Past Recipients of the Judicial Excellence Award

2022 Award Recipients

Judge Margaret O. Steinbeck, Twentieth Judicial Circuit, Receives the 2022 Chief Justice Award for Judicial Excellence

The Honorable Margaret O. Steinbeck received the 2022 Chief Justice Award for Judicial Excellence from Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Carlos G. Muñiz Monday, August 1, 2022, at the annual education program of the Florida Conference of Circuit Judges. Judge Steinbeck has served as a judge in Florida’s 20th Judicial Circuit since 1998.  She also serves as the Chair of the Trial Court Budget Commission.

At the helm of the Trial Court Budget Commission during the Covid-19 pandemic, Judge Steinbeck collaborated with the members to pinpoint what the trial courts required to remain open and functioning, including additional technology to facilitate remote hearings, personal protective equipment to ensure the safety of court staff and visitors, and updated procedures to manage a shift in court functions. “She is tirelessly dedicated to the needs of the trial courts, and she does all of this with humility and hard work,” Trial Court Budget Commission members noted in their nomination of Judge Steinbeck.

Steinbeck’s leadership in times of crisis and her lasting impact on Florida’s trial courts made her nomination for the 2022 Chief Justice Award for Judicial Excellence one that enjoyed enthusiastic support from her peers, court leaders across the state, and family.

Judge Steinbeck began her public service career in the United States Army in 1978. She remained on active duty in several roles, including promotions from lieutenant to captain during her service. She was often the only woman and almost always the only woman officer. She said that during her time as an officer she “had to learn to give an order.”

In 1990, Steinbeck left active duty and began practicing law. She was in private practice for five years, then became an Assistant United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida, a role she held until 1998 when Governor Jeb Bush appointed her to the 20^th Judicial Circuit. Judge Steinbeck went on to serve in every division in the circuit and in every county in the circuit except Collier.

Judge Steinbeck’s contributions to the judiciary extend beyond the trial courts with tributes coming in from the appellate courts, as well. Judge John K. Stargel of the Second District Court of Appeal observed that Judge Steinbeck “has a unique ability to bring people together on the most difficult issues and can diffuse potentially divisive situations with her calm demeanor and characteristic wit.”

Judge Tina L. Caraballo, Orange County, Presented with Chief Justice Award for Judicial Excellence

The Honorable Tina L. Caraballo received the 2022 Chief Justice Award for Judicial Excellence from Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Carlos G. Muñiz on Wednesday, July 13, 2022, at the Annual Education Program of the Conference of County Court Judges. Judge Caraballo, elected Orange County Judge in 2014, currently serves as the County Court Administrative Judge and presides over the county civil division.

The Chief Justice Awards for Judicial Excellence, established in 2015, recognize one county court judge and one circuit judge who demonstrate exceptional commitment to the judicial branch and who personify judicial excellence, embodying qualities such as strength of character, integrity, fairness, open-mindedness, knowledge of the law, sound judgment, professional ethics, intellectual courage, compassion, and decisiveness.

During the COVID pandemic, Judge Caraballo worked to streamline and improve court operations. She developed and executed a plan to commence pre-trial conferences virtually and redistributed the backlog of cases which dramatically reduced wait times – improving access to justice across the county. Additionally, she developed a case management system for small claims court which not only kept litigants apprised and informed about their case but ensured all litigants would be treated equally and fairly in every courtroom. Judge Caraballo also innovated county civil operations through the use of new technology to conduct hybrid hearings so litigants and witnesses could appear in person or virtually.

This leadership and commitment to the judicial branch led Chief Justice Muñiz to award Judge Caraballo the 2022 Chief Justice Award for Judicial Excellence.

Judge Caraballo began her career in public service as a Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Specialist for the United States Army before practicing law.

Since she was elected to the bench, Judge Caraballo has presided over criminal and civil divisions and Veterans Treatment Court. She currently serves as Orange County’s Administrative Judge.

“She has consistently demonstrated her professionalism and patience, her deep understanding of the law, and her commitment to those who appear before her,” stated Ninth Circuit Chief Judge Lisa T. Munyon. 

Judge Caraballo is also committed to the Orange County legal community and volunteers for moot court and mock trial competitions at the high school and collegiate levels. She mentors new judges and lawyers and is an active member of several organizations, including the Hispanic Bar Association of Central Florida and the Central Florida Association of Women Lawyers.

A colleague, Ninth Circuit Judge Alice L. Blackwell, reflected on Judge Caraballo’s leadership during the pandemic recovery time as “quiet, fair, open-minded, inclusive, and compassionate.”

2021 Award Recipients

Judge Lisa T. Munyon, Ninth Judicial Circuit, Receives the 2021 Chief Justice Award for Judicial Excellence

The Chief Justice Awards for Judicial Excellence, established in 2015, recognize one county court judge and one circuit judge who demonstrate exceptional commitment to the judicial branch and who personify judicial excellence, embodying qualities such as strength of character, integrity, fairness, open-mindedness, knowledge of the law, sound judgment, professional ethics, intellectual courage, compassion, and decisiveness. Presented annually (except for 2020, when they were deferred because of the pandemic), these prestigious awards are bestowed at the annual education programs or annual business meetings for each level of the trial court.

Judge Lisa T. Munyon, Ninth Judicial Circuit, Receives the 2021 Chief Justice Award for Judicial Excellence

On the bench of the Ninth Judicial Circuit since 2003, Judge Lisa T. Munyon “has demonstrated commitment to the Florida judicial branch that is both exceptional in its reach as well as exceptional in the amount of time she has devoted to branch improvements,” declared the judge who nominated her for the Chief Justice Award for Judicial Excellence. The nomination letter and letters of support extolled Judge Munyon for being “unfailingly fair” and “universally respected for her knowledge and integrity,” and they emphasized that “her character, integrity, knowledge and sound judgement, ethics, intellectual courage, and compassion are beyond reproach.”  In particular, they singled her out for her exemplary qualities as a judge; her exceptional dedication to the judicial branch; and her outstanding leadership chairing some of the most challenging supreme court committees. Judge Munyon, they agreed, embodies “all the qualities that form the basis of the excellence awards.”

Letter writers enumerated the many virtues that constitute Judge Munyon’s excellence as a judge. Wrote one, “I have not known any other judge who is as smart and knowledgeable as Judge Munyon, and few other judges have done so much for their local circuit. In our legal community and across the state, Judge Munyon is acknowledged and recognized for her intellectual prowess, her fairness, and the excellence she brings to the bench. She is unfailingly prepared for court, having read the applicable pleadings and being completely ready for the legal argument before her. She listens with an open mind, and she rules promptly, often taking the time to write lengthy opinions to explain the bases for her rulings on a complex or unique legal matter.” Added another, “Judge Munyon is quite simply an outstanding judge. She has served on the Ninth Judicial Circuit with fairness, integrity, and efficiency for many years, including service in some challenging and complex judicial assignments. She is widely respected by her colleagues on the bench, as well as the practicing bar.”

