Five judges from the 17^th Judicial Circuit along with 22 lawyers from the NE/NW sections of the Broward Bar Association celebrated the service of longtime Judge Louis H. Schiff last week at a networking luncheon in his courtroom at the North Regional Courthouse. Judge Schiff is retiring in December after 28 years on the bench. Turnout was great: Chief Judge Jack Tuter, Judge John Hurley, Judge Steven P. DeLuca, Judge Kim Theresa Mollica and Judge Kenneth A. Gottlieb attended along with Judge Schiff, in addition to a strong showing of lawyers. “I am honored to have served the last 28 years – it’s been the honor of a lifetime,” Schiff said told the group to rousing applause. The event marked the first time in four years the NE/NW sections of the Broward Bar Association was able to hold the networking event in-person. It also marked the last time Judge Schiff would attend the event as a sitting judge. The luncheon was halted during the COVID pandemic. We will miss you Judge Schiff. Much respect for an amazing lifetime of public service!

Judge Florence Taylor Barner has been named judicial liaison to the newly formed Bernice Gaines Dorn Black Women Lawyers Association, which recently held an information session in the law library at the NSU Shepard Broad College of Law. Bernice Gaines Dorn was the first black woman to be admitted to the Florida Bar. The group’s judicial council – the Mary Rudd Robinson Judicial Council – is named after Judge Mary Rudd Robinson, the first black female judge to serve on the bench in Broward County. The pioneering Robinson retired in 2016 after 27 years of service.

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.