Traffic Hearing Officers...
The chief Judge of the 15th Circuit advises that the circuit is in need of attorneys to serve as traffic court hearing officers.  This is a paid position ($50.00 per hour).  You will receive training including a "ride along" with a traffic officer.  Please consider applying.  It would be great if we could increase the number of African Americans in these positions (because I believe there are no African Americans currently serving in this capacity at this time).  Additional information is available from Sara Blumberg, Esq.  You may contact her at sblumberg@co.palm-beach.fl.us or (561) 2714-1435. 

Other announcements...

FLORIDA GUARDIAN AD LITEM PROGRAM RECEIVES SUPPORT
FROM CHIEF JUSTICE QUINCE 

TALLAHASSEE— Recently, a young man named Josh explained why he believed the song "One is the Loneliest Number" was inaccurate.  Josh is a young man on his way to the West Point Military Academy.  He is on the honor roll, captain of his football team, and by all accounts a fine, upstanding young man. 

He is also a success story for Florida's foster care system.  Josh's message that day was simple:  when it comes to people helping one another, it only takes one person to make a difference.  Josh was addressing a group assembled for Guardian ad Litem Day at the Florida Legislature.  He thanked his own guardian ad litem stating, "It only takes one.  One person to care.  One person to give their time." 

You can be the one.  The Florida Guardian ad Litem Program partners with individuals, including pro bono attorneys, in the community to serve as child advocates for the abused, abandoned and neglected children involved in the dependency court system.  However, not all of the more than 35,000 children involved in this system have that one person to stand with them.  They must often chart the course for their future alone and make the transition into adulthood without any support.

Newly appointed Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Peggy Quince decided this is a challenge she is going to take on.  Chief Justice Quince has partnered with the Guardian ad Litem Program to recruit attorneys to represent youth as part of the Program’s Fostering Independence Project.  Out of the over 6,700 active Guardian ad Litem volunteers, only 700 are attorneys.  With more than 84,000 attorneys in Florida, that means less than 1% of Florida’s attorneys are volunteering to represent children and youth in the Program.  The Fostering Independence Project pairs pro bono attorneys with teens in foster care to help them obtain the services they need to prepare for adulthood.  Unlike the traditional Guardian ad Litem volunteer training, the Fostering Independence Project only requires eight hours of training that is available on the Guardian ad Litem website.  Attorneys will receive training materials and have full access to the Guardian ad Litem website, which includes numerous resources, checklists and additional audio trainings.  While cases vary in complexity, most cases require approximately 4-6 hours per month, with a little more time in the beginning.  All time worked fulfills the Florida Bar’s pro bono requirement.  Moreover, attorneys will receive 8 CLE credits, including 1 ethics credit after completing the training.

Chief Justice Quince explained that attorneys “…are well suited to address some of the complex issues that are especially out there for the older children who are in foster care.”  She also specifically asked “… the lawyers of this state to volunteer for the Fostering Independence Project.  We have hundreds of children who age out of foster care every year but are they really ready to take their place as good and productive citizens in the state of Florida? I believe with our help, with the help of the lawyers of this state, we can make them those kind of citizens.” 

To volunteer or learn more about the Fostering Independence Project please contact the Guardian ad Litem Program at 1-866-341-1GAL(1425) or visit www.GuardianadLitem.org.