Open Ninth

Open Ninth episodes:

• 01.22.2024

  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...

  
• 01.22.2024

  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...

  
• 01.08.2024

  Judicial Spotlight

  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....

  
• 01.08.2024

  Judicial Spotlight

  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....

  
• 11.28.2023

  Veteran's Treatment Court

  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...

  
• 11.16.2023

  Veterans Treatment Court

  Ten years ago, the Ninth Circuit decided to take action for the veterans caught up in our court system. To reduce recidivism rates and better equip our veterans with the skills they need to live healthy lives, we established a...

  
• 10.30.2023

  Judicial Spotlight

  Judge Leticia Marques knew she wanted to be a lawyer when she got her first taste of a debate during her junior year of high school. And she wasn’t the only one who noticed her passion for arguing a case—her...

  
• 10.16.2023

  Judicial Spotlight

  Some of our judges knew from a young age they wanted to become a lawyer one day—but Judge A. James Craner had different aspirations as a child. He dreamed of becoming an architect. It wasn’t until his junior year of...

  
• 08.29.2023

  Judicial Spotlight

  You may find it hard to believe, but Judge David Johnson’s first career wasn’t as a lawyer. He actually got his start working for the Bacardi Rum company after graduating from Michigan State University. Over the years, he also worked...

  
• 07.24.2023

  Judicial Spotlight

  There was little question about what career Judge Eric DuBois would pursue as a child. With a father and two uncles as lawyers, it’s almost like the law ran in his blood. In his younger years, Judge DuBois even dressed...

  
• 07.10.2023

  Judicial Spotlight

  For Judge Amanda Bova, Central Florida has always been home. It’s where she was born and raised. She spent some time away during her years at Eckerd College and Florida State University, but she still returned to Central Florida to...

  
• 06.26.2023

  Trauma-Informed Courts

  When it comes to trauma, we don’t always understand quite how it will affect us. Trauma from years prior can resurface from seemingly unrelated events and trauma-induced reactions occur as a result. And being involved in the court system can...

  
• 06.12.2023

  Judicial Spotlight

  Judge Alison Kerestes is no stranger to the Ninth Circuit. After graduating from law school, she worked in the Ninth Circuit’s Office of the State Attorney for eight years. Following her time as a prosecutor, Judge Kerestes spent several years...

  
• 05.30.2023

  Bidding Farewell

  When Judge Alice Blackwell joined the bench in 1991, she had a vision for what she hoped to accomplish. She wanted to always follow the law and to be a judge who truly listened to those who brought their case...

  
• 05.15.2023

  Judicial Spotlight

  May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! And as part of our Judicial Spotlight series, we’re taking a look at the life and career of our circuit’s first Asian American jurist: Judge Jeanette Bigney. It was the 1970s when...

  
• 05.01.2023

  Drug Court

  In honor of National Drug Court Month, our administrative judge over Problem Solving Court, Judge Alicia Latimore, stepped into the studio as our guest host to interview Dr. Thomas Hall, the Director of the Coalition for a Drug-Free Community in...

  
• 04.03.2023

  Judicial Spotlight

  The legal field was never far from home for Judge Brian Duckworth as he grew up. His father was a lawyer, as well as the president of the Orange County Bar Association. And his childhood home was just two miles...

  
• 03.20.2023

  Re-Release: Women in Robes

  In celebration of Women’s History Month, we are re-airing one of our earliest episodes, “Women in Robes.” When we first aired this episode, our bench was made up of 32 women. Now, 34 incredible women make up over half of...

  
• 03.06.2023

  Judicial Spotlight

  It was while walking through the halls of Michigan State University that Judge Patricia Strowbridge found her inspiration to go to law school. Up until this point, she didn’t really know what she wanted to do, but the spark came...

  
• 02.06.2023

  Re-Release: A Legal Pioneer

  In honor of Black History Month, we want to highlight the Black pioneers in both the legal field and here at the Ninth. In our first episode commemorating this month, we’re taking a look back at our eye-opening conversation with...

  
• 01.23.2023

  Judicial Spotlight

  After graduating from the University of Florida with his bachelor’s degree, Judge Wayne Wooten didn’t quite know what his next step should be. He could have gone back to St. Pete where he was born and raised, but he chose...

