Full Court Press Fall 2023

Contents

• A Message from the Interim State Courts Administrator
• Investiture of Justice Francis
• Welcome Justice Sasso
• Chief Justice Awards for Judicial Excellence
• Get to Know ACIS
• Judicial Circuit Assessment Committee
• Dispute Resolution Conference
• Champions Summit
• 2023 Trends in State Courts
• Marshal Dawson Retires
• Beware of Jury Scams
• OIT Wins Best of Florida Award
• Hurricane Idalia Lessons
• A Supreme Evening 2024
• Turning Points
• Around the State

A Message from the Interim State Courts Administrator

I am honored to have served as interim state courts administrator since September, following in the footsteps of Allison “Ali” Sackett. During her tenure as State Courts Administrator, Ali helped to support the state courts system’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the implementation of new appellate case management and information systems, and the creation of the new Sixth District Court of Appeal, among other services to the judicial branch.

I joined OSCA in 2011 after serving as staff in the Florida Senate for 17 years. I hope that my years of work with the judicial branch, and in state government generally, will help to make this transition as smooth as possible. As I familiarize myself with the responsibilities of the position, I appreciate the confidence that Chief Justice Muñiz and the other members of the Court have placed in me.

My immediate focus has been on staying the course and continuing the important work of the Office of the State Courts Administrator (OSCA) without interruption. In the time I have served as the interim state courts administrator, OSCA has prepared and submitted the state courts system’s annual budget request to the Florida Legislature, assisted the Judicial Circuit Assessment Committee that studied the issue of consolidating judicial circuits, and continued to help implement C-Track and the Appellate Case Information System across Florida’s district courts of appeal.

My commitment to this position comes from my incredible respect for the important work of the courts to protect rights and liberties, uphold and interpret the law, and provide for the peaceful resolution of disputes. I am confident that OSCA will continue to support the courts in this mission through the tireless efforts and talents of the office’s dedicated staff. I am humbled to serve the Supreme Court and the court system as interim state courts administrator, and I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues in OSCA and around the state.

- Eric Maclure

Investiture of Justice Francis

Justice Renatha S. Francis joined the Supreme Court of Florida when she was appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis on August 5, 2022. Her investiture, the formal ceremony marking her membership as the 92nd justice of the Florida Supreme Court, was held on October 18, 2023.

With hundreds in attendance in the courtroom, the investiture began with Justice Francis’ sons leading those assembled in the Pledge of Allegiance. Pastor Dan Plourde from her church provided the invocation, and Mr. Vance Watts sang God Bless America.

Chief Justice Carlos G. Muñiz welcomed the many guests in attendance including Governor Ron DeSantis; Senate President Kathleen C. Passidomo; Speaker of the House Paul M. Renner; former Justices Major B. Harding, Kenneth B. Bell, Ricky Polston, Alan Lawson, and Robert J. Luck; among many other dignitaries, family, and friends.

Chief Justice Muñiz described how investitures began as private ceremonies to handle an administrative requirement, but starting in 1955, they began to transform into the modern celebration among family and friends that marks a significant accomplishment while still recognizing the importance and solemnity of the occasion. On behalf of the Court, Chief Justice Muñiz said, “We consider it a great blessing and privilege to serve with Justice Francis. We benefit from her intellect and insight, and we deeply admire her character and resilience.”

Governor Ron DeSantis spoke about the foundation of America and its constitutional form of government and noted that, “part of keeping the Republic is that those who are entrusted to serve in government are faithfully executing their offices, and in this case, faithfully executing the judicial oath.” He spoke about “the road less traveled” that led Justice Francis to the Florida Supreme Court. From being born in Jamaica, operating small businesses, caring for her younger sibling, moving to Florida, learning the law, and coming to appreciate America’s founding principles, Governor DeSantis recognized Justice Francis as a stalwart defender of the Constitution who has earned her place on the Florida Supreme Court.

The importance of the occasion was reflected in the words of those who made remarks and presentations to Justice Francis. They spoke of the creation of our constitutional form of government, the importance of the separation of powers, and our ongoing obligation to uphold and maintain those ideals. In equal measure, they spoke of Justice Francis’ commitment to those ideals, her legal acumen, and diligent work ethic. Many presenters also noted Justice Francis’ Jamaican heritage and her role as the first Caribbean-American to serve on the Florida Supreme Court.

Former Justice Alan Lawson noted that Justice Francis was appointed to fill the seat he vacated upon his retirement, and he was delighted to be there to administer the oath of office to her. He said that the reason we gather for these events today is to continue what our forefathers started with the Constitutional Convention in 1787 by taking “an oath, and then to faithfully, to courageously live out that oath in service to this nation and their fellow citizens.” Before administering the oath, Justice Lawson said, “May your tenure on this honorable court be long. I know it will be distinguished.”

With her sons and her mother, Hyacinth Francis, holding a Bible, Justice Francis took the oath of office. Her mother and sons then robed her before Justice Francis took her seat at the bench of the Supreme Court of Florida.

Any investiture is an emotional event. It is a culmination of years of toil and dedication. It is a joyous and solemn thing. This particular investiture was also marked by the absence of one very important person.

When Justice Francis had an opportunity to address the room, she said, “Looking out into this big, beautiful crowd, my heart is full.” She thanked her many well-wishers for their support and their kind words. She thanked Governor DeSantis for the trust and confidence he placed in her by selecting her to serve on the Court. She also thanked her dedicated staff who have been with her and supported her like family throughout her career.

She then spoke about the one person not in attendance. While Justice Francis’ husband Phillip Fender was there to see his wife appointed to the Florida Supreme Court, he tragically passed away before he could witness her investiture. His absence was felt by many throughout the investiture, but by no one more than Justice Francis herself. She called him her biggest supporter. She said, “His first reaction to anything I thought about doing was, ‘Let’s do it.’ He thought big … and to him, I could do anything. That’s what he made me feel.”

Justice Francis said, “Having been raised outside of the United States, I know what a treasure we have in our republican form of government. It is worth defending. It is worth protecting. And our role as a court in this process is to make sure that we uphold the structural constraints of government action to protect liberty.”

In closing, Justice Francis reflected on passages from the Gettysburg Address and said, “The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. That we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion, and that government of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

Welcome Justice Sasso

Justice Meredith L. Sasso became the newest justice of the Florida Supreme Court when she was appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis on May 23, 2023. As Florida’s 93rd justice, she brings to the Court a broad and diverse background of legal experience and a refined judicial philosophy.

A Tallahassee native, Justice Sasso is among a relatively small cohort of other justices from the capitol city. She said, “I would have never predicted my career would lead me here, but it is an incredible honor to serve, and that opportunity is made sweeter by the fact that the office is right down the road from my high school and across the street from a building I spent a lot of time in growing up.” That other building is the Florida State Capitol, where her father worked as a legislative analyst.

She also grew up hearing her grandfather’s stories about his life in Cuba. Those stories led her to the belief that what makes America unique is the commitment to the ideal that no person is above the law. This belief was solidified through her experiences studying abroad and deepened through her academic studies. Though initially interested in public relations and crisis management, it quickly became clear that her true calling was in the law.

After earning her law degree from the University of Florida, she went into private practice, where she represented clients at trial and on appeal in state and federal court. As a guardian ad litem, she used her time and talents to fight for the best interests of children who had been abused or neglected. In the executive branch, she served as chief deputy general counsel to Governor Rick Scott.

Justice Sasso said, “Each job prepared me to serve in this role in its own way.” Private practice taught her the business of law and that the best way to get great results for clients was to always be the most prepared person in the room. As a guardian ad litem, she witnessed how intimidating the legal system can be to many of the people the court system serves. Her time in the Governor’s Office included years of participating in the vetting process of judicial nominees and being steeped in judicial philosophy. She said, “By the time I took the bench, I had a very concrete philosophy and a firm idea of how I should implement that philosophy.”

Justice Sasso began her judicial tenure with her appointment to the Fifth District Court of Appeal, where she was able to implement her judicial philosophy while enjoying the robust exchange of ideas that is inherent in deciding cases in appellate panels. It is also where she would learn a great deal about court administration after being named as chair of the workgroup tasked with implementing the new Sixth District Court of Appeal.

The last time a new district court of appeal was created in Florida was 1979, so the administrative effort to create a new court was immense. Item by item, from budgeting to siting, staffing to technology, realigning districts to initiating new cases, the Sixth District Court of Appeal came together and began operations as scheduled on January 1, 2023. Justice Sasso said, “It was absolutely a team effort, and there was not a single weak link in the team.”

Describing the effort to implement the Sixth District Court of Appeal, Justice Sasso said, “Our first (and luckily early) hire was Charles Crawford, who was serving as Marshal of the Fifth DCA and agreed to come over to the Sixth. We also brought on Lisa Kiel as a consultant, and Eric Maclure quarterbacked the project from the Office of the State Courts Administrator standpoint. Every judge transitioning from the Fifth to the Sixth immediately took on two full-time jobs, and the judges remaining at the Fifth did everything they could to help make our transition successful. We also had the full support of judges and justice partners around the state that spent their ‘spare’ time volunteering on the implementation committee. I cannot imagine the transition going as smoothly if any one of these pieces were out of place, and I am eternally grateful to every person who contributed.”

After being recommissioned to serve on the Sixth District Court of Appeal, then-Judge Sasso was elected by the judges of the new district to serve as its first chief judge. That would prove to be her final judicial post before being appointed to serve on the Supreme Court of Florida.

As for the appointment itself, Justice Sasso remembers that time as a whirlwind. Her husband was naturally proud to learn of her appointment, but she noted that her sons were a little too young to appreciate her new title. That is when Chief Justice Carlos G. Muñiz stepped in with a solution. He took the boys to the roof of the Supreme Court and showed them a view few are privileged to see. “Now they think I have a cool job,” Justice Sasso said.

With Justice Sasso’s appointment, the Florida Supreme Court now has more female justices and more justices with Cuban heritage serving simultaneously than ever before. She said, “I think the composition of our court is a reflection of American ideals. This is a country founded on understanding that every human has worth and dignity, regardless of how much time their family has spent on this side of the ocean.”

While the makeup of the Court naturally changes over time, its mission remains the same, and that is to protect rights and liberties, uphold and interpret the law, and provide for the peaceful resolution of disputes. As someone who understands complex civil cases, who has served Florida’s vulnerable children, and who appreciates the issues facing each branch of government, Justice Sasso brings a breadth of experience and understanding to the Court that supports that mission in every way possible.

As reported by the Office of Governor Ron DeSantis, upon her appointment Justice Sasso said, “I am incredibly honored that Governor Ron DeSantis is entrusting me with this position. The judiciary plays a critical and unique role in our constitutional government, and I am resolutely committed to upholding the rule of law for as long as I am privileged to serve.”

