News / Announcements

Please see additional information below regarding two IRC Lawyers Auxiliary projects we will be supporting at this year's IRCBA Holiday Party. 

Shopping made easy: We have stocked a cart full of reading and grade level appropriate books in the Children's Department on the 2nd floor of the Vero Beach Book Center for our third grade Dodgertown READS: Literacy Challenge. Choose from the cart or browse on your own. They also have a good toy selection for the Dependency Court Project. No need to wrap your gifts.

Too busy to shop? We'll do it for you. Send tax deductible contributions to the Education Foundation IRC, P.O. Box 7046, Vero Beach, FL 32961, with "Tools to Learn-Bar Holiday Party"  in the memo, or place cash or checks in the red Holiday Box on the book/toy table at the Bar Holiday Party.

The IRCBA is pleased to announce the beginning of its scholarship program.  Through its partnership with the IRSC Foundation, scholarships are available to students enrolled in the paralegal studies program who meet the necessary requirements.  On October 14^th, 2016, the IRCBA membership welcomed the 2016/2017 scholarship recipients, Lyudmyla Bryant and Jessica Roy, along with Julia Keenan of the IRSC Foundation.

Pictured left to right – Michelle N. Servos, IRCBA Treasurer, Jessica Roy, scholarship recipient, Bill Debraal, IRCBA President, Julia Keenan, Scholarship Development Coordinator IRSC Foundation and Lyudmyla Bryant, scholarship recipient.  

Please see the 2016 voter guide, which provides public education on the upcoming judicial elections and merit retention elections. This guide is a project of The Florida Bar’s Constitutional Judiciary and Judicial Administration and Evaluation committees.

The guide is available on this webpage (www.floridabar.org/thevotesinyourcourt) in English and Spanish along with additional information.

Our IRCBA Annual Meeting was held June 10. Florida Rural Legal Services and Bill DeBraal presented Pro Bono Awards to recipients, Meredith Jones and Susan Chesnutt, for their outstanding Pro Bono work in our community. We also recognized Judge Cox and Kate Hill, as they both received awards earlier this year regarding their service to the profession and our community.

The Board of County Commissioners presented a Proclamation to the Indian River County Bar Association on April 19 in the County Commission Chambers. IRCBA President and Vice President, Erin Grall and Bill DeBraal, accepted the Proclamation.

Dodgertown READS Literacy Challenge: Putting books in the hands and homes of struggling 2nd grade readers each and every month from October through May. Suggestions: Bad Kitty, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Super Hero "comic" books, books about sharks, dinosaurs, or special titles your children have enjoyed. We also accept gently used books for grades Pre-K-3 and make distributions periodically, but especially near holiday vacation time. 

Dependency Court: "Quiet" toys to relieve stress for children appearing in court every 3 months. Most requested: Stuffed animals, diversified Barbie dolls and Baby dolls, Superhero figures, Dinosaur figures, and Matchbox cars, priced at under $10 to keep gifts equal. Although children take the toys home, they also play with them in the courtroom, so please, no toy weapons or toys that make sounds, squirt, or propel objects.  

For those not attending the holiday party or wishing to make a cash contribution, monetary donations are much appreciated and are tax deductible. Make checks payable to the Education Foundation of IRC and mail to Education Foundation of IRC, P.O. Box 7046, Vero Beach, FL 32961. Please note "Tools to Learn: Books/Toys" on memo of check. Please contact Ann Catchick at 234-7367 with any questions.

It is a privilege to inform you that our very own 19^th Judicial Circuit Court Judge the Honorable Gary Sweet was honored and recognized for his significant contributions to dependency court at the 2015 Child Protection Summit held in Orlando Florida on September 9- 11.  This statewide conference is attended by  several thousand  of the participants within the dependency system from the judiciary, foster parents, guardian ad litems, law enforcement, parents attorneys, CLS attorneys, case managers, investigators and many others.  

Over the years Judge Sweet has been assigned the dependency bench in both Martin and Okeechobee Counties.  His judicial disposition and knowledge of the law represents exemplary judicial temperament and skill and is appreciated by all the parties that appear before him.  He has made a great contribution to the courts in serving dependent children and their families and should be celebrated.

We are proud to have such a jurist in our circuit.  

IRC Clerk of Court, Jeff Smith, was presented with a "Partnership Award" by the Florida Rural Legal Services, Inc. for his work in assisting the agency and supporting the Pro Se Legal Help program.

"I was surprised and honored that Florida Rural Legal Services, Inc. would present me with their Partnership Award." Smith went on to say, "I also applaud the Indian River County Bar Association and its members, who donate their time to assist the Pro Se individuals. Without their dedication and assistance, this program would not be successful." 

Pictured: Jeff Smith, IRC Clerk of Court (center) with Carolyn Fabrizio (left) and Valencia Stubbs (right), both from Florida Rural Legal Services, Inc.

The Indian River County Lawyers Auxiliary will receive an American Lawyers Alliance Auxiliary Support award "for distinguished and invaluable contributions to our common goals and purpose." They will be recognized in Dallas with a $700 award to continue our "Summer Learning Kit," a project started last summer to improve reading skills of struggling 3rd graders in Indian River County. The ALA says, "This year the poignant work to help struggling children took the main stage and became a category we entitled 'Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep.' "

The IRC Lawyers Auxiliary has been a member of the national ALA since their inception in 2004. They are honored to be the recipient of this award.  Not only did the Lawyers Auxiliary win this award , but their "Summer Learning Kit" was so well received that it is being considered as a project for auxiliaries nationwide. The ALA has also invited a member of our local auxiliary to be on the Board of Directors, so that member will attend future meetings of the ALA, during ABA meetings. This is awesome work for the first and only Lawyers Auxiliary in Florida with only 21 members.