  
• 01.09.2023

  Judicial Spotlight

  After several years working in Osceola County, Judge Margaret Schreiber has returned to the Orange County Courthouse as the civil division’s Administrative Judge. And while it feels good to be back where her judicial career began, she’ll always treasure the...

  
• 12.05.2022

  Judicial Spotlight

  Soon, Judge Andrew Cameron will celebrate the ten-year anniversary of the day he joined the Ninth Circuit, and a lot has happened in the near-decade since he ran for election the very first time. The Orange County Court Judiciary has...

  
• 11.21.2022

  Judicial Spotlight

  When Judge Craig McCarthy left active service in the military, he wasn’t sure where life would take him. There were many doors open with a multitude of possibilities before him. In the end, he chose to attend law school and...

  
• 11.07.2022

  Sixth District Court of Appeal

  It’s been 43 years since the creation of Florida’s last appellate court: the Fifth District Court of Appeal. But, beginning January 1, 2023, the 5th DCA will no longer be Florida’s newest court of appeal. Listen in to Open Ninth...

  
• 10.24.2022

  Judicial Spotlight

  For Judge John Jordan, the field of law has never been far from home. His father was both an attorney and a federal magistrate. And when Judge Jordan was young, he would often go to court with his father to...

  
• 10.10.2022

  Giving and Receiving

  We all remember our first mentor, the one who took us by the hand and showed us the ropes of our trade or practice. Those experiences become even more valuable as we get older and begin to pass on that...

  
• 09.26.2022

  Re-Release: Fighting the Opioid Epidemic Part 2

  It’s easy to become disheartened by the statistics related to opioid misuse and drug-related deaths, but there is always hope. In this second part of our two-part series on “Fighting the Opioid Epidemic”, we hear firsthand from a survivor of...

  
• 09.12.2022

  Re-Release: Opioid Awareness - Part 1

  According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, an estimated 10 million people misuse opioids each year. And today, two out of three drug overdose deaths involves an opioid. To bring awareness to this growing epidemic, the Florida...

  
• 08.29.2022

  Building Judicial Foundations in Angola

  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...

  
• 08.15.2022

  Around the World

  From Guatemala to Israel to Antarctica—our judges have been all over the world. In this week’s Open Ninth, we get the grand tour of some of our planet’s most exciting locations. Take a trip with Judges Mike Murphy, Tarlika Nunez-Navarro,...

  
• 08.01.2022

  National Parents Day - Part 2

  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...

  
• 07.18.2022

  National Parents Day - Part 1

  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...

  
• 07.04.2022

  Judicial Spotlight

  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...

  
• 06.20.2022

  Surveying the Courts

  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...

  
• 06.07.2022

  Bidding Farewell

  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...

  
• 05.23.2022

  Promoting Wellness

  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...

  
• 05.09.2022

  Know Your Courts

  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...

  
• 04.25.2022

  Court Beat

  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...

  
• 04.11.2022

  Judicial Spotlight

  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...

  
• 03.28.2022

  Operation Green Light

  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...

  
• 03.21.2022

  Judicial Spotlight

  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...

  
• 03.07.2022

  Tomorrow’s Courthouse

  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...

  
• 02.21.2022

  Judicial Spotlight

  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...

  
• 02.07.2022

  Pioneering the Digital Age

  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...

  
• 01.24.2022

  Bidding Farewell

  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...

  
• 01.10.2022

  Judicial Spotlight

  Judge Michael Deen grew up in the field of law. As the son of notable attorney, Jeffrey Deen, he’s been well-acquainted with the work of lawyers for a long time. Some may be discouraged from following in their parents’ footsteps,...

  
• 12.13.2021

  Judicial Spotlight

  Growing up a military kid meant it was hard for Judge Joshua Mize to truly know a hometown. His father’s service in the Air Force took his family all across the United States, making change a constant in Judge Mize’s...

  
• 11.29.2021

  Raising the Bar

  Heather Meglino first developed a passion for serving others when she was just seven years old. Tasked with a project on the work of lawyers in school and living just minutes from Stetson University College of Law, she was well-acquainted...

  
• 11.15.2021

  The Weaponization of Social Media

  Social media is a powerful tool. It brings loved ones together. It gathers support for meaningful causes. It also has the ability to spread mass misinformation and feed into an echo chamber of dangerous beliefs. Listen in as Chief Judge...