Dear Friend,
January provided us with an opportunity to build upon all the challenges we faced and overcame in 2020. I am pleased to say that we accomplished a great deal in only the first month of 2021. Despite everything, we have successfully adapted to the “new normal” and continue to provide Miami-style Smart Justice in the same professional, fair, and dedicated manner that we always have for our community.
Our virtual doors have remained open throughout the pandemic as we have maximized the use of technology to strengthen our bonds with our community, stakeholders, law enforcement partners and government agencies to effectuate the real and necessary changes that our community needs and deserves.
And though the COVID-19 pandemic caused us to defer the start of our fall 2020 ASA New Class until January, it didn’t dampen or dull the resolve of our new prosecutors. In fact, they seem more motivated and focused than ever.
These 42 young lawyers join our team during a truly unique time. Their experience of being a new prosecutor will be vastly different than their predecessors, but just as impactful.
They are taking part in our New ASA Training Program that we have transformed into a completely online format. It is reassuring to see how extremely engaged they are in the sessions and with each other. They are energetic and eager to learn, unafraid to ask question or to help each other out along the way.
Even though the virtual training has them sitting in front of a computer in separate locations, they have truly come together as a team. I am proud to say they are off and running.
Personally, I miss being able to walk over to the training room and speak with them in person, as I usually do with all new classes. There is nothing like witnessing these new attorneys take their first steps as prosecutors. You see their enthusiasm and their passion for ensuring justice is available to all. It is truly inspiring.
Our new ASAs were sworn in a virtual ceremony by various Judges of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida, some of them former prosecutors, with their family members also joining this most memorable event.
Please join me in welcoming these new members to the SAO family, the Best Team in America!
Sincerely,