Nomination and support letters also praised Judge Munyon for the diverse ways she evinces her commitment to the branch. One wrote of “her dedication to our state court system at every level. Judge Munyon teaches, chairs, and leads so many judges throughout the state that her impact is beyond compare. Having had the honor of participating on committees with her leadership, I know firsthand the exemplary work she does herself and requires of others. She attends every meeting with a full understanding of what her charge is and how she is going to accomplish the task at hand. She does all of this with humility and hard work.” Said another,

“Judge Munyon is always tapped, and always says yes, to speak on various civil, criminal, and family topics for our local bar association, as well as for other organizations. I love to be a speaker with Judge Munyon because I know that she will be well-prepared, knowledgeable, and—if someone asks a really hard question—Judge Munyon will know the answer. She is that kind of judge. Not just hard working, not just smart, not just caring, but completely prepared for whatever is before her. Frankly, she is the best.”

In her 18 years on the bench, Judge Munyon has been called upon to serve on, and chair, many supreme court committees, but letter writers especially accentuate her steady, thoughtful leadership of two especially demanding ones: the Florida Courts Technology Commission (FCTC), which she has chaired since 2010, and the Workgroup on the Continuity of Court Operations and Proceedings During and After COVID-19.

Of the FCTC, letter writers lauded Judge Munyon’s excellent job in leading the commission, which they described as a “massive undertaking.” As one explained, “By its very design, the 25-member FCTC and its 14 subcommittees and workgroups incorporate nearly all constituencies of and stakeholders in the courts. Judge Munyon wields an unmatched tact in coordinating differing points of view and sometimes diverging interests among FCTC members. Additionally, during quarterly two-day business meetings around the state, members of the public, multiple agency representatives, court personnel, and private vendors appear to provide input and ask questions. Through it all, Judge Munyon employs her seasoned skills to effectively adhere to a complex and dense agenda.” Added another, Judge Munyon “is a true leader. She has the ability to work through long and complicated meeting agendas. She directs participants in a polite and kind way assigning tasks, addressing concerns, and preparing for future meetings. These meetings with technically brilliant minds are challenging, but Judge Munyon leads the charge implementing numerous innovations for the court. The meetings are open to the public, where she is a superb representative, acting with speed, brilliance, and the appropriate demeanor.”

The FCTC has made stellar progress under Judge Munyon’s guidance, letter writers noted. “Not only has the commission, under her leadership, developed the recommendations for the statewide e-Portal, electronic access to court records, and statewide standards for software to access files and serve orders, but Judge Munyon has forged new relationships with the leadership of the clerk’s association to work collaboratively on the implementation of changes that benefit the branch and each judge who serves in the trial courts of the state. Under her leadership, court records and the filing of pleadings by parties are more accessible and user friendly.”  Added another, “She is an able and affable leader, and her efforts in support of developing and deploying technology solutions to the judicial branch have resulted in greater efficiencies and cost savings that benefit lawyers, judges, clerks, staff, litigants, and other persons involved in the court system, with the ultimate goal of justice for the people of Florida. Florida leads the nation in pioneering new models for service delivery using technology-based solutions, and Judge Munyon ably manages members, committees, and staff in support of this mission.”  Offered another, “The FCTC has operated during her tenure as a model for the effectiveness of collaborative government. I suggest this is largely because of her stewardship.”

Judge Munyon has demonstrated equally impressive leadership skills as chair of the Workgroup on the Continuity of Court Operations and Proceedings During and After COVID-19, established by the supreme court in April 2020 to recommend guidelines for a safe, staged return to court operations during and after the pandemic. “Judge Munyon was the perfect leader for this team,” said one letter writer: “She led with integrity, open-mindedness, and fairness. Many of our decisions were difficult ones to make. Judge Munyon was an example of courage and understanding during this trying time for our court system as a whole.” Wrote another, “When the chief justice sought a professional, organized, well-respected leader to rapidly and effectively identify a plan and forge a path for the court system to deal with the continuation of all court operations and proceedings around the state in light of the Covid pandemic, he chose Judge Munyon….She and her workgroup quickly developed meaningful standards and benchmarks for courts to use that were logical, objective, medically sound, and universally applicable to the various courts throughout the state.”

No doubt due to Judge Munyon’s extraordinary tapestry of strengths, she was “unanimously elected by her peers to serve as chief judge of the Ninth Judicial Circuit,” noted the nomination letter. “She is the first woman elected to this position in our circuit. Her election as chief judge is a testament to her character, her integrity, and the high regard in which those who know her best hold her. Judge Munyon has always been relied upon by her colleagues in the Ninth as a problem-solver, a wise counselor, an ethical advisor, and a compassionate listener. She will apply all of her wisdom, her fairness, and her prodigious work ethic to this job as well."

Judge Linda Singer Stein, Miami-Dade County, Receives the 2021 Chief Justice Award for Judicial Excellence

The Chief Justice Awards for Judicial Excellence, established in 2015, recognize one county court judge and one circuit judge who demonstrate exceptional commitment to the judicial branch and who personify judicial excellence, embodying qualities such as strength of character, integrity, fairness, open-mindedness, knowledge of the law, sound judgment, professional ethics, intellectual courage, compassion, and decisiveness. Presented annually (except for 2020, when they were deferred because of the pandemic), these prestigious awards are bestowed at the annual education programs or annual business meetings for each level of the trial court.

Judge Linda Singer Stein, Miami-Dade County, Receives the 2021 Chief Justice Award for Judicial Excellence

“Patient and selfless,” “intelligent, thoughtful, and innovative,” “a leader and a professional,” “an excellent system-builder,” “an extraordinary administrator”—this is just a small sample of the outflow of praise for Judge Linda Singer Stein, as expressed by her colleagues in their letters supporting her nomination for a Chief Justice Award for Judicial Excellence. In her nomination of Judge Singer Stein for the award, former Chief Judge Bertila Soto emphasized, “I can think of no other county court judge that has dedicated more time and effort to serve the citizens of Miami Dade and the state in the civil area.” On the Miami-Dade County bench since 1993, Judge Singer Stein is highly valued and appreciated as an administrator, a mentor, a colleague, and a friend.

