Judge of the MonthThe Honorable Jose Izquierdo

Judge Izquierdo is a native Floridian, born and raised in Hialeah, Florida and is a first generation Cuban American.  His mother came over on the “Pedro Pan” flights, separated from her parents. His father came to Florida “pre-Castro.”  Judge Izquierdo attended Florida International University in Miami, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and government.  He then attended law school at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, before returning to South Florida to practice law.

Prior to serving as a member of the judiciary, Judge Izquierdo was the managing partner at Izquierdo & Marin, P.A., which handled civil, criminal, and immigration matters in state and federal court.  He also served as guardian ad litem/attorney ad litem in over 200 mortgage foreclosure matters and has represented both petitioners and respondents in domestic violence injunction proceedings. Additionally, he served as attorney and counselor for the Consulate General of Mexico and Honduras in Miami.

Currently, Judge Izqueirdo is assigned to Unified Family Court/Juvenile Dependency Division where he presides over cases involving children who have been abused, abandoned, or neglected, and all related divorce, delinquency, domestic violence, paternity, and adoption matters.

Judge Izquierdo, in conjunction with the Seminole Tribe of Florida, has founded one of Florida’s first Tribal Courts focusing on children and families that fall under the jurisdiction of the Indian Child Welfare Act 25 U.S.C. §§ 1901–1963.

In addition to his judicial duties, Judge Izquierdo is certified to serve as a faculty instructor for fellow judges and has served in that capacity for the Florida Judicial College and the Conference of Circuit Court Judges. He also currently serves as the chair of the 17th Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee and was recently selected to serve on the Child Welfare Race Equity Work Group for Broward County. Judge Izquierdo is the 17th Judicial Circuit’s Judicial Representative to the Hague Convention.

Judge Izquierdo also serves as Broward County Hispanic Bar Association’s judicial liaison!

 

Interview with The Honorable Jose Izquierdo