Over the last several years, Judge Ari Porth’s Felony Mental Health Courtroom has adopted North Fork Elementary School in Ft. Lauderdale, going to career days and participating in the Children’s Services Council’s Read for the Record events.

Today, October 28, 2021, the judge and staff spent the morning reading this year’s Read for the Record book, Amy Wu and the Patchwork Dragon, to the school children.

One of the best parts about the event…all of the children that are read to get a copy of the book to take home!

Congratulations to Chief Judge Jack Tuter and Judge Kenneth Gillespie in being honored at the Broward County Bar Association’s 2021 Annual Installation Gala this past weekend. The President’s Award, presented to Judge Tuter, recognizes the person who has most significantly impacted, in a positive manner, the BCBA and the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit. Judge Gillespie received the Stephen R. Booher Award, given to the jurist of the year.

Executive Director Braulio Rosa says, “The Chief Judge has worked tirelessly in tandem with the BCBA to serve the legal community and the people of Broward County and beyond. Judge Gillespie has served as our Judicial Liaison for the past two years, and thanks to his efforts, we were able to secure 100% judicial membership, and successfully host one of the first 500+ attendee Probate meetings on Zoom.”

The Honorable Keathan Frink hosted a group of approximately 40 boys from the Omega Psi Phi Gentlemen of Influence/Q-Unit Mentoring Group this past Saturday at the Central Courthouse. The children were there for a County Legal System / Government Exposure Field Trip, and had the opportunity to hear from, and speak to, Judge Frink, Sheriff Gregory Tony, State Attorney Harold Pryor and Public Defender Gordon Weekes.

The Seventeenth Circuit is accepting proposals from court reporting firms interested in providing digital court reporting services funded at public expense for court proceedings in the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida. Click here for more information.

In early October, Chief Judge Jack Tuter installed the new President of the Broward County Women Lawyers Association (BCWLA), Vivian Fazio, and the Board of Directors at the Lauderdale Yacht Club. The “Pink Installation,” honored Breast Cancer Survivors. There were several judges, lawyers and breast cancer survivors in attendance.

On Friday, representatives of the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit and its community and justice system partners signed a collaborative agreement thereby establishing  a new felony mental health court diversion program. It is designed to divert eligible individuals experiencing serious mental illnesses or co-occurring serious mental illnesses and substance use disorders away from the criminal justice system and into comprehensive community-based treatment and support services, while at the same time protecting public safety.

Signatories to the agreement include the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit through Chief Judge Jack Tuter and the Trial Court Administrator, the State Attorney and Public Defender, the Sheriff and local law enforcement agencies, behavioral health specialists, and local and state government leaders.