Judge Singer Stein was selected to serve as associate administrative judge for the County Court Civil Division in 2004, and, in 2015, she was appointed administrative judge for that division. Administrative judges play a critical role in developing and maintaining division policies and procedures and in keeping their division running smoothly; they accept this role in addition to their usual duties—and without additional compensation. Several letter writers noted that they chose to be assigned to the civil division because of Judge Singer Stein’s excellent reputation. As one letter writer pointed out, the Eleventh Judicial Circuit is the state’s “most populous circuit and has a wide variety of needs. Judge Singer Stein has met and continues to meet the ever-changing needs of this great circuit. Her responsibilities include training new members of the bench, supervising 19 county court judges, managing the seven courthouses that house the County Court Civil Divisions, communicating with the clerk of court on the day-to-day issues, and maintaining her own docket. We are not sure where she derives the fortitude and strength to do all this, and she does so with a positive attitude.” 

Wrote another, Judge Singer Stein “has been integral in ironing out all the wrinkles in administration. No one is better at diffusing a difficult situation and finding the honorable, fair, and expedient solution as a leader and professional. With all too much regularity, Judge Singer Stein knowingly steps into a hornet’s nest with integrity, uncompromising ethics, open-mindedness, and objective, sound judgement and offers to assist in the resolution of the issue and never fails to miraculously find an answer.”  Pondering why she takes on these challenges, he proposed, “I know that it is her mission and priority to see that all roadblocks are removed so that judges can move forward unhindered to provide justice to our community.”

Another common theme among the letter writers was Judge Singer Stein’s merits as a mentor.  One writer, for whom Judge Singer Stein was her “first mentor and first administrative judge,” proclaimed that Judge Singer Stein “has no equal in my circuit. She taught me how to manage cases, how to handle a variety of subject matter, and how to transition from lawyer to judge. She is an extraordinary administrator. Whatever issues crop up in the courthouse, be it an uptick in caseloads, a leaky roof, issues affecting access to litigants, or a shortage of interpreters, Judge Stein handles it with her signature thoughtful, effective, and patient approach.”

“It is known far and wide that she is always willing to offer support and provide a one-stop shop for all civil county court judges’ needs,” observed another. “Judge Singer Stein has long maintained an open-door policy for mentorship and regularly sits with new judges as they learn the robes (pun intended). She patiently and selflessly guides them with continuous and reliable support for as long as they need or desire it.”

Another commented, “I had the privilege of working with Judge Stein immediately upon taking the bench as a county judge in 2016. Almost immediately, Judge Stein did for me what she does for so many—she made herself available, she mentored, and she provided a platform which did not simply require me to copy what she did; she provided the knowledge, confidence, and foundation so that I could become the judge I was meant to be.”  She continued, “Judge Stein teaches not simply by saying ‘this is how it is done’ but by showing ‘why’ and giving options, advice, and encouraging each judge to utilize his or her own skill set to enrich the bench. She did this as the associate administrative judge (now administrative judge) of the County Civil Division in charge of training all new civil county judges, and all while presiding over a full docket and running a busy branch courthouse.” Additionally, this letter writer pointed out that Judge Singer Stein is also “a natural leader and mentor…to the pipeline of young people who aspire to be lawyers. She is invested in her community and gives back to so many.”

“In addition to the mentorship, Judge Stein is a wonderful colleague,” said another. “She has a kind disposition and shows by example how to follow the law and rule accordingly, without losing sight of the humility a judge must have. She is always available to help a colleague with a scheduling issue or coverage, and equally available to discuss a legal issue. I am blessed by amazing colleagues, but I hit the lottery with Judge Stein as my administrative judge. As so many judges have passed through county civil, she has shaped a huge percentage of Miami-Dade's judiciary on the county, circuit, and appellate bench. So many of us owe the good habits and perspective to Judge Stein's training and example of dedication and service.”

One letter of support called Judge Singer Stein a "glue person," defining it as “one of the people who hold the court together. As so many judges have come and gone, and gone from county to circuit (like me) and other places, it is judges like Judge Stein, through her selfless work, positivity, and dedication, who make sure the institutional memory is preserved, that the public is served, and that as a bench we do not miss a beat. She has trained them all. I am proud to call her a mentor, humbled to call her a colleague, and honored to call her a friend.”

The nomination letter summed up Judge Singer Stein’s many virtues as follows: “Judge Singer Stein has faced it all. She has been a champion for the court during the foreclosure crisis, the jurisdictional change, and the pandemic. She has continuously faced the challenges confronted due to change and crisis. She seeks solutions for the busiest docket in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit. Her innovation and thoughtful approach in case management has allowed for the public to have continued access in our five satellite courthouses and the Dade County Courthouse. Her changes and improvements have worked seamlessly to permit progress and growth….The Eleventh Circuit is blessed to have such an intelligent, thoughtful and innovative judge. She exemplifies what all judges should be and is truly deserving of this award.”

2019 Award Recipients

Judge Scott M. Bernstein, Eleventh Circuit, Receives the 2019 Chief Justice Award for Judicial Excellence

Judge Scott M. Bernstein, Eleventh Judicial Circuit

Judge Scott Bernstein, who was elected to the Eleventh Circuit bench in 1998, is universally regarded by his peers as “a judge's judge: a scholar, a leader, and an advocate for justice.”  Said to be “no stranger to blazing trails,” Judge Bernstein is appreciated for “his intellectual curiosity and thirst for knowledge.”  He is especially known for his efforts to improve the quality of the judiciary—both for court users and for the people who work in the courts system.  His colleagues observe that “Florida is blessed with many good judges and some great judges.  Then there are those few who are both great judges and great humanitarians.  Scott Bernstein is one of those select few.”

In the letters nominating him for the Judicial Excellence Award, Judge Bernstein is regularly extolled for his tireless and innovative leadership, which he embodies with “clarity of vision, decisiveness, courage, passion, and humility.”  As one letter writer notes, he “implemented a case management system in the Juvenile Delinquency Division, which shortened the time before cases came to trial.  He took over the Dependency Drug Court when it was desperately looking for a champion and made the court flourish.  He jumped into a felony criminal division faced with a five-month death penalty case and brought a sense of calm control despite high media attention.”  He is also credited with having “designed many different court improvement projects to make judges more efficient.”  Indeed, “He brought Family Court into the 21st century,” another letter writer exclaims: “Scott conducts regular town hall meetings with family law practitioners to hear constructive criticism about our operations.  He improved systems in the court, both big a small.  He initiated the use of technology to calendar our cases, set hearings, and sign court orders.  He brought the e-courtesy system into the Family Division, which allows orders to be signed and emailed electronically.  He put on countless trainings for judges, case managers, judicial assistants, bailiffs, and clerks to improve court operations.  He pioneered technology to allow videoconferencing during hearings, making it possible for even distant players to participate.  He trains judges coming into the Family Division about unique areas of the law.  He gives practical tips on how to write court orders, how to handle difficult mental health and drug use issues, and how to keep the focus on the needs of children.  And he does all this with grace.”

