Announcements

2022 Chief Justice’s Distinguished Service Award Recipient Chief Judge Bonnie J. Helms

KEY WEST, FL— The 16th Judicial Circuit is pleased to announce that Chief Judge Bonnie J. Helms is the recipient of the 2022 Chief Justice’s Distinguished Judicial Service Award. This award is presented annually to one judge in the State of Florida to honor and recognize outstanding service as it relates to the support of pro bono legal services. The award will be presented by Chief Justice Charles Canady at a ceremony at the Supreme Court of Florida in Tallahassee on January 20, 2022.

Judge Helms was elected to the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit Court bench in 2014 and ran without opposition in 2020. She currently sits in the Family and Civil Divisions in Key West and beginning January 1, 2022, she will be assigned to the Family Division in Marathon. She was recently elected by her colleagues as Chief Judge for a two-year term which began July 1, 2021. Judge Helms is also the current chair of the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit’s Pro Bono Committee, which educates local attorneys on the need to provide pro bono services and promotes to the public the benefits of pro bono services that local attorneys and Legal Services of the Florida Keys provide through clinics and individual representation.
The Distinguished Judicial Service award is presented at the annual Pro Bono Award Ceremony in Tallahassee, in which the Florida Supreme Court and the Florida Bar also honor and recognize individual, circuit, Voluntary Bar, Law Firm, Young Lawyers Division and Distinguished Federal Judicial Service recipients for their efforts in ensuring access to justice for those who could otherwise not afford it.

2023-2024 Employee of the Year (July 2023-June 2024) – Isis Majeska

As announced at the 2024 Employee Recognition Ceremony on Friday, Isis Majeska, Supervising Court Interpreter (Certified), was chosen by Chief Judge Bonnie Helms as the Employee of the Year for July 2023 to June 2024.

Isis’s role as the supervising interpreter is multifaceted. She not only manages the operations of the Court Interpreter unit and assists with interpreting and translating assignments, but she also plays a crucial role in ADA accommodations, courthouse safety, urinalysis drug testing, quarterly jury trial reports, and preparing the six-month calendars for the Marathon and Plantation Key judges. Her unique contributions have significantly enhanced our operations.

Isis’s dedication to the Circuit and our community is not just a matter of fulfilling her job description. She has rescheduled her vacations to assist the court and proactively communicated with staff when she is away. Her introduction of the practice of staff interpreters attending weekend first appearances, rather than using outside contracted interpreters, has not only saved costs but also improved the efficiency of our operations.

Our 16th Judicial Circuit mission statement reads in part: “Each individual employee in our Circuit is here to see that justice is served.” And Isis, due to her tireless efforts and the many hats she wears for the Circuit, makes certain that justice is served on a daily basis. Isis is not required by her job description to
assist in many of these extra duties; she does it by choice. Isis understands that the success of a team is dependent on the success of every individual who works for the circuit.

Isis’s dedication, professionalism, and willingness to go above and beyond make her an invaluable member of our team.

As the recipient of this yearly award, Isis received a certificate, a plaque, and one 8-hour day of administrative leave, as well as recognition on our website and in the local paper.

Thank you, Isis, for your unwavering dedication and the countless ways you contribute to the success of the 16th Judicial Circuit. We are truly grateful to have you as part of our 16th Circuit family!

2024 Employee of the Quarter (January-March) – Isis Majeska

CONGRATULATIONS!

Congratulations to Isis Majeska, Supervising Court Interpreter (Certified), for being selected as the Employee of the Quarter for January – March 2024. Since Isis’s employment with the 16th Circuit in April 1999, she has proven, time and again, to be a valuable asset to the Court Administration team and the 16th Judicial Circuit as a whole.

As the supervising interpreter, Isis not only manages the operations of the Court Interpreter unit and assists with interpreting and translating assignments, but she also assists with ADA accommodations, courthouse safety, urinalysis drug testing, quarterly jury trial reports and preparing the six-month calendars for the Marathon and Plantation Key judges.

In addition to going over and above her job description, Isis’s commitment to the Circuit and our community is reflected in other ways, such as rescheduling her vacations to assist the court and proactively communicating with staff when she’s away. As a perennial cost-saving measure, Isis introduced many years ago that staff interpreters attend weekend first appearances, rather than paying outside contracted interpreters.

Our 16th Judicial Circuit mission statement reads in part: “Each individual employee in our Circuit is here to see that justice is served.” And Isis, due to her tireless efforts and the many hats she wears for the Circuit, makes certain that justice is served on a daily basis. Isis is not required by her job description to assist in many of these extra duties; she does it by choice. Because Isis understands the success of a team is dependent on the success of every individual who works for the circuit.

Isis’s dedication and professionalism, along with her willingness to do what it takes to get the job done make her a valuable member of the team. The 16th Judicial Circuit is grateful for her contributions and congratulates her on this well-deserved recognition.