County Court Judge Florence Taylor Barner recently visited Lorah Park Elementary in the historic Brownsville neighborhood of Miami for Career Day. Students got the unique opportunity to observe virtual court, then have one-on-one time with Judge Barner in small groups to discuss civics, the Constitution, and how to become a judge. Afterwards, Judge Barner fielded questions from the class.
It was a day of fun and learning for a group of special needs adults from the Friendship Circle of Fort Lauderdale who observed some courtroom action, learned about courtroom protocols, met two judges, navigated the sprawling courthouse and even chatted with some college interns. The goal of the Friendship Circle program is to provide learning experiences that teach participants new life skills that will help them more easily navigate the world. Many thanks to Judges Mindy Brown, Michele Towbin Singer and Kenneth A. Gottlieb for making this visit so memorable!
Congratulations to Judge Ginger Lerner-Wren, who was named recipient of the Community Champion of Mental Health Award on 5/22/2025 in recognition of her decades-long leadership and advocacy in the field of mental health. Judge Lerner-Wren was honored at the 10th Annual South Florida Behavioral Health Conference in Fort Lauderdale, an event presented by the United Way of Broward County’s Commission on Behavioral Health and Drug Prevention. Amazing honor and well-deserved. Read our press release HERE.
Graduation day is always a time to celebrate but graduation in Dependency Drug Court is a life-changing event. This week success was measured in triplet as three mothers graduated from this unique court program, ensuring reunification with their minor children. The mothers each completed requirements based on tailored substance abuse evaluations. Each graduate received a certificate, and each graduate presented a certificate to someone who was influential in helping them succeed. Participants have one year to complete the program, during which they must submit to random drug testing while being assigned advocates, case managers, a peer, medical personnel and a therapist. “This was a really happy day,” noted Beth Plotkin, Dependency Drug Court Coordinator. The graduation coincided with Problem-Solving Court Month (May).
Pictured left to right: Drug Court Specialist Wendy Buchanan (4th from left), Judge Hope Tieman Bristol (6th from left), Dependency Case Manager Daynason Eugene, Dependency Drug Coordinator Beth Plotkin, and Peer Specialist Dianne Grant.
The City of North Lauderdale honored County Court Judge Florence Taylor Barner this week with a proclamation in celebration of Haitian Flag Day (May 18th). The proclamation decribed her as a Haitian-American trailblazer,” noting that Judge Barner is the first elected Haitian-American judge in Broward County. The proclamation described her election to the bench as a “milestone achievement that reflects both her personal excellence and the progress of the Haitian-American community.” Judge Barner presides on Wednesdays in Fort Lauderdale’s Community Court, which serves the area’s unhoused population.
All Broward Courts will be closed on Monday, May 26, 2025, in observance of Memorial Day. The affected courthouses include the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, the North Regional Courthouse in Deerfield Beach, the West Regional Courthouse in Plantation and the South Regional Courthouse in Hollywood. All four courthouses will re-open on Tuesday.
