When Clerk Karen Rushing received an invitation to work on a judicial reform project in Angola in 2002, she wasn’t sure what to expect. For years, the country was marred in a civil war, and the opposing forces were still negotiating a peace agreement. But the senior government of Angola made it their goal to improve the efficiency and credibility of their country’s judicial system, and Clerk Rushing had the experience to help. Over the course of four years, she traveled back and forth between the U.S. and Angola, determining opportunities for change, developing training materials, and bringing a delegation of Angolans to Sarasota County to get an up-close look at the American judicial system. Tune in to OpenNinth.fm to hear Clerk Rushing talk to Chief Judge Lisa Munyon about her work on the project, and what the results are almost twenty years later.
Timestamps

00:36 – The Invitation
08:31 – Traveling to Angola
16:15 – Getting to Work
22:27 – Defining the Problems
30:02 – Training on New Procedures
33:33 – Angola Visits Sarasota
40:06 – Results of the Project

Building Judicial Foundations in Angola

Candid conversations about current topics with court and community leaders.

Government

Growing up, Judge Adam McGinnis had no plans of becoming a lawyer, nor a judge—but life has a way of surprising us. After switching from an electrical engineering major to a liberal arts major in college, Judge McGinnis began to consider law school for the first time in his life. Not long after, he walked into the still-new Barry University School of Law and joined one of its first graduating classes. And, years later, he became the first graduate of Barry to join the bench. Tune in to Open Ninth to hear more about his time in law school and his journey to the judiciary. OpenNinth.fm
Timestamps 
00:16 – Introduction to Judge Adam McGinnis 
07:51 – Interest in the law 
16:06 – Getting started after law school 
22:55 – Running for the bench 
26:28 – First days on the bench 
34:16 – Hobbies

Judicial Spotlight

Growing up, Judge Adam McGinnis had no plans of becoming a lawyer, nor a judge—but life has a way of surprising us. After switching from an electrical engineering major to a liberal arts major in college, Judge McGinnis began to consider law school for the first time in his life. Not long after, he walked into the still-new Barry University School of Law and joined one of its first graduating classes. And, years later, he became the first graduate of Barry to join the bench. Tune in to Open Ninth to hear more about his time in law school and his journey to the judiciary. OpenNinth.fm
Timestamps 

00:16 – Introduction to Judge Adam McGinnis 
07:51 – Interest in the law 
16:06 – Getting started after law school 
22:55 – Running for the bench 
26:28 – First days on the bench 
34:16 – Hobbies

Patience is a virtue—but it’s also one of the characteristics that make a great judge. Judge Eric Netcher is no stranger to this. He learned the importance of patience while sharing a room with his older brother throughout his childhood. Now, years later, he appreciates this experience for how it helped him prepare for the bench. Tune in to Open Ninth to hear more about his upbringing and his journey to the judiciary. OpenNinth.fm 
Timestamps 
00:16 – Introduction to Judge Eric Netcher 
08:23 – Interning with Congress 
12:12 – Attending law school 
17:30 – Getting started after law school 
23:18 – Joining the bench

Patience is a virtue—but it’s also one of the characteristics that make a great judge. Judge Eric Netcher is no stranger to this. He learned the importance of patience while sharing a room with his older brother throughout his childhood. Now, years later, he appreciates this experience for how it helped him prepare for the bench. Tune in to Open Ninth to hear more about his upbringing and his journey to the judiciary. OpenNinth.fm 
Timestamps 

00:16 – Introduction to Judge Eric Netcher 
08:23 – Interning with Congress 
12:12 – Attending law school 
17:30 – Getting started after law school 
23:18 – Joining the bench

Growing up, Eddie Jenkins always had an interest in joining the military. He even had his parents sign a waiver so he could join the U.S. Marine Corps at just 17 years old. But, after sustaining an injury in active-duty training upon his return from his service in Afghanistan, his life took a different path. A substance use disorder led to criminal behavior and involvement in our courts.
But his story doesn’t end there. Eddie was determined to turn his life back around. 
Upon entering our Veterans Treatment Court, Eddie learned more about the resources available to support him in his recovery. He made connections with fellow veterans and formed strong bonds with the team dedicated to his case. Despite experiencing some setbacks in his recovery, he stayed committed to the program and bettering his life. And, in 2022, his hard work paid off as he graduated from Veterans Treatment Court. 
Tune in to OpenNinth.fm to hear Eddie speak with Judge Alicia Latimore about his journey through VTC and how his life has changed since graduation. 
Timestamps 

00:18 – Introduction to Eddie Jenkins 
07:36 – Returning home from Afghanistan 
14:35 – Getting involved with the court system 
18:38 – Entering VTC 26:21 – Non-adversarial approach in 
VTC 32:42 – Graduating from VTC

Building Judicial Foundations in Angola

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