AS
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ACH CO
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PALM BEACH COUNTY BAR
ASSOCIATION BULLE
IN
WWW.PALMBEACHBAR.ORG
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OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE PALM BEACH COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION
Honoring
Judge Nancy Perez
Bench Bar 2019 Chairs
Highlights for Bench Bar 2019
We are excited to introduce Bench Bar
2019. For over forty years, the judges
and lawyers of the Fifteenth Judicial
Circuit and Palm Beach County
have met at an annual conference to
address pending issues in the Circuit,
discuss evolutions in the law, and
reconnect with colleagues. The Bench
Bar Conference continues to serve as
the largest gathering of Palm Beach
County judges, attorneys, paralegals
and staff, and offers a unique forum at
A newly admitted attorney opens the doors
to the courtroom. As she walks in, the which to discuss the pressing issues
courtroom bailiff advises her to sign in on with the judiciary.
the docket. She finds her name and signs
the docket in the allotted space. Briefly
sweeping the courtroom, she finds a seat
in the front row. The case before the judge
involves a pro se plaintiff. The judge, a small
woman with salt and pepper hair is trying to
set the case for trial. The plaintiff informs
the judge that she requested documents
from the defendant, but she had not
received them. The judge inquired about the
production of documents; the attorney did
not have an answer. The attorney explained
that he was covering the hearing for another
and was not aware of the issue. In response,
the judge admonished the attorney stating
that anytime he appears in her courtroom
he should be fully aware of what is going
on in the case. Upon hearing that response,
the young attorney sitting in the front row
adjusted her posture and began reviewing
her documents to ensure she was fully
prepared to go before the judge. She did not
want to appear disheveled or misinformed
regarding the case she was presenting to
this judge, Judge Nancy Perez.
Since 1991, Judge Nancy Perez has enhanced
the Palm Beach County bench
(story continues on pg 10)
Kate Woods and Matt Ocksrider
This year, the Bench Bar Conference is
on February 22, 2019 at the Palm Beach
County Convention Center.
The theme is “Breaking Barriers and
Sharing Solutions.”
New Practice Areas: We are excited
to announce that we have a few new
(story continues on pg 9)
| JANUARY 2019
Judicial Profile :
Judge Sara Alijewicz
Driven to help people and resolve
disputes is what has fueled Sara
Alijewicz’ legal career.
Judge Sara Alijewicz has dedicated the
majority of her 23-year legal career to
public service.
Most recently, for the last eight years she
served as a General Magistrate for the
Palm Beach County Courts. As a General
Magistrate, Judge Alijewicz presided over
thousands of hearings and trials covering a
variety of matters. Before that, she served
as a Supervising and Staff Attorney for
the Palm Beach County Legal Aid Society
for eleven years. In addition to her public
service, she worked in private practice for
four years in a general practice firm with
an emphasis on family law.
Judge Alijewicz received her Juris Doctor
from Nova Southeastern University, and she
her Bachelor of Science in Natural Science
from Illinois Wesleyan. Before going to law
school, she was a Medical Technologist
licensed to practice in all areas in clinical
(story continues on pg 9)
President’s Message page 4
Judge Sara Alijewicz page 9
Honoring Judge Perez page 10