Open Ninth

In Part 2 of our two-episode special in honor of National Parents Day, our judges spent time in the recording studio to share their thoughts on what it’s like being parents themselves. After reflecting on the special memories they have of their mothers and fathers in Part 1, they shifted focus in this episode to their own experience parenting their children and what qualities they think are the most important for being a parent. From patience to communication, they describe it all. Listen at OpenNinth.fm Timestamps 00:17 – National Parents Day 02:03 – Judge Alicia Latimore 04:46 – Judge Gabrielle Sanders-Morency 07:36 – Judge Michael Kraynick 10:09 – Judge Brian Sandor 12:25 – Judge Christine Arendas 14:16 – Judge Denise Beamer 16:31 – Judge Michael Deen 18:45 – Judge Andrew Bain 21:15 – Judge Gisela Laurent 22:49 – Chief Judge Lisa Munyon

Every July, we honor our parents through the special holiday of National Parents Day. As part of “The Parents’ Day Resolution” passed by Congress in 1994, the fourth Sunday of July is now known as a day of commemoration for our parents, for all their hard work and kindness. In this first part of our two-episode special dedicated to parents, nine of our judges sit down to tell us about their own mothers and fathers, from the heartfelt stories to the important life lessons, and all the memories in-between. Listen at OpenNinth.fm Timestamps 00:15 – National Parents Day 01:48 – Judge Jeanette Bigney 03:07 – Judge Luis Calderon 05:18 – Judge Vincent Chiu 08:40 – Judge Elizabeth Gibson 10:33 – Judge Tarlika Nunez-Navarro 12:23 – Judge John Beamer 14:37 – Judge Mikaela Nix-Walker 16:49 – Judge Diego Madrigal III 18:20 – Judge Jeffrey Ashton

Many of us remember the moment we made a life-changing decision. For Judge Doug Walker, that moment happened to take place in a dentist’s office. After some time wondering what direction he wanted to take in life, it was pure chance that he came across an article titled “The Versatility of a Law Degree” while waiting in the lobby that day. And it was in that moment, he knew his next step. Listen in to Open Ninth as Chief Judge Lisa Munyon sits down with Judge Walker to hear about his life as a lawyer and what brought him to the bench. OpenNinth.fm Timestamps 00:14 – Introduction to Judge Doug Walker 09:40 – Pursuing the law 19:21 – Getting started after law school 22:24 – Public defender’s office 24:02 – Working at Bradford Cederberg, PA 28:31 – Joining the bench

It’s been almost a decade since Phillip Knox and Peter Kiefer began their annual CourtFutures survey, and the results are still providing insight into the future trends of our courts today. Listen in to Open Ninth to hear the two talk to Chief Judge Lisa Munyon about how the idea of the survey came to them, what methodology they use, and some of the trends the survey accurately predicted over the years. OpenNinth.fm Timestamps 00:15 – How the survey got started 09:51 – Survey methodology 13:20 – Survey results over the years 21:52 – COVID’s impact on the survey 26:46 – Future court trends 36:04 – 2022 CourtFutures survey Listen the the Court Leader's Advantage podcast hosted by Peter Kiefer  

Fifteen years ago, Judge Bob LeBlanc joined the Ninth Circuit as a Circuit Judge in our Orange County Criminal Division. As time passed, he became both a friend and mentor to many here in the Orange County Courthouse. But after a decade and a half of service, Judge LeBlanc is ready to start his next adventure in retirement. Listen in to Open Ninth to hear him talk to Chief Judge Lisa Munyon about how the courts changed during his time as a judge and what advice he has for our newer judges. OpenNinth.fm Timestamps 00:14 – Introduction to Judge Bob LeBlanc 04:45 – What he’ll miss 08:02 – Memorable moments 11:33 – Changes over the years 14:08 – Future plans 15:53 – Advice for new judges

Whether we realize it or not, wellness plays a vital role in how we function. It’s a key part of living both a happy and healthy life. As members of both the Florida Judicial Wellness Program and the Ninth’s Wellness Committee, Judges Alicia Latimore and Robert Egan want to promote awareness of the importance of wellness – in mind, body, and spirit. Listen in to Open Ninth to hear these two talk to Chief Judge Lisa Munyon about how their programs seek to improve wellness within our judiciary, as well as what methods you can incorporate in your life to make positive wellness changes. OpenNinth.fm Timestamps 00:50 – What is wellness 02:06 – Why is wellness important 03:10 – Florida Judicial Wellness Program 10:54 – Wellness in the Ninth 14:11 – Wellness tips

When we think of our court system, our first thought is often of a trial. But what many don’t know is that not all cases filed go to trial. Instead, many go through a process called “mediation” where the two parties of a case work cooperatively with mediator to come to a resolution. Tune in to Open Ninth to hear Judge Tina Caraballo talk to Chief Judge Lisa Munyon about how mediation works here in the Ninth Circuit and why it can be a great alternative. OpenNinth.fm Timestamps 00:15 – History of mediation 05:14 – Ninth Circuit’s mediation program 07:41 – How mediation works 12:21 – Benefits of mediation 16:45 – New Orange County mediation space

There’s been a great shift in how we get our news over the last decade. Just ask Jeff Weiner, the Content Director of Local News at the Orlando Sentinel. He’s seen it firsthand in his ten years with the newspaper covering all things city government and state courts. From publishing news digitally, as well as on paper, to navigating a frontier of misinformation online, he’s seen the Sentinel evolve to meet the needs of our local community. Listen in to Open Ninth to hear him talk to Chief Judge Lisa Munyon about his thoughts on the future of journalism and how it will continue to adapt to the digital age. OpenNinth.fm Timestamps 00:15 – Introduction to Jeff Weiner 07:05 – Evolution of newspapers 18:37 – Future of print media 20:20 – Media access to courts 25:13 – Holding courts accountable 26:33 – Public interest

