Ninth Circuit Court of Florida

The Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC) for the Ninth Circuit has extended the period to receive applications for highly qualified nominees to fill two Orange County Court judgeships. Anyone who submitted an application pursuant to the prior notice dated May 29, 2024, does not need to file a new application. New applicants can download the application form at www.flgov.com.

The JNC requires applications be completed for consideration and submitted by noon on August 22, 2024. Applicants must be registered voters, members of the Florida Bar for the last five years and must reside in Orange County at the time of appointment. Interviews will be held by September 6, 2024.

Reminder: The courthouses in Orange and Osceola counties will be closed tomorrow, July 4 and Friday, July 5, in observance of Independence Day. The courthouses will reopen on Monday, July 8.

Get to know Lisa Melendez, the Court User Liaison who offers a calming presence to everyone coming in. Listen to this episode of 9thUnplugged.fm to find out what Lisa does to fill her cup when she is not at work, the tropical dish that carries the taste of her homeland, and the top traveling destination she hopes to visit one day!

On Thursday, some of our judges hosted a lunch for the law students who are shadowing them throughout the Summer. To all of our interns, welcome to the Ninth Judicial Circuit!

Celebrating adoption: On June 14, with the caring guidance of Circuit Judge Wayne Wooten, Mr. and Mrs. Mejia officially welcomed a sweet boy into their family who they had previously fostered straight from the NICU. Judge Wooten was thrilled to officiate this special adoption ceremony and help the Mejia's start this next chapter as a family!

Circuit Judge Gisela Laurent spent yesterday morning with the middle school students of City of Orlando's Rock Lake Neighborhood Center, and inspired them to follow their dreams with a powerful message: "When everyone else tells you no, you must tell yourself yes." Beyond her motivational words, Judge Laurent engaged the students by answering their questions during their visit to the Orange County Courthouse. The group enjoyed panoramic views from the courthouse's top floor, explored the deliberation room, and headed next door for lunch with the State Attorney. This unforgettable experience was one they will surely remember for life!

The courthouses in Orange and Osceola counties will be closed on Thursday, July 4 and Friday, July 5, in observance of Independence Day. The courthouses will reopen on Monday, July 8.

Last Friday, a panel of our Ninth Judicial Circuit judges and their judicial assistants participated in the Morning at the State Courthouse event, hosted by the Orange County Bar Association. Chief Judge Lisa Munyon kicked off the event, which featured a demonstration on how to use courtroom technology and a discussion between our judges and attending legal professionals around best practices in the courtroom.

Last week, our judges had the privilege of volunteering at the 51st Robert Orseck Moot Court Competition, organized by the Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division, and held in partnership with the Florida Bar Annual Convention. This event provided law students from across Florida with a unique opportunity to compete before a panel of judges, showcasing their legal expertise and articulation skills. For our judges, it was a wonderful chance to meet and support the future leaders of the legal profession!

Last week, Judge Mark Blechman hosted a mock trial for the students of the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce Youth Leaders Program. In the case of Jamie vs. Winter Park High School, students got to play each of the roles in a trial: court deputy, clerk, prosecution, attorneys, defense, judge, and jury.

This was a great opportunity for Judge Blechman to connect with the youth, providing them a unique hands-on experience to understand the judiciary!

Join us in congratulating another of our awarded judges, the Honorable Eric DuBois!

Judge DuBois received the 2024 James G. Glazebrook and Mark L. Horwitz Professionalism and Service Award, which recognizes a jurist with an outstanding combination of professionalism, integrity, and service. Judge DuBois has undoubtably demonstrated these qualities on the Orange County bench and in the past 20 years of his service to the George C. Young American Inn of Court. Elected president of the Inn in 2022, Judge DuBois has embodied the ideals of servanthood, seamlessly leading the organization through unexpected transitions and working closely with members to improve efficiency and cast a vision for the organization's future.

Even with so many years of experience as a professional, Judge DuBois remains a student of the law, constantly aware of the current legislation. Beyond knowledge, he demonstrates fairness and courtesy to all who appear before him in the courtroom. He also gives back to the community by mentoring young lawyers, teaching at Florida A&M College of Law, and supporting the Teen Court program in Orange County. His dedication to being an excellent professional devoted to his community is genuinely inspiring and commendable.

Congratulations, Judge DuBois, on this well-deserved recognition!

Help us congratulate Judge Margaret Schreiber for receiving the 2023-2024 Jurist of the Year award yesterday at the annual reception for the Florida Association of Women Lawyers.

This state-wide recognition is a career-defining award that recognizes a trajectory of consistency, fearlessness, and impartiality. Judge Schreiber has wonderfully demonstrated these qualities in her career as a judge, exemplifying the highest standard of judicial conduct and integrity while making meaningful contributions to the administration of justice on and off the bench.

Congratulations, Judge Schreiber!

Reminder: As of this Friday, June 21, the Orange County Dispute Resolution Services (also known as mediation), will permanently return to the Orange County Courthouse building. Until then, DRS will be available at the current location on 105 E. Robinson St, 4th floor. For more information on Dispute Resolution Services, access ninthcircuit.org/programs-services/dispute-resolution-services

Join our team at the Ninth Judicial Circuit!

