Open Ninth The Ninth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida

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

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

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 court just for them: Veterans Treatment Court. Since then, this program has successfully changed the lives of numerous veterans through treatment and intervention, rather than incarceration. And now, 10 years later, it’s still going strong.
In this episode of Open Ninth, Judge Alicia Latimore, the current Administrative Judge for Problem Solving Court, takes over as guest host to discuss the importance of Veterans Treatment Court in our society with three special guests: Judge Reginald Whitehead, the former Administrative Judge for Problem Solving Court; Natasha Anthony, a psychotherapist with Grow Therapy; and Sherri Claudio, a social worker with the Orlando VA Medical Center. 
Tune in to OpenNinth.fm to learn more. 
Glossary 

VA - A department dedicated to programs benefiting veterans and members of their families. 
Eligibility - The type of discharge and length of service that determines whether a veteran can receive benefits through the VA. 
PTSD: Post-traumatic stress disorder, a disorder common among many veterans following their service in the Armed Forces. 
Trauma - Anything that any individual has witnessed, or personally experienced, that is out of their norm and at an extreme level. 
Sanctions - Penalties for not following the treatment plan outlined by VTC, meant to help veterans in their journey. 
Stigma - Disapproval of, or discrimination against, an individual for perceived characteristics that distinguishes them from other members of society. 
Recidivism - The tendency of an individual to relapse into criminal behavior. 

Timestamps 

00:16 – Introduction to Veterans Treatment Court 
10:33 – How trauma affects veterans 
22:17 – How VTC helps participants 
30:43 – Benefits of counseling for veterans 
38:31 – Importance of rehabilitation 44:
19 – Final thoughts

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 teacher saw it too. They encouraged Judge Marques to give law school a try and she was ready for the challenge. Tune in to Open Ninth to hear more about her experiences in law school, her time practicing law, and what influenced her to run for the bench years later. OpenNinth.fm
Timestamps

00:15 – Introduction to Circuit Judge Leticia Marques
11:09 – Schooling
16:10 – Practicing law
20:43 – Running for the bench
22:22 – First years on the bench
26:56 – Becoming an Administrative Judge
30:28 – Interests off the bench

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 college that law school entered the picture. Initially, he wasn’t sure if it was the right path for him. But with the insistence of his family and one his professors, he decided to give it a shot. And he quickly realized that the field of law was exactly where he wanted to be. Tune in to Open Ninth to hear more about his work in private practice and why he wanted to join the bench. OpenNinth.fm
Timestamps

00:15 – Introduction to Judge A. James Craner
05:21 – Interest in the law
08:22 – Getting started after law school
12:04 – Private practice
16:38 – Joining the Orange County bench
20:45 – Elevation to the Circuit bench
29:20 – Interests off the bench