Florida Supreme Court Justice Alan Lawson was the guest speaker at the South Broward Bar Association’s Annual Installation Dinner last week. The well-attended event included a swearing in of new officers by Chief Judge Jack Tuter.

A grand opening celebration was held today in the Central Courthouse to welcome the addition of Broward County Kidspace, a secure, nurturing environment with trained, qualified YWCA staff to supervise children ages 6 months – 13 years while their parent/legal guardian attend a domestic violence related court proceeding or filing. Open Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Broward County Kidspace is open to children by referral only, through the Clerk of Courts, Domestic Violence Clerk. For more information, call (954) 831-5570 or email BrowardKidspace@YWCA-Miami.org.

Pictured here for the ribbon cutting ceremony are: Alphonso Jefferson, Assistant County Administrator; Commissioner Nan Rich, Broward County Board of County Commissioners; Philip Harris, Administrator of the Children’s Services Administration Section; Brenda D. Forman, Clerk of Courts; Chief Judge Jack Tuter; Chief Paul O’Connell, Broward Chief’s of Police Association.

As a member of the Dania Beach Lions Club, Judge Andrea R. Gundersen participates in the quarterly cleanup of the group’s adopted street.

Governor Rick Scott appointed Tarlika Nunez Navarro to the Circuit Court Bench on Monday, March 12, 2018. Prior to her appointment, she was a managing partner in private practice and previously served as an Assistant State Attorney for the Seventeenth Circuit. Judge Navarro received her law degree from St. Thomas School of Law.

The Seventeenth Circuit welcomes Judge Navarro to the bench!

The Florida Supreme Court’s Justice Barbara J. Pariente has been given the Sandra Day O’Connor Jurist Award in recognition of her work to uphold the integrity and independence of the state courts. Justice Pariente has spent years advocating for a fair and accountable court system that can enforce the rule of law independent from partisan influence. The awards committee specifically recognized her work as an active and vocal educator about the importance of judicial independence.

The award is given from time to time by the American College of Trial Lawyers when a judge in the United States shows a sustained independence from partisan and other pressures in performing the duties of the judicial office. It is not given every year. Trustee Eugene K. Pettis, a former Florida Bar President, introduced Pariente for the award.

Congratulations on behalf of the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit!