Dependency Division 31 with Judge Africk-Olefson and Magistrate Plant recently hosted a standing room-only “Cannabis Cards and the Courts” lunch and learn session, featuring a 4-person panel of experts in the field. Medical marijuana doctors, researchers, substance testing, dispensaries, law and legislation were all topics of the two-hour discussion.

Last week, several Broward judges and a magistrate participated in the Jewish Community Center’s Read Across America celebration. Volunteering their time to read to young students at the Susan and Saul Singer Early Childhood Leaning Center were Judge DePrimo, Judge Davis, Judge Schulman, Judge Porth, Judge Gamm, Judge Gottlieb and Magistrate Matalon.

Last Friday, the Central Broward County Courthouse hosted more than 100 high school students from schools across the county as part of the Informed Voters Project, a national initiative developed to educate the public about the constitutional role of the judicial branch and to protect the courts from outside influence. The half-day event was devised by staff with the Broward County Public Schools System, and involved attorneys and judges volunteering their time to lead group sessions in different courtrooms. There was Judicial Jeopardy, Judicial Bingo, and Judicial Q&A sessions to engage the children and help them learn more about the judiciary. Kicking off the morning was a greeting from former Florida Supreme Court Justice Barbara J. Pariente, the event’s guest of honor.

Tune in to watch CBS4 Miami’s coverage of the Tribal Court collaboration between the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit and the Seminole Tribe.

Ever since the Seventeenth Circuit opened its Expanded Self-Help Resource Center in the central courthouse two years ago, a great number of people in the community have sought, and received, assistance from the services provided. On-site, the downtown courthouse offers staffed offices from these agencies: Women in Distress, 2-1-1 Broward, Henderson Behavioral Health, South Florida Wellness Network, and Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida. In an effort to remind court agencies and members of the community of these services, we host Resource Fairs at least twice a year. Last Friday, staff from all agencies set up in the first floor lobby for a 1/2 day, handing out materials and information to anyone who stopped by.

The agency offices are located on the fourth and fifth floors of the West building. More information can be found here.

Last week, Judges Powell and Barner visited Forest Glen Middle school to speak with the students about the importance of staying in school and staying away from bad influences.

In recognition of Black History Month this year, the Seventeenth Circuit and the Broward County Bar Association hosted a Celebration of Broward’s Black Mayors on Friday, February 21, 2020. The honorees included Mayor Dale V. Holness, Broward County; Mayor Hazelle Rogers, City of Lauderdale Lakes; Mayor Ken Thurston, City of Lauderhill; Mayor Wayne Messam, City of Miramar; Mayor Ashira Mohammed, City of Pembroke Park; and Mayor Reverend Eric Jones, Jr., City of West Park.

Retired Judge Ilona Holmes served as event moderator, with Chief Judge Jack Tuter offering welcome remarks and event chairperson, Judge Michael A. Robinson, giving the closing remarks.