In this important and timely episode, Chief Judge Jack Tuter and Trial Court Administrator Joseph D'Amico are interviewed by FLABOTA President Jeff Adelman about the expansion of the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit's email and text emergency alert system.

With hurricanes, severe weather and wildfires threatening the nation with Court closures and interruptions, Court systems across the nation can follow the example of the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit by expanding access to lawyers, litigants, and the general public for immediate notification about Courthouse emergencies.

This episode explores the history of the Circuit's internal emergency alert system, and how, working with the Fort Lauderdale Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates, the system was expanded earlier in 2023 for use by the general public.

When closures or other emergency events affect the Courthouses in Broward County, this system is often faster than waiting for reports from the news media. Expansion of the existing ReadyOp System for wider distribution was extremely easy and cost effective.

The service has been used to report Courthouse safety alerts, closures, electrical interruptions, floor closures and flooding.

Other Circuits can add this expanded service to their communities. To sign up for the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit's email and text alert system, please go to https://www.17th.flcourts.org.

This podcast was produced on August 25th, 2023 by Jeff Adelman and Mitch Chester for the Florida Chapters of the American Board of Trial Advocates and the Fort Lauderdale Chapter. Music is courtesy Pixabay.com, and Evgeny Bardyuzha.