Pioneering Gottlieb Family Recognized with Honorary Street Name

Judge Kenneth A. Gottlieb has some bragging rights. The City of Hollywood recently co-named a street in honor of his family’s decades of contributions to the city. The Gottliebs were homeowners, business owners, home builders, community activists and elected officials who helped make Hollywood what it is today. Congratulations on this unique honor! Read our press release HERE. Read the Florida Politics story HERE. (Pictured: The late Marvin Gottlieb (left) and son Judge Kenneth A. Gottlieb (right). Judge Gottlieb is a former Hollywood City Commissioner and a former Florida State Representative.

The 17th Judicial Circuit Welcomes Four New Judges During Swearing-In Ceremony

The 17th Judicial Circuit welcomed four new judges to the bench during a swearing-in ceremony conducted by Chief Judge Jack Tuter on 1/7/2025. The new judges include: County Court Judges Lauren N. Peffer, Woody R. Clermont, Corey B. Friedman and Kathleen E. Angione. Judge Clermont is assigned to the South Regional Courthouse; Judge Peffer, the West Regional Courthouse in Plantation; Judge Angione, the North Regional Courthouse and Judge Friedman, the main courthouse in Fort Lauderdale where he will preside over first appearances. Circuit Judge Johnathan D. Lott, who will preside in Family Court, was sworn in at an earlier date. Welcome aboard!

Celebrating Decades of Public Service: 5 Judges Retire

Nearly 60 county and circuit court judges celebrated decades of service, friendship and memories at a special luncheon to honor five retiring judges whose years on the bench totaled a combined 125 years of service. Retiring judges included: Judge Louis H. Schiff, 28 years; Judge Robert W. Lee, 27 years; Judge Robert F. Diaz, 32 years; Judge Terri-Ann Miller, 18 years; and Judge John Murphy III, 20 years. Thank you for dedicating your lives to so many years of public service. Onto the next chapter! Enjoy your retirement. Read our press release HERE.

Making a Difference by Mentoring Tomorrow’s Leaders

Helping students in grades 6-12 develop leadership skills and academic success is what the Mentoring Tomorrow’s Leaders program is all about. It’s also why Judge Jackie Powell recently visited Lauderdale Lakes Middle School to induct the 2024-2025 board members of the Mentoring Tomorrow’s Leaders Club into office. That day, 46 students took an oath to pursue academic excellence under her watch. This peer-to-peer mentoring program focuses on student engagement and school completion. Goals include increasing graduation rates, reducing dropout rates, improving academic advancement and helping students progress. Thank you Judge Powell for making such a difference! Judge Powell was recently honored by the Caribbean Bar Assocation for community service. Read our press release here: http://www.17th.flcourts.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Judge-Jackie-Powell-Award.pdf

Last Call: Retiring Judge Teaches Traffic Hearing Officer Course for Last Time

He’s done it dozens of times in his 28-year judicial career, but the traffic hearing officer class that Judge Louis H. Schiff taught this week stood out from all the rest: the class of 12 lawyers who gathered at the Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building to prepare for a start date of February 2025 was to be the last class Judge Schiff would teach before he retires at the end of December 2024. An amazing legacy by any account. Enjoy your retirement Judge Schiff – well deserved!

Celebrating Our Judicial Assistants With Holiday Cheer – and Plenty of Sweets!

A big shout out to the hard-working judicial assistants who keep the judges of the 17th Judicial Circuit organized and on track year round. Behind the scenes, they schedule hearings, update judges’ calendars and zip in and out of the case management system making sure everything falls into place at the right time. Judges and their judicial assistants this week celebrated the upcoming holidays with a hot lunch, sweet treats and a few party hats during the annual festivity. A good time was had by all. Happy Holidays!

Facebook
YouTube