FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 9, 2019
CONTACT: Kristen Wilson, kwilson@floridabar.org
The Florida Bar
Telephone: 850-561-5757

DEADLINE EXTENDED TO APPLY FOR VACANCY ON FLORIDA LEGAL SERVICES, INC. BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Florida Legal Services, Inc. Board of Directors:  One lawyer to serve a three-year term commencing immediately and ending June 30, 2022.  This 15-member board provides judicial advocacy through co-counseling with local program attorneys and volunteer pro bono attorneys and provides legislative and administrative advocacy on policies impacting the legal rights of the poor, as well as providing civil legal assistance to indigent persons who would not otherwise have the means to obtain a lawyer.

Persons interested in applying for this vacancy may download the Application for Special Appointment or should call Bar headquarters at (850) 561-5757, to obtain the application form.  Completed applications must be received by the Executive Director, The Florida Bar, 651 East Jefferson Street, Tallahassee, Florida, 32399-2300 no later than the close of business on Friday, Aug. 16.  Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of the required application.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 18, 2019
CONTACT: Hayden P. O’Byrne, Chair; hayden.obyrne@klgates.com
11th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission 
TELEPHONE: 305-539-3381

The 11th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission hereby seeks applicants to fill the vacancy created by the elevation of Judge Rodney Smith. The Commission requests that interested candidates submit an application for consideration. Applicants must meet the qualifications for circuit court judges described in Article V, Section 8 of the Florida Constitution. Applicants must submit three copies (3) of their application by 5 p.m. on Friday, June 28¹ , as follows:

(1): The original unredacted paper application shall be delivered to:

Hayden P. O’Byrne

K&L Gates, LLP

200 S. Biscayne Blvd. 39th Floor

Miami, FL 33131-2399

(2): The original unredacted application shall be emailed in .pdf  format to:  hayden.obyrne@klgates.com ; walter.harvey@dadeschools.net and etna.medina@klgates.com.

(3): A redacted .pdf of the application shall be emailed to eleventhcircuitjnc@klgates.com. Personal information not subject to public disclosure—such as the social security number—shall be redacted as permitted by Section 119.071 of the Florida Statutes.

Untimely applications will not be considered. The filename for .pdf applications should be as follows “19.5.10 FIRSTNAME LASTNAME Circuit Application (redacted /unredacted).”

Applicants are invited to provide the Chair with a one-page sheet listing the date, location and time of hearings or trials that they would want the Commissioners to observe. The one-page disclosure sheet is not mandatory and can be provided to the Chair at any time before the interview day. No information other than the date, location and time should be provided on the one-page sheet.

Applications may be downloaded from the Florida Bar’s website and the Office of the Governor.  Applicants should include a recent photograph.

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¹ All persons who applied to the Ruiz, Gordo and Sampedro-Iglesia vacancies will be considered for the Smith vacancy without having to re-apply. Persons interviewing on July 2, will not be re-interviewed separately for the Smith vacancy.

NOTE TO APPLICANTS: To assist the Judicial Nominating Commission in its review of applications, all questions must be fully and completely answered. Applications must include current contact information, including e-mail addresses, for judges, co-counsel, opposing counsel, and references to facilitate the background investigation that will be conducted by the members of the Commission.  Please print to .pdf in lieu of scanning where possible.

The 11th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission will confer at 5 p.m. on July 2, to schedule interviews. A room will be made available to members of the public (K&L Gates, LLP, 200 S. Biscayne Blvd. 39th Floor, Miami, FL 33131) who wish to attend.

11TH CIRCUIT JUDICIAL NOMINATING COMMISSION MEMBERS

Hayden P. O’Byrne (Chair)

K&L Gates

Southeast Financial Center, Suite 3900 200 South Biscayne Blvd.

Miami, FL 33131

Tel.: 305-539-3381

hayden.obyrne@klgates.com

Walter James Harvey (Vice Chair)

School Board Attorney’s Office

1450 NE 2nd Avenue, Suite 400

Miami, FL 33132

Tel.: 305-995-1304/Fax:  305-995-1412

walter.harvey@dadeschools.net

Paul Huck, Jr.

Jones Day

600 Brickell Avenue

Brickell World Plaza, Suite 3300

Miami, FL 33131

Tel.: 305-714-9700/Fax: 305-714-9799

paulhuck@jonesday.com

Daniel S. Fridman

White & Case LLP

Southeast Financial Center

200 So. Biscayne Boulevard, Suite 4900

Miami, FL 33131

Tel.: 305-995-5264

daniel.fridman@whitecase.com

Robert H. Fernandez

Gunster Law Firm

Brickell World Plaza

600 Brickell Avenue, Suite 3500

Miami, FL 33131

Tel.: 305-376-6000/Fax:  786-425-4119

rfernandez@gunster.com

Robert R. Pardo

Robert R. Pardo, P.A.

