The Story Of Our Success
2020
November 3, 2020
Elected – Public Defender
2021
January 5, 2021
Investiture Ceremony
Surrounded by friends, family and the support of the community Gordon Weekes took the oath of office and assumed the role of Public Defender in the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of Broward County, Florida, during a global pandemic. His first task was to guide the transition of the Law Office of the Public Defender from a virtual court process to an in-person judicial process that protected and ensured the Constitutional safeguards of indigent clients.
May 2021
Juvenile Civil Citation Program – Memorialized and Implemented
The Juvenile Civil Citation Program is a statewide civil alternative to the formal arrest and criminal prosecution of youth 17 years of age or under who commit program eligible misdemeanor offenses. This alternative to arrest is designed to immediately address the behavior while assessing for needs, linkage to appropriate interventions and holding the youth accountable. The intended outcomes are to prevent further acts of delinquency by appropriately addressing the behavior without creating a criminal record or requiring court intervention. The statute directs each jurisdiction to formally establish a Juvenile Civil Citation Program and law enforcement to issue a civil citation in lieu of an arrest.
The program’s requirements will include, but not be limited to, the completion of community service hours, payment of restitution, if applicable, and intervention services indicated by a needs assessment.
The purpose of the Broward County Circuit 17 Juvenile Civil Citation Program is to provide an efficient and innovative alternative to arrests of all juveniles who commit misdemeanor offenses. The consistent and equitable use of civil citation program has a positive effect on the entire Juvenile Justice System and contributes to an overall reduction in the crime and recidivism rates, interagency cooperation and increases public safety for the whole of Broward County.
May 2021
Juvenile Civil Citation Program
Resolution No.: 2021
Board of the County Commissioners of Broward County
Resolution on Support and Participation
June 2021
Adopted the Juvenile Civil Citation Program by the Circuit
CREATION OF THE SEVENTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT JUVENILE CIVIL CITATION PROGRAM
Administrative Order 2021-28-Ufc
The Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Juvenile Civil Citation Program is hereby established.
August 2021
Revised Veterans Treatment Court
Administrative Order 2021-40-Crim
October 2021
Adopted and Revised Mental Health Court
Hope, Healing and Help
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Felony Mental Health Court
2022
January 2022
Joint Opinion Editorial South Florida Sun Sentinel
Low pay is keeping lawyers from public service
Harold F. Pryor and Gordon Weekes
February 2022
New Bond Schedule
Administrative Order 2022-11-Crim.
This is the first step in Cash Bail Reform for this community that will hopefully help level the playing field for the less affluent in Broward. The new schedule specifies the less affluent must be treated equitably and released on recognizance for many specified 3rd Degree Felonies and Misdemeanor Offenses. This will hopefully reduce the disproportionate impact that Bond has on our indigent clients and the community.
May 20, 2022
In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month 2022, the Law Office of the Public Defender opened as a canvas and featured artistic expression that promotes understanding and acceptance both for those with mental illness and those without.
June 23, 2022
Returning Citizens Workshop
July 1, 2022
Prosecutors, public defenders to receive pay raises in July under proposed budget
August, 2022
The Biden Administration Announces
Student Loan Debt Forgiveness
August 18, 2022
Building Opportunities Through Collaboration:
Proud to work in collaboration with the State Attorney, Harold Pryor and our community stakeholder’s in OIC of South Florida to create a new diversion program, Economic Empowerment Today. This program is designed to make our community safer by reducing recidivism for eligible individuals who are charged with certain nonviolent crimes. The participants in the Economic Empowerment Today Diversion Program will be given the opportunity to complete technical training to help them acquire a trade that can be lead to gainful employment and result in economic employment.
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