HCBA Lawyer Magazine Vol. 30, No. 2 | Page 61

saving vEtErans Senior Counsel Section continued from page 58 the Veterans Administration Justice Outreach Officers and veteran mentors. Several veteran mentors from MacDill Air Force Base were present at the luncheon. They volunteer to help save other veterans. Bay Area Legal Services and other local organizations also contribute to the success of this program to save veterans. Hillsborough County Public Defender Julianne Holt summed it up well: “Our Veterans Treatment Court is saving lives daily. The unique partnership of the court team members creates a holistic approach which addresses the needs and challenges of veterans who find themselves in this problem-solving court. Our goal is to ensure our veterans know they are not alone and that we will always be there for them.” Hillsborough Circuit Court Judge Gregory Holder added, “The Veterans Treatment Court is a hybrid court, blending the aspects of the traditional drug, criminal, mental health and diversionary court processes. Our focus is on the identification, treatment, and successful reintegration of every enrolled veteran back into society. Partnering with the Veterans Administration, we break the cycle of hopelessness and non-recovery, and ultimately save our warriors from serious injury or death.” The Senior Counsel Section and the Military & Veterans Affairs Committee were honored to hear Judge Scionti’s moving presentation and to learn more about the Veterans Court and how it is saving our veterans. n https://www.loc.gov/rr/program/ bib/ourdocs/lincoln2nd.html (visited Sept. 24, 2019). 2 https://www.va.gov/opa/ publications/celebrate/vamotto.pdf (visited September 24, 2019). 3 For more information about Justice for Vets, visit https://justiceforvets.org/. 4 http://www.fljud13.org/ CourtPrograms/DrugCourtPrograms/ VeteransTreatmentCourt/AboutUs.aspx (visited Sept. 24, 2019). 1 Author: Thomas Newcomb Hyde - Attorney at Law Robert H. Bonanno, Esquire Mediator/Arbitrator X Certified Florida Circuit Civil & Federal Mediator X Member Florida Circuit-Civil Mediator Society X Available to serve as Special Master X Over 37 years legal experience X Resumé and rates available on website X Downtown Tampa Facilities Available X Convenient Online Calendar www.TampaMediation.com (813)769-3701 NOV - DEC 2019 | HCBA LAWYER 59