7700 N. Kendall Drive, Suite 512

Miami, FL 33156

Tel.: 305-596-7794/Fax:  305-596-5854

rpardo@pardolaw.com

Christine Hernandez

United States Attorney’s Office

99 N.E. 4th Street

Miami, Fl. 33132

Tel.: 305-961-9001

cherna25@aol.com

Jorge A. Mestre Rivero Mestre, LLP

2525 Ponce de Leon Blvd. Suite 1000

Miami, FL 33134

Tel: 305-445-2500

jmestre@riveromestre.com

Scott M. Dimond, Esq.

Dimond Kaplan & Rothstein, P.A.

Offices at Grand Bay Plaza

2665 South Bayshore Dr., PH 2B

Miami, FL 33133

305-374-1920

sdimond@dkrpa.com

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United State Magistrate Judge

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida is currently accepting applications for a full-time United States magistrate judge in the Tallahassee division of the court. Additional details regarding the position and the application process are available on the court's website at www.flnd.uscourts.gov or by using this link. Applications must be received no later than August 1, 2019.

2019 SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

Gwendolyn Sawyer Cherry was born in Miami, Florida in 1923. For approximately 22 years, she taught in the Dade County (now Miami-Dade) Public Schools. She became a pioneer of the State of Florida's legal profession. She received her undergraduate degree from Florida Agricultural Mechanical University (“FAMU”). She later returned to FAMU to obtain her Juris Doctorate degree and serve as a professor at its law school. She was admitted to The Florida Bar in 1965. She was the first Black woman to practice law in Dade County, Florida. She was one of the first nine attorneys who initially served at Legal Services of Greater Miami in 1966. In 1970, Ms. Cherry was elected as a state representative, becoming the first Black woman to serve as a legislator for the State of Florida.

The Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association (GSCBWLA), formerly the National Bar Association Women Lawyers Division Dade County Chapter, was formed in 1985. The association's mission is to address the concerns of women lawyers as they relate to the social, economic, political and moral needs of the community.

The Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association is committed to investing in the future of the legal profession. This year we have scholarships available to current law students that will assist them in buying books for class or for bar review.

The 2019 Scholarship Application is now available for law students attending law school in Miami-Dade or Broward counties.

Requirements:

1.  Must be enrolled at a law school in Miami-Dade or Broward County, Florida.

2.  Must complete the scholarship application and essay.

Winners of the GSCBWLA Book Awards will be announced at the Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association’s Scholarship, Awards & Installation Banquet on June 13, 2019.

Applications MUST be postmarked by Friday, May 31, 2019 to Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association at PO BOX 02631, Miami, Florida, 33101 or sent via email at info@gscbwla.org.

ABA Section of Family Law 2019-2020 Fellowship Program

Applications due May 15, 2019!

The ABA Section of Family Law is seeking applications for its Fellowship Program from family attorneys who demonstrate financial need and (1) meet diversity criteria, or (2) work in legal services or non-profit legal organizations whose work centers around providing free or low-cost family legal services to individuals in traditionally underserved diverse communities. The Section is currently recruiting interested applicants for up to five (5) fellowship positions. This is a two (2) year program and will begin in September 2019 and end in August 2021. The attorneys selected to participate in the fellowship program must attend each FLS conference for the next two (2) years beginning with the Fall 2019 CLE Conference in Austin, TX September 25-28, 2019. More information about the Fellowship Program can be found here.  Send your completed application to Cynthia Swan by email: Cynthia.Swan@americanbar.org by 11:59pm CT on May 15, 2019.

United States Magistrate Judge

The Judicial Conference of the United States has authorized the appointment of one (1) full-time United States Magistrate Judge for the Southern District of Florida at Fort Lauderdale. The term of office is eight years.

Vacancy of U.S. Magistrate Judge - Fort Lauderdale 
Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. on May 24, 2019. (Posted 04/10/2019)

Administrative Order 2019-14
In re Appointment of Federal Magistrate Judge Merit Selection Panel Regarding the Upcoming Magistrate Judge Vacancy in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Administrative Order 2011-50 
In re Procedures Governing Contact with District Judges During Magistrate Judge Merit Selection Process

Official Application for Vacancy

Applications must be submitted only by applicants personally to; Flsd_magistratejudgerecruitment@flsd.uscourts.gov by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, May 24, 2019.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 4, 2019
CONTACT: Kristen Wilson, kwilson@floridabar.org 
The Florida Bar
TELEPHONE: 850-561-5757

Florida Lawyers Assistance, Inc. Board of Directors:  Three lawyers and two non-lawyers to serve three-year terms commencing July 1, 2019. This 15-member Board assists the legal community in securing counseling and treatment for emotional and chemical dependency problems for lawyers.

