Did you know beginning in June 2026 that anyone who is summoned for jury duty and does not show up can face a fine of up to $100 and possibly be held in contempt of court, which translates into potential jail time? Probably not because the law has seldom been enforced in Broward County. But that is changing. The 17th Judicial Circuit will begin issuing Orders to Show Cause for anyone who fails to report. The Order will include a new date on which the individual must appear before a judge to show cause as to why they should not be held in contempt of court and why they should not be fined. The Order will also allow for the individual to reschedule their jury duty services within a 60-day window. If the person does neither, they could be fined, held in contempt of court and jailed, or both.

Read this op Ed (authored by our own judiciary) that was published in the Sun Sentinel on May 25, 2026.

Due to water and air conditioning issues, the North and East Wings of the main courthouse complex in Fort Lauderdale have been closed today. The West Wing of the courthouse remains operational and is not affected. Regional courthouses in Hollywood, Plantation and Deerfield Beach remain open.

Chief Judge Carol-Lisa Phillips ordered the closure of the North and East Wings following the failures. The City of Fort Lauderdale and Broward County are actively working to resolve the issues.

Updates will be provided as soon as they become available.

Students from Attucks Middle School in Hollywood visited Drug Court this week, where they learned about this problem-solving court and its mission to help participants address substance abuse issues and become productive, successful members of society.

Drug Court staff spoke with the students about the dangers of drug use, how the risks are amplified by the widespread presence of fentanyl, and the steps they can take to avoid addiction and make healthy choices. Students also learned about Narcan and how it can save a life during a drug-induced emergency.

Our Drug Court is one of only 10 nationally recognized mentor courts, a distinction that reflects the exceptional work accomplished by Judge Michael Davis and the Drug Court team.

The students’ visit was especially timely, as May is recognized as Problem-Solving Courts Month in Florida.

The 17th Judicial Circuit proudly welcomed its 2026 summer interns earlier this month. Judge Jackie Powell, liaison for the summer intern program, joined Chief Judge Carol-Lisa Phillips, Judges Betsy Benson and Florence Taylor Barner, and Braulio Rosa, Executive Director of the BCBA, in greeting the students on their first day.

Throughout the summer, the interns will gain valuable hands-on experience through judicial assignments, tours of the jail and crime lab, Q&A sessions with judges from various divisions, and weekly Wednesday Lunch & Learn programs with members of the local legal community.

An exciting and educational summer ahead for these future legal professionals!