Miami Dolphins center Mike Pouncey visited the central courthouse yesterday to talk to juveniles about his life’s ups and downs, as a way to inspire them to choose the right path. “Dolphin Day” began more than a decade ago with former Judge Howard Zeidwig planning visits by Dolphins players to the juvenile delinquency division every few months to give pep talks and real-world advice to the youth. The program stopped when Judge Zeidwig passed away, but Judge Stacy Ross revived the program within the past few years, with the help of Judge Zeidwig’s son, attorney Gary Zeidwig.

The visit by Mike Pouncey was an informal question and answer conversation in which the football star stressed the importance of hard work, staying out of trouble, learning from mistakes and staying focused on future goals. To the children who asked the “really good” questions – signed footballs, of course.

Judge John Bowman was presented with a 2017 National Adoption Day proclamation from Governor Rick Scott, and accepted on behalf of the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit. Judge Bowman has been instrumental in organizing our circuit’s National Adoption Day event for years. This year, 60 children found forever homes at the day-long event held Saturday, November 18.

Yesterday’s “Pro Se Day” finalized roughly 400 cases on family dockets by Judges Gillespie, Lopane, Schulman, Izquierdo, Fahnestock, and Dale Cohen. Held during non-traditional court business hours, “Pro Se Day” resolves uncontested dissolution of marriage and name change cases.

The Seventeenth Judicial Circuit congratulates Judge Raag Singhal and Judge David Haimes on their upcoming interviews in Washington D.C. for positions with the Federal District Court for the Southern District.

Chief Judge Elizabeth A. Metzger, of the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, visited the central courthouse today to learn more about our circuit’s therapy dog program as they begin the process of creating a program of their own. The visit included meeting our newest team, Melinda (human) and Emma (canine), and spending time with them as they visited juvenile dependency courtrooms and mingled with members of the public waiting for their hearings. Chief Judge Jack Tuter, Dependency Judge Jose Izquierdo, and UFC case management staff hosted the group and discussed how our circuit utilizes our therapy dog teams in the court.