Open Ninth

From Court Administrator to the first ever Director of Racial Justice, Equity, and Inclusion at the National Center for State Courts, Edwin Bell sits in with Chief Judge Myers to discuss how systemic issues can affect courts across the nation. Tune in as Bell describes his experiences in the court system, his path to becoming Director, and his goals for the future. Show Notes 1:34 - The Director of Racial Justice, Equity, and Inclusion 3:00 - Edwin Bell’s background 9:56 - Defining racial injustice and inequity 17:26 - How did we get here? 29:39 - How can the NCSC help? 33:58 - Legacy

From Court Administrator to the first ever Director of Racial Justice, Equity, and Inclusion at the National Center for State Courts, Edwin Bell sits in with Chief Judge Myers to discuss how systemic issues can affect courts across the nation. Tune in as Bell describes his experiences in the court system, his path to becoming Director, and his goals for the future. Show Notes 1:34 - The Director of Racial Justice, Equity, and Inclusion 3:00 - Edwin Bell’s background 9:56 - Defining racial injustice and inequity 17:26 - How did we get here? 29:39 - How can the NCSC help? 33:58 - Legacy

If you asked a young Lisa Kiel what she wanted to be when she grew up, she wouldn’t hesitate to tell you. All her life she’s known she wanted to work in state government. Feeling drawn to public service, Kiel became Florida’s State Courts Administrator in 1990, where she stayed until her retirement in 2014. And when the Florida Supreme Court sought a new State Courts Administrator in 2019, they knew just the person to call. Now, Kiel is ready to finish up her long career in Florida’s state government to enjoy retirement, for a second time. Listen in to Open Ninth to hear her talk to Chief Judge Lisa Munyon about her proudest moments from her time in the office and what she plans to do next. Timestamps 00:15 – Introduction to Lisa Kiel 05:39 – Getting started in state courts 10:16 – Becoming State Courts Administrator 21:14 – Coming back from retirement 26:28 – Changes in the Office of State Courts over the years 33:40 – Biggest accomplishments as State Courts Administrator 38:11 – Plans for retirement 40:27 – Advice for future State Courts Administrators

After a combined 69 years on the bench, Judges Patricia Doherty, John Kest, Jon Morgan, and Janet Thorpe retired from full-time service at the end of 2020. During their last weeks at the courts, Chief Judge Don Myers took the opportunity to sit down and interview each of them. Listen in as our retiring judges look back at their careers and explore what lies ahead.  

On January 28, 2021, the Honorable Jon B. Morgan passed away leaving behind a lasting legacy of fairness and respect. To honor his memory, Chief Judge Don Myers sat down with retired judge Heather O’Brien to reflect on Judge Morgan’s influence in their lives, and his impact on the courts and community. Listen to their conversation at OpenNinth.fm.  

In this episode, Chief Judge Don Myers talks to the Florida Supreme Court's newest member, Justice Jamie Grosshans, about her journey from small town Mississippi to the highest court in Florida. Along the way, they discuss the speech that inspired her pursuit of the bench, her judicial philosophy, and the twists and turns in her career that she never saw coming.  

Have questions about voting in the upcoming election? Listen in and find answers as Bill Cowles, Orange County's Supervisor of Elections, joins Chief Judge Don Myers to talk about voters, ballots, and elections. From early voting and vote-by-mail to high-speed ballot readers and rejected signatures, together they explore how a Supervisor of Elections keeps the democratic process running smoothly and efficiently during a pandemic. Time Stamps 1:11 - Becoming Supervisor of Elections 2:56 - Voter registration, elections, and records 5:08 - Election process, early voting, and budgeting 10:04 - Mail-in and in-person voting 17:26 - Voter fraud, election security and the cure process 21:00 - County Canvassing Board 21:38 - Ballot changes and technology 26:24 - Confidential results, early processing, and duplicated ballots 34:16 - Voting safety during COVID-19

From station intern to prime time news anchor, our guest this week has done it all on her way to becoming one of Central Florida's most recognizable people. This episode, WFTV's Martha Sugalski joined Chief Judge Don Myers to talk about the evolution of TV journalism, the importance of role models, and what it's like to be the woman in front of the camera. Along the way, Martha explores how she got where she is today, explains how she balances her busy schedule day-to-day, and shares her best advice for aspiring journalists. Show Notes: 1:20 - Inspiration to pursue journalism 3:49 - Interning and first time on-camera 7:07 - Transitioning from reporter to anchor 10:11 - Day-to-day life, before and during COVID 18:52 - Changes to TV journalism in the last 30 years 24:43 - Advice to aspiring journalists

When you have limited proficiency in English, the United States justice system can seem overwhelming and confusing. However, working behind-the-scenes to increase access to the courts and level the playing field are a group of dedicated, unsung superheroes – interpreters! In this latest episode of Open Ninth, Chief Judge Don Myers and the Ninth Circuit’s Interpreter Judge, Judge Luis Calderon, explore the important role interpreters play in the administration of justice, how that role has changed over time, and how Virtual Remote Interpreting takes it to the next level. Show Notes 0:19 - Judge Luis Calderon’s background 3:23 - Immigrating, family values, and educational achievement 9:30 - Passing DC and New York Bar Exams, practicing criminal defense 16:51 - Limited English proficiency and interpreter services 21:58 - The role of an interpreter judge and interpreters in the courtroom 28:21 - Need for interpreters and resources 29:32 - Virtual Remote Interpreting 31:30 - COVID-19 and interpreting  

