Judge Navarro and Judge Towbin Singer hosted St. Thomas University School of Law students last week for courthouse tours and a luncheon with the Judges. The turnout was good, with the law students enjoying morning coffee in Judge Navarro’s chambers, touring the courthouse and watching several trials. A group lunch with Judges Mollica, Towbin Singer, Backman and Navarro wrapped up the visit.

The Judicial Diversity Initiative’s 2019 Judicial Reception was held last week in honor of the judiciary, judicial nominating commission, and the diversity of the legal profession. Hosted at Greenspoon Marder’s Fort Lauderdale office, the reception was presented in collaboration with TJ Reddick Bar Association, Haitian Lawyer Association, Caribbean Bar Association, National Black Prosecutor Association, Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association, F. Malcolm Cunningham S. Bar Association and Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. Bar Association. Thank you to all the judges who went in support of the initiative.

Middle school students from Bethany Christian School and high school students who are part of a home school group visited the central courthouse last week to learn more about the justice system. The Bethany Students got to sit in and observe Bond Court with Judge Powell, Juvenile Delinquency Court with Judge Orlando and witness testimony in a drug trafficking trial in front of Judge Duffy. The home school students sat in on Bond Court, observed non-jury traffic court trials with Judge Levy and got to sit on the bench with Judge Porth as he presided over his mental health court docket.

On Friday, May 10, 2019, the Seventeenth Circuit celebrated the investiture of Judge Susan L. Alspector, circuit court judge serving in the felony domestic violence division. She was sworn in by Chief Judge Jack Tuter, and robed by her family.

Congratulations Judge Alspector!

Judge Keathan Frink was speaker and moderator for a program at the American Bar Association Section of Litigation & Solo, Small Firm and General Practice Division CLE Conference earlier this month in New York, NY.  He spoke on a program entitled “Judge, What Do You Want to Hear? Presenting a Bench Trial.”

Judge Jose Izquierdo was part of an adoption historic first for the Seminole Tribal Court. Read the article to find out more!