THE FLORIDA BAR SEEKS A PUBLIC MEMBER TO SERVE ON ITS GOVERNING BOARD

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Continuing its practice of public involvement, The Florida Bar seeks a new nonlawyer to serve on its governing board.

Since 1987, two public members have served on the Bar’s 52-member governing board, after the Supreme Court of Florida approved the organization’s request to have nonlawyer representation on the board. Only 12 other state bar associations have public members on their governing boards.

The board member will replace Melanie Shore, Gainesville, whose second two-year term expires in June 2027.

Expectations of Service as a Public Member on The Florida Bar Board of Governors

A screening committee of The Florida Bar Board of Governors has been appointed to review the applications for the public member position, conduct final interviews, and make recommendations to the Bar’s governing board during its March meeting. The board will then recommend three persons to the Supreme Court of Florida and the Court will appoint one of the three nominees to the board.

The Board of Governors oversees the Bar’s lawyer discipline program, continuing legal education programs, legislative activities, and the overall administration of The Florida Bar. Board members, who are all volunteers, average 200-300 hours per year on Bar business depending on committee assignments. Although attorney members of the Bar’s governing board pay their own expenses related to their attendance at six board meetings and other events held each year, nonlawyer board members are reimbursed for “reasonable travel and related expenses for attending official bar functions.”

The new board member would serve a two-year term commencing June 25, 2027. Public members are not allowed by rule to serve more than two consecutive terms. Most of the Bar’s board is apportioned according to Florida’s 20 judicial circuits, with attorney members elected by lawyers in their locality. There are four additional out-of-state representatives. The other public member currently serving on The Florida Bar’s Board of Governors is Orlando Rolón, Orlando.

Applications will be accepted until close of business on Monday, January 25, 2027.  Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of the required application.  The screening committee of The Florida Bar Board of Governors will review all applications.

Persons interested in serving as a public member may download the Application for Public Member on the Board of Governors or call Bar Headquarters at (850) 561-5757, to obtain the application. Completed applications must be received by the Executive Director, The Florida Bar, 651 East Jefferson Street, Tallahassee, 32399-2300, or submitted via email.

 

About The Florida Bar

Founded in 1949, The Florida Bar serves the legal profession for the protection and benefit of both the public and all Florida lawyers. As one of the nation’s largest mandatory bars, The Florida Bar fosters and upholds a high standard of integrity and competence within Florida’s legal profession as an official arm of the Florida Supreme Court. To learn more, visit FloridaBar.org.

15TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT LAUNCHES OLS TEXT/EMAIL NOTIFICATION MESSAGING SERVICES PILOT PROGRAM

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15th Judicial Circuit Launches OLS Text/Email Notification Messaging Services Pilot Program

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The 15th Judicial Circuit has launched a pilot program within its Online Scheduling (OLS) system designed to improve access to hearing availability and streamline scheduling communications for attorneys and parties.

The pilot will begin Monday, November 2nd in select Circuit and County Civil divisions. Additional divisions will be added soon, after the pilot project ends. Additional information regarding participating divisions is available at  https://15thcircuit.com/scheduling-systems-project .

This project introduces several new features to registered OLS users:

  • Text and Email Notifications when new special set hearing times or Uniform Motion Calendar (UMC) dates become available.
  • Priority Standby Lists that allow attorneys to be notified of earlier hearing opportunities resulting from cancellations.
  • Downloadable Calendar Appointments compatible with Microsoft Outlook, Gmail, and other popular calendar applications.

Attorneys participating in the Priority Standby List program may receive notifications when an earlier hearing slot becomes available. If approved by the Court, users will receive a one-time scheduling link allowing them to accept or decline the available hearing date. Declined opportunities do not remove a case from consideration for future openings.

The enhanced calendar feature enables users to download hearing appointments directly from OLS, including key scheduling details such as case information, hearing type, scheduling confirmation number, division assignment, motions to be heard, and Zoom information when applicable.

How Attorneys Can Enroll

Attorneys with an active OLS account may enroll in the pilot program by logging into OLS. Detailed instructions are available on the Circuit’s website. Standard messaging and data rates may apply to text notifications.

Training Resources

Training resources and instructional videos are available through the CourtHelp4U YouTube Channel at www.youtube.com/c/courthelp4u.

Because the pilot program remains subject to modification, attorneys should continue to review divisional instructions regularly for current procedures, requirements, and updates.