In addition to his countless crusades to improve court processes, Judge Bernstein is esteemed for his “commitment to the betterment of his fellow judges.”  This commitment manifests in an abundance of ways, but the three on which the nomination letters most ardently focus are court fairness and diversity, judicial education, and judicial wellness. 

Judge Bernstein is “recognized as a leader in court fairness,” his peers say.  Through his work on the supreme court’s Standing Committee on Fairness and Diversity, for example, he launched an “inexhaustible endeavor to deliver diversity training to all judges and court staff throughout the state of Florida.”  He also “assisted with the development of policies and practices throughout the state that enhanced the fair and unbiased administration of justice in our courts,” they emphasize. 

Because of his efforts to improve and expand judicial training and education opportunities and offerings, Judge Bernstein is also considered a “leader in judicial education.”  As one of his colleagues explains, “Few have done as much for the education of Florida judges as Judge Bernstein.  He was Education Chair of the Circuit Conference from 2007 through 2012.  He has taught at the Circuit Conference, County Conference, College of Advanced Judicial Studies, Florida Judicial College, and National Judicial College.  He is also an instructor training judges to teach other judges.”  Adds another, “He actively mentors judges who are newly appointed or elected to our bench and is readily available to all of us to talk through troublesome issues that we all confront from time to time.” 

Judge Bernstein receives Judicial Excellence Award from Chief Justice Canady

On top of all this, Judge Bernstein conceived and helped to establish the Florida Judicial Wellness Program, which his peers describe as “a program to help his fellow colleagues challenged by the negative impact that comes from the work we do day to day.”  They credit him with having “recognized that judges desperately needed a resource by which they could seek help with issues that impair their ability to adequately perform their duties.  As a result, he then envisioned a statewide program solely for judges that would operate as a separate and private means for judges to get the help they may need.”  Launched in 2018, this program is deemed “an invaluable source for wellness to our Florida judicial branch.” 

The letters nominating him for the Judicial Excellence Award all agree that Judge Bernstein “personifies judicial excellence.”  “Throughout my professional career, as an attorney since 1991, and as a judge since 2006, I have met only a few individuals as motivated and committed to helping improve the court system and its judges as much as Judge Scott Bernstein.  He is deserving of this recognition,” says one letter writer.  “I cannot think of a judge more deserving of this honor.  Working with Scott Bernstein has been one of the great privileges of my privileged professional life,” adds another.  Summing it all up, another underscores, “Judge Bernstein is one of the best of our best.  He is an inspiration to other judges.” 

Take this link to the press release. 

By Beth C. Schwartz, Court Publications Writer

(posted August 5, 2019)  /   Return to top of page

Judge David L. Denkin, Sarasota County, Receives the 2019 Chief Justice Award for Judicial Excellence

Judge David L. Denkin, Sarasota County

Serving on the Sarasota County bench since January 2003, Judge David Denkin is esteemed by his peers for his “record of personal contributions to the judicial branch and sterling reputation for professionalism.”  He is especially valued as a “leader, teacher, and mentor”: he is described as having “the discipline of a committed scholar, the passion of a gifted educator, and the fidelity of a public servant.”  Indeed, because of the many branch leadership and judicial education-related roles Judge Denkin has embraced over the years, his fellow judges commonly regard him as “the go-to person” in the courts system. 

Judge Denkin “has proven himself as a leader and ‘doer’ right from the beginning of his judicial career,” emphasize the letters nominating him for the Judicial Excellence Award.  Only three years after becoming a judge, for instance, he was singled out to serve as the administrative judge for Sarasota County Court—a position fraught with responsibilities that are “oftentimes very heavy and always unpredictable,” his colleagues note; after serving in this capacity until 2009, he was appointed again in 2017.  In addition to accepting this important leadership role in his county, he has tirelessly assumed numerous statewide leadership roles, often simultaneously.  For years, he has been extensively active in the Conference of County Court Judges of Florida, for example, and is the conference president this year.  He also chaired the conference’s Education Committee from 2009 – 2015—a position called “one of the most difficult posts to fill”—which he performed ably, “with hard work, collaboration, and skill.”  During the same stretch of time, he was the associate dean, and then the dean, of the Florida DUI Adjudication Lab Program as well as the associate dean of the Florida Judicial College; since 2015, he has been the dean of the college.  As one nomination letter points out, “The amount of time and hard work he has devoted, above and beyond his regular work assignment, is remarkable”—especially since “These are thankless jobs.  There is no extra pay, no extra benefits, just a great deal of extra work and responsibility.” 

Judge Denkin receives Judicial Excellence Award from Chief Justice Canady

Given the education-related nature of many of his leadership positions, it is no surprise that Judge Denkin’s colleagues enthusiastically appreciate him for “his tireless pursuit and dedication to advancing Florida judicial education.”  In addition to teaching for the Conference of County Court Judges, he has taught for the Florida Judicial College, the DUI Adjudication Lab, and the Florida College of Advanced Judicial Studies; he has also been a faculty member for judicial education programs in Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, and South Carolina as well as for the National Judicial College.  Due to the number of programs for which he has taught over the years—and the number of courses—one of the letter writers speculates that “Probably every judge in Florida has taken a course taught by David.”  In addition to teaching, since 2012, he has been a member of the Florida Court Education Council, which coordinates and oversees the creation and maintenance of, and manages the budget for, Florida’s comprehensive education program for judges and court personnel.  One of his supporters declares, “During the past 22 plus years of having the honor as serving as a county court judge, I have had the opportunity to work with many gifted judicial educators and leaders.  However, there is one judge who stands head and shoulders above the rest, and that judge is David Denkin of Sarasota County.” 

Judge Denkin’s colleagues opine that his success as a leader and educator is due, in part, to his judicial temperament.  He “shows respect to those he works with, being a careful listener, making sure that he understands the needs of those he collaborates with; simply he works well with others,” says one.  Adds another, “His sense of humor, respect for others, and good, old-fashioned hard work make him a role model” for judges.  Another concludes, “I have been on the bench for 27 years, and he is one of only a handful of colleagues who have demonstrated such persistent pursuit of excellence in all that he does.”  And all agree that he unfailingly “goes way above and beyond his regular duties to make our Florida court system better.”

Take this link to the press release.  

