E-Notify Launches in Florida
E-Notify is now available for all Florida counties. Sign up at E-Notify.flcourts.org to receive text or email notifications about criminal court events, such as hearings.
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Accepting Submissions for Forensic Mental Health Evaluators
Forensic Mental Health Evaluators
The Seventeenth Judicial Circuit is now accepting submissions from qualified psychiatrists, psychologists, and physicians interested in serving as a neutral expert for the court by evaluating criminal defendants for competency or competency-related mental health issues, and providing in-court testimony, when required. Successful applicants are considered independent contractors and will be required to execute a contract with the Circuit.
To qualify for consideration, the applicant must (1) be a licensed psychologist, psychiatrist, or physician; (2) have completed forensic evaluator training, as required by section 916.115, Florida Statutes; (3) demonstrate general knowledge of court proceedings and competency-related topics, including relevant provisions of Florida Statutes and the Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure; and (4) have experience performing competency or competency-related mental health evaluations (preferably in a jail, prison or forensic hospital setting).
Successful applicants will be compensated by the Court for each evaluation completed and for time spent providing in-court testimony. The Circuit’s administrative order governing the selection, appointment, and payment of court appointed mental health experts may be viewed Here. Applicants should be aware that evaluations may be videotaped and/or attended by the attorneys in the case or a court reporter.
Each submission should include a cover letter indicating the applicant’s experience and interest, a current resume or curriculum vitae, and proof of any licensure or certification(s).
An applicant must submit one original submission along with three copies. Submissions should be mailed or hand delivered to the following address:
Office of the Trial Court Administrator
Attn. General Counsel
Broward County Courthouse
201 Southeast 6th Street, Room WW20170 Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301
Upon receipt, your application will be reviewed and you may be contacted to schedule an interview. Submissions will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Judges from Seminole Tribe Visit Central Courthouse
Judges from the Seminole Tribe of Florida visited the Central Courthouse at the end of January, observing court proceedings and sharing in lunch conversation with our circuit’s family judges and Chief Judge Tuter, further fostering the collaboration between the two entities in Tribal Court. Judge Jose Izquierdo oversees dependency cases involving children from the tribe, hearing them in both his courtroom and on the Seminole reservation. As the partnership continues to grow, the Seminole Judges wanted to visit to learn more about how the state courts are run. Later this month, the tribe’s Court Administration staff will visit the courthouse too.
Visitors Represent 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project
Young men from Miramar High School visited the Central Courthouse at the end of January, as part of the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project. The program pairs “at-risk” youth from ages 9-19 and pairs them with successful professional adult volunteers who provide advice, guidance and educational assistance.
During their half-day visit, the students observed bond court, speaking with presiding Judge Corey Amanda Cawthon during a break, shared one-on-one time with Gordon Weekes from the Public Defender’s Office, met Captain Ozzy Tianga from BSO Court Services, and sat it on Judge Marina Garcia-Wood’s criminal docket and Judge Elijah Williams’ juvenile delinquency docket.
Bailiff Roger DeHart Speaks in Washington D.C. About Human Trafficking
Our circuit’s own Roger DeHart traveled to Washington D.C. last week, to serve on a panel addressing human trafficking prevention. The bipartisan meeting of the Florida delegation featured Mr. DeHart as one of four panelists who were asked by members of Congress about ways to combat human trafficking. The very next day, Mr.DeHart attended a luncheon hosted by the NFL for domestic violence and human trafficking prevention advocates.
Roger started a non-profit charity, First S.T.O.P (Saving Teens and Others from Predators), to help bring more awareness to the world-wide problem of human trafficking, and planning and executing the hundreds of miles “No More Miles” walks. In 2018, he walked from the steps of the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale to the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., logging over 1,000 miles for the cause, and just last year he walked from the Golden Gate bridge in San Francisco to the University of California, San Diego.
Judge Davis Hosts Students from Nova College Living Experience Program
Students from Nova College Living Experience Program (CLE) spent some time with Judge Michael Davis in the South Satellite Courthouse last week. Nova’s CLE is a program that supports special needs students in academics, independent living, social skills and career development. While visiting, the students were able to observe Judge Davis’ civil docket, meet and speak with the judge and attorneys in the courtroom, and pose for pictures on the bench!