Multiple positions are available in different locations. Check our website to learn more and join us on our mission to make justice in Florida accessible, fair, effective, responsive and accountable. Apply at ninthcircuit.org/careers

We’d like to wish all dads a very happy Father’s Day from us here at the Ninth!

The June issue of the OCBA’s publication, the Briefs, is available now! In this issue, Judge Margaret Schreiber takes over as guest author for the Chief’s Column to talk about the process of creating modifications to the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure that could enhance the civil case management process. Read her column here: https://ow.ly/5lYU50SijEj

On June 21, the Orange County Dispute Resolution Services, also known as mediation, will permanently return to the Orange County Courthouse building. Until then, DRS will be available at the current location on 105 E. Robinson St, 4th floor. For more information on Dispute Resolution Services, access ninthcircuit.org/programs-services/dispute-resolution-services.

Exploring the world of law and justice: This week, the Altamonte Springs Teen Camp students got an exclusive look inside the courthouse with Judge Mikaela Nix-Walker. After sharing insights and answering questions, Judge Nix-Walker explained the roles of judges, attorneys, clerks, and court reporters. To the high school students and aspiring legal minds, Judge Nix-Walker emphasized the importance of internships and job shadowing. Here's to empowering the next generation!

Tune in to this episode of 9thUnplugged.fm for a lively chat with Lloyd Green, our In-House Staff Mediator. He is well-known for making people laugh, but as you can imagine, there is a lot more to Lloyd than his jokes. In his captivating British accent, he shares about the differences between America and England, going all over the world to see his favorite soccer team and the bands he loves to see in concert!

Last week, a group of students from the Miami International Language Academy in Orlando visited the Orange County Courthouse for an engaging time of questions and answers with Judge Jeanette Bigney. The students also got to watch a virtual hearing and received a tour of the courtroom and jury room.

In honor of Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) month, the Asian Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with the Greater Orlando Asian American Bar Association (GOAABA) hosted a celebratory lunch on May 22. Judge Denise Kim Beamer gave the remarks at the event, which recognized local lawyers, business owners, and community leaders for their history of contributions to the city and county. But the celebration didn’t end there. Some of our judges got together for a lunch of their own in honor of AAPI month!

June 1 marks the start of hurricane season, and your safety is our top priority. For the latest news on court closures in the event of a hurricane, stay connected to us here on Facebook. Additionally, you can call our 24/7 emergency information hotline at 407-836-2335 for immediate updates. Be prepared and stay safe.

We are proud to announce that Judge Margaret Schreiber, a distinguished member of the Ninth Circuit Court, has once again been honored as 2024 Jurist of the Year, this time by the Central Florida Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (CFLABOTA). This prestigious award adds to her impressive list of achievements, and it follows her most recent recognition as 2024 Jurist of the Year by The Florida Association of Women Lawyers (FAWL). Her achievements are the fruit of her unwavering commitment to our justice system, not just this past year but throughout the 12 years she has faithfully served as a judge in the Ninth Circuit.

Judge Schreiber will be formally recognized during CFLABOTA’s annual Judicial Luncheon on November 14. This event celebrates outstanding individuals who have exemplified the ethical and technical standards of legal practice and generated efficiency in the administration of justice—qualities that Judge Schreiber most certainly embodies.

We extend our sincere congratulations to Judge Schreiber on this recognition by the CFLABOTA. Her continued dedication to the principles of fairness and equity serves as an inspiration to us all.

The Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC) for the Ninth Circuit seeks highly qualified nominees to fill two Orange County Court judgeships. Interested candidates can download the application form at www.flgov.com.

The JNC requires applications be completed for consideration and submitted by noon on Friday, June 28, 2024. Applicants must be registered voters, members of the Florida Bar for the last five years, and must reside in Orange County at the time of appointment. Interviews will be held by July 17, 2024.

Courts are closed today in observance of Memorial Day. Normal business hours will resume tomorrow, May 28.

If you rely on a mobility device due to a disability, the Americans with Disabilities ACT (ADA) grants you reasonable accommodations to use your device during court attendance. Whether you rely on the use of canes, crutches, wheelchairs, or braces, ensure your device adheres to these security policies:

1. Mobility Devices should not have been altered or manufactured to contain a knife, sword, weapon, taser, or tool.

2. Mobility Devices should not have been altered or manufactured with handles that can be used as weapons, such as brass knuckles.

3. The court does not provide Mobility Devices, and such provision is the user's responsibility.

The courthouses in Orange and Osceola counties will be closed on Monday, May 27, in observance of Memorial Day. The courthouses will reopen on Tuesday, May 28.

Join our team at the Orange County Courthouse!
We are looking for our next Communications Specialist for the Ninth! Responsibilities include content creation for social media, event photography and videography, and assisting in written communications. Benefits include affordable health benefits and growth and training opportunities! To read more about this position and to apply, follow this link!
https://ow.ly/Ykxj50RJGu5