January 3, 2017, the Seventeenth Circuit welcomed eight new judges to the bench in a group swearing-in ceremony presided over by Chief Judge Peter Weinstein. 

Pictured above, from left to right are: Chief Judge Peter Weinstein; County Civil Judge Betsy Benson; County Criminal Judge Deborah Carpenter-Toye; Circuit Criminal Judge Barbara R. Duffy; County Civil Judge Kathleen McCarthy; Circuit Criminal Judge Michael Lynch; County Civil Judge Kim Theresa Mollica; County Civil Judge Florence Taylor Barner; Family Judge Andrea Ruth Gundersen. 

Congratulations to all! 

In two seperate ceremonies last week, the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit officially welcomed the Honorable Keathan B. Frink and the Honorable Martin S. Fein as they were sworn in to serve on the Circuit court bench. Both were appointed on November 14, 2016 by Governor Rick Scott. 

Judge Frink, sworn in by Circuit Judge Michael A. Robinson, received his law degree from University of Florida and most recently worked as a private practice attorney. His previous legal experience includes serving as an assistant public defender and as Assistant Regional Counsel for the Fourth District Office of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel. Judge Frink is assigned to the Seventeenth Circuit’s Family division.

Judge Fein, sworn in by Chief Judge Peter M. Weinstein, received his law degree from Stetson University and served as an assistant state attorney in the Fourth Judicial Circuit. He has been a solo practicioner since 1998. Judge Fein is currently assigned to the Circuit Criminal division. 

The Seventeenth Circuit congratulates and welcomes our new judges!

Baseball and the Law: Cases and Materials, a book authored by Judge Louis Schiff, recently received recognition in the Harvard Law Review. 

Follow this link to read the review: 

http://harvardlawreview.org/2016/11/recent-publications-november-2016/

Congratulations Judge Schiff! 

The Broward County Court System will be closed starting at noon today, Wednesday, October 5, and will remain closed on Thursday and Friday, October 6 and 7. The dependency shelter hearings, delinquency detention, domestic violence and first appearance divisions will remain open today, October 5, until the dockets are finished. All court services will be suspended on October 6 and 7.

Pending any unforeseen circumstances, the 17^th Circuit will re-open on Saturday, October 8, for first appearance, and delinquency detention and dependency shelter hearings. All other court services will resume business as usual on Monday, October 10, again, pending any unforeseen circumstances.

This circuit will be applying to the Florida Supreme Court for an extension of deadlines.

This announcement will be updated, as needed. 

Jennifer W. Hilal was sworn in today as Broward’s newest County Court judge. She was appointed in early September by Governor Rick Scott. Prior to her appointment, Judge Hilal worked as a prosecutor for the State Attorney’s Office. She received her bachelor’s degree from University of Central Florida and her law degree from Nova Southeastern University. 

Congratulations Judge Hilal!