In consultation with the Hon. Howard Forman, Clerk of the Courts, the following divisions will start mandatory efiling effective 1/6/14. All other divisions are already getting e filed documents. 

Appeals (for criminal)

Circuit Criminal

County Criminal

Civil Traffic

Criminal Traffic

Juvenile Delinquency

Juvenile Dependency

The 17th Circuit’s own Judge Edward Merrigan was officially promoted to the rank of Colonel, United States Army Reserve, in early December. Judge Merrigan has served in the U.S. armed forces for nearly 20 years, and is a combat veteran.

First appointed to the county bench in 2009, Judge Merrigan has been able to utilize his military familiarity in the courtroom since being chosen to preside over Broward’s Veterans Treatment Court, established in 2012. 

The 17th Circuit family wishes you a heart-felt congratulations, Judge Merrigan! 

NOTICE TO ALL ATTORNEY’S FILING CASES IN THE COMPLEX BUSINESS AND COMPLEX TORT DIVISIONS OF THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE 17^TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

For all attorneys filing new cases in the circuit civil division of the 17^th Judicial Circuit, with the advent of E filing, there is no known method to direct file complex business and complex tort cases through the State E file portal.

In an attempt to remedy this situation all attorneys/parties who wish to direct file a case meeting criteria for filing in complex business and tort – per Administrative Order 2013-11-Civ – must file with their complaint the attached “Notice of Intent to file New Case in the Complex Business and Tort Division”

By filing the new complaint with this “Notice of Intent to file New Case in the Complex Business and Tort Division” the clerk will direct file the case into divisions (07) Business only; division (19) Business and Tort; and division (26) Complex Tort only.

The administrative order for complex business and tort can be found at: http://www.17th.flcourts.org/images/stories/17th_pdf_files/2013-11-civ.pdf

Jack Tuter

Administrative Judge Circuit Civil

On Tuesday, November 5, 2013, a landmark collaborative agreement was made official when county agency and community leaders signed The Broward County Collaborative Agreement of School Discipline, a pact aimed at curbing the “schoolhouse to jailhouse pipeline.” This agreement softens the “zero policy” standard adopted in the 1990’s by creating new procedures for schools to follow when a student commits a non-violent misdemeanor at school. Alternative resolutions to incidents such as trespassing, harassment, alcohol-related incidents, and possession of misdemeanor amounts of marijuana will now be implemented by administrators — counseling and treatment in lieu of arrest.

This cooperative effort has been a long time in the making, and involves the participation of many agencies including the 17th Judicial Circuit Court, State Attorney’s Office, Public Defender’s Office, Broward Sheriff’s Office, Fort Lauderdale Police Department, Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, Broward County School Board, and more. It is anticipated that this collaborative agreement will reduce school-related arrests by 60 to 70 percent, seriously curtailing the “schoolhouse to jail house pipeline.”

A special thank you goes to Circuit Judge Elijah Williams, in the juvenile delinquency division, for bringing this idea to Broward County!

Congratulations to Giuseppina Miranda, the 17th Judicial Circuit’s newest county court judge. Governor Rick Scott appointed Judge Miranda to the county bench on Friday, November 15, 2013. No stranger to the Broward courts, Judge Miranda has been a General Magistrate for the 17th Circuit since 2007. Prior to that, she was in private practice and also worked as a prosecutor for the State Attorney’s Office. 

Congratulations on your new role in the 17th Judicial Circuit Judge Miranda!