Last week during a jury trial recess, Judge Frink left the bench to chat with some visiting students in his courtroom. Teens in the Introduction to Law class at Fischer High School at David Posnack Hebrew Day Schools were touring the central courthouse and stopped in to observe a slip and fall jury trial. When court recessed close to lunch time, Judge Frink came over to talk with the students and answer their questions about the legal profession and the judiciary.

Judge Robert Diaz hosted his 61st Nova Street Law Mock Trial this past weekend in the central courthouse. Lawyers and judges volunteered their time on Saturday for the event with more than 300 middle and high school student participants. Twice a year the Street Law Mock Trial is held to help give the students a chance to be trial lawyers. Thank you to everyone who participated!

The Broward Bar Young Lawyers Section, along with Judge Navarro and Judge Diaz, joined “Read for the Record” at Stephen Foster Elementary School last week. They read a book to first graders and kindergarten classes. The same book was read to students all over the United States on the same day.

Family Court Judge Jose Izquierdo presented “Innovation in Tribal-State Court Partnerships for Child Welfare Cases” at the 2019 National Association of Indian Court Judges Conference held in Minnesota in October. Presenting with Judge Tina Osceola from the Seminole Tribe of Florida, the two detailed the ongoing collaborative ICWA court project between the 17th Judicial Circuit and the Seminole Tribe of Florida.

As word continues to spread about our Community Court and the many ways it’s helping the homeless, more and more people are coming to observe the court in action. Last week’s session of Community Court drew a large crowd of observers, including students from Whiddon Rodgers High School, Broward County’s new Undersheriff Nichole Anderson, Captain Ozzy Tianga, Congressman Ted Deutch and Broward County Commisioner Ben Sorenson.

Allana Robinson Woods was sworn in as the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit’s newest Magistrate on Thursday, October 31. She began her duties as Magistrate on November 1.
Congratulations and welcome, Magistrate Robinson Woods!