Chief Justice Awards for Judicial Excellence

The Chief Justice Awards for Judicial Excellence are awarded annually to recognize one circuit court judge and one county court judge who demonstrate exceptional commitment to the judicial branch. Recipients personify judicial excellence by exhibiting qualities such as strength of character, integrity, fairness, open-mindedness, knowledge of the law, sound judgment, professional ethics, intellectual courage, compassion, and decisiveness. The recipients for 2023 were Sixth Judicial Circuit Judge Anthony Rondolino and Miami-Dade County Judge Gordon Murray.

Judge Anthony Rondolino, Sixth Judicial Circuit
(Retired August 7, 2023)

Judge Anthony Rondolino received the 2023 Chief Justice Award for Judicial Excellence in recognition of his exceptional contributions to Florida’s Sixth Judicial Circuit. Judge Rondolino’s 30 years on the bench, eight years as chief judge, and his dedication to serving the people of Florida and the judicial branch are just some of the factors that led Chief Justice Muñiz to select him for this year’s award. The award was presented by Justice John D. Couriel at the annual education program of the Conference of Circuit Court Judges.

Judge Rondolino began his legal career at the Public Defender’s Office of the Sixth Judicial Circuit. In January 1990, he became a circuit judge and earned a reputation for his extensive knowledge of the law, rigorous research, and unparalleled preparation. His dedication to accessibility and willingness to provide legal guidance to colleagues were attributes noted by his peers and those who nominated him for the award.

A skilled collaborator and consensus builder, Judge Rondolino fostered strong relationships across the legal and judicial communities, working closely with bar associations, state attorneys, public defenders, clerks of court, sheriffs, and police chiefs.
As noted by the administrative judges of the Sixth Judicial Circuit, Judge Rondolino’s “judicial excellence, strong character, integrity, legal knowledge, ethics, courage, compassion and decisiveness,” earned him unanimous election as the chief judge of the Sixth Judicial Circuit for four terms.

Throughout his eight-year tenure as chief judge, Judge Rondolino showed his commitment to ensuring the Sixth Judicial Circuit operated efficiently and effectively. Under his guidance, the circuit developed and implemented robust hurricane preparedness plans, which proved instrumental during Hurricanes Irma and Ian. Additionally, he collaborated with stakeholders to devise innovative methods for safely administering justice during the pandemic.

Judge Rondolino also led the establishment of the Community Violence Division, which oversees all protective injunctions, as well as the Circuit’s Mental Health Court, which addresses critical mental health issues in the judicial process.
In his letter of support for Judge Rondolino’s nomination for the award, then Second Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Jonathan Sjostrom wrote, “I would suggest our cherished judicial values may be summarized in three words: diligence, competence, and integrity. There is no judge whose career more fully embodied these values than Anthony Rondolino.”

Judge Gordon Murray, Miami-Dade County

Judge Gordon Murray, Miami-Dade County, received the 2023 Chief Justice Award for Judicial Excellence for his commitment to the judicial branch, skilled leadership, and tireless efforts to improve access to the courts including his work to ensure an efficient, effective, and safe transition to remote hearings during the pandemic. Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Carlos G. Muñiz presented the award to Judge Murray at the annual education program of the Conference of County Court Judges.

In 1986, Judge Murray began his career in public service as an assistant state attorney. His career also included working in private legal practice and serving as a magistrate for the City of South Miami and the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida. Since he was elected to the bench, Judge Murray has presided over civil divisions, served as associate administrative judge, and currently serves as Miami-Dade County’s administrative judge.

Miami-Dade County Court Associate Administrative Judge Milena Abreu said, “Judge Murray is a judge of the people who has spent countless hours implementing programs that provide better access and justice for our community.” One example of this is Judge Murray’s key role in the development of CourtHELP, an online, early dispute resolution portal designed to assist landlords and tenants. This successful program has now been expanded to also address credit card cases.

Judge Murray has also shown his dedication to the Miami-Dade area legal community. Since 1995, he has served as adjunct professor at Miami-Dade College and participates in their annual Crime Scene Investigation Summer Program. He has also lectured for the Miami-Dade County Medical Association, teaching doctors and other medical professionals about the complex issues involved when working with victims of possible domestic violence. Finally, he has presided over the final round of the Honorable Earle Zehiner Memorial Mock Trial Competition sponsored by the Florida Justice Association for many years.

Reflective of his character, the admiration of his colleagues, and his positive impact across the legal community, Judge Murray has been the recipient of numerous honors. He received The Florida Bar’s 2023 William M. Hoeveler Judicial Professionalism Award; The Florida Bar President's Pro Bono Service Award; The Cuban American Bar Association Distinguished Service Award; The Miami-Dade County Community Pillar Award; and The Women’s History Coalition of Miami-Dade County, Inc. 15 Years of Outstanding Service Award.

Get to Know ACIS

The Appellate Case Information System

The Appellate Case Information System, known as ACIS, is designed to efficiently handle appellate case information for the courts and for parties involved in such cases while also providing the public with timely access to dockets and case information that is not otherwise restricted by law, rule, or court order.

ACIS can be thought of as the umbrella program for appellate case information. It is powered by C-Track Case Management System (C-Track), which is the program replacing the older E-FACTS and eDCA systems. As for filing documents, that will still be done through the E-Filing Portal. The main thing to know is that it all feeds into ACIS.

