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Ms. Annette Szorosy was sworn in today, October 3, as the newest General Magistrate for the 17^th Judicial Circuit of Florida. Ms. Szorosy will serve in the Family division at the central courthouse in Fort Lauderdale. Prior to her new appointment, Ms. Szorosy was a staff attorney with the 17th Circuit since 2009, handling family, civil and civil appeals cases. She has also worked for Florida’s 10th Circuit, and the 2nd and 4th District Courts of Appeal. Congratulations!

The 17^th Judicial Circuit welcomes Judge Raag Singhal, who was sworn in to office today, September 30, by Chief Judge Peter M. Weinstein. Florida Governor Rick Scott appointed the criminal defense attorney to the 17^th Circuit last month, to fill the judicial vacancy created this summer when Judge Victor Tobin resigned from the circuit.

Judge Singhal has practiced criminal law for more than 20 years, mostly serving in private practice. He served in the State Attorney’s Office from 1990-1993 and briefly in the civil field from 1989-1990. He obtained his law degree from Wake Forest University and his undergraduate degree from Rice University.

Judge Singhal is assigned to the criminal division, and will begin on the bench Monday, October 3.

Unified Family Court Chairperson, Judge Renee Goldenberg, was appointed to a new one-year term as Chair of the Family Law Committee and a member of the Executive Committee of the Conference of Circuit Judges.

Broward County Judge Jane Fishman was honored with the 2011 Harvey Ford Award at this year’s Conference of County Court Judges of Florida, July 6, in Boca Raton, FL. The award is considered the highest honor presented by the Conference, as it recognizes one county court judge for their dedication of service to the community, to the legal profession, and to the Conference itself.

The award is named for Broward County Court Judge Harvey Ford, who died in 1995, and was known for his outstanding and dedicated community and professional service.

OVER 10,000 PROGRAM GRADUATES AND COUNTING

Fort Lauderdale, FL – On Wednesday, July 13, 2011, the 17th Judicial Circuit’s Drug Court program will mark 20 years, with a special graduation ceremony at the Broward County Main Library at 6:00 pm. In addition to honoring the graduates who have successfully completed treatment this quarter, the ceremony will also recognize special guests in attendance – those who helped to pioneer the program two decades ago.

Currently, the 17th Circuit offers adult felony drug court, juvenile drug court, and misdemeanor drug court. By mid-year 2011, the current caseload for adult felony diversion cases was approximately 2,700, with an average annual disposition rate of 1,000 cases. According to Circuit Judge Marcia Beach, an average of 90% of participants have successfully completed the conditions of Broward County’s Drug Court program, and, after two years, an average of 80% of participants are not rearrested.

When it first began, the 17th Circuit’s Drug Court was one of only three in the nation; today there are more than 1,000. Drug Courts provide an alternative to traditional criminal sanctions by putting individuals in closely supervised substance abuse treatment programs long enough for them to work.

“The 17th Judicial Circuit’s Drug Court has been phenomenally successful and helps to save lives and taxpayers money,” says Judge Beach.

JUDGE LOUIS SCHIFF BECOMES PRESIDENT OF CONFERENCE OF COUNTY COURT JUDGES OF FLORIDA

Fort Lauderdale, FL – Broward County Judge Louis Schiff was sworn in as 2011-2012 President of the Conference of County Court Judges of Florida on Wednesday, July 6, in Boca Raton, FL. He will serve a one-year term leading the organization which boasts 320 members of the judiciary, representing all 67 counties in Florida.

As president, Judge Schiff established a program called Off the Bench, in which he “challenges” conference members to volunteer a minimum of four hours each month to help in their local communities. “When we get home at the end of the day, we’re still all members of the communities we live in. As judges, we need to give back to those who put us where we are today,” he says. The goal of the program is to give back a total of 15,000 hours of community service.

In addition to this program, Judge Schiff will lead the group to provide continuing judicial education and discuss mutual problems and solutions; develop programs to improve the administration of justice; provide a unified voice for county judges in dealings with the state legislature, executive branch, Supreme Court, and other state agencies; and acquire information for the improvement of county courts, practices, and procedures.

Judge Schiff has served on the bench in Broward County since 1997, and has served on the faculty for the Conference of County Court Judges of Florida since 2002.

The one-year program, funded by the Florida legislature, that established a special foreclosure unit in the 17^th Circuit ended on June 30, 2011. As a result, The Foreclosure Case Management Unit was disbanded. All residential mortgage foreclosure hearings will continue to be heard in courtrooms 4150 and 14160 – cases are not being re-distributed amongst the civil division. 

Beginning July 11, 2011:

Foreclosure division personnel stress the importance of all parties participating in foreclosure proceedings, including litigants, attorneys and paralegals, to please read the online Foreclosure Procedures thoroughly, as a means of finding answers to any questions.

For more information please refer to the Foreclosure Program Page.

July 1, 2011 – Circuit Judge Peter M. Weinstein begins his two-year term as Chief Judge of the 17th Judicial Circuit of Florida today, July 1. Chosen earlier in the year by a majority vote of his colleagues, Judge Weinstein replaces former Chief Judge Victor Tobin in the second-largest circuit court in the state of Florida.

Chief Judge Weinstein takes the helm, bringing many years of experience with him. He received his Bachelor’s Degree from New York University and his Juris Doctorate Degree from Brooklyn Law School. He served as a legal officer in the United States Army, as a prosecutor for Broward County, and was in private practice for many years before being appointed to the 17th Circuit bench in 1998. He also served as a Florida Senator for 14 years. Judge Weinstein is married, with two sons and three grandchildren.