Stepping Into Wellness Along the Riverwalk

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Stepping Into Wellness Along the Riverwalk

Thirteen employees from Court Administration took a short stroll along the New River today—stretching their legs, enjoying fresh air and connecting with coworkers they don’t always get to see.

The walk is part of an ongoing health and wellness initiative designed to help staff “get to know your neighbor” while supporting both mental and physical well-being.

Developed by the Health and Wellness Committee, the initiative encourages employees to step away from their desks and get moving. Today’s Riverwalk stroll also complements Court Administration’s ongoing step challenge—making wellness a shared journey.

by Sallie James — March 27, 2026 in Announcements

Oriole Elementary Students Get Their Day in Court

Participate in a mock trial, play a math game, discover why perception matters, try on a judge’s robe, bang the gavel, listen to testimony, take photos from the bench, wear a bailiff’s jacket.
Those are just a few things that students from Oriole Elementary in Lauderdale Lakes experienced during a courthouse tour this week. They also met Chief Judge Carol-Lisa Phillips and Judge Kenneth R. Gillespie and Community Outreach Coordinator Janelle Floyd from the Broward Public Defender’s Office.
The 3rd, 4th and 5th graders are participants in the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project mentoring program.
Hands-on learning is the best! #17thjudteam

by Sallie James — March 25, 2026 in Announcements

Welcome to the Bench, Judge Jeremy I. Franker

Judge Jeremy I. Franker, the 17th Judicial Circuit’s newest county court judge, was sworn into office today. He will preside at the South Regional Courthouse in Hollywood.

Judge Franker joins the 17th Judicial Circuit from the U.S. Department of Justice, where he served as Deputy Director of Joint Task Force Vulcan, leading a national prosecution team targeting foreign terrorist organizations, including Tren de Aragua (TdA) and MS-13.

During his seven years with the Department of Justice, Judge Franker prosecuted complex organized crime and racketeering cases with the Violent Crime and Racketeering Section. In addition to Florida, he has tried federal cases in Alaska, St. Louis, and Washington, D.C.

Before joining the DOJ, Judge Franker spent seven years as a Statewide Prosecutor with the Florida Attorney General’s Office and began his legal career as an Assistant State Attorney in Miami.

We are delighted to welcome Judge Franker to the 17th Judicial Circuit team.

by Sallie James — March 23, 2026 in Announcements

17th Judicial Circuit Celebrates Launch of Family Court Services Program

The 17th Judicial Circuit celebrated the launch of its new Family Court Services (FCS) program this week with a formal kickoff event that drew about 70 attendees, including sitting and retired judges, attorneys, service providers and case managers.

The FCS program is designed to connect individuals involved in family litigation with appropriate therapeutic resources while also helping ensure compliance with court orders. The initiative aims to improve conflict resolution and provide meaningful support services to families, with special sensitivity to the needs of children.

Chief Judge Carol-Lisa Phillips, along with Judges Lauren M. Alperstein and Hope Tieman Bristol, joined Nan Rich of the Broward County Commission in speaking at the event, highlighting the importance of collaboration in helping families navigate the court system and access the services they need.

by Sallie James — March 20, 2026 in Announcements

White House Officials Visit Broward’s Mentor Drug Court

Judge Michael Davis’s Adult Felony Drug Court welcomed visitors from the White House on Wednesday. Dario Camacho, general counsel for the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, and Daniel Boatright, assistant director of the Office of Supply Elimination, spent the afternoon observing Michael Davis’s drug court docket.

Afterward, members of the Drug Court team shared how they work together to support participants on their path to recovery. Judge Davis’s problem-solving court is one of only 10 drug courts in the nation designated as a mentor court, recognized for helping guide and train other drug court programs.

General Counsel Camacho confirmed the visit after Judge Davis reached out following the issuance of the executive order Addressing Addiction Through the Great American Recovery Initiative.

#DrugCourt #Recovery #ProblemSolvingCourts #BrowardCourts #JudicialLeadership

by Sallie James — March 18, 2026 in Admin Orders

17th Judicial Circuit Judges Help Train Florida’s Newest Judges

Nine judges from the 17th Judicial Circuit served on the teaching faculty at the Florida Judicial College Phase II in Orlando earlier this month—an impressive showing from Broward County. The judges led substantive, subject-matter specific courses designed to help newly appointed judges become familiar with the types of cases they will preside over, such as areas like county civil. Their participation reflects the 17th Circuit’s strong commitment to judicial education and excellence across Florida’s courts.

First row, left to right: Judge Jose Izquierdo, Judge Stacey Schulman, Judge Hope Tieman Bristol, Judge Deborah Carpenter-Toye, Judge Nina W. Di Pietro and Judge Giuseppina Miranda.

Second row, left to right: Judge Martin S. Fein and Judge Keathan B. Frink.

(Not pictured: Judge Fabienne E. Fahnestock)

by Sallie James — March 17, 2026 in Announcements