MCBA membership meeting featured Chief Judge Kimberly Bonner Chief Judge Kimberly C. Bonner was the featured speaker at the Manatee County Bar Association’s virtual membership meeting on Wednesday, August 26. More than 50 participants logged on to watch her presentation. August 28, 2020 Read Full Article
Judicial candidates must consider ethical rules when campaigning This fall Manatee County voters have a chance to elect a county judge. Here's a look at how one becomes a judge, how and why judges can be appointed to the bench by the governor and elected by voters, and the ethics behind judicial campaigns with links to additional resources. July 22, 2020 Read Full Article
Teamwork, Advocacy Go Hand in Hand for 2020 Slater Award recipient Twelfth Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Kimberly C. Bonner presented Terry Drake with the 2020 Jim Slater award in an outside ceremony on July 16, 2020, at the Silvertooth Judicial Center in Sarasota. Ms. Drake, an assistant public defender based in Sarasota County, represents the Public Defender’s Office in the Treatment Courts of the Twelfth Circuit. July 17, 2020 Read Full Article
Sarasota Civil Bench updates bar members in 3rd Zoom Town Hall The Sarasota Circuit Civil bench hosted its third Zoom Town Hall on May 21 for the Manatee County and Sarasota County Bar associations. Chief Judge Kimberly C. Bonner joined circuit civil Judges Hunter Carroll, Andrea McHugh, Maria Ruhl, Stephen Walker, Magistrate Deborah Bailey, and special guest Sarasota County Clerk of Circuit Court Karen Rushing, as they updated the more than 180 participants logged in on the status of the civil division. May 26, 2020 Read Full Article
Thinking Outside the Four Corners Following the Florida Supreme Court’s order, the Twelfth Judicial Circuit Court limited the number of in-person hearings at the courthouses on Monday, March 23, 2020, and began welcoming people to its virtual courtrooms instead. The world was fighting a virus but the court found a way to “do justice” while keeping everyone safe and protecting the health of citizens. The Florida State Courts System has been preparing for a large-scale emergency. After 9/11, the SCS created a pandemic guide, and all 20 of the judicial circuits have hurricane contingency plans. As a whole, Florida Courts have embraced social media and the internet (see the Florida Supreme Court’s YouTube channel) and they have proven vital in quickly informing court partners and citizens to changing court procedures. May 12, 2020 Read Full Article
Fresh air, fresh start for Community Care Court participants Eight participants of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit’s Community Care Court assembled this morning at the Judge Lynn N. Silvertooth Judicial Center in Sarasota. Seated on the lawn under a cloudless, sunny sky they were there to be recognized for completing a specialty court program that will give them a chance to make positive changes in their lives. May 06, 2020 Read Full Article
South County Courts / RLA Remodel A “Notice-to-Proceed” with Phase 1 site work was officially issued on April 15, 2020. This phase, expected to last until the fall of 2020, includes the construction of a new parking area along U.S. 41, rearrangement of existing parking facilities, new stormwater improvements, and preparation of the site for the new court building. April 28, 2020 Read Full Article
Civil Bench ‘Zooms’ with Local Bar in Town Hall Event The judges and magistrate representing the 12th Judicial Circuit’s Civil Bench held a virtual town hall on April 22 for members of the Manatee County and Sarasota County Bar Associations. April 24, 2020 Read Full Article
12th Circuit Court is Monitoring COVID-19 The courts remain open. The Twelfth Judicial Circuit Court is actively monitoring developments with COVID-19, the novel coronavirus. The safety and security of the public and our employees is our top priority as we seek to achieve our core mission of ensuring access to justice. The courts remain open to the public and we urge you to follow the same precautions that are recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to avoid the spread of respiratory diseases March 01, 2020 Read Full Article