TO ALL USERS OF ONLINE ELECTRONIC SCHEDULING SYSTEM FOR THE 17TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

Please be advised, effective April 4, 2016, certain functions of the court’s electronic scheduling system will change. Most will be internal and not seen by the user. However, the scheduling of orders and submission of agreed orders will change. In the past, after a trial order was scheduled online, the order was printed and submitted to the judge with envelopes.

Effective April 4, 2016 all cases scheduled for trial will be electronically placed in the judge’s queue of orders to approve and the approved trial order will be sent via email to all attorneys or self-represented parties with registered email addresses with the state E-portal.

All users must be registered with the state E-portal. Further, in order to schedule a case for trial the scheduling attorney must now check a box certifying he/she will send the trial order to any self-represented party. As the court often does not know if an attorney has withdrawn in a case or if there are self represented parties without a registered email address, the court, under the rules of judical administration now will require an attorney of record to certify he/she has served any court order on a self- represented party.

The uniform trial order has been amended on this issue as well. Lastly, on trial orders, the mediation section of the order has changed. After the trial order has been approved by the judge, another order will likely be sent out by the court designating a mediator for the case.

Any questions or glitches with the system can be sent via email to the courts Judicial Information System at calendar@17th.flcourts.org

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BROWARD COUNTY ADDS NEW LOCATION TO APPLY FOR RESTRAINING ORDERS

Fort Lauderdale, FL – In its continuing endeavor to expand public accessibility to the courts, the 17^th Judicial Circuit began this month to accept petitions for restraining orders at its West satellite courthouse in Plantation. Before now, the Central Courthouse in downtown Fort Lauderdale was the only place Broward County residents could go to file. Plans to implement the process at the satellite courthouses in Deerfield Beach and Hollywood are in the works; however additional funding is necessary to make it happen.  

Chief Judge Peter M. Weinstein explains, “Restraining orders or, injunctions against violence, cover dating violence, domestic violence, repeat violence, stalking, and sexual violence. The process of applying for an injunction will be slightly different in the West Satellite, as the Clerk’s office will assist with, and accept the petition, but will electronically file it to the Central Courthouse. Once a judge has received the court file, petitioners will receive a response within one (1) hour.” The Clerk of Courts’ operating hours for restraining orders in the West Satellite are 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.; the Central Courthouse hours are 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

In cooperation with Clerk of Courts Howard Forman, the Broward County Chiefs of Police Association, and City of Sunrise Mayor Michael Ryan, Administrative Order 2016-5-UFC was drafted, ordering the change, and signed by Judge Weinstein.

Yves P. Laventure was sworn in today, March 14, 2016 by Chief Judge Peter M. Weinstein, as the 17th Judicial Circuit’s newest General Magistrate. 

Mr. Laventure grew up in South Florida and earned his undergraduate degree at Florida International University. He attended Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan and graduated with his Juris Doctor in 2003. Since August of that year, he has been employed at the Broward State Attorney’s Office, most recently as a prosecutor in the homicide division. 

In his role as a General Magistrate, Mr. Laventure will serve in the Probate and Guardianship division for the 17th Circuit. General Magistrates are judicial officers who assist circuit judges by holding hearings and providing recommendations in cases. Within the Probate and Guardianship division, General Magistrates also assist guardian application and background checks, and plenary and limited guardianships.

On Friday, February 19, the 17th Judicial Circuit Court held its annual robing ceremony, honoring Broward County’s newly appointed judges to the bench. Four new judges participated in the symbolic event in which each is administered their “judicial oath” in front of gathered family and friends. Pictured, from left to right are: Circuit Judge Ernest A. Kollra, Jr.; County Judge Stephen J. Zaccor; County Judge Nina W. Di Pietro; Circuit Judge Alberto Ribas, Jr.

Judge Ginger Lerner-Wren, who presides over Broward County’s misdemeanor mental health court, has been appointed to serve on the Executive Committee of The National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention. As the sole judicial representative on a national committee comprised of industry CEOs, members of congress, federal agencies, and more, Judge Lerner-Wren will help lead and advance suicide prevention awareness, and promote evidence-based strategies to improve mental health and wellness throughout our nation’s court systems.

The Action Alliance, established in 2010, is a public-private partnership advancing the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. Part of the organization’s approach is to influence systems changes and target certain vulnerable populations who are at higher risk.

“I believe this is a great opportunity to engage our nation’s problem solving court judges to advance suicide prevention and education as an urgent matter of public health and therapeutic justice,” said Judge Lerner-Wren.