NSG

ADMISSION TO PRACTICE:                       

1977                                                                   United States District Court,

                Southern District of Florida

1973                                                                   The Florida Bar

 

EDUCATION:                                    

 

1973                                                                   UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI, SCHOOL OF LAW

                                                                           CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA

                 Juris Doctor

 

1970                                                                  ROLLINS COLLEGE

                WINTER PARK, FLORIDA

                Bachelor of Arts

 

CERTIFIED MEDIATION TRAINING:

 

2011                                                                  APPELLATE MEDIATION TRAINING

                                                                           (Florida Supreme Court Certified)

 

2011                                                                  FAMILY MEDIATION TRAINING

                                                                           (Florida Supreme Court Certified)

                                                          

2010                                                             CIRCUIT/CIVIL MEDIATION TRAINING

                                                                           (Florida Supreme Court Certified)

 

 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

 

2010- PRESENT                                        Mediator/Arbitrator/Special Master/Umpire for Insurance disputes at Norman S. Gerstein P.A.

 

2010                                                                       SUPREME COURT CERTIFIED CIRCUIT MEDIATOR    

                                                                                Member – National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals

 

1986-2010                                                                                         CIRCUIT JUDGE

Appointed by Governor Graham in 1986. Elected to six year terms in 1986, 1992,1998 and 2004. Served in General Jurisdiction, Probate, Criminal and Juvenile Divisions.

 

1981-1986                                                                                         COUNTY COURT JUDGE

Appointed by Governor Graham in 1981. Elected to a four year term in 1982.

 

1979-1980                                                            SPECIAL ASSISTANT STATE ATTORNEY

                Assisted Grand Jury in investigations of nursing homes and

                Programs for abused, neglected, and abandoned children.

 

1973-1980                                                                                ASSISTANT PUBLIC DEFENDER

                Office of the Public Defender, Eleventh Judicial Circuit,

                Dade County

 

HONORS:

                                                                                   Dedicated Service Award

                                                                                  American Board of Trial Advocates

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

                                                                               Justice Gerald Kogan Judicial Distinction Award

                                                                                 Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

 

                                                                                 Lifetime Achievement Award

                                                                               Greater Miami Jewish Federation

 

                                                                                Judge Wilkie Ferguson, Jr. Advocacy Award

                                                                                Easter Seals Miami Dade

                                                                               

                                                                                The Heart Award

                                                                                Boys and Girls Clubs of Miami

 

                                                                                Justice Harry Lee Anstead Professionalism Award

                                                                                Dade County Trial Lawyers Association

 

                                                                                Community Service Award

                                                                                Healthy Families

                                                                               

                                                                                National Association for Foreign Attorneys

                                                                                Judge of the Year Award

 

                                                                                Children’s Home Society

                                                                                Outstanding Children’s Patron

                                                                                                                                                                                                               

                                                                                Community Service Award

                       Dade County Bar Association

 

                       Community Service Award            

                        City of Miami

 

                      Community Service Award

                      City of South Miami

 

                      Community Service Award

                       Greater Miami Jewish Federation

 

                      Certificate of Appreciation as a member of the

                        Miami-Dade Addiction Services Board.

 

                      Outstanding Contribution Award, Advocacy Center.

 

                      Distinguished Service Award,

                       Sunrise Community for the Retarded.

 

                       Outstanding Contribution Award,

                        Dade County Public Defender’s Office.

 

                       Dedicated Service Award,

                       Sunland Training Center for the Retarded Citizens.

 

 

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES:

 

2013                                                                Miami Coalition of Christians & Jews

                                                                        Board of Directors

 

2011- Present                                                   The Coral Gables Trust

                                                                         Board Member

 

2004-2009                                                        The Children’s Trust

                Miami-Dade County

 

2002-Present                                                     Summer Fun For Kids, Inc.

                President and Founder

 

2000-2005                                                         Hands on Miami

                Board of Directors

 

2000-2002                                                         The Florida Bar Commission on the legal Needs of children

                Commission Member

 

1998-2008                                                         Addiction Services Board, Miami-Dade County

 

1996-Present                                                    Melissa Institute for Violence Prevention and Treatment,

                Board of Directors

 

1995-1999                                                        Florida Conference of Circuit Court Judges

                Executive Committee

 

1995                                                                  Leadership Florida

                Class XIV

 

1995                                                                 Supreme Court Committee on Court Related Needs of Children, the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities.

 

1993-2001                                                       Children’s Home Society.

                                                                          Board of Directors

 

1992                                                                  Advocacy Center Inc.

                Board of Directors

 

1992                                                                 Victims Services Coordinating Council.  Miami-Dade County.

                                                                         Chairperson.

 

1985                                                                  Advisory Board, Community Habilitation Center,

                Miami, Florida. (1980-1985) This is a non-residential

                Program for developmentally disabled adults.

 

1982                                                                 Florida Center for Children & Youth,

                                                                         Board of Directors

 Tallahassee, Florida.  This is a non profit organization which advocates on behalf of children.

 

1981                                                                 Dade-Monroe Mental Health Board,

                                                                         appointed by the County Commission, December 18, 1979

 

1981                                                                  South Dade Y.M.C.A. Board of Directors.

 

1980                                                                  District Human Rights Committee, Chairperson

                Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services

 

1980                                                                  Chairperson, Administrative Inquiry Committee

  Investigating Sunland Training Center (Appointed by District Administrator, Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services)

 

1979                                                                  Chairperson, Task force on Emotionally/Behaviorally disturbed children.

                Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services.