Eighteenth Judicial Circuit since 1993 and retired at the end of September after nearly 30 years in that role. He graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor’s degree in management and finance and holds a Master’s in Business Administration from the Florida Institute of Technology. Mr. Van Bever is also a Certified Management Accountant and a 1997 Fellow of the Institute for Court Management.
Before joining the court system, Mr. Van Bever worked in the private sector and local government. He has served on the Institute for Court Management Board of Advisors, the National Association for Court Management’s Board of Directors, and the Florida Trial Court Budget Commission. Mr. Van Bever is a past recipient of the Institute for Court Management’s Star Award for outstanding contributions to court-related education.
He has been an educator at the university level and for the courts since 1977. Additionally, he has consulted or taught for various universities, court-related organizations, and state and federal courts nationwide.
Yvan Llanes
Florida’s trial court administrators at a business meeting in St. Petersburg
Yvan Llanes joined the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit in 2015 and was selected to fill the role of trial court administrator upon the retirement of Mark Van Bever. Mr. Llanes served nearly ten years with Indiana’s court system, including roles in the Office of the Clerk of the Supreme Court, Tax Court, and the Court of Appeals of Indiana. Before serving in Indiana’s judiciary, Mr. Llanes spent several years at the Clerk’s Office at the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from Florida International University and is fluent in Spanish.
Mr. Llanes’ experience as court technology officer and chief deputy court administrator has given him a unique perspective in developing and implementing information technology solutions to best meet the dynamic needs of the various constituencies that comprise and interact with the judicial system.
Hurricane Ian and the Courts
On September 28, Hurricane Ian made landfall near Fort Myers as a Category 4 storm with wind speeds up to 150 miles per hour. The storm severely impacted southwest and central Florida, with Lee County and the surrounding areas suffering the worst effects, including an estimated 15-foot storm surge.
Over 40 courthouses closed during the storm to ensure the safety of judges, court staff, and court visitors statewide as Ian traveled northeast across the state toward Duval and Nassau counties. The Court Emergency Management Group mobilized to ensure information backups and provide support before and after the storm. Despite Ian being one of the most destructive storms Florida has experienced since Hurricane Michael in 2018, judges, court staff, and the Court Emergency Management Group worked together to restore access to courts as quickly and efficiently as possible. Although some courthouses endured extensive damage, such as flooding at the Seminole County downtown civil courthouse, most were operating by October 3, and all courts were functioning by October 24.
The Fifteenth Judicial Circuit (Palm Beach County) collected donations to support those impacted by Hurricane Ian. Chief Judge Glenn Kelley, Trial Court Administrator Barbara Dawicke, Chief of Personnel William Hutchings, and Drug Court Director Jackson Mack delivered the donations in late October.
The Fifteenth Judicial Circuit (Palm Beach County) collected donations to support those impacted by Hurricane Ian. Chief Judge Glenn Kelley, Trial Court Administrator Barbara Dawicke, Chief of Personnel William Hutchings, and Drug Court Director Jackson Mack delivered the donations in late October.
The Fifteenth Judicial Circuit (Palm Beach County) collected donations to support those impacted by Hurricane Ian. Chief Judge Glenn Kelley, Trial Court Administrator Barbara Dawicke, Chief of Personnel William Hutchings, and Drug Court Director Jackson Mack delivered the donations in late October.
Hybrid Hearings Initiative in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit
The National Center for State Courts — a nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote the rule of law and improve the administration of justice in state courts — has selected Florida’s Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court to participate in its Hybrid Hearings Improvement Initiative. The initiative seeks to learn from and improve upon pandemic-era practices in an increasingly digital world.
The National Center launched the hybrid hearings study to evaluate the effectiveness of hybrid hearings in different courts around the United States. The selection of courts for inclusion in the program is being finalized. To date, 12 courts have been chosen as pilot sites, 11 have been selected to receive technical assistance from the National Center, 12 will serve as case studies, and 65 have been invited to participate in implementation lab sessions. Once selected, the court receives a grant that supports the cost and the installation of hybrid technology and technical support from the National Center. From November 2022 to May 2023, the National Center will collect data about the utility of the technology and its impact on court participants.
All local, state, and tribal courts were encouraged to apply to ensure a diverse representation of court experiences. Applicants were evaluated based on demonstrated interest in hybrid solutions, collaboration skills, capacity to implement the program, and the willingness and ability to share data with the National Center.
Eighth Judicial Circuit Judge Phillip A. Pena conducting remote proceedings during the height of COVID-19
Florida’s Eleventh Judicial Circuit has a history of participating in pilot programs to increase access to courts. The Eleventh Circuit was one of the first circuits in Florida to adapt to Virtual Remote Interpreting and is also partnering with Harvard University to participate in an online dispute resolution pilot program for specific case types.
By participating in the initiative, the Eleventh Circuit will help the National Center assess the long-term viability of hybrid solutions in courtrooms, which have already been adopted in the State of Florida. The information the National Center collects will support increased access to courts in various forms, including remote, hybrid, and in-person proceedings across the nation.