Persons interested in applying for these vacancies may download the Application for Special Appointment or should call Bar headquarters at (850) 561-5757, to obtain the application form.  Completed applications must be received by the Executive Director, The Florida Bar, 651 East Jefferson Street, Tallahassee, Florida, 32399-2300 no later than the close of business on Friday, April 26, 2019.  Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of the required application.  The Board of Governors will review all applications and may request telephone or personal interviews.

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Written by: Julie Harris Nelson

Tallahassee, FL - From the shadows of the Florida Capitol emerge a small group of dynamic ladies from the Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association.  On March 11, 2019, four members decided to take on the Capitol and participate in the legislative process with the Florida Association for Women Lawyers (FAWL).  Specifically, the GSCBWLA legislative goal was to gain unwavering support for creation of a Death with Dignity Act,  eliminate  Solitary for Youths and expand the hate crime definition to include  gender and disability.  Our plates were full.  For now, we share our highlights from the Capitol in hopes to inspire and encourage YOU to participate in lobby days with us, in 2020.  This year was simply amazing!

Our very own GSCBWLA Chapter President, Melba Pearson, greets everyone at the Criminal Justice Reform Lobby Day on the stairs of the Florida Capitol 

      

Janeen Lofton, GSCBWLA Legislative Director; Julie Harris Nelson, GSCBWLA Community Service Chair; and Melba Pearson, GSCBWLA President met with Representative Dotie Joseph

The GSCBWLA Phenomenal Four at the FAWL Legislative Reception pictured with Jennifer Shoaf Richardson, FAWL President

Melba Pearson, GSCBWLA President, pictured with Senator Jason Pizzo and Janeen Lofton

Julie Harris Nelson, Board Member/ Community Outreach Chair, pictured with Ashley Moody, Florida Attorney General

Janeen Lofton pictured with Attorney Benjamin Crump

Retired Judge Simone Marstiller (Secretary/Office of the Secretary/Florida Department of Juvenile Justice) pictured with Janeen Lofton, Julie Harris Nelson, and Athena Pearl Riley, Immediate Past President for FAWL Okaloosa Chapter

Stephanie Chaissan FAWL (Miami- Dade Chapter Rep.) pictured with Iris Elijah, Gwen Graham (Former Florida State Representative), Julie Harris Nelson and Janeen Lofton

MEDIA ADVISORY 

11th Judicial Circuit of Florida

For Immediate Release

March 6, 2019

Contact:  Eunice Sigler, Director

Office of Government Liaison & Public Relations

Phone (305) 349-7189 Fax (305) 349-7190 Cell (786) 348-7381

eCourtesy is e-volving into courtMAP!

MIAMI-DADE COURTS TO LAUNCH PILOT

CASE MANAGEMENT AND ACCESS PLATFORM IN   

CIRCUIT CIVIL DIVISION
 

In an effort to increase access to the courts and streamline common case management functions, the Eleventh Judicial Circuit is pleased to announce the upcoming pilot rollout of courtMAP – a new online case management and access platform within the Circuit Civil Division starting on March 11, 2019.

courtMAP combines eCourtesy, a 10-year-old system for electronically submitting documentation for hearings, with an online scheduling system that allows parties to self-schedule motion hearings, specially set hearings and trials based on an online display of available dates and times – all from any web-connected computer. Confirmations will occur automatically by email.

The new system uses technology infrastructure from Broward’s Court Management System, an advantage for attorneys and staff who work in both circuits and will already have some operational familiarity with the system.

“courtMAP takes court communications, scheduling and transparency into the 21^st Century,” said the Honorable Jennifer D. Bailey, Administrative Judge of the Circuit Civil Division.

The pilot will be deployed in the following four sections of the Circuit Civil Division, with plans for future expansion in the near future:

Judge Antonio Arzola (Section 24)
Judge Rodolfo Ruiz (Section 02)
Judge William Thomas (Sections 20 and 44)

For more information, a user manual and access to training videos, visit the courtMAP page on the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Website.

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Upcoming Demonstrations:

The Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida will hold a demonstration of courtMAP this coming Tuesday, March 12th, as detailed below, and anticipates holding additional demonstrations on subsequent Tuesdays in order to assist attorneys in gaining familiarity with this very user-friendly system.

Tuesday, March 12, 2019, 12pm to 1pm

Demonstration on courtMAP

Courtroom 6-1

Dade County Courthouse

73 West Flagler Street

Miami, FL 33130