PUBLIC DEFENDER

From the outset of his career, Mr. Weekes established a reputation for defending the rights of children within the complex legal system, taking on challenging cases while simultaneously engaging in community-based prevention efforts.

• Defending a Troubled Teen (1998): In one of his early high-profile cases, Mr. Weekes represented a youth facing serious arson and burglary charges, where he strategically challenged the state’s case by raising critical questions regarding the child’s psychological state and competency.
  • Source: Miller, Sabrina L. “Gag Order Rejected in Youth’s Case,” “More Testing Sought for Boy Held in Arson,” & “Teen Facing Arson, Burglary Counts.” The Miami Herald (November – December 1998).
• Championing Community Youth Engagement (2003-2005): He dedicated time to programs like the NAACP and Broward Urban League’s Summer Youth Justice Institutes, aiming to build trust and demystify the judicial process for young people.
  • Source: Pompa, Toni. “NAACP Summer Youth Justice Program.” The Westside Gazette (July 2003).
  • Source: Knowles, Evelyn. “Teens Get Inside Look at Justice System.” The Sun Sentinel (July 12, 2004).
• Navigating a High-Profile Juvenile Murder Case (2008): Mr. Weekes served as a central legal figure in the nationally scrutinized case of a 12-year-old accused of killing a toddler. He expertly managed intense media pressure while fiercely advocating for his client, challenging the state’s attempt to prosecute a child as an adult and navigating complex issues of mental competency.
  • Source: A series of articles from January-February 2008 in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and Miami Herald by reporters including Paula McMahon, Tonya Alanez, Hannah Sampson, and Carol Marbin Miller, detailing every step of the case.
• Informing Juvenile Policy Reform (2008): His frontline experience informed broader policy debates, contributing to a University of Florida report on the unconstitutional practice of shackling juvenile offenders.
  • Source: A Report on The Shackling of Juvenile Offenders. University of Florida Levin College of Law (2008).

During this period, Mr. Weekes solidified his role as a preeminent voice against systemic failures, directly confronting institutional misconduct and advocating for legislative reform.

• Confronting Police Misconduct and Unethical Practices (2010-2015): As early as 2010, Mr. Weekes was a vocal critic of the Internal Affairs process, arguing that it rarely resulted in justice and pointing to a “dual system of justice at work.” He consistently challenged law enforcement practices, from questioning the ethics of reality TV shows to taking decisive action when officer integrity was compromised, resulting in the dismissal of dozens of cases tainted by a racism scandal.
  • Source: “Cops Investigating Cops.” Miami New Times (April 8, 2010).
  • Source: Norman, Bob. “‘Police Women of Broward’ Secrets Revealed.” Local10.com (October 12, 2011).
  • Source: Codd, Carey. “Dozens Of Cases Investigated By Officers In Alleged Racism Case Dropped.” CBS Miami (April 9, 2015).
• Exposing Systemic Flaws and the Failures of Privatization (2011-2015): He brought public attention to critical failures that threatened due process through a sustained campaign against unsafe conditions in for-profit juvenile facilities. As early as April 2011, he publicly noted a pattern of his juvenile clients being sent to facilities where known problems persisted. By June 2011, he was representing teenagers at the troubled Thompson Academy, describing the recurring abuses as “like Groundhog Day” and formally reporting incidents of staff violence to the Department of Juvenile Justice. In 2014, he exposed horrific abuses at another Pembroke Pines facility by releasing security footage and writing to the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF). He continued this fight into 2015, penning another strongly worded letter to DCF about conditions in three specific Broward group homes, highlighting what he termed the “failing of privatization.” His persistent advocacy directly resulted in formal reviews and the implementation of monthly oversight meetings between key agencies. His work also uncovered compromised forensic evidence at the state crime lab.
  • Source: “DJJ’s Private Prisons Are a Failure.” Miami New Times (April 7, 2011).
  • Source: “Another Thompson Academy Teen Alleges Abuse by Staff.” Miami New Times (June 9, 2011).
  • Source: D’Oench, Peter. “Troubled Youth Detention Facility Under Fire In Pembroke Pines.” CBS 4 (June 22, 2012).
  • Source: “Teens Tied Down and Shot Up With Drugs at Pembroke Pines Facility.” Miami New Times (February 20, 2014).
  • Source: Trischitta, Linda. “Crime Lab Chemist’s Cases Under Review After Missing-Drug Allegation.” Sun-Sentinel (March 5, 2014).
  • Source: “Group Homes a ‘Dumping Ground’ for Foster Kids.” Miami New Times (August 13, 2015).
• Securing Landmark Legislative Change for Juveniles (2018): Years of his dedicated advocacy culminated in the passage of significant juvenile justice reforms in Florida, which were signed into law by the governor.
  • Source: Marbin-Miller, Carol. “Fight Club: Gov. Scott signs reforms to Florida juvenile reforms.” Miami Herald (Mar 27, 2018).
• Demanding Accountability Across the Justice System (2018): Mr. Weekes served as a key public voice during institutional crises, providing critical commentary on the removal of a judge for misconduct and raising alarms over a flooded police evidence vault that jeopardized countless criminal cases.
  • Source: Olmeda, Rafael. “Judge won’t be back in court after video shows her yelling at frail woman who died days later.” Sun Sentinel (April 21, 2018).
  • Source: Entin, Brian and Daniel Cohen. “Flood of Trouble: Hollywood Police evidence vault flooded with sewage, are criminal cases at risk?” 7 News Miami (May 15, 2018).

