Graduation Day in Dependency Drug Court

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.

City of North Lauderdale Honors Judge Barner in Observance of Haitian Flag Day

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.

Broward Courts Closed on Monday for Memorial Day

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.

Congratulations and Welcome Aboard Judge Marlon Weiss

The Seventeenth Judicial Circuit proudly announces the appointment of Marlon Weiss to the Broward Circuit Court bench. Governor Ron DeSantis made the appointment on 5/19/2025 to fill the vacancy created by the May 1st retirement of Chief Judge Jack Tuter. Judge Weiss has been a partner at Armstrong Teasdale LLP since 2021. He previously served as a criminal appellate attorney in the Florida Attorney General’s Office and is a board-certified appellate lawyer. Earlier in his career, he clerked for the U.S. District Court. He is a father, an avid boater, kayaker, scuba diver and spearfisher. Congratulations and welcome to the 17th Judicial Circuit Court! Read our press release HERE.

Ex Parte Communications Training!

Case managers, judicial assistants, magistrates and hearing officers from the 17th Judicial Circuit got a crash course in ex parte communications during a special May 9th training session conducted by instructors Maxine Williams – the Administrative Magistrate from the 15th Judicial Circuit, and Keith Schenk, a Magistrate from the Fifth Judicial Circuit. The duo made learning easy by testing participants with real life ex parte scenarios that varied in complexity. Magistrate Yves Laventure, of the 17th, also shared some of his own thoughts and suggestions regarding ex parte communications. More than 40 people attended. Great event!

Six Years of Dedication to Community Court: Thank you, Judge Tuter, for Your Support

The City of Fort Lauderdale honored retired Chief Judge Jack Tuter at an appreciation luncheon today at the Broward County Main Library, where he was praised for his dedication and support of Fort Lauderdale Community Court, which serves the unhoused. Also present were County Court Judge Florence Taylor Barner, who presides in Community Court, and the support staff that makes the Court hum. The 17th Judicial Circuit’s new Chief Judge Carol-Lisa Phillips also attended, along with Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis, Police Chief William Schultz, City Manager Rickelle Williams and Chief Service Officer Jorg Hruschka, among others. Judge Tuter retired on May 1st after nearly 20 years as a judge. We miss you Judge Tuter. Congratulations!

Facebook
YouTube