By Beth C. Schwartz, Court Publications Writer

(posted July 11, 2019)  /   Return to top of page

2018 Award Recipients

Judge Alice L. Blackwell, Ninth Circuit, Receives the 2018 Chief Justice Award for Judicial Excellence

Judge Alice L. Blackwell, Ninth Judicial Circuit

Judge Alice L. Blackwell, appointed to the Ninth Circuit bench in 1991, is celebrated for her “intelligence, fairness, punctuality, professionalism, decisiveness, and courtesy.”  One letter writer, who served on a committee Judge Blackwell chaired, recalls her “calm and courteous manner and her ability to get to the heart of a matter while showing respect for everyone involved”—which he calls “qualities that one associates with judicial excellence and leadership.”  She is considered “an inspiration for so many other judges.” 

Judge Blackwell’s accomplishments are indeed wide-ranging, but her supporters are especially eloquent about her embrace of judicial branch leadership roles, her commitment to education, and her efforts to improve the court system for families and children throughout the state.

Referred to as “one of our branch’s true leaders,” Judge Blackwell is praised for her years of service on a multitude of judicial and bar committees: her judicial branch service includes membership on the State Courts Civil Litigation Task Force, the Judicial Management Council, the Committee on District Court of Appeal Performance and Accountability, the Supreme Court Judicial Branch Governance Study Group, and the Supreme Court Commission on Trial Court Performance and Accountability (which she chaired for 10 years).  She is currently a member of the Select Committee on the Justice Teaching Institute, the Steering Committee on Families and Children in the Court, and the Ninth Circuit’s Unified Family Court Committee, and she chaired, and continues to serve on, the Florida Conference of Circuit Judges.  With her “selfless devotion toward the constant improvement of our justice system” and her “quiet, consensus-building leadership style,” Judge Blackwell “has dedicated her career to thinking critically about the role of the judiciary and how it can better provide transparent and high-level service to the communities it serves.” 

Perceived as “a leader in judicial education,” Judge Blackwell is described as having a “passion to educate and interact with members of the bench and bar.”  This passion even extends to The Florida Bar’s future members—she has served as adjunct faculty at Barry University School of Law since 2010.  In addition to teaching at various local and state bar education programs and giving presentations for manifold organizations that seek to improve the lives of children and families, Judge Blackwell has taught for the Florida Judicial College since 2010 and at the Florida College of Advanced Judicial Studies for nine of the last 12 years.  One letter writer calls her “a dedicated and talented faculty member” for judicial education programs, adding that, “In this, as in all her endeavors, she pursues excellence with a passion.”  Another letter writer muses, “I have had the privilege of teaching with her for new family court judges for many years.  She is brilliant in a common sense, logical way.  She is a wonderful teacher and mentor to new judges and other experienced judges new to the Family Law Division.  After 10 years on the bench, I continue to learn from her as we co-teach.”

Judge Blackwell has also been “tireless in her efforts” to improve the court system for families and children. In addition to serving on committees dedicated to family court matters and to teaching the fundamentals of family law to a range of audiences, she recently worked with Chief Judge Fred Lauten to reorganize the Ninth Circuit’s Family Division, helping to make “incredible improvements…to better serve the families and children during their difficult times.”  Moreover, several letters of support discuss Judge Blackwell’s “efforts in stopping domestic violence and protecting domestic violence victims.”  As one letter writer explains, “Before 2007, Orange County did not have an organized way to address its domestic violence cases.  Seven family court judges alternated weeks of responsibility for domestic violence injunctions, bringing varying levels of expertise and no specialized training to a multi-faceted legal and social issue.  Batterers and their victims all crowded into one room, free to interact with one another before, during and after their hearings.  Judge Blackwell's vision overhauled this system, and Orange County now stands at the forefront of how domestic matters are addressed throughout the nation.”  In addition to improving the circuit’s Domestic Violence Division, Judge Blackwell has “reached out to the community to form partnerships to better recognize and assist in the area of domestic violence.  Untold people have benefited from her efforts.”

Judge Blackwell “exemplifies the qualities one expects of our finest judges”; she “personifies and exudes all that defines judicial excellence”; “Her 25 years on the bench embody the spirit of this Award.”  All the letters of support agree that Judge Blackwell is precisely the sort of jurist who deserves to be recognized with a Judicial Excellence Award. 

Take this link to the press release.

By Beth C. Schwartz, Court Publications Writer

(posted August 6, 2018)  /   Return to top of page

Judge Belle B. Schumann, Volusia County, Receives the 2018 Chief Justice Award for Judicial Excellence

Judge Belle B. Schumann, Volusia County

Appointed to the Volusia County bench in 2005, Judge Belle B. Schumann is distinguished for “her unwavering integrity, impeccable character, and innovative intellect in addressing the challenges placed before her.” Letters supporting her nomination call her a “valued team player and mentor to all members of the Volusia County court” and “a leader in the community, in the local bar association, in the Conference of County Court Judges.” She is esteemed for all her efforts “to provide the highest level of professionalism to the judicial branch.”

Judge Schumann’s accomplishments are extensive, but her achievements in two areas particularly stand out: she has spearheaded numerous court initiatives that, while improving efficiencies and saving taxpayer dollars, have also brought “justice to the poor and marginalized in our community”; and she is also appreciated for her commitment to creating educational opportunities for many different groups of learners.

While serving as the administrative judge for Volusia County (2009 – 2013), Judge Schumann implemented several practices to make more effective and efficient use of court resources. For instance, as one letter writer notes, “She addressed the chronic issue of caseload imbalance among civil county court judges by creating an assignment system based on zip codes. This plan was so effective that it was later adopted by the circuit court. She further organized the criminal division assignments to make them more balanced, even though it caused more cases to be assigned to her own docket.” While saving the court time and money, many of Judge Schumann’s initiatives also have a strong “community service” component. For example, since 2008, she has chaired the Advisory Board for the Corrections Treatment Diversion Program for jail inmates; as one letter writer explains, this substance abuse program “provides a badly needed treatment option where none previously existed, and it eliminates thousands of jail days every year, saving taxpayers millions of dollars.” Further, in 2012, Judge Schumann founded the Volusia County DUI Treatment Court to provide supervised treatment for repeat DUI offenders. That same year, she established the Sentencing Alternatives for Volusia Enforcement (SAVE) Docket “to divert homeless and indigent non-violent offenders to community service instead of burdening the court system.”

Innovative practices like these have inspired a groundswell of appreciation for Judge Schumann, both in her court and in the Volusia County community in general. Indeed, community organizations have honored her for a great variety of humanitarian endeavors over the years. Perhaps she is most extolled for having led a county-wide effort to create a much-needed homeless shelter/service center; expected to open in 2019, Volusia Safe Harbor will “merge the resources of local governments, faith-based groups, businesses, chambers of commerce, and social service providers.” Letter writers praise Judge Schumann for having “worked tirelessly to obtain this facility for our community.”

