11:52 AM:

All 17th Judicial Circuit and Broward County Courts will reopen for normal operations tomorrow, Friday, October 11, 2024. – From: 17th Circuit Emergency Message

From an SAO email sent today, effective 10/1/24:

The State Attorney remains committed to doing the most good for all our employees. However, with the many Legislative increases, the current ASA compensation structure no longer works for this office.

In order to maintain our competitive salary structure for the foreseeable future and to remain equitable to all our employees, we made the following changes to the salary structure.

• All floors have been eliminated and raises are a fixed amount.
• The three year Commitment and (commitment letters) have been eliminated, as they were not beneficial to the needs of the office
• Years of Service (YOS) increase will now begin at the 5 year mark. This in effect will benefit all those who remain at the office for 5 years, not just those who previously signed commitment letters. (Those who have already signed commitment letters will be given the remainder of their $5,000 at the 5-year mark).
• There will be a cap of $10,000 on the total amount of increases given during the 12-month fiscal year period, regardless of whether it is a promotion, YOS, or merit increase.
• There are two exclusions from the$10,000 cap: (1) Promotions to ASAIC, and (2) one-time retention incentive increases – these two will not be included in the calculation for the cap.
• Effective date10-1-2024

Please see the new compensation structure attached and direct any questions to our Fiscal Department -Lilian Spamer (954) 831-8042or Veronica Rodriguez (954) 831-7784.

Thank you.

Neva Rainford-Smith, Esq.– Executive Director
Deputy Chief Assistant State Attorney
Office of the State Attorney, 17th Judicial Circuit

4:11 PM:

Please be advised that the 17th Judicial Circuit and Broward County Courts will be OPEN on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, and CLOSED on Wednesday and Thursday, October 9 and 10, 2024 in anticipation of Hurricane Milton. We are continuing to monitor the path of Hurricane Milton and any further updates to court operations will be made using this unified notification system. We anticipate reopening on Friday, October 11, 2024.

3:40 PM:

Broward and Palm Beach Schools are closed Wednesday and Thursday.

WHAT WILL JACK TUTER DO? OPEN OR CLOSED?

SS – Broward’s top prosecutor settles lawsuit with former employee who accused him of anti-white discrimination (10/5/24)

“Details of the agreement were not available Friday, and both sides declined to comment with the issue still pending. Because the State Attorney’s Office is a government agency, details will eventually be made public” …

JAABLOG: Newman 1, Pryor 0 (9/24/24)

ATTENTION BROWARD JUDGES:

JQC v. ASHTON

… NOTICE OF FORMAL CHARGES JQC v. ASHTON

Gary Farmer, the one time habitually late criminal judge who seemed to have few Friday dockets and was also known for inappropriate courtroom “humor,” was indeed booted from the North Wing.

The Sun Sentinel’s Rafael Olmeda has the story:

SUN SENTINEL – Broward judge removed from criminal cases over off-color comments from the bench

(Audio link to be posted shortly)

By Rafael Olmeda:

“A Broward judge was abruptly transferred from the criminal court bench to civil after he was heard telling one defendant to wear a condom while on probation, nearly using profanity while having another defendant removed from his courtroom, and repeating flamboyant gay stereotypes from the 1990s sketch comedy show “In Living Color.” …

On Thursday, court administration issued a statement confirming the reassignment was a direct result of statements that violated the rules governing how judges are to behave, especially while on the bench.

“The 17th Circuit became aware of certain statements made by Judge Farmer during hearings in the criminal court,” the statement read. “The Chief Judge (Jack Tuter) met with Judge Farmer, who admitted transgressions with the Code of Judicial Conduct. Judge Farmer now serves in the Civil Division of the Circuit.”

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*UPDATE* 8:17 PM …. Tuter was reached by phone at 8:00 PM, who said he’s already sent an announcement out. He was not happy.

Since it’s now 8:17 PM, we will have to assume the courthouse is open tomorrow, based upon the last 17th Circuit official message, sent at 7:22 PM:

This message is to advise that the 17th Judicial Circuit Courts will remain open under normal business hours on Thursday, September 26, 2024. We are continuing to monitor the weather conditions in light of Hurricane Helene. Court personnel who are unable to travel safely to the courthouse should contact their direct supervisor. We will provide further updates should there be any changes to court operations.

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Original post:

Broward schools are now closed.

We texted Jack Tuter at 7:41 PM and are awaiting a response concerning the 17th Circuit, given his old text message from 2:03 PM back on November 9, 2022:

Rumor has it former ASA Andy Newman’s employment discrimination lawsuit against Harold Pryor is settling, and will not proceed to trial.

Head over to the Broward Clerk’s website for the complaint and other documents, under case number CACE22015157 …

Fuel “Shimmer”

… AND OTHER AUGUST 15, 2024 DIVISION FO ODDITIES:

(excerpts from State v. Edward Smith)

Attorney: … “he also has three kids on the way” …

Farmer: ” … You were just shootin’ all over the place … do you know their names? … I’m going to put you on standard pretrial. I’m going to order that you wear a condom at all times … it’s for your own good, ok? … you are going to get a new attorney (attorney’s name not published here) … she’s going to reach out to you … don’t get her pregnant … she’s married, ok … this guy’s dangerous, danger to the community … I should keep him locked up.”

UPDATE – The West Satellite Courthouse in Plantation will reopen for normal business tomorrow, Thursday, September 12, 2024 …

Broward County has advised there is no air conditioning in the West Satellite Courthouse in Plantation and that the building is unsafe due to moisture accumulation. Given the anticipated timeline to resolve the issue, Chief Judge Tuter has made the decision to close the Plantation courthouse today. It is anticipated the building will reopen tomorrow. If you have hearings today at this courthouse location, please contact the presiding judge’s office via phone and email. All other Broward County courthouse locations are open and operating normally. – From: 17th Circuit Emergency Message (7:25 AM).