Impact Broward presented the 2014 Award of Excellence to Chief Judge Peter M. Weinstein and Judge Edward H. Merrigan, Jr. on behalf of their work with Broward County Veterans Court. Since its inception in May 2012, the 17th Circuit’s Veterans Court has accepted hundreds of cases covering a variety of misdemeanor offenses, with a focus on rehabilitating the veteran offender. There are currently 185 defendants receiving services through Broward’s Veterans Court. 

In its third year, Impact Broward’s annual awards ceremony honors local officials, organizations and community members for their dedication and commitment to improving the lives of Broward County residents. 

Congratulations to both judges!

The Seventeenth Judicial Circuit in conjunction with the Broward County Bar Association wishes to extend congratulations to attorneys recently admitted to The Florida Bar.  

 
To help familiarize new attorneys with Broward County’s local legal practice, you are invited to attend the New Attorney Breakfast to be held on Friday, October 31, 2014 from 8:30-11:00 a.m. on the 7th floor of the 110 Tower, 110 SE 6th Street, Fort Lauderdale across the street from the Central Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale.  A light complimentary breakfast will be provided by the Broward County Bar Association. 

Both judges and local practicing attorneys will attend the breakfast to help you navigate the local practice of law. Representatives from the various local voluntary bar associations will also be on hand to provide information on their programs. 

Please register for the New Attorney Breakfast by clicking here. Deadline to register is Monday, October 27, 2014. If you know of recently admitted attorneys practicing in Broward County or attorneys who recently relocated to Broward County, please tell them about this event as the judges of the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit want to welcome as many of our new attorneys as possible.  

Daniel J. Kanner was sworn in as the 17th Circuit’s newest county court judge on Wednesday, September 24, 2014 by Chief Judge Peter Weinstein. Appointed to a vacant seat in August by Governor Rick Scott, Judge Kanner will be presiding in the county civil division. 

A practicing attorney for 22 years, Judge Kanner spent the first six of those years as a Broward assistant state attorney. For the last 16 years, he was a partner in private practice concentrating mostly in criminal defense. 

Judge Kanner earned both his bachelor and juris doctor degrees from University of Florida. He is married to Kristin and has three children, two dogs and three cats. 

County Court Judge Robert W. Lee has been appointed to the state Judicial Management Council for a four-year term beginning July 2014. The council serves as an advisory group that assists the Chief Justice and the Supreme Court of Florida in identifying trends, potential crisis situations, and the means to address them. Judge Lee was tapped by Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Jorge Labarga to serve on this committee because of his interest in the operations of the state courts system and his dedication to effective governance and producing positive change. 

Congratulations Judge Lee!

Photo courtesy MargateNews.net

In the August 2014 primary elections, there were many clear winners and some that were too close to call. One such race, for a Margate city commission seat, was so close that Florida Statute required a manual recount. The Broward Supervisor of Elections Canvassing Board, comprised of County Court Judges Sharon Zeller and Stephen DeLuca, along with elections supervisor Brenda Snipes, convened right before a holiday weekend to make sure everyone’s vote was counted. Florida Statute 102.141 requires a manual vote recount when a candidate for office is defeated by less than .50%. In this case, the difference was .49%.

 Though the recount yielded just one more vote for the victor, it was enough to guarantee the win to Joyce Bryan who won the race with 35.03% of Margate residents casting their ballots for her.