Broward Circuit Judge Michael Davis and Broward County Judge John “Jay” Hurley along with Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Robert T. Watson from the Eleventh Judicial Circuit in Miami shared their expertise recently on a judicial panel hosted by the St. Thomas University Criminal Law Society and Drug Law Society. We are proud of our judges’ amazing community involvement and commitment to helping others.
Retired Broward Judge Mary Robinson was recently honored by the National Black Prosecutors Association as part of their Women’s History Month Celebration. Judge Robinson — the first African-American woman to serve on the bench in Broward County — retired from the bench in 2016 after 27 years as a judge. She is pictured with her husband Judge Michael Robinson, their daughter Magistrate Allana Robinson Woods, retired prosecutor Chuck Morton and Blair Miller, president of the National Black Prosecutors Association. #17thjudteam
Members of the first-ever Board of Directors for the newly formed Bernice Gaines Dorn Black Women Lawyers Association were sworn in by Judge Fabienne E. Fahnestock on May 29th during the inaugural installation brunch at the Marriott Dania Pointe. The sold-out event featured a panel discussion that included (retired) Florida Supreme Court Justice Peggy Quince and President Elect of the Florida Bar Sia Baker Barnes. The topic? Honoring our past and shaping the future. Pictured second from left in the back row is Judge Florence Taylor Barner, and sixth from the left in the front row is Magistrate Hilary Creary. Congratulations to all. #17thjudteam
The South Regional Courthouse in Hollywood will re-open on Tuesday, April 1, after a water leak forced the building to close on Monday. Business as usual is expected the rest of the week.
A group of Bennett Elementary second, third and fifth graders met Judge Deborah Carpenter-Toye during a recent Career Day where she visited a classroom, showed them her robe and answered questions about what it means to be a judge. The students posed for pictures, mugged for the camera and had a great time learning about the law. Hands-on learning is the best!
The 17th Judicial Circuit was well-represented at the 2025 National Conference on Juvenile Justice in Boston. Six employees attended the event, which was put on by the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges. During the March 16-19 conference, our staff heard presentations on family violence and domestic relations and child welfare and juvenile law. Pictured left to right are Janelle May, Pierre Gaston, Ebony Bakare, Gerlande Felix, Beth Plotkin and Ismael Romero. Thank you for all you do.
