Open Ninth

From Court Administrator to the first ever Director of Racial Justice, Equity, and Inclusion at the National Center for State Courts, Edwin Bell sits in with Chief Judge Myers to discuss how systemic issues can affect courts across the nation. Tune in as Bell describes his experiences in the court system, his path to becoming Director, and his goals for the future. Show Notes 1:34 - The Director of Racial Justice, Equity, and Inclusion 3:00 - Edwin Bell’s background 9:56 - Defining racial...

After a combined 69 years on the bench, Judges Patricia Doherty, John Kest, Jon Morgan, and Janet Thorpe retired from full-time service at the end of 2020. During their last weeks at the courts, Chief Judge Don Myers took the opportunity to sit down and interview each of them. Listen in as our retiring judges look back at their careers and explore what lies ahead.

From station intern to prime time news anchor, our guest this week has done it all on her way to becoming one of Central Florida's most recognizable people. This episode, WFTV's Martha Sugalski joined Chief Judge Don Myers to talk about the evolution of TV journalism, the importance of role models, and what it's like to be the woman in front of the camera. Along the way, Martha explores how she got where she is today, explains how she balances her busy schedule day-to-day, and shares her...

When you have limited proficiency in English, the United States justice system can seem overwhelming and confusing. However, working behind-the-scenes to increase access to the courts and level the playing field are a group of dedicated, unsung superheroes – interpreters! In this latest episode of Open Ninth, Chief Judge Don Myers and the Ninth Circuit’s Interpreter Judge, Judge Luis Calderon, explore the important role interpreters play in the administration of justice, how that role has...

Can our pets get sick with COVID? When we go back to work, how can we make sure they're happy alone at home? To answer these questions, Chief Judge Don Myers talked to Dr. Kimberly Lee, local veterinarian. Together, they discuss the effects of the COVID-19 coronavirus on our community's beloved furry friends, from overwalking and obesity to pet adoptions and separation anxiety. Listen in to learn some of the best ways to maintain your pet's physical and emotional health during this pandemic.

During a pandemic, how does a Chief Judge balance safety and due process in the courts? Alongside Chief Judges Lisa Davidson of the Eighteenth Circuit and Ellen Masters of the Tenth Circuit, Chief Judge Don Myers explores the biggest challenges that COVID-19 has brought to the Central Florida area. All three Chiefs began their term on the same day in 2019; this gave them an excellent marker to compare both their first year in office and their Circuit's responses to COVID-19 in this in-depth...

Have questions about voting in the upcoming election? Listen in and find answers as Bill Cowles, Orange County's Supervisor of Elections, joins Chief Judge Don Myers to talk about voters, ballots, and elections. From early voting and vote-by-mail to high-speed ballot readers and rejected signatures, together they explore how a Supervisor of Elections keeps the democratic process running smoothly and efficiently during a pandemic. Time Stamps 1:11 - Becoming Supervisor of Elections 2:56 -...

How does a popular Central Florida attraction keep both staff and animals safe during a pandemic? Find out as Chief Judge Don Myers speaks to Dino Ferri, CEO of Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens, about planning, preparing, and protecting the zoo and its visitors for the foreseeable future. They also explore how zoonotic diseases like COVID-19 can spread between animals to humans. From tigers to pigs to housecats and beyond, this conversation explores how the human, animal, and viral...

Even before coming to the bench, Judge Elizabeth Gibson lived a life full of adventure and new experiences. Raised on a series of Navy bases, she moved to Japan with her family in her late teens, and dedicated herself to becoming fluent in the Japanese language and culture. She graduated from the University of Maryland while living in Japan, eventually returning to the United States to attend law school and begin her legal career. Judge Gibson joined Chief Judge Don Myers on this episode of...

As we continue to explore this pandemic's impact on our community partners, Chief Judge Don Myers invited the new FAMU College of Law dean, Deidré Keller, to share her perspective on how the virus has changed both the law school and the lives of its faculty and students. Together, they examine everything from the effectiveness of virtual learning to the continued delay of the Bar exam, and what implications that could hold for the future of students and young lawyers. Along the way, we also...

