Participate in a mock trial, play a math game, discover why perception matters, try on a judge’s robe, bang the gavel, listen to testimony, take photos from the bench, wear a bailiff’s jacket.
Those are just a few things that students from Oriole Elementary in Lauderdale Lakes experienced during a courthouse tour this week. They also met Chief Judge Carol-Lisa Phillips and Judge Kenneth R. Gillespie and Community Outreach Coordinator Janelle Floyd from the Broward Public Defender’s Office.
The 3rd, 4th and 5th graders are participants in the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project mentoring program.
Hands-on learning is the best! #17thjudteam

Judge Jeremy I. Franker, the 17th Judicial Circuit’s newest county court judge, was sworn into office today. He will preside at the South Regional Courthouse in Hollywood.

Judge Franker joins the 17th Judicial Circuit from the U.S. Department of Justice, where he served as Deputy Director of Joint Task Force Vulcan, leading a national prosecution team targeting foreign terrorist organizations, including Tren de Aragua (TdA) and MS-13.

During his seven years with the Department of Justice, Judge Franker prosecuted complex organized crime and racketeering cases with the Violent Crime and Racketeering Section. In addition to Florida, he has tried federal cases in Alaska, St. Louis, and Washington, D.C.

Before joining the DOJ, Judge Franker spent seven years as a Statewide Prosecutor with the Florida Attorney General’s Office and began his legal career as an Assistant State Attorney in Miami.

We are delighted to welcome Judge Franker to the 17th Judicial Circuit team.

The 17th Judicial Circuit celebrated the launch of its new Family Court Services (FCS) program this week with a formal kickoff event that drew about 70 attendees, including sitting and retired judges, attorneys, service providers and case managers.

The FCS program is designed to connect individuals involved in family litigation with appropriate therapeutic resources while also helping ensure compliance with court orders. The initiative aims to improve conflict resolution and provide meaningful support services to families, with special sensitivity to the needs of children.

Chief Judge Carol-Lisa Phillips, along with Judges Lauren M. Alperstein and Hope Tieman Bristol, joined Nan Rich of the Broward County Commission in speaking at the event, highlighting the importance of collaboration in helping families navigate the court system and access the services they need.

Second-, third-, and fourth-grade students from several Fort Lauderdale elementary schools spent a memorable day at the courthouse reading with judges, asking questions, and learning about the importance of having their voices heard during “A Day for Reading,” sponsored by the Children’s Services Council of Broward County.

Judges read the book Say Something by Peter H. Reynolds to the students, then answered questions about everything from the law, what it takes to become a judge, and what happens inside a courtroom.

The visit with Chief Judge Carol-Lisa Phillips was especially unforgettable. Students shreiked with delight when she surprised them with miniature judicial robes and plastic gavels so they could each be “judge for a day.” There was a lot of gavel pounding.

It was a fun morning for everyone and proof that it’s never too early to learn the power of speaking up.

#BrowardCourts #DayForReading #JudicialOutreach #LiteracyMatters #FutureLeaders