Students from Millennium Collegiate Academy visited the central courthouse last week and got more than they were expecting tour-wise. They visited first appearance court with Judge Mollica, and observed Michael Satz, Broward County State Attorney, give his closing rebuttal in trial, but were pleasantly surprised to run in to local channel 10 news reporter Todd Tongen, too. Mr. Tongen posed for a photo with the group, to the delight of the students and chaperones.

Judge Izquierdo was one of four panelists to participate in Journey to Justice, held at Miami Dade College in February. The panelists, consisting of judges and attorneys, discussed the path that led them to becoming successful legal professionals.

The Jewish Federation of Broward County recently held a judicial reception to honor all the Seventeenth Circuit’s newest judges.

On Wednesday, March 7, 2018, the University of Miami’s Law Alumni Association hosted its annual Broward County Judicial Reception and Judge Sharon Zeller, Misdemeanor and Juvenile Drug Court Judge, was among the night’s award recipients. Judge Zeller, JD Class of ’79, practiced law for 10 years before coming to the Seventeenth Circuit, first as a General Magistrate in 1989 and then as a County Court Judge in 1996. For 22 years, Judge Zeller has presided over civil, criminal, and most recently juvenile and misdemeanor drug court county cases. She was also the County Court Administrative Judge from 2007-2017.

Congratulations on your honor, Judge Zeller!

Judge Ginger Lerner-Wren can add one more achievement to her impressive resume – published author. Available March 6, 2018, A Court of Refuge: Stories from the Bench of America’s First Mental Health Court tells the story of how the first dedicated mental health court in the United States grew from an offshoot of Judge Lerner-Wren’s criminal division more than 20 years ago, held during the lunch hour and without the aid of any federal funding. More than 20 years later, there are more than 400 mental health courts nationwide.

The hardcover book, published by Beacon Press, is available at Barnes and Nobel and Amazon.