The Office of Information Technology (OIT) in the Office of the State Courts Administrator worked in concert with the appellate clerks and a contracted vendor to coordinate the development and rollout of ACIS. OSCA’s Chief Information Officer Roosevelt Sawyer, Jr., said the OIT team worked with the appellate clerks and vendor on data migration, project management, organizational change, and reporting needs to implement the new ACIS solution. 

The Florida Supreme Court and the First District Court of Appeal were the first courts to migrate to ACIS in March 2023. The Third and Fourth District Courts of Appeal were the next courts to transition to ACIS in September 2023. Sawyer said, “With feedback from the public after the initial rollout, the clerks and the project team streamlined the registration process to be much more efficient.” The remaining three district courts of appeal are on track to migrate to the new system by spring 2024.
Attorneys, judges, lower tribunal clerks, and self-represented litigants must register in ACIS to obtain appropriate access to documents in their appellate cases. Unlike previous systems, only one registration in ACIS is necessary to access documents in any of Florida’s appellate courts currently using the system. Attorneys who have used the eDCA system should know that ACIS will replace their eDCA account.

For those simply interested in searching case dockets or other public information, there is no need to register for an account in ACIS. Anyone is free to access basic case docket information and other publicly available documents in ACIS without creating an account. Sawyer said, “When ACIS is fully implemented, appellate case information will be available in one location in Florida, which will be an enriched experience from the district court-specific locations.”

Guides on how to register for an ACIS account and how to use the system are available online.

www.flcourts.gov/ACIS

ACIS may be accessed at

acis.flcourts.gov/portal/home

Judicial Circuit Assessment Committee

Florida House of Representatives Speaker Paul Renner wrote to Chief Justice Carlos G. Muñiz to request that the Supreme Court consider whether any of Florida’s judicial circuits should be consolidated in accordance with Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.241. In response to Speaker Renner’s request, Chief Justice Muñiz created the Judicial Circuit Assessment Committee (JCAC) to consider the matter and provide a report and recommendations to the Court by December 1, 2023.

Judge Jonathan Gerber of the Fourth District Court of Appeal was named chair of the JCAC, and he framed the task in terms of a trial where the committee would collect evidence, take testimony, deliberate, and finally present its verdict in the form of the final report and recommendation.

To collect evidence, the JCAC collected and reviewed relevant constitutional and statutory provisions, current maps of the judicial circuit boundaries, circuit profiles, a variety of court-related data, and prior studies regarding judicial circuit and district court boundaries. Additionally, several committee members were tasked with researching and collecting data on the potential fiscal and resource impacts of any possible consolidations of judicial circuits.

To take testimony, the JCAC created three paths for receiving input regarding court consolidation.

First, the committee encouraged written correspondence and received many letters and emails throughout the process.

Second, the committee created two online surveys to receive input from both the general public and from court, government, and legal professionals. The online surveys produced nearly 7,000 responses for the committee to examine. 

Third, the committee held two public hearings to collect narrative input from anyone interested in this issue. The public hearings were held in person in Orlando and Tampa and also offered people the opportunity to attend and present testimony remotely via videoconferencing. The public hearings were well attended and provided the committee with a wealth of input from attendees including Florida legislators, state attorneys, public defenders, private attorneys, and interested members of the public.

On November 3, 2023, the committee methodically reviewed the data, comments, and recommendations for each of Florida’s 20 judicial circuits before considering several possible circuit consolidation scenarios suggested by survey respondents. In every case, the committee found that the evidence did not support a consolidation of circuits. With their consideration guided by Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.241, the committee noted that less disruptive adjustments than circuit consolidation would be able to address any concerns. As a result, the committee members voted unanimously to recommend against consolidating any of Florida’s current judicial circuits.

The JCAC submitted its report and recommendations to the Florida Supreme Court on December 1, 2023. The final report is available on the committee’s webpage at flcourts.gov/JCAC.

Dispute Resolution Conference

The Dispute Resolution Center (DRC) held its annual conference, this year titled Helping You Help Others Resolve Disputes, on August 4, 2023. The annual conference provides an opportunity for alternative dispute resolution (ADR) professionals such as attorneys, mediators, and parenting coordinators to learn about the latest techniques in dispute resolution, revisions to laws and rules, and ethics considerations among other issues affecting the profession.

Florida Supreme Court Justice Jamie R. Grosshans welcomed the more than 1,300 virtual participants to the conference. Justice Grosshans discussed her own experiences working successfully with mediators and parenting coordinators when she was a family law attorney and noted that, “ADR has always been a part of serving the interests of the people who come to the courts seeking resolutions of disputes and a chance at a better outcome.”

The conference returned to a virtual format in 2023 after holding last year’s 30th anniversary conference in person. While many people enjoy the opportunity to meet in person, holding the conference virtually allowed nearly twice as many people to participate this year compared with last year. Additionally, the ability to attend live sessions and view recorded sessions allowed participants to obtain a complete cycle’s worth of continuing education credits through the one-day conference.

Tad David, chief of the Dispute Resolution Center at the Office of the State Courts Administrator, noted that the people who work in dispute resolution in Florida are not only lawyers but come from many different backgrounds. He said, “We try to reflect that diversity in our presenters with a spectrum of people from academia, mental health, social work, and the legal field.”

In addition to the educational programs, the conference also takes time each year to recognize those who have demonstrated exemplary service. This year’s Sharon Press Excellence in ADR Award was presented to Robin K. Davis for her visionary leadership, professional integrity, and unwavering devotion to the field of alternative dispute resolution.

