FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — The 17th Judicial Circuit is delighted to announce that the Caribbean Bar Association has named County Court Judge Jackie Powell recipient of the President’s Award in recognition of her community service. The Jamaican native was first elected in 2018 and begins a new six-year term in January 2025.
Notably, Judge Powell is the first Jamaican American woman to be elected judge in Broward. The Plantation resident was honored for her extensive work with local youth, which includes visits to more than 50 local schools as well as mentoring youth for more than 20 years, through her job, her church and her community.
“I want to congratulate Judge Powell on behalf of the 17th Circuit for this well-deserved recognition,” Chief Judge Jack Tuter said. “Judge Powell is one of the hardest working and likeable judges in the circuit. Thank you Judge Powell for your many contributions to the judiciary and to Broward County.”
Judge Powell is widely known to welcome teens into her courtroom, where she fields questions and discusses career possibilities to promote engagement and interest.
“Someone said what you do for yourself dies with you, what you do for others remains in the world,” Judge Powell said. “My passion is youth. I seize every opportunity to encourage a young person to reach for their dreams”.
Judge Powell’s most recent accolades include a Letter of Honor from the City of North Lauderdale (2024); being designated a JDI Judicial Honoree for the 17th Circuit (2024), an International Career and Business Alliance – Black America’s Best Professionals honoree (2023), recipient of the I Am Hope Foundation Leadership Award, recipient of the Jamaican-American Bar Association Outstanding Judiciary Award, recipient of the T.J. Reddick Bar Association Judge Zebeedee Wright Award (2022) and Hispanic Bar Association Member of the Month, 2021.
Judge Powell is also a member of the Board of Directors for the nonprofit Voices for the Children of Broward County (2018 to present); the Jamaican Women of Florida (2023-present); and the NSU Law Leadership Council (2021-present), among many others. In 2021, she received the inaugural community award from the Broward Chapter of the Inns of Court. Also in 2021, she was recognized as one of South Florida’s Most Influential and Powerful Black Professionals of 2021 by Legacy South Florida Magazine.
ABOUT THE SEVENTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF FLORIDA
The Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida is the court for Broward County, headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, FL. It is the second largest circuit court in the state. Broward County has 90 judges. Of those, 32 are county court judges and 58 are circuit judges. Four courthouses comprise the 17th circuit and include the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, and three satellite courthouses: the North Regional Courthouse in Deerfield Beach, the West Regional Courthouse in Plantation and the South Regional Courthouse in Hollywood.
