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Celebrating Our Judicial Assistants This Holiday Season

Judges and their Judicial Assistants rang in the holidays with a festive celebration filled with great food, fancy desserts, and plenty of laughter. Well-deserved!

Judicial Assistants are the behind-the-scenes powerhouses who answer phones, manage dockets, schedule meetings, coordinate calendars, and keep everything running smoothly for the judiciary. And despite heavy caseloads, they consistently manage to beat back chaos, bring order to long days, and make it all look effortless — always with a smile.

Happy holidays to the incredible Judicial Assistants of the 17th Judicial Circuit. We truly couldn’t do it without you!

by — December 3, 2025 in Announcements
A Day in Court

Students from Margate Elementary’s 5000 Role Models mentoring program visited the Broward County Courthouse on Tuesday for a day packed with learning and fun. They met with Judges Lorena V. Mastrarrigo and Kenneth L. Gillespie, played a Constitution-themed Q&A game with Public Defender Community Relations Coordinator Janelle Floyd, and peppered Broward State Attorney Harold F. Pryor with questions about the legal system.

They also tried their hardest to outsmart Judge Gillespie in a brain-teasing math challenge (they didn’t win!), and eagerly circled answers on a courtroom Bingo card as they searched for items like a judge’s nameplate and the courtroom flag. And of course, the sweeping view from the 14th floor may have been the highlight of the day.

Huge thanks to everyone who helped make this visit both meaningful and memorable!

by — December 2, 2025 in Announcements
Learning How Digital Court Reporting Works

A group of homeschoolers got an inside look at digital court reporting services during a recent courthouse tour, where Supervisor La Kita O’Donnell showed them how detailed records of in-progress court proceedings are made in real time. La Kita introduced them to CourtSmart, the recording program used by the 17th Judicial Circuit, and allowed them to listen to a playback of a DUI trial. They also observed digital court reporters in action, asked questions, and even peeked into active courtrooms through CourtSmart’s live-streaming video.

The 17th Judicial Circuit employs about 30 digital court reporters who actively tag and monitor proceedings at the Main Courthouse, as well as the South Regional Courthouse in Hollywood, the North Regional Courthouse in Deerfield Beach, and the West Regional Courthouse in Plantation. It’s an impressive operation.

A special thank you to La Kita for taking so much time to show these students how modern court reporting works.

by — November 25, 2025 in Announcements
Tears, Smiles & New Beginnings: 16 Adoptions Finalized in Broward

National Adoption Day at the Broward County Courthouse on Nov. 22 was filled with tears of joy, megawatt smiles, and plenty of laughter. Judges Jose Izquierdo, Yael Gamm, John B. Bowman and Stacy Schulman finalized 16 adoptions, creating forever homes for these wonderful children. Chief Judge Carol-Lisa Phillips was also on hand to lead the opening ceremony and offer congratulations to all the families who opened their hearts to adoption.

The celebration was full of fun — face painting, games, a robotic photo booth, food, cake, candy, balloons, and gifts. One attendee called it “the best day ever in the courthouse,” and by all accounts it truly was.

Congratulations to the children and their new families! #foreverfamily

by — November 24, 2025 in Announcements
Broward Courts to Close for Thanksgiving Holiday

All Broward courts will close on Nov. 27-28th in observance of the holiday. The 17th Judicial Circuit wishes you and your family a warm and wonderful Thanksgiving. The courts will reopen on Monday, Dec. 1st.

The holiday closure includes:

  • Broward County Judicial Complex (Main Courthouse) – Fort Lauderdale
  • North Regional Courthouse – Deerfield Beach
  • South Regional Courthouse – Hollywood
  • West Regional Courthouse – Plantation

by — November 24, 2025 in Announcements
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