Two DRC Awards of Appreciation were also presented this year. Judge Angelica D. Zayas received the award for her service and contributions to the Mediator Qualifications and Discipline Review Board and the Mediation Training Review Board. Ms. Danni D. Hoefling received the award for her years of dispute resolution with the courts and for her service to the Mediator Ethics Advisory Committee and Committee on ADR Rules and Policy.

Whether through the leadership of award winners like these or the insights of expert faculty, the annual conference helps ADR professionals perform their role in enhancing access to justice by offering parties an opportunity to minimize the time they spend in the court system, facilitating the efficient and just resolution of disputes, and by giving parties an active role in controlling the outcome of their cases.

Champions Summit

The Florida State Courts System marks September as a month of awareness, training, and action regarding opioids, stimulants, and substance use disorder treatment and recovery. Chief Justice Carlos G. Muñiz signed a proclamation announcing opioids and stimulants awareness month and called upon judicial officers and court staff members to increase efforts to understand and address the effects of substance use disorders throughout the judicial system and in the cases before them.

Substance use disorders and overdoses resulting from the use and misuse of opioids and stimulants are taking an enormous toll on the lives of millions across Florida and the nation. The surge in drug overdoses has resulted in an urgent public health crisis, and problem-solving courts play an important role in addressing these issues. 

In each judicial circuit, September is a time when Circuit Champions – judges and court staff designated as local leaders on these matters – commit to undertaking awareness-raising activities. At the state level, the Office of the State Courts Administrator supports the network of Champions and hosted a month-long virtual conference called the Champions Summit with weekly, online guest speakers and education sessions.

Though Hurricane Idalia delayed the kickoff of the Champions Summit on the first Friday of September, the complete series of training and educational sessions was still able to be offered over the rest of the month. The sessions included presenters such as Mackenzie Phillips, actress and best-selling author, who discussed her book Hopeful Healing: Managing Recovery and Surviving Addiction from her own recovery perspective; Sam Quinones, renowned journalist and best-selling author, who presented Challenges & Hope in the Time of Fentanyl and Meth; Dr. Tisha Wiley who leads the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s Justice Community Opioid Innovation Network; a wide array of other top national experts; and key state experts and officials.

Marcia Elder, statewide coordinator for the Florida Courts Opioids & Stimulants RESPONSE, said, “Hundreds of court officials and partner organizations took part in the summit and the event has drawn rave reviews.” She added, “Even more will have the opportunity to attend a special on-demand version of the event to be announced soon.”

Related resources are available on the Florida Courts website.

2023 Trends in State Courts

Each year, the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) publishes a peer-reviewed guide that highlights innovative practices and topics of interest to courts. The annual publication often serves as a catalyst for developing new initiatives while also providing statistics and insights for measuring both needs and outcomes.

The latest edition of Trends in State Courts was released this summer and covers issues including accessible courts, access and fairness in remote court proceedings, artificial intelligence chatbots, community engagement, combating disinformation, and much more.

One of the featured trends for 2023 is from Florida’s Eleventh Judicial Circuit. Eunice Sigler, director of the Office of Government Liaison and Public Relations for the circuit, described a new artificial-intelligence-based navigation assistant named SANDI. SANDI, an acronym for Self-Help Assistant Navigator for Digital Interactions, is the most advanced chatbot of its kind and began assisting people on the circuit’s website in July 2022. 

The system was created to improve access to the courts, help the public easily find the resources they need, and give court staff more time to focus on the more complex aspects of their work. As a result, SANDI can understand user requests in English and Spanish and can help users find frequently requested information, such as judicial directories, courtroom Zoom ID numbers, and case information. Since SANDI began assisting court users, requests for live-chat staff assistance from the Family Court’s Self-Help Program have been reduced by 94 percent.

This innovation was made possible by a federal grant from the State Justice Institute, in collaboration with the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) and Advanced Robot Solutions, which developed SANDI.

Beyond Miami, Trends in State Courts also details some of the most challenging issues and innovative solutions that courts are dealing with across the country. 

As the adoption of remote court appearances became widespread during the pandemic, questions remained regarding the fairness and equitable access to court proceedings through remote methods. The National Center for State Courts was interested in examining these issues and revised their access and fairness survey to include both in-person and remote court appearances. 

In a three-state pilot of the new survey, the NCSC learned the following:

• On average, court users believe remote proceedings are at least as accessible and fair as in-person proceedings;
• Participants who can choose between in-person and remote proceedings view the court as more accessible and fair;
• Most remote court users access the court from laptops or smartphones; and
• Most remote court users access the court from home or work.

Trends in State Courts 2023 covers many more topics that will be of interest to anyone working in the court system. Trends in State Courts 2023 is available from the National Center for State Courts.

Marshal Dawson Retires

Florida Supreme Court Marshal Silvester Dawson retired from service at the end of September 2023. Chief Justice Carlos G. Muñiz presented Marshal Dawson with a proclamation recognizing his 12 years of service to the judicial branch at a ceremony held in the rotunda of the Supreme Court of Florida.

Marshal Dawson began his service to the Court on June 1, 2011, and was the eighth person to hold the office. He brought with him an extensive background in law enforcement and the military. While with the Florida Highway Patrol, Dawson served as a lieutenant colonel, deputy director, and chief of staff. His military service was with the United States Army where he rose to the rank of sergeant.

At the Florida Supreme Court, Marshal Dawson’s responsibilities included security, custodianship of all property, building and grounds maintenance, administration of building facilities, and development and management of the court operational budget. The Marshal is also responsible for ensuring the enforcement of all the Court's orders throughout the state.

