Broward County hosted two town hall meetings for courthouse staff last week in order to update everyone on the Central Courthouse Construction Project. The 20-story new West tower has been built, but there is much more to go. Demolition of the old courthouse should begin later this year, and the garage going up in its place should be finished by late 2019. Additionally, major renovations are scheduled to begin in the East wing, basically stripping everything down in the interior, and rebuilding it. The North wing will also get new electrical systems, elevator upgrades, and more.

The projected timeline calls for on-going construction projects in to 2022. Additional details will be provided as they are made available.

The Clerk of Courts office opened the central courthouse doors this past Saturday from 8:00 am – 2:00 pm for Passport Day, allowing the public to come in to apply for a first time passport or renew/replace an existing one. More than 150 people came in to utilize the one-stop service!

Judge Mily R. Powell  was invited to speak to 12th graders in the government and economics class at Pompano Beach High School last week. Pictured here are students in break out groups while Judge Powell oversees.

The court’s judicial information systems manager recently spoke at the monthly Matrimonial Lawyer’s Association meeting to explain all of the new changes to CMS (Court Management System), including how to provide the court with electronic courtesy copies of pleadings and case law for upcoming hearings.

The Seventeenth Circuit is proud to congratulate Judge Robert F. Diaz who was honored with the Student Life Achievement Award (aka “the Stuey”), given to Nova Southeastern University’s best, who show Academic Excellence, Student Centered, Integrity, Innovation, Opportunity, Scholarship, Diversity, and Community.
Judge Diaz was honored as the Alumnus of the Year for 2018 for his contribution to NSU, the Law School, and the Community.

Pictured L-R: Nova Law Dean Jon Garon, NSU President George Hanbury, Judge Robert F. Diaz, Dian Diaz, and Gabriela Diaz

Judge Hope Bristol, Administrative Family Judge in the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit, coordinated a local training in Broward County on March 16th to address the opioid crisis. Showing how influential a judge can be as a convener, with less than two months’ notice, Judge Bristol was able to gather over 60 attendees, including judges, magistrates, court staff, attorneys, child protective investigators, community-based care case managers, guardian ad litem representatives, and service providers. Two national consultants, Pam Baston and Dr. Vicky Weisz, as well as an expert judge from Miami, Judge Jeri B. Cohen, and a doctor from Palm Beach County who treats patients with opioid use disorder, Marc Schlosser, presented the training. As a result of attending, participants were able to:
·         Name at least two opioid substances commonly used by families involved in child welfare and judicial systems.
·         Identify at least two connections between parental opioid use and specific harms to children.
Describe how medication—in conjunction with counseling along with psychosocial and recovery support—is the most effective treatment for opioid use disorder.
Judge Bristol was able to provide this training through a combination of reaching out to experts in neighboring counties and leveraging specific opioid-related federal resources through a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration grant.

Judge Bristol also plans to tackle this crisis on a statewide level in her capacity as chair of the Dependency Court Improvement Panel. The panel will meet in April to develop a statewide court response to the opioid epidemic.