Volusia County Judge Belle B. Schumann presented Chief Justice Award for Excellence
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Paul Flemming, Public Information Officer
Office of the State Courts Administrator
(850) 922-1187
NAPLES – Volusia County Judge Belle B. Schumann, an innovative leader on the bench and in the administration of justice, is the 2018 recipient of Chief Justice Award for Judicial Excellence. Justice Jorge Labarga, who concluded his term as chief justice June 30, presented the award to Judge Schumann at the Conference of County Court Judges of Florida.
Judge Schumann was appointed to the bench in 2005. She founded the Volusia County DUI Court as well as the SAVE Docket, a program to provide alternative sentencing for homeless and indigent defendants. For two terms, she served as the administrative county judge for Volusia County. While Judge Schumann was chair of the Seventh Circuit Professionalism Committee, she established a professionalism seminar for lawyers and judges. She earned her law degree from the Florida State University College of Law, where she graduated with honors.
“Beyond being a formidable jurist, Judge Schumann is a valued team player and mentor to all members of the Volusia County court,” according to a nominating letter advocating for her recognition. “Every day, she demonstrates her unwavering integrity, impeccable character and innovative intellect in addressing the challenges placed before her.”
Judge Schumann has been instrumental in the effort to create a new homeless shelter in Daytona Beach, now under construction. Her contributions to breaking the cycle of homelessness and incarceration extend to the bench with the SAVE Docket she collaborated to create with Volusia County and advocacy groups. The SAVE Docket diverts homeless and indigent non-violent offenders into social services, treatment and community service instead of a path from arrest to incarceration and court costs.
The Chief Justice Awards for Judicial Excellence, established in 2014 and bestowed annually, recognize one county court judge and one circuit judge who demonstrate exceptional commitment to the judicial branch and who personify judicial excellence.
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