One of Marshal Dawson’s major accomplishments was working to have the Office of the Marshal become an accredited state law enforcement agency. Accreditation requires law enforcement agencies to utilize best practices and exhibit the highest professional standards. In June 2017, the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation conferred accredited status on the Florida Supreme Court Office of the Marshal making it the first law enforcement agency within a judiciary in the country to earn such accreditation.

At his retirement ceremony, Marshal Dawson thanked Chief Justice Muñiz and the other justices he served for their support throughout his tenure. He reflected on the importance of the work of the Marshal’s Office and the dedication of the professionals he served with over the years.

With Marshal Dawson’s retirement, Lieutenant Woodrow Kerce II was named interim marshal and will take on the responsibilities of the office until the Court selects a permanent replacement.

Beware of Jury Scams

Several circuits around Florida have been cautioning citizens about an increase in scams related to jury duty. The scams typically involve someone impersonating a law enforcement officer who calls or emails a potential victim and claims to have an arrest warrant for missed jury duty unless the person pays a fine or a bond. In some instances, the scammers are after personal information that could lead to identity theft or other fraudulent activity. 

Chief judges and clerks of court in affected areas have been notifying people in their circuits of these ongoing scams. The 17th Judicial Circuit recently explained that federal and state courts “normally conduct prospective juror business through the United States Postal Service, and any contact by real court officials will not include requests for Social Security numbers, credit card numbers, or any other personally identifiable information.” 

Public participation in jury service is critical to the functioning of the court system. Anyone who is legitimately summoned for jury duty will receive an official notice via United States Postal Service. No one from the court or the clerk’s office will contact people via email or telephone regarding jury service.

Anyone who receives such a call or email should not provide any personal or banking information. For any questions about jury service, please contact your local clerk of court. Contact information for all court clerks in Florida is available online.

OIT Wins Best of Florida Award

The Office of the State Courts Administrator’s Office of Information Technology (OIT) team received the Best of Florida Award in the Best Workforce/Workplace Initiative category at the 2023 Digital Government Summit. The award recognized OIT’s outstanding achievements in implementing the technology solutions related to the creation of Florida’s new Sixth District Court of Appeal.

Chief Information Officer Roosevelt Sawyer nominated his team for the Best of Florida award for their incredible work in successfully helping to bring the new Sixth District Court of Appeal online in less than six months.
Nothing like this had ever been done before in Florida. When the Fifth District Court of Appeal was created in 1979, the technological needs of the court were a fraction of what is necessary for a modern court to function. Sawyer noted, “While there are many administrative decisions involved in standing up a new court, most of those decisions rely on technology to implement.” 

In partnership with colleagues in the affected courts and with a timeline of only six months, the OIT team managed to implement everything from phones and networks to remote appearance equipment and case management systems for the new district court. The OIT team’s creative and determined responses to every situation highlighted the talent and dedication of the team, and Sawyer felt this was the kind of “heavy-lift and short-turnaround task” that deserves special recognition.
The annual Digital Government Summit brings together public-sector technology professionals and leading industry partners to discuss current trends in technology, identify emerging issues, and explore cutting edge solutions. The summit closes with a series of awards presented by eRepublic, which is when the OIT team learned of their selection.

Hurricane Idalia Lessons

In 2023, Hurricane Idalia caused a state of emergency across Florida. Court closures and interruptions of operations due to hurricanes are an unfortunate part of life in Florida, but preparation and preparedness can help to minimize the impacts of hurricanes and other emergency events and return court operations back to normal as quickly and safely as possible.
Hurricane Idalia disrupted court operations for much of the state, but the communities in the Third Judicial Circuit suffered the greatest damage. Trial Court Administrator Charles Hydovitz said that courts in the circuit had minimal impacts, but the community suffered widespread damage and service outages. He said, “Our concern was for public safety and public welfare.”

The pressing and immediate needs of the communities across the third circuit caused the courts to focus only on essential services while emergency responders and related personnel were needed to support their communities. Mr. Hydovitz noted that being able to work with counties that had text alert systems allowed the courts to reach more people with important updates than some of their traditional media channels. This effective coordination among courts, law enforcement, and emergency responders allowed the communities in the circuit to efficiently deploy resources, minimize the effects of the storm, and safely begin recovering from Idalia.

Another part of the circuit’s hurricane response was to shut down computers, networks, and related technology to prevent crashes or damage from things like power surges or water intrusion. After a determination that it was safe to reengage the circuit’s technology, everything came back online with no problems.

When disruptions to court operations do happen, look to the Florida Supreme Court website for updated information about storms, court closures, and emergency orders.

Weather-Related Emergency Orders - Supreme Court (flcourts.gov)
It is never too early to prepare for the next hurricane season, and the following resources can be helpful for staying ahead of the storm.

Florida Division of Emergency Management
Plan & Prepare | Florida Disaster

National Hurricane Preparedness – NOAA
National Hurricane Preparedness | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (noaa.gov)
Ready.Gov
Hurricanes | Ready.gov

A Supreme Evening 2024

The Florida Supreme Court Historical Society’s annual dinner, A Supreme Evening 2024, is scheduled for January 18, 2024, at Florida State University’s Dunlap Champions Club at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee. This annual event is the primary fundraiser for the society’s efforts to preserve the history of Florida’s highest court, educate the public about the courts' vital role in protecting personal rights and freedoms, and facilitate the collection and archiving of historical documents and artifacts.

