Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Lamar P. Fisher
Department: County Commission
Information
Requested Action
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MOTION TO ADOPT Resolution directing the County Administrator to publish Notice of Public Hearing to be held on August 20, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., in Room 422 of Governmental Center East to consider adoption of a proposed Resolution Naming County-Owned Property, the title of which is as follows:
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA, RENAMING COURTROOM 05170 AT THE BROWARD COUNTY JUDICIAL COMPLEX AS THE “JUDGE SUSAN F. GREENHAWT COURTROOM” IN HONOR OF FORMER CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE SUSAN F. GREENHAWT; DIRECTING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO TAKE ALL ACTIONS NECESSARY TO EFFECTUATE THE NAMING OF THE COURTROOM; AND PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
(Sponsored by Commissioner Lamar P. Fisher)
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Why Action is Necessary
Section 18.43 of the Broward County Administrative Code requires the posting of notice and a public hearing before the Board of County Commissioners (“Board”) may adopt a Resolution Naming County-Owned Property.
What Action Accomplishes
Enables the setting of a public hearing during which the Board may consider adopting the proposed Resolution Naming County-Owned Property.
Goal Related Icon(s)
☐County Commission
☐Go Green
☐MAP Broward
Previous Action Taken
Summary Explanation/Background
This item proposes that the Board consider naming Courtroom 05170 at the Broward County Judicial Complex located at 201 S.E. Sixth Street, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301 (“Courtroom”), as the “Judge Susan F. Greenhawt Courtroom” in honor of former Circuit Court Judge Susan F. Greenhawt (“Judge Greenhawt”).
Judge Greenhawt made significant contributions to Broward County and the State of Florida through her distinguished careers as a nurse, attorney, and judge. Appointed to the bench in 2003 by Governor Jeb Bush, Judge Greenhawt served in the Family Division of the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit in Broward County for more than a decade, including as a Circuit Judge, Administrative Judge of the Unified Family Court, and Senior Judge presiding over complex family law matters.
Prior to her judicial service, Judge Greenhawt worked for approximately 16 years as a nurse providing care and support to patients in emergency treatment settings across hospitals in Miami-Dade and Broward counties and later in an oncology practice in Hollywood, Florida. Following law school, Judge Greenhawt established a family law practice serving Broward County residents for approximately ten years before her appointment to the bench.
Throughout her legal and judicial careers, Judge Greenhawt was widely respected for her compassionate, practical and steady approach to service. For more than 20 years, she also served as a mentor, colleague, and valued source of wisdom and guidance for judges and attorneys serving in the Family Division of the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit.
Section 18.43 of the Broward County Administrative Code (“Administrative Code”) establishes the Board’s policy for naming County-owned property, buildings, structures, roads, and facilities. Pursuant to Section 18.43(i)(3) of the Administrative Code, the Board received a written request, attached as Exhibit 3, from Chief Judge Carol-Lisa Phillips of the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit requesting that a courtroom on the Family Division floor of the Broward County Judicial Complex be named in honor of Judge Greenhawt. The proposed naming also satisfies the additional criteria applicable to court spaces under Section 18.43(i) of the Administrative Code.
The proposal was reviewed in accordance with Section 18.43 of the Administrative Code, including consideration of the applicable naming criteria and community input requirements. No comments from the community were received.
Attached as Exhibit 4 is a memorandum to the Board dated May 26, 2026, summarizing the community input solicited and received and analyzing the proposed naming under the applicable criteria set forth in the Administrative Code, including Judge Greenhawt’s significant nonfinancial humanitarian contributions at the local level, which receives first priority under Section 18.43(b)(4) of the Administrative Code.
Source of Additional Information
Mary Pryde, Chief of Staff, District 4, 954-357-7004
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
The fiscal impact is expected to be minimal and limited to signage and related administrative costs.