Change can be scary, but it can also be intriguing. That was the thought process of Judge Michael Snure when he heard of the judicial vacancies in our circuit last year. After nearly 40 years litigating cases, it was daunting to switch career paths and join the bench, but Judge Snure knew he wanted to serve his community. During his time on the Judicial Nominating Committee, he watched many lawyers become judges, and he knew it was finally time to submit his own application. Listen in to Open Ninth to hear him talk to Chief Judge Lisa Munyon about his accomplished career in private practice and his first days on the bench. OpenNinth.fm Timestamps 00:14 – Introduction to Judge Michael Snure 06:45 – Law school 11:30 – Joining a firm 21:47 – Joining the bench 25:41 – Surprises on the bench 37:29 – Hobbies

Operation Green Light is back again! And there’s no better time to get yourself back into the driver’s seat. Through Operation Green Light, you can pay your overdue court-ordered obligations while saving on the 25 percent collections surcharge. Listen in to this week’s episode of Open Ninth to hear Orange County Clerk of Courts Tiffany Moore Russell talk to Chief Judge Lisa Munyon about the program and what you need to do to get your license reinstated. OpenNinth.fm Timestamps 00:14 – What is Operation Green Light 02:37 – Eligibility 03:42 – Payment plan option 05:06 – Getting your license back 07:30 – Where to find more information

Judge Tarlika Nunez-Navarro is no stranger to public service. She fondly remembers following her father around town many years ago as he made house calls to patients and explained to her the importance of supporting your community. But she also remembers him telling her not to become a doctor and follow in his footsteps. Instead, he suggested she become a lawyer and with that Judge Nunez-Navarro knew what she wanted to do. Listen in to Open Ninth as Chief Judge Lisa Munyon sits down with Judge Nunez-Navarro to hear all about where her career has taken her over the years. OpenNinth.fm Timestamps 00:14 – Introduction to Judge Tarlika Nunez-Navarro 09:43 – Working in the law field 13:28 – Joining the bench 15:01 – Wellness 20:51 – Coming to the Ninth Circuit 28:44 – Mission Work

Years before a courthouse is ever built, a team of architects and designers must plan for the needs and services of a building they won’t see for quite some time. And to make it even more daunting, this courthouse will need to operate for decades after its completion. How can someone plan for the challenges a courthouse will face so far in advance? These are the discussions Allison McKenzie, the Senior Architect of the National Center for State Courts, leads in her work every single day. Listen in to Open Ninth to hear her talk to Chief Judge Lisa Munyon about COVID-19’s impact on our spaces and how the design of a courthouse can influence public trust. OpenNinth.fm. Timestamps 00:15 – Introduction to Allison McKenzie 11:10 – Changes in courthouse architecture over time 10:16 – COVID-19’s effect on courthouse design 22:50 – How courthouse design influences public trust 28:39 – Future courthouse design 32:42 – Factors influencing changes  

As a child, Judge Brian Sandor watched the construction of the Orange County Courthouse happening just blocks from his house. Little did he know, he’d one day work in that exact same building. And with two lawyers in his direct family, the field of law was never too far from home. Listen in to Open Ninth to hear Judge Sandor talk to Chief Judge Lisa Munyon about his family’s history practicing law and what inspired him to join the bench. OpenNinth.fm Timestamps 00:15 – Introduction to Judge Brian Sandor 06:18 – Law school 13:26 – Working in the state attorney’s office 16:55 – Working in law firms 22:34 – Joining the bench 36:00 – Hobbies

Since his early years as a budding reporter covering the court beat in Tallahassee, Craig Waters felt a pull to our judicial branch. This pull followed him through his next steps as he entered law school and began a career with the Florida Supreme Court as a staff attorney. But Craig Waters had bigger plans for the court. In 1996, he started their Public Information Office and became its Communications Director. He also created their first website and became spokesman of the court during the 2000 presidential election lawsuits and appeals. He’s accomplished a great deal in his career, but now he’s ready close this chapter of his life and begin his next in retirement. Listen in to Open Ninth to hear him talk to Chief Judge Lisa Munyon about his biggest accomplishments in his career and what he’s looking forward to in retirement. OpenNinth.fm. Timestamps 00:15 – Introduction to Craig Waters 11:10 – Joining the FL Supreme Court 20:16 – Starting the FL Supreme Court’s Public Information Office 22:50 – Working during Bush v. Gore 28:39 – Promoting PIOs in other state court systems 32:42 – Utilizing social media in the courts 43:07 – Plans for retirement

Retired judge Don Myers didn’t foresee his career taking him to the bench. He studied communicative disorders in his college days and spent some years as a speech-language pathologist before he even considered pursuing law. It was a conversation on a beach in Hawaii that changed his life forever. Soon after, he attended law school and began work in a law firm. And in 2011, he joined our circuit in the Osceola County Unified Family Court. Now, a decade later, he’s ready to begin his next journey in retirement. Listen in to Open Ninth to hear him talk to Chief Judge Lisa Munyon about how the courts changed during his time as a judge and his proudest moments on the bench. OpenNinth.fm Timestamps 00:15 – Introduction to Don Myers 06:19 – Becoming a judge 14:03 – Working in state commissions and committees 21:03 – Being Chief Judge 30:48 – Changes in the courts