Scores of homeless people pack Fort Lauderdale’s Community Court  every Wednesday to access services, grab a meal and sometimes even take a shower. Amid the chaos, Judge Florence Taylor Barner hears cases, addressing low-level misdemeanor crimes and municipal ordinance violations from her seat behind a folding table turned bench. Her solutions are innovative – community service hours, mental health treatment or substance abuse treatment in lieu of incarceration. However, criminal charges aren’t necessary to access the social services on hand. Helping to identify the root causes of homelessness to facilitate better outcomes is what the initiative is all about. Community Courts also operate in Hollywood and Pompano Beach.

A warm welcome to our three new County Court judges who won election on August 20^th. The newly elected County Court judges include Lauren Peffer, Corey Friedman and Kathleen Angione. All three will start their six-year terms in January 2025.