Judge Schumann is also a “staunch advocate for enhanced educational opportunities for others,” as her letters of support emphasize. She has served as judicial faculty at statewide judicial conferences since 2008, teaching judges about topics like jury trials, legal writing, and evidence. In addition, as the chair of Seventh Circuit Professionalism Committee, she established a biennial professionalism seminar that regularly brings lawyers and judges together for free-ranging discussions on matters of ethics and professionalism. She has also been active in the court’s Afternoon at the Courthouse event, which is designed to educate attorneys and members of the public about different court divisions. Further, she is certified by the state to teach classes that help police officers satisfy continuing training requirements, and she also teaches courses in basic law enforcement issues to the officers. Finally, she is committed to teaching the state’s youngest citizens as well: she coordinated speakers for the Volusia County Bar Association’s Law Week activities for five years, reaching more than 3,500 students each year, and she presided over trials for the Florida High Mock Trial Program for two years.

The letters of support all focus on the many ways in which Judge Schumann strives fervently “to improve the quality of justice in our county.” Indeed, as one of the letter writers concludes, “Judge Schumann epitomizes all the qualities of a model judge.”

Take this link to the press release.

By Beth C. Schwartz, Court Publications Writer

(posted July 10, 2018) /  Return to top of page

2017 Award Recipients

Judge Peter R. Ramsberger, Sixth Judicial Circuit, Receives the Chief Justice Award for Judicial Excellence

Judge Peter Ramsberger, Sixth Judicial Circuit

“Intelligent, fair, concerned, and hard worker”—these words and their equivalents appear persistently in the letters supporting the nomination of Judge Peter R. Ramsberger for the Award for Judicial Excellence.  Elected to the Pinellas County bench in 1990 and appointed to the Sixth Circuit in 1997, Judge Ramsberger is extolled for being “an outstanding scholar, leader, and teacher” who “has “impeccable integrity, is very knowledgeable…and works well with others.”  His “relentless pursuit of excellence” is universally admired.​ 

Judge Ramsberger’s accomplishments are indeed extensive and consequential, but his supporters are particularly fervent about three of his attributes: his commitment to judicial education, his efforts to improve the courts system’s domestic violence services, and his demeanor.

Judge Ramsberger’s devotion to judicial education began to take root soon after he took the bench: within a year of being sworn in, he enrolled in a faculty training seminar, a two-day education program that teaches prospective judicial educators about planning a successful course founded on education principles (participating in this seminar is a pre-requisite for teaching in most of the courts system’s education programs).  Since then, “He has created, prepared, researched, revised, updated, and presented more judicial education programs than any other judge in the State of Florida, having taught at least 100 judicial education programs throughout his career,” the nomination letter states.  In short, “He cares about the educational product, he cares about his colleagues and he cares about the entire Florida legal system.”  As a result, “He is widely regarded as one of the finest judicial education presenters and consistently receives rave reviews.”  As one of the support letters notes, “Nationally and internationally, the Florida judiciary has a unique tradition of excellence in judicial education.  No other state offers the quality and breadth of training offered by Florida judges.  Judge Ramsberger is one of the best of the best.” 

His dedication to judicial education also includes his recruitment and mentoring of new judicial faculty, and many letter writers call attention to this “labor of love.”  One writes, “I have seen the countless hours and the outstanding effort that Judge Ramsberger has put into recruiting faculty, inspiring the faculty to develop a meaningful and complete curriculum, and then facilitating and teaching the track….He is tireless in his efforts to inspire those teaching with him to go ‘above and beyond’: he leads by example and with great humor and patience.”     

For his dedication to improving court processes, especially those associated with domestic violence, Judge Ramsberger is also esteemed.  One letter writer remarks on the “indelible imprint” he makes on judges regarding the handling of domestic violence cases.  She singles out the two-day Regional Domestic Violence Trainings Judge Ramsberger co-created and has been conducting around the state, saying, “His influence on [the judges attending this program] is profound.  They come back from the training with Judge Ramsberger with new insights and new vigor for handling some of the most difficult cases we have in the court system, and they are so impressed with Judge Ramsberger’s knowledge, intellectual courage, and passion for seeing that justice is provided to some of the court system’s most vulnerable clients: those families and children impacted by domestic violence in their homes.  Judge Ramsberger’s impact on judges who handle domestic violence cases is extremely significant and, consequently, he has significantly impacted our judicial system for the better.”

The letters of support also call attention to Judge Ramsberger’s exceptional deportment—particularly his inclusiveness, his self-deprecating humor, and his humility: “He inspires with a calm demeanor and an ever present sense of humor”; “His self-deprecating sense of humor and ability to include others is a great gift in the education of judges”; “He is someone who does not seek recognition for what he does.  He supports others to achieve judicial excellence, and he does so with great self-deprecation and humor”; “He has put in many, many hours of service to the branch in various educational programs, and he has done it all with humor and humility”; and “He also possesses the unusual trait of humbleness.  He works tirelessly and always deflects praise to others.  This is a rare quality in our profession that deserves special mention.”

As the letters of support demonstrate, Judge Ramsberger has truly “earned the respect and confidence of his colleagues.”  They are not exaggerating when they say that he “fully personifies judicial excellence and has demonstrated exceptional commitment to the judicial branch in the State of Florida.”  

Take this link to the press release.

By Beth C. Schwartz, Court Publications Writer

(posted July, 24, 2017)  /   Return to top of page

Judge Carroll J. Kelly, Miami-Dade County, Receives the Chief Justice Award for Judicial Excellence

Chief Justice Labarga with Award for Judicial Excellence recipient, Judge Carroll Kelly, Miami-Dade County.

Appointed to the Miami-Dade bench in 1999, Judge Carroll J. Kelly is esteemed for “lead[ing] by example from the bench, treating all parties with the utmost respect and dignity while simultaneously being compassionate and fair.”  Letters supporting her nomination say that “She epitomizes the very qualities that every trial judge should emulate” and that “She is a model for all judges to aspire to”: indeed, another letter writer asserts, “Her accomplishments, dedication and professionalism should serve as an example to all judges throughout the State of Florida and the nation.”  In particular, Judge Kelly is singled out for having “tirelessly…spent her entire judicial career as a leader, teacher and a mentor in combatting all forms of interpersonal violence and improving court responses to domestic violence.”  As one letter writer proffers, “I would submit that every judge in the state of Florida well knows that Judge Kelly is the ‘guru’ on all matters pertaining to domestic violence.”  

Judge Kelly’s accomplishments are far-ranging, but her achievements in two areas especially stand out: her innovative efforts “to improve the community, the court system…and the lives of the individuals” affected by domestic violence and her “extensive and selfless devotion toward judicial education.”     

