Gateway Christian Academy Goes to Court

Elementary school students from Gateway Christian Academy got a hands-on lesson in the law this week during an engaging courthouse tour where they explored Judge Jackie Powell’s courtroom, peppered Judge John D. Fry with questions, met Broward State Attorney Harold F. Pryor, and heard presentations from John James and Janelle Floyd of the Broward Public Defender’s Office.

They also got “inked up” while making thumbprints with an analyst from the Broward Sheriff’s Office Crime Lab, who demonstrated what it takes to capture a quality fingerprint.

Many thanks to the dedicated professionals whose time, patience and creativity make these courthouse tours informative, fun and interactive for our students.

Court Administration: Thank You for Your Service

Court Administration honored employees today for their incredible dedication to the 17th Judicial Circuit with a special milestone ceremony. Thirty staff with a range of five, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30+ years of service were recognized, representing more than 375 years of collective experience!

Congratulations and thank you all for your hard work, commitment, and service to our community. We couldn’t do this without you! #teamwork

Court Administration Spreads Holiday Cheer

Court Administration employees enjoyed a festive holiday luncheon on Thursday, complete with classic tunes from our talented employee carolers. Thanks to Trial Court Administrator Joe D’Amico and Chief Deputy Court Administrator Diana Sobel, the 20th-floor hallway was transformed into a red-and-white wonderland, filled with elaborate balloon displays and coordinated décor. The food was delicious and the desserts, decadent. Approximately 140 court administration employees attended.

The beautiful luncheon was a heartfelt “thank you” from Joe and Diana to the dedicated employees whose hard work keeps the courts running smoothly throughout the year. Happy holidays!

Governor Appoints Pascale Achille to Circuit Court Bench

We have a new judge! The 17th Judicial Circuit is delighted to announce the appointment of Pascale Achille to the Circuit Court bench. Governor Ron DeSantis made the appointment on Monday to fill the vacancy created by the August 15th resignation of Judge Gary M. Farmer, Jr.

Judge Achille has worked as an assistant state attorney at the Broward State Attorney’s Office for 12 years where she has been a member of the Homicide Trial Unit since 2018. She was previously assigned to the sexual battery and career criminal units. Earlier in her career, she spent eight years as a civil attorney handling federal and state matters, drafting appellate briefs and arguing before the Second and Fifth District Court of Appeal.

Welcome aboard! We are so happy you are on our team! Read our press release HERE.

Shaping Effective Leaders for the Future

More than 30 supervisors from Court Administration took part this week in a full day of leadership training designed to strengthen essential supervisory skills. The program covered a wide range of topics, including team building, accountability, collaboration, coaching, mentoring, providing effective feedback, and navigating difficult conversations.

The session was led by Jennifer Currence, senior partner with HR Soul Consulting, and was titled “Leading with Influence & Impact: Essential Skills for Modern Leaders.”

Training like this is essential for developing effective, relatable leaders. Thank you to Court Administration for proactively supporting the leaders of tomorrow.

5000 Role Models Tour the Courthouse

Students from Millennium 6-12 and Challenger Elementary spent an inspiring day at the Broward County Courthouse, diving into firsthand lessons about the justice system. The students participate in the 5000 Role Models mentoring program.

Their visit began in Judge Florence Taylor Barner’s courtroom, where they asked thoughtful questions about her work on the bench. They then visited Judge Elijah H. Williams in juvenile court to better understand what it means to be a youth in custody. They asked Judge Williams even more great questions.

The group continued to the Lamar Warren Law Library, where they met with Broward State Attorney Harold F. Pryor, learned about ballistics from a BSO Crime Lab scientist, and the role of a public defender from Community Outreach Coordinator Janelle Floyd.

The students were curious, engaged, and full of questions. They walked away with real-world insight into how the justice system works. Many thanks to all the public servants in the courthouse whose time and dedication made this tour so meaningful.

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