The “Pumpkin Patch and Popcorn Bash” was a hit! Employees from Court Administration showed off their creative sides with some spectacularly decorated pumpkins featuring everything from a Day of the Dead design and frosted doughnuts to the beloved Snoopy!

It was a fun afternoon break filled with gourmet popcorn, a little “cider” and some friendly competition as employees voted for their favorite pumpkin.

First place: Paulette Melendez-Reyes of Court Reporting took home the $25 gift card with her frightfully fantastic Little Shop of Horrors pumpkin!

Runner-up: Farzana Adalsha, also of Court Reporting, impressed everyone with her elaborate Snoopy creation, complete with a gourd for a head!

A big thank-you to Trial Court Administrator Joe D’Amico for bringing everyone together for a fun afternoon of creativity, treats and camaraderie. Sometimes, a little pumpkin-themed fun is just what you need to break up the workday! Happy Halloween!

Students from Everglades High School in Miramar, Plantation High School and Pompano High School faced off in a lively game of Civics Jeopardy! at the 17th Judicial Circuit, putting their knowledge of government and the courts to the test.

The event was part of the Informed Voters–Fair Judges Project, a nonpartisan public education campaign launched by the National Association of Women Judges to protect judicial independence and educate voters about the constitutional role of the courts.

Chief Judge Carol-Lisa Phillips, Supervisor of Elections Joe Scott, and Judges Stacy Ross, Alberto Ribas, Florence Taylor Barner, Kevin Tynan, Jose Izquierdo, Stacey Schulman, Natasha DePrimo and Michael Robinson participated in the event. Judge Izquierdo served as the Jeopardy! host, while Supervisor of Elections Joe Scott spoke with students about the importance of elections and voting.

The students also took part in a question-and-answer session with a panel of judges, giving them an opportunity to ask questions and learn firsthand about the judicial system.

It was a fun way to bring civics lessons beyond the classroom and help students better understand the courts, voting and their role as informed citizens.

Fourth- and fifth-graders from Margate Elementary visited the courthouse this week for a morning of questions, answers and civics in action!

First, the students visited Judge Natasha DePrimo’s courtroom, where they asked about everything from the death penalty to probate. After posing for photos, they headed to the Lamar Warren Law Library in the criminal wing for a civics trivia game led by Janelle Floyd, Community Outreach Coordinator for the Broward Public Defender’s Office. The winners scored candy.

Their morning wrapped up with a one-on-one Q&A session with Circuit Court Judge Thomas J. Coleman, whom the students grilled relentlessly about just about everything!

It was a fun morning of curiosity, lively questions and hands-on learning that brought the justice system to life for these young students.