Judge Carroll J. Kelly, Miami-Dade County

 

Since her appointment in 1999, Judge Kelly has served in the Miami-Dade County Domestic Violence Division, which handles approximately 12,000 domestic, sexual, dating, stalking, and repeat violence injunctions, as well as thousands of DV criminal cases, each year.  She has been the administrative judge of this division since 2009.  Over the years—in addition to managing her caseload and overseeing 11 judges as well as hundreds of court personnel working in four separate courthouses in the county—Judge Kelly has written grants to bring thousands of dollars into the community for DV projects; secured and trained advocates to assist each victim of DV; helped to coordinate—and trains attorneys to participate in—a pro bono program that represents children in families unsettled by DV; worked with mental health professionals to institute a program that provides wrap-around services to families whose lives have been touched by DV; created protocols and contracts for batterers intervention programs to uphold quality programming and oversight; instituted and presides over DV compliance calendars to ensure batterers meet the requirements of court-ordered programs; instituted the use of GPS devices as a condition of release in DV criminal cases; and created various education programs and resources to help DV litigants understand the cycle of violence and how the court can help them.  These are just some of the manifold innovations Judge Kelly has developed and implemented to improve the ways in which the court responds to families affected by domestic violence.  “Under her leadership, the Eleventh Judicial Circuit’s DV Court has been named a model domestic violence court in the United States,” one letter writer remarks.

Letter writers also praise Judge Kelly for her commitment to judicial education.  She is a long-standing faculty member of the Conference of County Court Judges of Florida, the Florida College of Advanced Judicial Studies, and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges.  She also serves on the faculty of the Florida Judicial College, where, for the last 16 years, she has taught all new Florida judges domestic/sexual violence law and procedure.  In addition, in 2014, under the auspices of the Florida Institute on Interpersonal Violence, she co-created a two-phase Regional DV Training for Florida judges, with the goal of enhancing statewide consistency and uniformity in the handling of DV cases: more than 170 judges have already participated in the first phase, which has been offered in 11 locations, and the second phase, which was recently introduced, has trained 41 judges so far.  As the nomination letter stresses, Judge Kelly “created and presents these programs because she is passionate about judges being informed about DV and ensuring these crimes are taken seriously and dealt with appropriately.”    

The letters of support all emphasize Judge Kelly’s distinction and singularity: “I do not know of any judge who gives more of themselves to the public and legal community,” states one judge; says another, “She deserves this recognition more than anyone I know”; and another underscores that, “While many judges are deserving, I believe no judge is more deserving than Judge Kelly.”  To read more about the accomplishments of Judge Kelly, whom one letter writer calls a “true champion and hero for Florida,”  please take this link to the press release.

Read more about a recent Florida Institute on Interpersonal Violence training involving Judge Kelly.

By Beth C. Schwartz, Court Publications Writer

(posted July, 11 2017)  /   Return to top of page

2016 Award Recipients

Judge Stanford Blake, Eleventh Circuit, Presented with Chief Justice Award for Judicial Excellence

Judge Stanford Blake

The Chief Justice Awards for Judicial Excellence, established in 2015, recognize one county court judge and one circuit court judge who demonstrate exceptional commitment to the judicial branch and who personify judicial excellence, embodying qualities such as strength of character, integrity, fairness, open-mindedness, knowledge of the law, sound judgment, professional ethics, intellectual courage, compassion, and decisiveness.  These prestigious awards are presented by the chief justice of the Florida Supreme Court at the annual education programs for each level of the trial court.  At this year’s Annual Education Program of the Florida Conference of Circuit Judges, Chief Justice Labarga presented the 2016 Chief Justice Award for Judicial Excellence to Judge Stanford Blake, Eleventh Circuit.  (Broward County Court Judge Robert W. Lee received the Award for Judicial Excellence at the Annual Education Program of the Conference of County Court Judges of Florida in July.)

Judge Blake was appointed to the Eleventh Circuit Bench in 1995.  Letters supporting his nomination for this award praise him for his “fairness and efficiency” and for his “genuine compassion for the people and parties that appear before him.”  They commend his “rare mix of humor, intelligence, courage and diplomacy” and call him “a man of stature, a man of compassion, of a strong ethical and moral compass and one who has a unique understanding of the human condition.”  And they appreciate him for having “improved our court system, our community and our world.”  Judge Blake is widely acclaimed both for his efforts to “advance the highest ideals of justice” and for his service outside the justice system, “as a member of the larger community.”

As a jurist, Judge Blake has consistently been a teacher, mentor, and role model for many of his circuit colleagues.  In many ways, he is the consummate judicial resource: when his fellow judges seek advice and assistance on issues of procedure and substance, they go to Judge Blake, whom they call “a judge’s judge” and their “go-to judge.”  But Judge Blake is also admired for his efforts to improve the justice system outside his circuit.  For instance, his colleagues appreciate his many years as a judicial leader and educator: he served on the executive board of the Florida Conference of Circuit Judges (20 years) and has been a faculty member for the Florida Judicial College (20 years) and the College of Advanced Judicial Studies (10 years), and he has taught numerous courses for the Florida Conference of Circuit Judges. 

Moreover, he is committed to sharing his knowledge and expertise with future lawyers: he has taught litigation skills at the University of Miami Law School (18 years), “helping law students hone their skills and nurturing the ideals of professionalism as they prepare to enter the practice of law.”  And the lawyers who appear before him also appreciate his knowledge of the law and procedure—and his courtroom demeanor: “His reputation in the legal community for fairness and diligence ranks him among the very finest trial judges in the State of Florida”—indeed, he “is always the top rated judge in the local judicial bar polls,” the letters of support disclose. 

In addition to serving the justice system with the highest distinction, Judge Blake generously shares his time and energy with numerous civic organizations, among them, the Haven School for the Developmentally Disadvantaged, the Biscayne Bay Kiwanis Club, and the Transplant Foundation (he even donated one of his kidneys to his brother in 1996).

As several letters of support emphasize, Judge Blake’s “contributions have been made without any desire or expectation of recognition.  This is the truest measure of an outstanding public servant—to find reward in the very act of service.”  To read more about Judge Blake’s accomplishments,  please follow this link to the press release.  

Judge Robert W. Lee, Broward County, Presented with Chief Justice Award for Judicial Excellence

Judge Lee (L) receives award from Chief Justice Labarga with PK Jameson, State Courts Administrator.

