Family Court Judge Jose Izquierdo presented “Innovation in Tribal-State Court Partnerships for Child Welfare Cases” at the 2019 National Association of Indian Court Judges Conference held in Minnesota in October. Presenting with Judge Tina Osceola from the Seminole Tribe of Florida, the two detailed the ongoing collaborative ICWA court project between the 17th Judicial Circuit and the Seminole Tribe of Florida.
As word continues to spread about our Community Court and the many ways it’s helping the homeless, more and more people are coming to observe the court in action. Last week’s session of Community Court drew a large crowd of observers, including students from Whiddon Rodgers High School, Broward County’s new Undersheriff Nichole Anderson, Captain Ozzy Tianga, Congressman Ted Deutch and Broward County Commisioner Ben Sorenson.
Allana Robinson Woods was sworn in as the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit’s newest Magistrate on Thursday, October 31. She began her duties as Magistrate on November 1.
Congratulations and welcome, Magistrate Robinson Woods!
On Wednesday of last week, in Division 41, Judge Andrea Gundersen held a final hearing on the first successful Collaborative Law Pro Bono Pilot Project case, with many more to come. The program is a collaborative effort between the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit, the Broward Collaborative Law Professionals and FACES program.
Last week, 11th and 12th-grade Constitutional Law students from Pompano Beach High School visited the central courthouse where they spent the morning touring and observing, and the afternoon arguing for their cause. The group of 30 split up to argue two recent cases held before the Supreme Court — Bostock v Clayton County and Kansas v Glover. Judge Carol Lisa Phillips and Judge Carlos Rodriguez graciously volunteered their time to “judge” both arguments, and assisted the acting judges in determining the winning side for each team.
