Applications for two circuit court vacancies due March 1st, 2023:

COMING SOON – Is Patti Henning ever coming back? …

The below AO applies to in-custody individuals, when MH concerns are raised.

Our understanding is the Order is designed to expedite the evaluation process, which now can take weeks. The MH court professionals can also use their discretion to help get people out of jail when appropriate, and can obviate the need for additional evaluations in some cases, saving a lot of time and money considering the regular division ASA’s de rigeur requests for multiple evaluations in nearly every case …

JAABLOG PRR to SAO PIO at 2:56 PM:

“(We’re) told there are cracked or cracking windows in the SAO, on the 8th floor and possibly other places.

Are you aware of this?” …

SAO response at 4:04 PM today, also sent office-wide:

Text of SAO email:

“Good Afternoon All,

Earlier this afternoon, we were informed by FTU staff of unusual noises near the windows in certain areas on the 8th floor. Additionally, there were two marks found on a separate window in another area of the unit. We immediately contacted the County Building Manager to evaluate both areas. As it relates to the marks, the County has preliminarily noted them as potential cracks but we are awaiting further information. As it relates to the noises, the County is sending structural engineers to the 8th floor for further evaluation.

We will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.

Please let me know if you need any additional information.”

Jared A. Brooks, Esq.– Executive Director

We’re told former judge Gina Hawkins, with JQC and Bar issues behind her, is returning to the SAO’s Sexual Battery Unit …

Congratulations!

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*UPDATE* – WSVN – Officials share images of structural concerns at Broward County Courthouse

SS – ‘Structural issues’ force partial closure of Broward courthouse

“They had discovered a crack on the 21st or 22nd floor, on or near a beam,” said Broward Chief Administrative Judge Jack Tuter. “We’re not sure how serious the issue is, but we’re taking precautions and we’ve been assured that whatever this issue is, it does not go further than the 18th floor” …

“Many courthouse employees remained unaware of the situation until the courthouse gossip website JAABlog posted about it on Friday afternoon.”

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Official email sent this evening:

And an email apparently sent yesterday, which is now being distributed to courthouse people since JAABLOG broke the news this afternoon:

Lastly, a photo of the aforementioned police/DOD joint training ops:

The Public Defender’s petitions to the Fourth DCA regarding Liz Scherer’s denials of the Motions To Disqualify based upon her comments during the Parkland case were denied today:

COMING SOON – BACDL Harry Gulkin Award for Team McNeill? …

The Florida Rules of Judicial Administration provide the following:

A chief judge may serve for successive terms but in no
event shall the total term as chief judge exceed 8 years …

In Broward, that clause is known as the Dale Ross Rule.

Accordingly, Jack Tuter sent the following letter announcing he’s running for his final term as chief judge in Broward County:

In the event anyone challenges Tuter for the throne, they have until 5:00 PM tonight to file.

Since it’s highly unlikely anyone will dare take on Tuter, who is known to wield his reassignment powers mightily, we’d like to be the first to wish Jack congratulations on his final term as CJ …

COMING SOON – Where’s Patti Englander Henning?

*UPDATE* – Channel 10 (4:53 PM): Top floors of Broward County Courthouse closed over possible structural concerns

Local 10 News has confirmed that floors 18 through 20 were not accessible because of “matters” on the 21st floor. What the “matters” are have not been confirmed but sources have told Local 10 News that the issues include cracking …

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The top floors of the Broward Central Courthouse remain closed to the public. One person described the issue as some type of “structural damage,” while another was more specific, stating it’s a large crack running through walls. At this point information is scant, and totally unconfirmed, but well worth investigating …