April 7, 2013 Motorcycle Ride for the Suicide Prevention

On April 7, 2013, The City of Pahokee will be hosting a Motorcycle Ride and Picnic to benefit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.  This is a charity which is very important to me.  We can effectively change and save lives by recognizing suicidal behavior.  All it takes is 'awareness'.  Please join me for this event.  More information at www.suiciderun.net

Who is at risk for suicide?

Suicide does not discriminate. People of all genders, ages, and ethnicities are at risk for suicide. But people most at risk tend to share certain characteristics. The main risk factors for suicide are:

• Depression, other mental disorders, or substance abuse disorder
• A prior suicide attempt
• Family history of a mental disorder or substance abuse
• Family history of suicide
• Family violence, including physical or sexual abuse
• Having guns or other firearms in the home
• Incarceration, being in prison or jail
• Being exposed to others' suicidal behavior, such as that of family members, peers, or media figures.

The risk for suicidal behavior also is associated with changes in brain chemicals called neurotransmitters, including serotonin, which is also associated with depression. Lower levels of serotonin have been found in the brains of people with a history of suicide attempts.
Many people have some of these risk factors but do not attempt suicide. Suicide is not a normal response to stress. It is however, a sign of extreme distress, not a harmless bid for attention.
How can suicide be prevented?

Effective suicide prevention is based on sound research. Programs that work take into account people's risk factors and promote interventions that are appropriate to specific groups of people.

Research has shown that mental and substance abuse disorders are risk factors for suicide. Therefore, many programs focus on treating these disorders in addition to addressing suicide risk specifically.

Psychotherapy, or "talk therapy," can effectively reduce suicide risk.  There are also medications that can help with suicidal tendencies.

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/suicide-in-america/how-can-suicide-be-prevented.shtml

As always, family, friends and co-workers, are the first to notice irrational behavior.  Learning about the risks factors associated with suicide should be a priority for everyone.  Suicide is 100% preventable. 

http://www.afsp.org/

Paralegal Superstar 2012 Linda McGrath

At the close of every year, Paralegal Gateway accepts nomininations for exceptional Paralegals to featured monthly on its website at www.paralegalgateway.com

 

Linda was nominated and selected in 2011 to be featured during the month of November, 2012.  This is what Paralegal Gateway had to say about Linda: 

 

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Linda is a litigation paralegal with the law firm of Arnstein & Lehr in Miami, Florida. She focuses on discovery and trial practice primarily in the area of products liability and wrongful death defense. After graduating from Barry University, Linda went on to become an Advanced Certified Paralegal through NALA and a Florida Registered Paralegal. Her experience as a litigation paralegal has encompassed areas such as product liability, medical malpractice, construction law, general defense litigation, complex commercial litigation and multi-district litigation.

Linda began getting more involved in the paralegal community in 2010 when she served as the 2010-2011 inaugural Vice-Chair of the Dade County Bar Association’s Paralegal Committee and then as Chair for the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 terms. She maintains a website to keep local paralegals up to date on job openings, rule changes, CLE offerings and other relevant information (www.miamifrp.com). Linda has also published numerous articles relating to the paralegal field.
In her free time, Linda enjoys spending time with her family and her three Chinese Crested dogs. She also loves to travel and is a cruise addict, most recently taking cruises to Hawaii, all around the Caribbean and through the Panama Canal.

We know more than that now.  Linda is a highly respected member of the Paralegal Community, here in South Florida an perhaps in many parts of the U.S.  She has set up and runs an extradinary website called "Linda's Paralegal Resources".   Subscribers to this site shot up exponentially as Linda shared the flurry of E-Discovery rules and regulations that went into effect this past year.   Linda also posts job openings, career advice, and anything of interest to our community. 

She is a Paralegal Superstar, not for one month, that is too short a time to recognize her contributions. 

Thank you, Linda.

You can subscribe to Linda's Paralegal Resources at http://miamifrp.com/

February 1 2013 - Judge Elijah Williams Juvenile Court Delinquency Division

BIOGRAPHY

ELIJAH H. WILLIAMS

Honorable Elijah H. Williams, (1959 -      ) Circuit Judge, 17^th Judicial Circuit, Broward County, Florida.  Born and raised in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  Elijah Harold Williams attended Walker Elementary School, Broward Estates Elementary School, Parkway Middle School and South Plantation High School (1972 – 1976) in Broward County, Florida.

In 1976, at the age of 16, Elijah entered the University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.  He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science in 1980.  Upon winning a $26,500 graduate fellowship, he entered both the University of Florida’s graduate program and law school concurrently and was awarded a Master of Arts degree in Political Science/Public Administration and a Juris Doctorate degree in August 1983.  Six months later, he was admitted to the Florida Bar.

In October 1984, he was commissioned as a Captain in the United States Air Force and was assigned to the Staff Judge Advocate General’s Department and sent to Lowry Air Force Base, Denver, Colorado.  While stationed at Lowry AFB, he served primarily as the Chief of Preventive Law/Legal Assistance.  In October 1986, he was reassigned to RAF Bentwaters, England.  For the initial six months of the tour, he served as the Chief of Civil Law.  In March of 1987, he became the Chief of Military Justice.  In this position, he managed the military justice program for the largest tactical fighter wing in the USAF and served as a prosecutor at court-martials and a government representative at administrative discharge boards.  In March 1988, Captain Williams authored the lead article for the United States Air Force Law Reporter (“DNA Fingerprinting – Into the 21^st Century”).  In 1989, he was selected to be the Area Defense Counsel.  This was a prestigious position, which entailed constant travel across the European continent defending military members accused of major crimes.  Additionally, for a three (3) year period, Captain Williams was an Adjunct Assistant Professor for both Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and the University of Maryland.  As such, he taught two college legal courses each term.

Also, in 1989, Elijah won a Toastmaster’s International regional speech contest and was selected as one of Great Britain’s ten (10) best public speakers.

In July 1990, Captain Williams resigned from the United States Air Force and was appointed an Assistant State Attorney in Broward County.  As a result, he prosecuted criminals for offenses ranging from DUI to 2^nd degree murder.  He left his position as a prosecutor in December 1992, and was hired by the Law Firm of Whitelock, Soloff and Rodriquez in January 1993, to serve as an assistant General Counsel to the Sheriff of Broward County.  He was made a named partner in the law firm on January 2, 1995.

On May 1, 1998, Elijah Williams transitioned into the Broward Sheriff’s Office as an employee and managed, in an interim status, the Legal and Risk Management Departments.  In that capacity, he managed a staff of twenty (20) people, to include six (6) attorneys.

In November 2001, Elijah applied to become a circuit judge and was one of many attorneys seeking to fill a judicial vacancy.  As one of six nominees selected by the Judicial Nominating Commission, his name was forwarded to Florida Governor Jeb Bush.  On March 1, 2002, Governor Bush appointed Elijah Williams to Broward’s Circuit Court. Judge Williams currently presides over juvenile delinquency cases.

Since 1994, he has been happily married to the former Deborah Garner of Huntsville, Alabama. They live in Plantation, along with their 5-pound Yorkie named “Taylor.”

Please go to www.browardbar.org to register for this event.