National Adoption Day in the Courts
On November 19, 2022, courts nationwide celebrated National Adoption Day. Initially founded to raise awareness about children in foster care awaiting adoption in the United States, it has come to symbolize and bring awareness to all adoption circumstances.
The history of National Adoption Day begins in Los Angeles County, where presiding Judge Michael Nash of the Juvenile Division opened the court on Saturdays with volunteer court staff to facilitate adoptions, clear a backlog of adoption cases, and formally create new families. In a coordinated effort to bring awareness to children in the foster care system, on November 18, 2000, nine cities across the United States opened their courts the Saturday before Thanksgiving to finalize and celebrate adoptions from foster care right before a holiday often symbolized by family gatherings.
The tradition continues with adoption celebration events occurring across the country, from Florida to the State of Washington. During the height of the pandemic, adoption day events didn’t pause, but they did take a virtual form. In 2020, the Eleventh Judicial Circuit used Zoom to facilitate several adoptions. In 2021, Florida’s courts began resuming the scheduling of more adoption celebration events, and in 2022, Adoption Day events were back in full swing in courtrooms statewide.
The Thirteenth Judicial Circuit celebrated National Adoption Day on Friday, November 18.
Judges Essrig, Campbell, Manning, Smith, and Valkenburg finalized the adoption of twenty-seven children into sixteen families.
The Thirteenth Circuit's event began with remarks from Tampa Mayor Jane Castor.
Turning Points
Awards and Honors
Judge Cymonie Rowe
Fifteenth Judicial Circuit
Judicial Diversity Initiative 2022 Award for Palm Beach County
Judge Denise A. Pomponio
Thirteenth Judicial Circuit
Raymond E. Fernandez Award
Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Hispanic Advisory Council
Chief Judge Nushin G. Sayfie
Eleventh Judicial Circuit
Justice Harry Lee Anstead Award for Professionalism
The Miami-Dade Trial Lawyers’ Association
Judge Beatrice Butchko
Eleventh Judicial Circuit
The Judge Steven Levine Award
The Miami-Dade Trial Lawyers’ Association
Judge Marisa Tinkler Mendez
Eleventh Judicial Circuit
First Distinguished Service to Veterans Award
The 11th Judicial Circuit and Cuban American Bar Association, on behalf of all the Voluntary Bar Associations
Judge Alberto Milian
Eleventh Judicial Circuit
The Florida Patriot Award
The 11th Judicial Circuit and Cuban American Bar Association, on behalf of all the Voluntary Bar Associations
Judge Veronica Diaz
Eleventh Judicial Circuit
The Florida International University Award
Florida International University Alumni Association
Judge Angela J. Cowden
Tenth Judicial Circuit
Honored for time as Chair of the Conference of Circuit Judges for the 2018-20 term
Judge Peter F. Estrada
Tenth Judicial Circuit
The Florida Jurist Award Recognizing Hispanic Excellence
Judge Donald G. Jacobsen
Tenth Judicial Circuit
2022 Karla Foreman Wright Judicial Award
Polk County Trial Lawyers Association
Kathleen Pugh
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Trial Court Administrator
Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida’s 2022 Commitment to Justice Award
Judge José Izquierdo
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit
2022 William E. Gladstone Award
Judge Olin W. Shinholser
Tenth Judicial Circuit
2021 Lifetime Achievement Award
The Highlands County Bar Association
Appointments
Judge Lorelie P. Brannan
Baker County Court
Judge Barbara-Jo Bell
Hernando County Court
Around the State: Photos from Courts Around the Corner
Tenth Circuit Judge Donald G. Jacobsen and the 2022 Karla Foreman Wright Judicial Award
18th Annual Black Robe White Coat event at the Thirteenth Circuit
Members of the Broward County Bar Association and Judges from the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit collecting donations for Hurricane Ian relief
Court staff from the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit attending the Judicial Assistants Association of Florida Education Conference
Tenth Circuit Judge Peter F. Estrada and the Florida Jurist Award Recognizing Hispanic Excellence
Seventeenth Circuit Judge Ari Abraham Porth reading to students at North Folk Elementary
Fifth Circuit Judge Jason Nimeth presenting a TedxTalk on “Passing the Torch: The Rule of Law and Our Duty to the Next Generation” at Lake Sumter State College
Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Jessica Recksiedler speaking to the Florida Courts Public Information Officers
Tenth Circuit Judge Angela J. Cowden with the Conference of Circuit Judges Award
Fifteenth Circuit Judge Cymonie Rowe at the National Association of Women Judges’ Conference in Detroit
Chief Justice Muñiz speaking at the Annual Education Program of the Florida Conference of District Court of Appeal Judges
Florida Bar President Gary Lesser speaking at the Annual Education Program of the Florida Conference of District Court of Appeal Judges
The Tampa Bay Rough Riders and their donated teddy bears for the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit’s Adoption Day