The 17th Judicial Circuit welcomed a large group of Middle and High School aged students of the BSO Explorer program on Thursday, June 15, 2023. Students from various parts of Broward County participated in an open dialogue with several different judges and attorneys who helped to inform and educate them about the judicial system. Students also learned about Teen Court and visited both the BSO Crime Lab and Crime Scene Unit.

The 17th Circuit sends a big thanks to Judge Catalina Avalos, Judge Florence Taylor Barner, Judge Deborah Carpenter-Toye, Judge George Odom, Jr., Broward State Attorney Harold Pryor, Chief Assistant Public Defender David Wheeler, and all Court Administration Staff who helped out for all their time and effort, and for helping to make the BSO Explorers’ trip unforgettable!

On Thursday, June 15, 2023, Dependency Drug Court, Early Childhood Court and Juvenile Drug Court partnered with Delinquency and Dependency courts to host a lunch and learn presentation with Guy A. Wheeler as their guest speaker. Wheeler, formerly the Assistant Director of Community Control with the BSO Office of Lauderhill, is known for his expertise in rehabilitation with the forming of the Guy Wheeler Group, PA (DBA) and the Justice for Life Institute (GAWG).

The presentation titled “The Absent Parent/Father and How it Impacts Youth” discussed how youth are affected by the absence of parental figures and how to address their trauma.
Seen here in the photograph from left to right are Juvenile Delinquency/Dependency Drug Court Coordinator, Beth Plotkin, Speaker, Guy A. Wheeler, and Early Childhood Court & Dependency Drug Court Program Coordinator, Trent Baker.

The 17th Judicial Circuit and the City of Fort Lauderdale announce that the Fort Lauderdale location of Community Court will now reopen at the Operation Sacred Trust building at 201 SE 2nd Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 on Wednesday, June 21, 2023. Court will be in session from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

For more information on the reopening of the Fort Lauderdale Community Court, click the link below:
Ftlcity.info.ccnewlocation

The 17th Judicial Circuit will be CLOSED Monday, June 19, 2023 during the Juneteenth federal holiday. Operations will resume on Tuesday, June 20, 2023.

Judges from the 17th Judicial Circuit attended the Judicial College Phase II Refresher Course in Miami, Florida on Wednesday, June 14, 2023.

Each judge featured here was an instructor/presenter for the Judicial College Phases I and II. Photographed from left to right: Front Row-Retired Judge Mark Speiser, Florida Judicial College Associate Dean, Judge Louis Schiff, Judge Giuseppina Miranda, Judge Jose Izquierdo, Judge Debbie Carpenter, Judge Fabienne Fahnestock, Judge Stacey Schulman, and Magistrate Yves Laventure. Back Row-Judge Keathan Frink and Judge Martin Fein.

The Honorable Stacy Ross welcomed visitors from the BSO Community Justice program to her courtroom for observation on Friday, June 9, 2023. Students were able to sit in on Judge Ross’s rulings and participate in a Q&A session afterwards. Judge Ross offered words of wisdom advising the students to “Stay in school, choose your friends wisely, and avoid drugs and alcohol.” The students left with a deeper understanding of the juvenile court system.

Photographed with Judge Ross were the BSO Community Justice Program youth, BSO Community Justice Program Supervisor Jacqueline Figueroa Morales, BSO Youth Counselors Samuel Metayer and Vanessa Agbogun.