This year’s keynote speaker is scheduled to be former United States Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales. After 13 years in private practice in Texas, Gonzales entered public service as general counsel to Governor George W. Bush. He was later appointed to the position of Secretary of State before serving as a Justice on the Supreme Court of Texas. In Washington, D.C., he served as White House counsel to President George W. Bush before becoming the first person of Hispanic heritage to serve as Attorney General of the United States. He is currently the dean and Doyle Rogers distinguished professor of law at Belmont University College of Law in Nashville, Tennessee.

Historical Society President Tim Chinaris, an attorney and professor at Belmont University College of Law, arranged the program. He said, “We look forward to welcoming Dean Gonzales to Tallahassee in January for an in-depth conversation about his life and career. With a long history of public service, he will share his unique perspective as a former U.S. attorney general and counsel to the president – the only Hispanic American to have held either of these positions.”

More information about A Supreme Evening 2024 is available at online.

Turning Points

April 11, 2023 to November 30, 2023

Judicial Appointments

Judge Paetra Brownlee
Sixth District Court of Appeal

Judge Lance Neff
Second Judicial Circuit 

Judge James Nealis
Duval County Circuit

Judge Chad J. Monty
Fifth Judicial Circuit

Judge Brad King
Fifth Judicial Circuit

Judge Rose Marie Preddy
Seventh Judicial Circuit

Judge Anne Marie Gennusa
Putnam County Court

Judge Joseph LeDonne
Volusia County Court

Judge Katherine Miller
Volusia County Court

Judge Luis Bustamante
Levy County Court

Judge Christine Arendas
Ninth Judicial Circuit

Judge Holly Derenthal
Ninth Judicial Circuit

Judge Hal Epperson, Jr.
Ninth Judicial Circuit

Judge Elizabeth Gibson
Ninth Judicial Circuit

Judge Brian Sandor
Ninth Judicial Circuit

Judge Cherish Adams
Orange County Court

Judge Amanda S. Bova
Orange County Court

Judge Brandon J. Rafool
Tenth Judicial Circuit

Judge Anne Gibson
Polk County Court

Judge Christine Bandín
Eleventh Judicial Circuit

Judge Laura Gonzalez-Marques
Eleventh Judicial Circuit

Judge Rita Cuervo
Miami-Dade County Court

Judge Yara L. Klukas
Miami-Dade County Court

Judge Jorge A. Perez Santiago
Miami-Dade County Court

Judge Ryan Felix
Twelfth Judicial Circuit

Judge Kennedy Legler
Sarasota County Court

Judge Michael Hooi
Thirteenth Judicial Circuit

Judge Joseph Tompkins
Thirteenth Judicial Circuit

Judge Cory Chandler
Hillsborough County Court

Judge Reid Scott
Fifteenth Judicial Circuit

Judge James Sherman
Fifteenth Judicial Circuit

Judge Danielle Sherriff
Palm Beach County Court

Judge Catalina Avalos
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit

Judge Elaine Carbuccia 
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit

Judge Kristin Kanner
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit

Judge Jessica M. Marra
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit

Judge Kevin Tynan
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit

Judge Mark Herr
Eighteenth Judicial Circuit

Judge Erik Lontiev
Twentieth Judicial Circuit

Judge Russell Kirshey
Twentieth Judicial Circuit

Judge Andrew Marcus
Twentieth Judicial Circuit

Judge Kimberly Davis Bocelli
Lee County Court

 

New Beginnings

Judge James A. Edwards
Chief Judge, Fifth District Court of Appeal

Judge Dan Traver
Chief Judge, Sixth District Court of Appeal

Judge Frank Allman
Chief Judge, Second Judicial Circuit

Jason Welty
Clerk of the Court and Comptroller, Jefferson County

Jeffery K. Fuller
Trial Court Administrator, Fifth Judicial Circuit

Judge Shawn Crane 
Chief Judge, Sixth Judicial Circuit

Juan Fernandez-Barquin
Clerk of the Court and Comptroller, Miami-Dade County

Judge Diana Moreland
Chief Judge, Twelfth Judicial Circuit

Henrietta Jo Pace
General Magistrate, Seventeenth Judicial Circuit

Judge Charles Crawford
Chief Judge, Eighteenth Judicial Circuit

Judge J. Frank Porter
Chief Judge, Twentieth Judicial Circuit

 

Retirements

Judge Larry Metz
Fifth Judicial Circuit

Judge G. Richard Singeltary
Fifth Judicial Circuit

Trial Court Administrator Jon Lin
Fifth Judicial Circuit

Judge James Browning
Levy County Court

Judge Alice L. Blackwell
Ninth Judicial Circuit

Judge Jennifer Bailey
Eleventh Judicial Circuit

Chief Judge Charles E Roberts
Twelfth Judicial Circuit

Judge Rex Barbas
Thirteenth Judicial Circuit

Chief Judge Ronald Ficarrotta
Thirteenth Judicial Circuit

Judge Laura Johnson
Fifteenth Judicial Circuit

Judge Dale Cohen 
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit

Judge Elizabeth Scherer
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit

Judge Donna McIntosh
Eighteenth Judicial Circuit

Judge Robert E. Belanger
Nineteenth Judicial Circuit

Judge Donald Mason
Twentieth Judicial Circuit

In Memoriam

Judge Robert Cates
Eighth Judicial Circuit

Judge James Browning
Levy County Court

Judge Walter Komanski
Ninth Judicial Circuit

Judge Thomas B. Smith
Ninth Judicial Circuit

Judge Ronald Friedman
Eleventh Judicial Circuit

Judge Alfonso Leo Adderly
Miami-Dade County Court

Judge Ronald V. Alvarez
Fifteenth Judicial Circuit

Judge Hubert R. Lindsey
Fifteenth Judicial Circuit

 

