Announcements
Judge Shari Africk-Olefson was the keynote speaker at the Solomon Leadership Program’s graduation on Thursday, May 9, 2024.
Judge Africk-Olefson is photographed here speaking to the students during the graduation with words of wisdom and encouragement towards their bright futures. Also pictured here is State Attorney Harold F. Pryor, who received an award for his mentorship with the program.
Judge Lauren M. Alperstein visited the fourth grade class of David Posnack Jewish Day School on Thursday, May 9, 2024.
During her visit, Judge Alperstein spoke to the students about Florida’s Judicial System and gave more detail on her role at the 17th Circuit as a Family court judge.
Judge Ari Abraham Porth led a Mental Health Task Force meeting on Monday, May 13, 2024.
Judge Porth held the meeting via zoom, while also having several community partners in the
courtroom. The meetings bring 17th Circuit staff and judges together with community partners
to discuss new programs and share ideas about care and treatment for mental health court
participants. The task force meetings are held monthly on the second Monday of each month.
The Problem-Solving Courts of the 17th Circuit held a Community Resource Fair at the main courthouse on Thursday, May 9, 2024.
Several community organizations participated and shared valuable information with judicial and court staff. Photographed here are Court Navigators Casey Johnson from Henderson Behavioral Health, Rashera Nelson from 2-1-1 Broward, and Paralegal Jacinte McDougle from Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida.
The 17th Circuit’s Problem –Solving Courts hosted a training with Jermaine Galloway, also known as “Tall Cop”, on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. The training was held in honor of Opioid and Stimulant Awareness Month.
Judges Hope Tieman Bristol, Ginger Lerner-Wren, Edward H. Merrigan, Stacey Schulman, and Elijah H. Williams represented the 17th Circuit and were joined by various participants who included treatment providers, attorneys, therapists, victim advocates and more.
Some of the agencies that participated in the training included the Broward Sheriff’s Office, Seminole Tribe of Florida, ChildNet, Department of Children and Families, Department of Juvenile Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Women in Distress, Coast to Coast Legal Aid, Public Defender’s Office, State Attorney’s Office, Citrus Health, Memorial Healthcare Systems, Henderson Behavioral Health, 2-1-1 Broward, PACE Center for Girls, Broward County Juvenile Predisposition Services, Guardian Ad Litem Program, United Way of Broward and more.
On their visit, they met with Judges Michael A. Robinson, Phoebee Francois, and Keathan B. Frink who answered students’ questions and shared their courtroom experiences from the past and present.
Members of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity brought students from the Men of Tomorrow and Big Brother Big Sisters of Broward County to visit the 17th Circuit courthouse on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
The group visited with Judges Keathan B. Frink, George Odom, Jr., and Michael A. Robinson who shared their experiences in the field of law, and encouraged the group to pursue their dreams no matter how difficult their journey may be.
The 17th Circuit recognizes May as Opioid and Stimulant Awareness Month through various programs and events.
As the month progresses, the 17th Circuit will share artwork created by several participants from the mental health court program.
While Hurricane Season begins on June 1, the week of May 5 through May 11 has been deemed
National Hurricane Preparedness Week. Broward County’s Office of Emergency Management
encourages locals to begin storm preparation as early as possible to ensure that everyone has a
plan and the right resources.
For more information and tips on how to get prepared, click on the link below:
https://tinyurl.com/BrwdHurPrep
At the luncheon, a speech competition was held with the theme titled “Voices of Democracy”. The winners of the competition included students Amal Khouzam coming in 1st place, Braden Luongo in 2nd place, and Olivia Grnja in 3rd place. In attendance were Judges Michele Towbin Singer, Marina Garcia-Wood, Kristin R. Kanner, United States District Court Judge Raag Singhal, and Kenneth Hasset, Esq. who coordinated the event.
