Announcements
Judge Florence Taylor Barner attended the Community Court Regional Convening in Eugene, Oregon on Tuesday, March 5, 2024.
Judge Barner was one of the many attendees who were there to share best practices and discuss the various results that come with having multiple Community Court locations.
Judge Alperstein was invited to participate in the schools Leadership Series where various leaders from the community are encouraged to come visit and speak with the students about their profession and their education.
Students from 24 law schools around the United Sates participated in Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad College of Law’s inaugural Shark Beach Showdown National Mock Trial Competition on Saturday, February 24, and Sunday, February 25, 2024.
During the competition, students were able to showcase their vast knowledge of the legal system and how they would be apply it in a trial setting. Judge Raag Singhal of the Southern District of Florida, United States District Court, volunteered for the mock trial along with 17th Circuit Judges Florence Taylor Barner, Betsy Benson, Martin Bidwill, Chris Brown, Melinda Brown, Peter Holden, Daniel J. Kanner, Kristin R. Kanner, Giuseppina Miranda, Jackie Powell, Andrew Siegel and Francis Viamontes.
Pace Law School triumphed as the champion team. The University Of Georgia School Of Law was the runner up.
The Circuit Civil Judicial Assistants of the 17th Circuit attended a Paralegal Meet and
Greet hosted by the Broward County Bar Association on Thursday, February 29, 2024.
At this annual event, judicial assistants meet with local legal professionals and
participate in sharing ideas and best practices in their respective roles.
The 17th Judicial Circuit has expanded its community courts with a location that launched in the City of Hollywood on Tuesday, February 20, 2024. This is the Community Courts’ third location, and will continue to connect individuals of the Broward County community in need with resources and valuable information.
The ceremony was hosted by City of Hollywood Community Development Division Manager Ryan Coote, and opened with an invocation given by Reverend Ron Brummit. Special guest Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz and City of Hollywood Mayor Josh Levy shared words of inspiration and discussed the importance of community. Following their speeches, Chief Judge Jack Tuter and Judges Florence Taylor Barner and Corey Amanda Cawthon thanked their staff and the community members for their tireless efforts in helping to bring the Community Court to fruition.
For more information on the Community Court and all of its locations, click the link below:
https://tinyurl.com/CommCourt17th
Students from the Women of Tomorrow program at Everglades High School came to the 17th Circuit courthouse for a guided tour on Thursday, February 22, 2024.
The young women spoke with Staff Attorney Supervisor Megan Zbikowski, Staff Attorney Ashley Bober, Judges Catalina Avalos and Elaine A. Carbuccia about potential future careers in law, and how they could make an impact through their role in the judicial system.
Several departments were represented from the 17th Circuit at this year’s Florida Court Personnel Institute in Kissimmee. Court staff were able to learn and take away valuable knowledge pertaining to their roles in and outside of their departments.
Photographed here from left to right are Judge Keathan B. Frink, Staff Attorney Alexander Villoria, Finance Manager Gigi Garcia, Staff Attorneys MaRhea Lascano, Shwetha Srinivasan, Tina Talarchyk, Digital Court Reporter Paulette Melendez-Reyes, Domestic Violence Case Manger Tyanah Cunningham, Human Resources Specialist II Ariel Garcia, Human Resources Manager Fred Cariano, Judicial Assistants Carol Hermiston, Eva-Tanja Cuthbert, Judge Fabienne E. Fahnestock, and Communication Specialist Josh Rodriguez
Students from thirteen local schools participated in a mock trial competition beginning on Friday, February 2, 2024 at the 17th Circuit courthouse. American Heritage and Fort Lauderdale High exceled as the two remaining schools who competed in finals.
The finals resulted in American Heritage as the winning team who will be moving on to the state level of the competition later this year. The 17th Circuit extends our appreciation to St. Thomas Benjamin L. Crump College of Law for having 40 of its law student’s volunteer as jurors for the mock trial.
The 17th Judicial Circuit of Florida celebrated its Black judges and magistrates on Friday, February 16, 2024.
A beautiful rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” was led by Mr. Kenneth Howard, and followed with several video interviews highlighting Retired Judges Mary Rudd Robinson, Zebedee Wright and Carole Y. Taylor.
17th Circuit judges and magistrates were then recognized for their dedication and great efforts for their service to the people of Broward County.