The Chief Justice Awards for Judicial Excellence, established in 2015, recognize one county court judge and one circuit court judge who demonstrate exceptional commitment to the judicial branch and who personify judicial excellence, embodying qualities such as strength of character, integrity, fairness, open-mindedness, knowledge of the law, sound judgment, professional ethics, intellectual courage, compassion, and decisiveness.  These prestigious awards are presented by the chief justice of the Florida Supreme Court at the annual education programs for each level of the trial court.  At this year’s Conference of County Court Judges of Florida, Chief Justice Labarga presented the 2016 Chief Justice Award for Judicial Excellence to Judge Robert W. Lee, Broward County.  (The circuit judge receiving the Award for Judicial Excellence will be honored in August, at the Florida Conference of Circuit Judges.) 

Appointed to the Broward County bench in 1997, Judge Lee is called “a dedicated individual who has worked tirelessly towards improving our legal system and educating the public that he serves.” Judge Lee’s accomplishments are indeed far-ranging, but his achievements in two areas especially stand out: he has authored numerous informational and educational guides to support the work of his fellow judicial and quasi-judicial officers, and he has created several innovative court programs.

A prolific author, Judge Lee conceived and regularly compiles the  Florida Small Claims Rules Annotated, which provides comprehensive summaries of every reported case to date involving each Small Claims Rule.  Now in its fifth edition, this document is made available without charge to county court judges, law libraries, and attorneys affiliated with the Small Claims Committee of The Florida Bar; it is also posted on the Florida Bar and the flcourts websites.  Judge Lee also drafts the annual  Civil Traffic Infraction Case Law Update; now in its eighth year, this indexed update is made available to judges and civil traffic hearing officers who attend the annual DUI Traffic Adjudication School.  In addition, he just completed the  Judge's Guide to Florida PIP Discovery for presentation at the 2016 Conference of County Court Judges of Florida.

Judge Lee has also devised various court initiatives and programs to improve the administration of justice.  Most notably, in 2013, he instituted the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit’s Teen Traffic Court, a unique program that focuses on education over punishment in an effort to improve teen behavior.  For teens who participate in Teen Traffic Court, the consequences, which are designed to reflect their age and the nature of their infraction, fall within a wide range: they may be required to pay a fine, attend a driving course in person rather than taking it online, attend traffic school, perform community service, abide by a curfew, and/or write essays or letters of apology.  So far, more than 1,500 teens have successfully completed the program, which is now in its second year.  In addition, as a Jury Qualifying Judge for the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit, Judge Lee designed a program to increase juror yield by holding jury duty scofflaws accountable.

Judge Lee is also a judicial mentor, a Judicial Management Council member, the Civil Division Chair, a faculty member of the Florida Judicial College, and the chair of the Education Committee of the  Conference of County Court Judges of Florida.  He is described as “always trying to make things better, not only for his colleagues, but for the legal system and public as well.”  And as his nomination letter states, “He does all of the above quietly, without any expectation of or need for recognition.”  To read more about Judge Lee’s accomplishments,  please follow this link to the press release.

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2015 Award Recipients

Judge Haworth (L) receives award from Chief Justice Labarga.

Judge Lee Haworth, Twelfth Judicial Circuit, was presented with a newly-established Chief Justice Award for Judicial Excellence

“Judge Haworth embodies judicial excellence,” the nomination letter began, calling particular attention to his “integrity, innovation, sound judgment, ethics, courage, and compassion.”  Judge Haworth’s accomplishments are indeed far-ranging, but his achievements in two areas especially stand out: his innovations in addressing the foreclosure crisis and his efforts to improve the lives of children.

Judge Haworth, who was elected to the Twelfth Circuit Bench in 1989 and will be retiring at the end of August 2015, was serving as chief judge when the foreclosure crisis began sweeping through Florida.  Seeing the foreclosure caseload begin to mushroom in his circuit, in December 2008, he implemented the Homestead Conciliation Program, which established a process for giving homeowners a court-ordered chance to work out a solution with lenders; for this, he was praised for having “gotten out in front of this issue way ahead of everyone else.”  Then in late 2009, he was called to serve on the supreme court’s Task Force on Residential Foreclosure Cases, which was established to respond on an emergency basis to the residential mortgage foreclosure crisis in Florida; the managed mediation process Judge Haworth had established in his circuit became the model for the state.

Judge Haworth is perhaps most widely known for his efforts to improve the lives of children who come in contact with the courts.  In addition to serving on the supreme court’s Steering Committee on Families and Children in the court, he spearheaded initiatives that improve safety for foster care children and has worked extensively with his circuit’s Family Guardian Ad Litem Program.  In 2000, he was “recognized for outstanding child advocacy by the Supreme Court and the Governor of the State of Florida for [his] dedication to abused and neglected children and service to the Guardian ad Litem Program.”

Judge Haworth also established his circuit’s Courts Assisting Veterans Program and played an important role in the development of an interactive application that enables judges to view and work on electronic court records—an application that judges in nearly 40 Florida counties now use.  To read more about Judge Haworth’s accomplishments, please follow this link to the press release

By Beth C. Schwartz, Court Publications Writer

Judge Steven Leifman, Miami-Dade County, was presented with a newly-established Chief Justice Award for Judicial Excellence

Soon after his appointment to the Miami-Dade County bench in 1995, Judge Leifman discovered that his legal and judicial training left him poorly-prepared for the people with serious and persistent mental illnesses who were re-appearing in his courtroom repeatedly and often.  Throughout his two decades on the bench, he has devoted an exceptional amount of time and effort to identifying, promoting, and implementing innovative ways to address this community, state, and national problem.  In 2000, for instance, he created the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Mental Health Project, which diverts people with mental illnesses who do not pose significant public safety risks into community-based treatment and support programs; since then, approximately 4,000 people with mental illnesses have been diverted from the Miami-Dade County Jail, and the recidivism rate for people charged with a felony who successfully complete the program is just 6 percent. 

Judge Steve Leifman, Miami-Dade County

Judge Leifman has also been involved in developing the country’s largest Crisis Intervention Team Training Program; more than 4,400 law enforcement officers in Miami-Dade County have been trained to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental illnesses and to respond more effectively and appropriately to people in psychiatric crisis.  In the last four years, officers with Miami-Dade County and the city of Miami who have been trained in the this program have responded to approximately 35,000 calls: nearly 8,000 people were diverted into community treatment rather than being arrested, and only 85 arrests were made.

Judge Leifman also participated on a national advisory board that developed three benchbooks to assist judges in responding more effectively to defendants with mental illnesses, and he has helped to influence statewide policy through his tireless legislative advocacy.  To learn about other ways in which Judge Leifman has worked to reform fundamentally the criminal justice and mental health systems in Miami-Dade County, please follow this link to the press release.

By Beth C. Schwartz, Court Publications Writer

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