By Brenda D. Forman, Broward County Clerk of Courts
First and foremost, I hope that everyone is healthy and safe. This pandemic has definitely changed how we perceive the world around us and has certainly changed how we live.
On March 16, 2020, the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Continuity of Operations Plan was activated. What does that mean? The most significant impact was that the courthouse was closed to the public in order to mitigate and slow down the spread of COVID-19. As a result, the Broward County Clerk of Courts had to suspend in-person, non-essential services consistent with the 17th Judicial Circuit’s Administrative Order.
What was left were essential services that still had to be performed. The Clerk was, and continues to be, an essential partner with the court in the delivery of those services. So, what is considered a mission critical event or essential service? The Court’s Administrative Order 2020-23-Temp, defines them as follows:
- First appearance hearings
- Criminal arraignments, when necessary
- Hearings on motions to set or modify monetary bail for individuals who are in custody
- Juvenile detention hearings
- Juvenile dependency shelter hearings
- Petitions for judicial waiver of notice pursuant to section 394.01114, Florida Statutes
- Hearings on petitions for the appointment of emergency temporary guardian
- Risk protection orders and hearings
- Injunctions for protection against domestic violence, stalking, repeat violence, dating violence, and sexual violence, and hearings
- Injunctions for protection against exploitation of a vulnerable adult
- Baker Act and Marchman Act proceedings
- Extraordinary writs, related to the state of emergency or public health emergency or otherwise necessary to protect constitutional rights
- Issuance of warrants or authorization for wiretaps
- Proceedings related to the state of emergency or public health emergency, including but not limited to violation of quarantine or isolation orders, violation of orders to limit travel, violation of orders to close public or private buildings, enforcement of curfew orders, habeas corpus petitions, and mandatory vaccinations
- Any other emergency or time sensitive matter as determined by the chief judge
My office, like many others around the state, had to re-engineer how we delivered services to our stakeholders. Many of the services provided by the Clerk of Courts were already available online, but to further protect the public health and safety of our community, we had to convert many of our business processes from in-person to remote access.
Where do we go from here? My offices will begin reopening to the public on June 1, 2020. The new normal will see everyone entering the courthouse required to wear face coverings/masks and submit to temperature checks. Social distancing protocols will be followed in our lobbies and other areas where the public will be permitted. Marriage licenses and passport applications will be by appointment only until further notice.
These are difficult times and our community still faces many challenges in the days ahead. Please don’t hesitate to call my office at (954) 831-6565 or visit www.BrowardClerk.org to see how my office can help you.
Please stay safe!
Brenda D. Forman