Awards and Honors

Judge Bronwyn C. Miller
Third District Court of Appeal
Judicial Vanguard Award, Miami-Dade Bar Association Young Lawyers Section 

Judge Jonathan Sjostrom
Second Judicial Circuit
2023 Judicial Achievement Award, The Florida Bar Animal Law Section

Judge Nina Ashenafi-Richardson
Leon County Court
Meenu T. Sasser Outstanding Jurist Award, The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division

Judge Melissa Distler
Flagler County Court
Judge Amy Karan Award, Conference of County Court Judges of Florida

Judge David Ellis
Sixth Judicial Circuit
2023 Award for Judicial Excellence, Canakaris Inn of Court 

Judge George Jirotka
Sixth Judicial Circuit
John U. Bird Judicial Excellence Award, Clearwater Bar Association

Judge Thomas Ramsberger
Sixth Judicial Circuit
William J. Castagna Award for Judicial Excellence, Barney Masterson American Inn of Court

Judge Lauralee Westine
Sixth Judicial Circuit
2023 Judicial Professionalism Award, Women Lawyers of Pasco County

Judge Howard McGillin
Seventh Judicial Circuit
2023 Robert K. Rouse, Jr., Pro Bono Service Award, Community Legal Services

Judge Alicia Latimore 
Ninth Judicial Circuit
Justice Peggy A. Quince Judicial Excellence Award

Judge Gisela Laurent
Ninth Judicial Circuit
Justice Award, Puerto Rican Bar Association of Florida, Inc.

Judge Heather Pinder Rodriguez
Ninth Judicial Circuit
2023 Jurist of the Year, Central Florida Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates

General Magistrate Sheryl Snodgrass
Tenth Judicial Circuit
Clifton M. Kelly Award, Highlands County Bar Association

Judge Barbara Areces 
Eleventh Judicial Circuit
Judge Manny Crespo Award, Miami-Dade Trial Lawyers Association

Judge Milton Hirsch
Eleventh Judicial Circuit
Judicial Recognition Award, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Judge Marisa Tinkler Mendez
Eleventh Judicial Circuit
2023 Justice Award, League of Prosecutors

Judge David Miller
Eleventh Judicial Circuit
Judge Steve Levine Award, Miami-Dade Trial Lawyers Association

Judge Ariana Fajardo Orshan
Eleventh Judicial Circuit
Florida Jurist Hispanic Excellence Award, Cuban American Bar Association

Judge Orlando Prescott
Eleventh Judicial Circuit
Justice Peggy A. Quince Judicial Excellence Award

Chief Judge Nushin G. Sayfie
Eleventh Judicial Circuit
Judicial Vanguard Award, Dade County Bar Association Young Lawyers Section

Judge Bertila Soto
Eleventh Judicial Circuit
Justice Harry Lee Anstead Award, Miami-Dade Trial Lawyers Association

Judge Steve Leifman
Miami-Dade County Court
Papal Medal Benemerenti, granted by Pope Francis

Judge Katherine Essrig
Thirteenth Judicial Circuit
Brian McEwen Award, Champions for Children

Judge Elizabeth Rice 
Thirteenth Judicial Circuit
2023 Florida Jurist Award, Tampa Hispanic Bar Association

Judge Michael Baggé-Hernández
Hillsborough County Court
J. Ben Watkins Award for Professional Excellence in the Practice of Law, Stetson Law Review

Judge Charles E. Burton
Fifteenth Judicial Circuit
Jurist of the Year, North County Section of the Palm Beach County Bar Association

Judge Maxine Cheesman
Fifteenth Judicial Circuit
South Florida’s Public Official of the Year 2023, Legacy South Florida

Judge Howard Coates 
Fifteenth Judicial Circuit
Florida Patriot Award, Palm Beach County Bar Association

Judge Bradley Harper
Fifteenth Judicial Circuit
Jurist of the Year, Palm Beach County Justice Association

Judge James Nutt 
Fifteenth Judicial Circuit
Jurist of the Year, Palm Beach chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates

Judge Samantha Schosberg Feuer
Fifteenth Judicial Circuit
Civility Award, Project Nuremberg Lawyers

Judge Ted Booras
Palm Beach County
Annual Distinguished Service Award: Judicial Action, Safety Council of Palm Beach County, Inc.

Judge Ori Silver
Palm Beach County
Woman Lawyer of the Year, South Palm Beach County Chapter of Florida Association of Women Lawyers

Judge Marina Garcia-Wood 
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit
The Key to the County, Commissioner Geller on behalf of The Broward Hispanic Bar

Judge Stacey Schulman
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit
William E. Gladstone Award, Office of the State Courts Administrator

Judge Betsy Benson
Broward County Court
The Key to Broward County, Mayor Lamar Fisher

Judge Robert F. Diaz 
Broward County Court
The Trailblazer award, The Broward Hispanic Bar

Judge Olga Levine 
Broward County Court
Judge of the Year, The Broward Hispanic Bar

Judge Melissa Souto 
Eighteenth Judicial Circuit
Judiciary Excellence Award, Brevard County Bar Association

Judge David Silverman
Brevard County Court
Harvey Ford Award, Conference of County Court Judges of Florida

Around the State

Photos from Courts Around the Corner