As the elected Public Defender, Mr. Weekes has leveraged his office to lead on a larger scale, demanding transparency, securing fiscal integrity, and expanding his office’s role as a pillar of community education and advocacy.

• Historic Election as Public Defender (2020): Mr. Weekes was elected as Broward County’s first Black Public Defender, a landmark achievement reflecting his distinguished career and deep community trust.
  • Source: “’All His Life He’s Had to Fight’: Gordon Weekes Is Now Broward’s First Black Public Defender.” Law.com | Daily Business Review (October 26, 2020).
• Advocating for the Foundations of Public Service (2022): In a published op-ed, Mr. Weekes argued that inadequate compensation for public defenders and prosecutors creates a crisis that threatens the integrity of the justice system, demonstrating leadership on behalf of all public service attorneys.
  • Source: Pryor, Harold F. and Gordon Weekes. “Low pay is keeping lawyers from public service.” Sun-Sentinel (January 14, 2022).
• Confronting the Crisis in Broward Jails (2024): Mr. Weekes has led an unrelenting campaign for accountability regarding inmate deaths and the neglect of mentally ill individuals in custody. He has issued formal demands to the Sheriff, toured facilities, and repeatedly called for independent federal oversight, joining the NAACP in demanding a Department of Justice investigation.
  • Source: Rynor, Morgan. “NAACP, Public Defender call for accountability after inmate deaths at Broward jails.” CBS Miami (February 1, 2024).
  • Source: Albert, Gerard. “Broward Public Defender keeps up drumbeat for better services for mentally ill inmates in jail.” WLRN Public Media (May 20, 2024).
  • Source: “Broward Public Defender Gordon Weekes calls for oversight of jails after latest inmate death.” CBS Miami (January 2, 2024).
• Securing a Legal Victory for Fiscal Accountability (2024): After identifying that his office was being deprived of millions in client fees, Mr. Weekes initiated litigation against the Broward Clerk of Courts. The successful lawsuit compelled the implementation of new fiscal controls, ensuring proper allocation of funds and safeguarding public resources.
  • Source: Marcus, Noreen. “Forced by lawsuit, Broward court clerk will stop shorting PD on fees.” Florida Bulldog (November 4, 2024).
• Championing Community Education and Engagement (2024-2025): Mr. Weekes has expanded his office’s mission beyond the courtroom by creating the “Career Pathways to Justice” mentorship event and enhancing the annual Summer Justice Program to cultivate the next generation of legal advocates.
  • Source: “History.” Law Office of the Public Defender, 17th Judicial Circuit. (Accessed 2025).
• Leading with Inclusivity and Advocacy (2025): In a first for the office, Mr. Weekes led his team’s participation in the Stonewall Pride Parade, making a powerful public statement of his commitment to equity, inclusion, and justice for the LGBTQ+ community.

Source: “History.” Law Office of the Public Defender, 17th Judicial Circuit. (Accessed 2025).