From the NFL to the State Attorney's Office to a seat on the county criminal bench, Judge Andrew Bain has had a unique journey to the judiciary. Listen in as he shares with Chief Judge Myers how his commitment to family, faith, and community led him off the field and onto the bench. Time Stamps 1:17 - Judge Bain’s background in Lauderdale Lakes, Florida 2:32 - Bain family history – the military and South Florida 4:41 -Sports as an extracurricular: baseball, basketball, football 5:24 - High...

On July 19th, a gunman posing as a FedEx delivery person shot U.S. Judge Esther Salas' son and husband at their home in New Jersey. In the wake of that tragedy, Chief Judge Don Myers invited top court security expert and former U.S. Marshal, John Muffler back on the show to discuss the challenges of protecting the judiciary in the digital age. From policing social media to conducting disinformation campaigns and beyond, listen in as they explore the best practices for staying safe both on...

How does a collegiate volleyball player with an interest in international studies end up becoming a judge of the Ninth Circuit? Listen in as Chief Judge Don Myers talks with Judge Paetra Brownlee, a mother, daily runner, former appellate attorney, and newly minted judge about the path that led her to the Circuit Civil division. In this fun, light-hearted conversation, we explore Judge Brownlee's expectations of the bench to her actual experience so far, learn a little about her career in...

LaShawnda Jackson made history this year as the first Black president of the Orange County Bar Association. She sat down with Chief Judge Don Myers to talk about Central Florida's interconnected legal community, challenges she's faced as a Black female lawyer, and her proposals to make the legal profession more diverse and inclusive. Listen and learn about the life of a lawyer from her perspective, including law school, getting involved in the local Bar associations, going to trial, and the...

Orlando Sentinel journalist, Scott Maxwell, joins Chief Judge Don Myers to talk about his 20-year career as a Central Florida opinion columnist. Listen in as they explore the role of the modern reporter, the dangers of confirmation bias and fake news, the rise and “fall” of journalism, our underfunded court system, Orlando's tourism-based economy, and more. If you’ve ever wondered about the journalistic process – this is the episode for you. Time Stamps 3:30 - Scott Maxwell's journalistic...

Do you still have questions about COVID-19 and the courts? Listen in as Chief Judge Don Myers talks with Dr. Christian Zuver, Medical Director of Orange County Emergency Medical Services, about the state of our community and its response to the virus, a vaccine timeline, hurricane season, changes to jury, transitioning to remote hearings, new Circuit-wide safety protocols, and more.

In this special virtually-hosted episode, Judges Amy Carter, Bob LeBlanc and Alicia Latimore join Chief Judge Don Myers to discuss how their lives have changed during the course of this pandemic, both personally and professionally. Tune in to learn how the judges are navigating issues like judicial wellness, working remotely, homeschooling children, restrictions on visiting their families, and more. Plus, you’ll hear what the judges have realized they are most grateful for during this...

After three and a half years, 99 episodes and two hosts, here we are – Open Ninth’s 100th episode! To celebrate, Chief Judge Don Myers invited former host, chief judge, and first champion of Open Ninth, Fred Lauten, back on to go behind-the-scenes of our audience’s top 10 favorite episodes. Plus, you’ll hear about our podcast’s origin story, hard lessons our team has had to learn on this journey, and maybe even learn a thing or two about your local judiciary along the way. It's been a wild...

What sort of journey leads someone to a federal district court judgeship? For Judge Roy Dalton, it was a winding one, built on a stellar reputation gained from being professional, prepared, and persistent. Listen in as Judge Dalton talks to Chief Judge Don Myers about his journey to the federal bench, what it takes to be a good trial lawyer, the federal judicial nomination process, pro se litigants, the difference between state and federal courts, and more.

Every day, judges make life-changing decisions from the bench, and receive many threats as a result. These threats set in motion a pathway to violence paved by certain behavioral indicators that alert law enforcement and trained professionals to be on guard. Listen in as court security expert John Muffler talks to Chief Judge Don Myers about threat assessment, workplace safety, and the steps you can take to prepare for and prevent violence. Show Notes 1:12 - John Muffler’s background and...