The project is a collaboration of the Palm Beach County Bar and the 15th Circuit’s judiciary. Circuit Judge Joseph Curley, Administrative Judge of the Circuit Civil division, explained this project “was designed to improve communication, reduce scheduling delays, and provide attorneys with faster access to available hearing opportunities”.  Additional information about the pilot project is available at https://15thcircuit.com/scheduling-systems-project or by emailing [email protected]

COURT IS BACK IN SESSION: PALM BEACH COUNTY YOUTH COURT GIVES STUDENTS A ROLE IN SECOND CHANCES

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Court is Back in Session: Palm Beach County Youth Court Gives Students A Role in Second Chances

By Natalie I. Lanz, Justin L. Virzi and Carter J. Lewis

Palm Beach County Youth Court offers something to students a textbook cannot: the opportunity to stand up, make an argument and help reach a decision that matters to someone else. High school students from throughout the County learn to balance persuasive advocacy with fairness, preparation with adaptability, and confidence with respect for the peers before them.

On Sept. 24, 2026, a group of 65 high school students gathered in the Palm Beach Lakes High School media center to train as prosecutors, defense attorneys, deputies and jurors for Palm Beach County Youth Court. Soon thereafter, they would put those lessons to work at the Gun Club Courthouse, where Youth Court sessions take place on the first Thursday of each month during the school year. There they would help decide what accountability should look like for another young person.

Youth Court has served Palm Beach County since 1995, but the pandemic interrupted its longstanding tradition of bringing students together in the courtroom. The pause put more than hearings on hold. It interrupted an opportunity for young people to learn about the justice system by participating in it and for the legal community to mentor them along the way.

Bringing the program back has meant reconnecting with local high schools, recruiting volunteers and preparing a new group of student advocates. The September turnout marked an encouraging new chapter: students ready to take their places behind counsel table and in the jury box.

The renewed effort brings together the 15th Judicial Circuit, the School District of Palm Beach County Police Department, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, participating high schools from throughout the County and the Palm Beach County Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Section. Their shared goal is to give young people a meaningful second chance and give student volunteers a firsthand understanding of the justice system.

A jury of their peers, quite literally

Youth Court gives the phrase “a jury of your peers” a particularly fitting meaning. Students serve as prosecutors, defense attorneys, deputies and jurors. Volunteer attorneys preside as judges and guide the students.

The proceedings focus on a question that is both practical and challenging: What should a young person do to take responsibility and move forward?

The student defendants, referred through the Juvenile First Offender Program, a pretrial diversion program, have already admitted responsibility for their conduct. The hearing therefore focuses on appropriate sanctions, not guilt. Student advocates question the student defendant, present arguments and recommend consequences. The student jury then deliberates and determines the sanctions.

For eligible first-time offenders referred through the program, successfully completing the sanctions means the case is not forwarded to the State Attorney’s Office, allowing the young person to avoid an official delinquency record for the offense.

For the students running the courtroom, the responsibility is real, too. They must listen carefully, ask thoughtful questions and weigh another student’s circumstances before making a decision. Public speaking is only part of the lesson.

Accountability with a path forward

School Police created Palm Beach County Youth Court in 1995 after observing an increase in adolescents entering the juvenile justice system. Its guiding philosophy, “compassionate accountability,” pairs consequences with an opportunity to learn from a mistake.

Circuit Judge Samantha Feuer and Jean Marie Middleton, General Counsel for the School District of Palm Beach County, have led the effort to reinvigorate the program following the pandemic interruption, bringing the legal community, educators and law enforcement together to support its return. Middleton, who has been involved with Youth Court for more than 20 years, brings a longstanding commitment to the program and the young people it serves.

“Having participated in Youth Court both as a prosecutor and a judge, I am proud of the reinvigoration of our Youth Court program, which is a voluntary, peer-driven diversion program that allows first-time juvenile offenders a second chance through accountability, rehabilitation, and personal growth. With mentorship from young lawyers, high school students serve as attorneys and jurors, gaining legal knowledge, public speaking skills, and community service hours. Attorney volunteers give back and obtain pro bono hours teaching students trial practice. The program benefits defendants, students, young lawyers, and the community as a whole. It is a win, win, win all around.” – Judge Samantha Feuer

The Young Lawyers Section’s formal involvement adds another connection between the courtroom and the community. For young attorneys, the program offers a chance to share the skills they use every day while helping students find their own voices.

