Legislative Matter

Miami-Dade Legislative Item
File Number: 131955

Printable PDF Format

Clerk's Official Copy

File Number: 131955

File Type: Resolution

Status: Adopted

Version: 0

Reference: R-843-13

Control: Board of County Commissioners

File Name: NAMING THE MIAMI-DADE CHILDREN'S COURTHOUSE

Introduced: 10/3/2013

Requester: NONE

Cost:

Final Action: 10/22/2013

Agenda Date: 10/22/2013

Agenda Item Number: 5A

Notes:

3/5 VOTE REQUIRED

Title:

RESOLUTION NAMING THE NEW MIAMI-DADE CHILDREN’S COURTHOUSE THE ''JUDGE SEYMOUR GELBER & JUDGE WILLIAM E. GLADSTONE MIAMI-DADE CHILDREN’S COURTHOUSE'' BY A THREE-FIFTHS VOTE OF BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT

Indexes:	CO-DESIGNATING
	NAMING

Sponsors:	Audrey M. Edmonson, Prime Sponsor
	Dennis C. Moss, Co-Sponsor
	Rebeca Sosa, Co-Sponsor

Sunset Provision: No

Effective Date:

Expiration Date:

Registered Lobbyist:

None Listed

Legislative History
Acting Body	Date	Agenda Item	Action	Sent To	Due Date	Returned	Pass/Fail

Board of County Commissioners	10/22/2013	5A	Adopted				P
REPORT:	First Assistant County Attorney Abigail Price-Williams read the foregoing proposed resolution into the record. Chairwoman Sosa opened the public hearing and called for persons wishing to appear before the Board on the foregoing proposed resolution. Judges Cindy S. Lederman, Lester Langer and Associate Administrative Judge Maria I. Sampedro-Iglesia appeared in support of the foregoing proposed resolution. Judge Lederman noted the recommendation to name the new Children’s Courthouse the Judge Seymour Gelber & Judge William E. Gladstone Miami-Dade Children’s Courthouse was in recognition of these two judges dedicating their judicial careers, spending decades helping children and families, working on policy issues and setting the standard for our juvenile court. She noted the support of child advocates, including: Katherine Fernandez Rundle, State Attorney for Miami-Dade County; Carlos Martinez, Miami-Dade County Public Defender; Esther Jacobo, Department of Children and Families Secretary; Wansley Walters, Department of Juvenile Justice Secretary; Jessica Allen, Guardian-Ad-Litem Circuit Director and Francis Allegra, Our Kids of Miami-Dade/Monroe, Inc. Director and Chief Executive Officer. Madame Renita Holmes, 350 NW 4 Street, Miami appeared in support of the foregoing proposed resolution. Commissioner Edmonson noted she sponsored the foregoing proposed resolution in recognition of the decades of distinguished public service and accomplishments of these judges on behalf of the youth in this community. Chairwoman Sosa noted that Judge Gelber published several books on juvenile court and criminal justice. She recognized Judge Gladstone for expanding the Miami Safe Start Initiative and creating the Last Chance Ranch. Commissioner Heyman pointed out that this building would serve as a unified family courthouse; housing courtrooms as well as offices for community organizations and services needed by children and their families while in the juvenile justice system. She recognized Senators Ronald Silver and J. Alex Villalobos and Clerk of the Courts Harvey Ruvin for their diligent efforts over the past eleven years to secure funding. Commissioner Heyman also recognized Retired Chief Judge Joseph P. Farina, Chief Judge Joel Brown, and Florida Supreme Court Justices Rosemary Barkett and Barbara J. Pariente on their efforts to unify the family court. She acknowledged Judges Judith L. Kreeger, Sandy Karlan, and Scott M. Bernstein for their efforts as well as everyone currently working at the old justice building. Commissioner Heyman said this was a fourteen year process involving two counties. Commissioner Barreiro attested to Judge Gelber’s desire to get things done and his distinguished public service career. Commissioner Jordan said that Judge Gelber and Judge Gladstone were names that were immediately recognized for their contributions in this community, noting that she supported the resolution and that this recognition was well deserved. Commissioner Suarez noted Judge Gelber and Judge Gladstone’s names were iconic in our community. Commissioner Moss asked to be listed as a co-sponsor to the foregoing proposed resolution. He pointed out that Judge Gelber and Judge Gladstone were advocates for children and dedicated their lives to justice for the young people in our community. There being no other persons to appear before the Board, Chairwoman Sosa closed the public hearing. Hearing no further questions or comments, the Commission proceeded to vote on the foregoing proposed resolution as presented.

County Attorney	10/3/2013		Assigned	Jess M. McCarty

Legislative Text

TITLE
RESOLUTION NAMING THE NEW MIAMI-DADE CHILDREN�S COURTHOUSE THE �JUDGE SEYMOUR GELBER & JUDGE WILLIAM E. GLADSTONE MIAMI-DADE CHILDREN�S COURTHOUSE� BY A THREE-FIFTHS VOTE OF BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT

BODY
WHEREAS, this Board desires to name the new Children�s Courthouse in honor of two judges who have made substantial contributions over many decades to the children of this community, Judge Seymour Gelber and Judge William E. Gladstone; and
WHEREAS, Judge Seymour Gelber was appointed to the Circuit Court Bench in 1974, and he continues to this date at the age of 93 to sit as a Senior Judge in the Family, Child Support Division; and
WHEREAS, upon his appointment, Judge Gelber was assigned to the Juvenile Division, and he served as Administrative Judge for the Division until his mandatory retirement in 1990 at age of 70; and
WHEREAS, Judge Gelber was a World War II veteran who enrolled in the University of Miami�s School of Law through the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, commonly known as the GI Bill, graduating in 1953; and
WHEREAS, from 1956 to 1968, Gelber served as an Assistant State Attorney in the office of State Attorney Richard E. Gerstein; and
WHEREAS, he then moved to Tallahassee to work as an Assistant Attorney General, until he was appointed Judge by Governor Reuben Askew; and
WHEREAS, he received a Master�s Degree in Criminology at Florida State University in 1968, and a Ph.D. in Higher Education in 1972; and
WHEREAS, after his retirement as a judge, Judge Gelber was elected Mayor of the City of Miami Beach in 1991 where he served three terms; and
WHEREAS, he returned to the judiciary as a Senior Judge in 2001; and
WHEREAS, Judge Gelber has written six books covering the juvenile court and other areas of criminal justice; and
WHEREAS, his latest book �On Behalf of Children� was published in 2007; and
WHEREAS, Judge William E. Gladstone, a graduate of Yale Law School, was elected as Circuit Judge in 1972; and
WHEREAS, Judge Gladstone was appointed to the Juvenile Division where he chose to remain for his 32-year career, returning to the bench as a Senior Judge until his full retirement in 2011; and
WHEREAS, during this time, Judge Gladstone assisted in the placement, motivation, treatment and education of dependent children and delinquent youths who came before him; and
WHEREAS, Judge Gladstone worked with Judge Cindy Lederman to expand the Miami Safe Start Initiative that provides support for babies and mothers who come before the dependency court system; and
WHEREAS, Judge Gladstone also created the Last Chance Ranch, a facility for violent youths; and
WHEREAS, in February 1993, Judge Gladstone went to Washington, D.C. as an advisor to then-U.S.�Senator Bob Graham, where he helped to design the �Youth Environmental Service� program; and
WHEREAS, the annual William E. Gladstone Award is awarded by the Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court and Governor of Florida to the greatest contributor to the courts� neglected and abused children; and
WHEREAS, the William E. Gladstone Campus/Dade Marine Institute, a program for delinquent Youth was named after Judge Gladstone, as was the Gladstone Center which is a Program for abused girls operated by CHARLEE (Children Have All Rights: Legal, Educational & Emotional) of Dade County, Inc.; and
WHEREAS, Judge Gladstone was recognized by the Attorney�s Division of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation with the 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award for his distinguished 40 year career on the bench and his vocal advocacy of the rights of dependent children and families; and
WHEREAS, this Board would like to honor these exemplary judges by naming the new Miami-Dade Children�s Courthouse in their honor based on their significant contributions to the children of this community over many decades; and
WHEREAS, Rules 9.02 of the Board of County Commissioners Rules of Procedure provides that the Board may by a three-fifths vote of Board members present name a County facility after a living individual who has not served as an elected official within the past five years and who has made a direct, significant lifetime contribution to this community; and
WHEREAS, this proposed naming is located in County Commission District 3,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Finds that Judge Seymour Gelber and Judge William E. Gladstone have each made direct, significant lifetime contributions to this community pursuant to Rule 9.02(d) of the Board of County Commissioners Rules of Procedure.
Section 2. Having considered this matter at a public hearing and by a three-fifths vote of the Board members present, names the new Miami-Dade Children�s Courthouse located at 155 N.W. 3 Street as the �Judge Seymour Gelber & Judge William E. Gladstone Miami-Dade Children�s Courthouse�.
Section 3. Directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the United States Postal Service, the Miami-Dade Internal Services Department and the City Manager for the City of Miami.