JUDGE JUDITH KREEGER HAS PASSED AWAY

 We knew Judge Kreeger having infrequently appeared before her. We remember a Judge fully prepared, well versed in the law who carefully listened to both sides and then issued her ruling.  Doesn't seem like a lot to ask, and yet...

As another judge recently remarked to us, "She was professional but did not suffer fools lightly." 

From the CJ's letter: 

It is with a heavy heart that I share the sad news of the passing of Judge Judith L. Kreeger, a cherished member of our judicial community and a retired colleague whose impact on our court and on families across our state and nation will be remembered for generations.

 Judge Kreeger devoted 17 and a half years of distinguished service as a Circuit Judge in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, most of that time in the Family Division. Her extensive legal knowledge and dedication to children and families set a standard for excellence and compassion that continues to shape the culture of our family courts. 

 She served in our court family from 1993 to 2009, and after retirement, she continued to serve as a Senior Circuit Judge, always offering her knowledge, her mentorship, and her tireless service to our circuit and our community.

Judge Kreeger’s contributions extend beyond Miami-Dade County, as she was one of four judges in the International Hague Network of Judges, contributing to international guidelines that help protect children in cross border abduction cases. She educated judges around the world, participating in Hague workshops, Malta Conferences, and the Special Commission meetings. Her leadership helped strengthen judicial communication globally and expanded the reach of the 1980 Hague Convention.

 Here at home, she served on the Florida Supreme Court’s Steering Committee on Children and Families in the Courts, chairing subcommittees that improved access, case management, and the experience of self represented litigants. Through countless judicial and legal education programs—statewide, national, and international—she guided lawyers, judges, and scholars in understanding family law with both rigor and heart.

 Judge Kreeger was also an author, a certified family law mediator, and the recipient of numerous honors, including the Community Service Award from the Greater Miami Jewish Federation and Jurist of the Year from the Florida Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.

 We will always remember her for her keen legal intellect and her deep compassion for the families who entered our courts. She was a teacher, a colleague, a mentor, and a friend to so many.