The collaboration also gives students an opportunity to work alongside law enforcement officers in an educational setting, building relationships through a shared task.

From the media center to the courtroom

The September training introduced the next group of students who will take on Youth Court’s courtroom roles.

Students learned courtroom procedure, the responsibilities of prosecution and defense counsel, and how to deliver opening statements, question witnesses and make closing arguments. They also observed a Youth Court session, seeing those lessons put into practice. In a full-circle moment, attorney mentors who had participated in Youth Court as students shared their experiences, returning as lawyers to guide the next generation of student advocates.

“For more than twenty-five years, Youth Court has been one of the great privileges of my professional life. Since 1998 I have served as a volunteer judge, attorney advisor, and mentor, and in that time I have watched middle and high school students step into the roles of attorney, clerk, deputy, and juror. They arrive nervous and leave composed. The maturity and command of the law they bring to that courtroom is something our profession should take note of.” – Jean Marie Middleton.

A student attorney must consider how to advocate effectively. A juror must weigh accountability alongside the opportunity for a fresh start. A deputy must help keep the courtroom orderly. Each role asks students to take the process and one another seriously.

“Serving as a student attorney in Youth Court in 2010–11 was one of the best experiences of my high school years and helped confirm that I wanted to become a trial attorney. Its student-driven approach gives high school students meaningful responsibility, and the ability to make an impact in their community. Returning as an attorney mentor is especially rewarding because I know firsthand the impact this program can have.” – Carter Lewis Jr.

A place for the legal community

Attorneys do not have to wait for a future law school graduation to help these students develop their courtroom skills. Youth Court offers the chance to mentor them now. Volunteer attorneys work alongside the student teams, helping them prepare questions, sharpen their arguments and think through the sanctions they will recommend.

Hearings run from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month at the Gun Club Courthouse, Courtroom 2, 3228 Gun Club Road, West Palm Beach. The remaining sessions this school year are Jan. 7, Feb. 4, March 4, April 1 and May 6, 2027.

Volunteer attorneys may also qualify for pro bono CLE credit under Rule 6-10.3(h) of the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar. Credit is awarded at one General CLE hour for each hour of qualifying service, up to five (5) hours per three (3) year reporting cycle. Attorneys request the credit individually through The Florida Bar.

For the young people appearing before Youth Court, the program offers a chance to take responsibility and move forward. For the students behind counsel table and in the jury box, it offers a chance to discover what they can do.

For Palm Beach County’s legal community, it is an invitation to help shape both.

Attorneys interested in volunteering may contact Justin L. Virzi at [email protected].

 

Natalie I. Lanz is an attorney with Searcy Law in West Palm Beach. Justin L. Virzi and Carter J. Lewis are attorneys with Kubicki Draper in West Palm Beach.

 

PBCBA ANNOUNCES CANDICE DISORBO AS NEXT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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Dear Members,

On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am thrilled to share that Candice Disorbo has been selected as our next Executive Director, effective November 3rd, 2026. Candice joins us after sixteen years with the Orange County Bar Association. She brings a wealth of experience in bar leadership, programming, and member service to our Association.

As we prepare for this transition, we extend our sincere gratitude to Carla Tharp-Brown, who is retiring after a decade of service to PBCBA. Carla’s leadership has strengthened our Association in countless ways, and we wish her a well-deserved retirement.

Please save the date for a meet-and-greet reception on November 19th to welcome Candice. Additional details will be shared in the coming weeks.

Below are a few reflections on this transition from a few familiar faces and from Candice herself:

• Carla Tharp-Brown, Outgoing Executive Director: “As I prepare to retire, I do so with absolute confidence in the future of PBCBA. Candice Disorbo possesses the leadership qualities and experience needed to guide this organization into its next chapter. I could not be more pleased to pass the torch to such a capable leader.”

• Patience Burns, Former Executive Director: “Having been at the OCBA for sixteen years, Candice will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the PBCBA. My colleagues and friends have shared that the PBCBA will be lucky to have her as its next Executive Director.”

• Julia Wyda, Past President: “Candice is a well-respected bar executive and leader who received national recognition before and during her time as Executive Director of the OCBA. She is an engaged leader, devoted mother, and outstanding human being. She will bring her enthusiasm, experience with award-winning programming, and focus on organization and growth to the PBCBA. I look forward to seeing our Palm Beach Bar community unite in a new period of modernization and advancement.”