When you have limited proficiency in English, the United States justice system can seem overwhelming and confusing. However, working behind-the-scenes to increase access to the courts and level the playing field are a group of dedicated, unsung superheroes – interpreters! In this latest episode of Open Ninth, Chief Judge Don Myers and the Ninth Circuit’s Interpreter Judge, Judge Luis Calderon, explore the important role interpreters play in the administration of justice, how that role has changed over time, and how Virtual Remote Interpreting takes it to the next level. Show Notes 0:19 - Judge Luis Calderon’s background 3:23 - Immigrating, family values, and educational achievement 9:30 - Passing DC and New York Bar Exams, practicing criminal defense 16:51 - Limited English proficiency and interpreter services 21:58 - The role of an interpreter judge and interpreters in the courtroom 28:21 - Need for interpreters and resources 29:32 - Virtual Remote Interpreting 31:30 - COVID-19 and interpreting  

Can our pets get sick with COVID? When we go back to work, how can we make sure they're happy alone at home? To answer these questions, Chief Judge Don Myers talked to Dr. Kimberly Lee, local veterinarian. Together, they discuss the effects of the COVID-19 coronavirus on our community's beloved furry friends, from overwalking and obesity to pet adoptions and separation anxiety. Listen in to learn some of the best ways to maintain your pet's physical and emotional health during this pandemic.  

During a pandemic, how does a Chief Judge balance safety and due process in the courts? Alongside Chief Judges Lisa Davidson of the Eighteenth Circuit and Ellen Masters of the Tenth Circuit, Chief Judge Don Myers explores the biggest challenges that COVID-19 has brought to the Central Florida area. All three Chiefs began their term on the same day in 2019; this gave them an excellent marker to compare both their first year in office and their Circuit's responses to COVID-19 in this in-depth conversation. Time Stamps 1:30 - Judge Lisa Davidson’s judicial career background 4:15 - Judge Ellen Masters’ judicial career background 9:08 - Tenth Circuit overview - Polk, Highlands, and Hardee Counties 11:13 - Eighteenth Circuit overview - Brevard and Seminole Counties 14:11 - Realizing this pandemic is serious 22:40 - Operational challenges, virtual hearings, and backlogs 26:57 - Safety measures implemented in each Circuit 32:23  Biggest challenges ahead and moving through the phases of reopening

During a pandemic, how does a Chief Judge balance safety and due process in the courts? Alongside Chief Judges Lisa Davidson of the Eighteenth Circuit and Ellen Masters of the Tenth Circuit, Chief Judge Don Myers explores the biggest challenges that COVID-19 has brought to the Central Florida area. All three Chiefs began their term on the same day in 2019; this gave them an excellent marker to compare both their first year in office and their Circuit's responses to COVID-19 in this in-depth conversation. Time Stamps 1:30 - Judge Lisa Davidson’s judicial career background 4:15 - Judge Ellen Masters’ judicial career background 9:08 - Tenth Circuit overview - Polk, Highlands, and Hardee Counties 11:13 - Eighteenth Circuit overview - Brevard and Seminole Counties 14:11 - Realizing this pandemic is serious 22:40 - Operational challenges, virtual hearings, and backlogs 26:57 - Safety measures implemented in each Circuit 32:23  Biggest challenges ahead and moving through the phases of reopening

Have questions about voting in the upcoming election? Listen in and find answers as Bill Cowles, Orange County's Supervisor of Elections, joins Chief Judge Don Myers to talk about voters, ballots, and elections. From early voting and vote-by-mail to high-speed ballot readers and rejected signatures, together they explore how a Supervisor of Elections keeps the democratic process running smoothly and efficiently during a pandemic. Time Stamps 1:11 - Becoming Supervisor of Elections 2:56 - Voter registration, elections, and records 5:08 - Election process, early voting, and budgeting 10:04 - Mail-in and in-person voting 17:26 - Voter fraud, election security and the cure process 21:00 - County Canvassing Board 21:38 - Ballot changes and technology 26:24 - Confidential results, early processing, and duplicated ballots 34:16 - Voting safety during COVID-19

On July 19th, a gunman posing as a FedEx delivery person shot U.S. Judge Esther Salas' son and husband at their home in New Jersey. In the wake of that tragedy, Chief Judge Don Myers invited top court security expert and former U.S. Marshal, John Muffler back on the show to discuss the challenges of protecting the judiciary in the digital age. From policing social media to conducting disinformation campaigns and beyond, listen in as they explore the best practices for staying safe both on and offline. Show Notes: 0:30 - Introduction of John Muffler, former U.S. Marshal 1:47 - Details of the shooting at the home of U.S. Judge Esther Salas 3:29 - Comparison with the shooting of Judge Lefkow 5:03  - Pattern recognition and potential dangers to avoid 5:27 - Exploiting the Internet, developing an attack plan 7:21 - Data aggregation services, social media, and private information 8:28 - Judge Salas' request: reform to protect the information of Judges 9:18 - California - a leader in judicial privacy protection 11:44 - The Internet and being careful about what you put out there 12:30 - Belief that online information is too easily accessible 14:37 - Maintaining privacy in the digital age 15:54 - What to delete from your social media pages 18:13 - Muffler teaching at the National Judicial College 19:27 - Best practices for staying safe online and offline