In acknowledgment of January as Human Trafficking Awareness Month, the Seventeenth Circuit announces the logo contest winner for RISE Court, a specialized sub-division within the juvenile dependency and delinquency divisions which addresses the unique and special needs of children known or suspected of being a victim of human trafficking. RISE stands for Restoring Independence, Strength and Empowerment.
“The symbolism of the sunflower is a meaningful representation of our court,” Judge Stacy Ross, the presiding judge of RISE Court, told the 15 year-old artist when asked what was liked most about her logo submission. As Judge Ross elaborated, “the sunflower logo represents resiliency, growth, strength and the desire to always seek the light. Sunflowers are special flowers in that they always follow the sun. No matter how weak the light, young sunflowers find the sun and turn themselves to it. This is what we strive for with each child in RISE Court.”
In further support of raising awareness of human trafficking, the Broward County Women Lawyers Association and the Broward County Hispanic Bar Association recently hosted “Human Trafficking in Plain Sight: A Panel Discussion on How Lawyers Can Detect and Protect Clients Caught in its Clutches.” Judge Ross moderated the discussion, which focused on educating attorneys on how to best serve their clients in relation to the complex legal issues surrounding human trafficking.

Last week was Broward County’s Inaugural Bilingual High School Conference entitled Our Bilingual Journey: The Challenges and Benefits of Bilingualism in the Legal Profession. Judge Navarro, Judge Diaz, and Judge Levine as well as members of the Hispanic Bar Association and Broward Hispanic Lawyers group were on hand for the event to help students during Q&A and breakout sessions.

The Minority Bar Associations’ Estate Planning and Drafting Seminar 2020 this past Saturday was filled to capacity as more than 120 attorneys gathered at Nova Southeastern University’s Shepard Broad College of Law to attend the full-day “How To Set Up a Successful Planning and Drafting Practice: Introduction to Wills and Trusts Drafting” course. The free event was designed to improve basic skills necessary to draft wills, trusts, living wills and powers of attorney. Presenters included Broward County probate Judges Kenneth Gillespie and Mark Speiser, Miami-Dade County probate Judge Celeste Muir and attorneys Rohan Kelley, Tae Kelley Bronner and Duane L. Pinnock.

The Susan Aramony Clothing Closet is open for business again! After countless hours of cleaning, reorganizing, and re-designing, the Closet is once again available to members of the community who are involved in the court system and need something special for their wardrobe, whether it be a suit for a job interview or a dress for a school dance.
As always, donations of clothing (clean and on hangers please) and shoes and accessories are gratefully accepted!

Judges Navarro, Perlman and Frink were panelists at the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ 2020 Valuation, Forensic Accounting & Litigation Services Conference this past Friday January 10, 2020.

Judges Weekes, Rothschild, and Schulman along with retired Judges Rothschild and Weinstein volunteered at a Bnai Brith Justice Unit event at the Borger Senior Residences in the city of Sunrise on 1/12/2020.