10 | The Summation
News from the Court Chief Judge Miller
A
s we move into the last quarter of the year, the need
to change and adapt to ever-evolving circumstances remains a constant theme, both within the local courts system and the community at large. However, as we all continue to deal with the upheaval we have weathered as a result of COVID-19, I would like to take this opportunity to share with you three “good news” items of particular interest to the legal profession. First, those of you who have recently attended in-person proceedings at the M.C. Blanchard Building will have noticed that the main entrance has been temporarily re-routed and barricades have been placed around a large area. As many of you know, during certain times of the week and particularly on jury selection days, the front entrance can become congested with members of the public attempting to enter the facility. If we are experiencing inclement weather during those times, those waiting to pass through court security have had few options to take shelter. As a result, Escambia County has undertaken to construct an entryway covering which will serve to protect persons awaiting entrance to the building from rain and
other extreme weather conditions. We appreciate the sacrifice of time and effort made by those citizens summoned for jury duty and hope that this change to our facility will make jury duty a more pleasant experience for those who come to serve. Construction is expected to be completed in 2022. Secondly, I am excited to announce that the second floor of the M.C. Blanchard Building will house a new and improved location for courthouse patrons to enjoy a beverage, snack, or meal. The Clerk of Court has worked closely with Escambia County in this endeavor, and renovations to the second floor will begin soon. It is anticipated that the new food service space will be an open dining café, with a view overlooking Baylen Street. The County will be soliciting for a food service vendor to occupy the space in the near future, and we are all looking forward to enjoying what this space will have to offer. Lastly, I would like to commend an outstanding member of the First Judicial Circuit IT team. Truly, without the dedicated and innovative people on our IT staff, the courts could not have continued to function at such
a high level as they have during the pandemic. Even during “normal” times, our IT staff members are constantly working to solve problems and streamline court processes, and one member of our team has been honored nationally for his innovative work. John Gustafson has been awarded the James E. McMillan Award for Innovation in Court Technology from the National Center for State Courts and will receive an all-expense paid trip to the 2021 National Court Technology Conference in Columbus, Ohio, where the award will be announced. The winner was selected by a committee of court technology experts. John won for his “Court eFiling Robot,” which is called a Court-Bot. The Court-Bot automatically e-files orders for judicial assistants. We at the First Judicial Circuit, and indeed the State of Florida, are fortunate to have individuals like John who constantly look for ways to improve our service to the public and put in the time and hard work to see those ideas brought to fruition. I hope that you will join me in offering John our heartfelt congratulations on this achievement.