• Candice Disorbo, Incoming Executive Director: “I am truly excited and honored to join the Palm Beach County Bar Association as its next Executive Director. I look forward to getting to know our members, building meaningful relationships, and working alongside the leadership and staff to continue strengthening the Association and the value it brings to our legal community. I am grateful for this opportunity and excited for what we will accomplish together.”

Please join me in thanking Carla for her years of dedicated service and in extending a warm welcome to Candice as she begins this new chapter with the PBCBA.

Sincerely,

Jack Rice
President

CELEBRATE BOB BERTISCH OF LAPBC AT CFCC’S GRATITUDE GATHERING: CHAMPIONS OF HOPE AND HEALING

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The Palm Beach County Bar Association is pleased to share the upcoming Gratitude Gathering – Champions of Hope and Healing, hosted by the Center for Child Counseling on November 4, 2026.

This special event brings our community together to recognize individuals who make a lasting difference in the lives of children and families. Join us in honoring Bob Bertisch, Esq., Chief Executive Officer of the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County, for his contributions to our community and celebrating the champions who help make Palm Beach County a stronger, more compassionate place for children and families.

Event Details

  • Event: Gratitude Gathering – Champions of Hope and Healing
  • Date: November 4, 2026
  • Time: 5:30–8:00 p.m.
  • Location: Center for Child Counseling, Greenwood campus
  • Tickets: $35 drawing ticket, with drinks, crepes, and hors d’oeuvres

Register here: https://www.centerforchildcounseling.org/events/gratitude-gathering/

We hope members of the legal community will join us in celebrating Bob and recognizing those who champion hope and healing for children and families.

24TH ANNUAL CUP OF JUSTICE GOLF CLASSIC RAISES ALMOST $100,000 FOR THE LEGAL AID SOCIETY OF PALM BEACH COUNTY

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West Palm Beach, FL – The 24th Annual Cup of Justice Golf Classic, hosted by the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County on October 12, 2026, raised almost $100,000 to support the organization’s mission to provide free legal assistance to community members.

The 24th annual event was held at Mayacoo Lakes Country Club and chaired by Attorney Robert Shalhoub. First Horizon Bank was the presenting sponsor, and Florida Crystals Corporation and Taft Law Firm were the luncheon and dinner sponsors, respectively.

Other major sponsors included GrayRobinson; Dailey Janssen Architects; Beebe Law; Kudman Trachten Aloe Posner LLP; and Smith, Stohlman, James & Gardere, P.A.

The golf tournament committee members included Paul Shalhoub, Esq., Scott Perry, Esq., Grier Pressly, Esq., Benjamin Hartman, Devin Krauss and Gary Woodfield, Esq.

One of the highlights of the event was the “Beat the Amateur” contest, where participants played against local standout junior golfer brothers Luciano and Giuseppe Puebla and Rocco Kolkowski.

The team representing Searcy, Denney, Scarola, Barnhart & Shipley, P.A. consisting of golfers DJ Ward, Chappell Brown, Michael Rieman, and Devin Crisman won the “Cup of Justice” trophy after an outstanding round of golf.

Other winners included (Flight A – 1st Place) Michael Kranz, Phil Keck, Ryan Reif, and Robbie Wight of Team Smith, Ball, Baez, & Prather; (Flight B – 1st Place) Matt Smith, Lee Heaton, Tove Haueisen, and Christian Dempsey of Team Smith, Stohlman, James & Gardere, P.A.; and (Flight C – 1st Place) Shane Barr, Adriana Darwish, Frank Dowling, and Ilan Kaufer of Team Florida Power & Light Company. 

The men’s Longest Drive winner was Kristian Bie, representing The Palm Beach County Justice Association, and the women’s Longest Drive winner was Jessica Shapiro, representing Gunster. 

“We are so grateful for the support of our sponsors and participants” said Robert Bertisch, Executive Director of the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County. “The funds raised from this event will help us continue to provide essential legal services to those who need them most.”

 

Link to Dropbox Photos Click here

Link to Facebook Photo Album Click here

All Photos by Tracey Benson Photography

 

The Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County, Inc., founded in 1949, is a private nonprofit, 501 (c)(3) organization dedicated to providing free legal services to disadvantaged children, families, elders and individuals living in Palm Beach County.  Projects include the Domestic

Violence Project, Juvenile Advocacy Project, Foster Children’s Project, Ryan White Project, Fair Housing Project and Elder Law Project.