Okaloosa Bar Association

10/24/2025

Don't forget to bring the whole family out to Wild Willy's Adventure Zone tomorrow from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. for a fun filled morning of minigolf. ⛳️

Proceeds will benefit the Panhandle Animal Welfare Society who will be bringing some adoptable animals to the event. 🐶🐱

Donations will also be accepted. Donations can be in the form of money or pet supplies.

10/14/2025

⛳️🐶Putt for PAWS🐱⛳️

Date: October 25, 2025

Time: 10:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M.

Location: 1306 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548

We are less than two weeks away from the Okaloosa Bar Association's Putt for PAWS event at Wild Willy's Adventure Zone. This is a family-friendly event, so bring the kids. Attendees of the event will be able to enjoy a round of mini golf while also supporting a great cause.

The proceeds from this event will benefit the Panhandle Animal Welfare Society. The Panhandle Animal Welfare Society is also bringing pets that are currently up for adoption.

The Okaloosa Bar Association would also like to recognize one of the sponsors for the event, Hand Arendall Harrison Sale LLC. They are a full-service law firm for businesses and individuals. They are committed to providing excellent legal representation and also helping save animals through their support of the Panhandle Animal Welfare Society.

If you or your business are interesting in sponsoring this event and making a donation to the Panhandle Animal Welfare Society, please email the Okaloosa Bar Association at: [email protected] or [email protected]

09/18/2025

Putt for PAWS - The Okaloosa Bar Association is proudly presenting a putt putt golf event at Wild Willy's Adventure Zone. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for kids. Proceeds will benefit the Panhandle Animal Welfare Society ("PAWS").

The Okaloosa Bar Association will also be accepting donations on behalf of PAWS. Donations can be monetary or in the form of pet supplies.

This event is open to anyone who likes putt putt golf and wants to contribute to a great cause. Please bring the whole family.

01/23/2025

Okaloosa County Courthouse will be OPEN Friday 1/24. Walton County Courthouse will be CLOSED Friday 1/24. See First Judicial Circuit Website for additional information and updates.

01/22/2025

Okaloosa County Courthouses CLOSED Thursday January 23, 2025 expected to re-open Friday. Stand by for further information via email regarding rescheduled hearings.

01/19/2025

Okaloosa County Courthouse and Okaloosa County Courthouse Annex Extension will be CLOSED for in person hearings Tuesday January 21 and Wednesday January 22. See OBA email for specific judicial office scheduling/rescheduling. SOME HEARINGS WILL CONTINUE AS SCHEDULED VIA ZOOM.

08/22/2024

The OBA held its first event following a much needed summer hiatus. Very pleased to have incoming Okaloosa County Clerk of Court Brad Embry as our guest speaker. We discussed Brad’s ideas and ambitions for his office. Looking forward to continued collaboration with the bench, bar and the Clerk’s Office to keep our legal system running smoothly.

Hope to see everyone in September for our next event in Niceville! Details to follow soon.

01/09/2024

First Judicial Delayed Start information for 1/9/24

Delayed Openings for Tuesday, January 9, 2024, in Escambia/Santa Rosa/Okaloosa/Walton Counties

Those with hearings scheduled prior to the listed start times should contact the appropriate Judicial Office for further information regarding new start times for hearings.

Escambia County:
The M.C. Blanchard Judicial Building will open at 9:30 a.m.

The Theodore Bruno Juvenile Justice Center will open at 9:30 a.m.
County Arraignments and Traffic will begin at 10:00 a.m.
Docket Day will begin at 10:00 a.m.
First appearance hearings will begin at 2:00 p.m.

Santa Rosa County:
The Santa Rosa County courthouse will open at 10:30 a.m.

Judge Hilliard’s docket day will begin at 10:30 a.m.
Judge Duncan’s docket day will begin at 10:30 a.m.
Judge Drake’s jury trial will begin at 10:30 a.m.
Litigants with scheduled Zoom hearings may contact the appropriate judicial division directly with any inquiries.

Okaloosa County:
The Okaloosa County Courthouse Annex Extension will be open at 10:30 a.m. for in-person proceedings.
The Okaloosa County Courthouse (Crestview) will be open at 10:30 a.m. for in-person proceedings.
All previously scheduled remote proceedings will go on as planned.

Walton County:
The Walton County courthouse will open at 10 a.m.

For further updates, please follow the First Circuit at https://twitter.com/1stCircuitFL or . Information is also available at www.firstjudicial

Official News for the First Judicial Circuit Court of Florida. Any inquiries about specific cases or other matters should be made by telephone or email.

09/19/2023

09/19/2023

The OBA was very privileged to welcome Justice John Couriel of the Florida Supreme Court to our little slice of Northwest Florida paradise. Tonight, Justice Couriel spoke to our members about the role of lawyers in our communities and provided some inspiring insights/commentary about our system of justice. Thank you to everyone who came out and participated in the lively Q&A session. Thank you also to our event sponsor Clark Partington Attorneys at Law. And most of all, thank you to Justice Couriel for supporting the OBA.

09/18/2023

Attention OBA Members - FINAL REMINDER - We have just a handful of seats left for tonight's OBA event. Our guest of honor is Florida Supreme Court Justice John D. Couriel. It will be a great evening. Hope to see you all there!

Special thanks to our event sponsor, Clark Partington Attorneys at Law

07/19/2023

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cle-legislative-update-lunch-and-learn-tickets-652111010587

Attention OBA Members, be sure to RSVP for next week's CLE Lunch at the Okaloosa County South Annex Courthouse. Our speakers will be presenting legislative updates in the personal injury arena. Will be a great event. Please click the link above to complete your registration so that we can have an accruate headcount.

CLE Legislative Update from 2 very experienced Personal Injury Lawyers on changes to Personal Injury Law in Florida