Judge Nicholas Lopane

Judge Nicholas “Nick” Lopane is currently serving the community as a Circuit Court Judge in the Probate Division for the 17th Judicial Circuit in and for Broward County Florida.  Judge Lopane was appointed Circuit Judge by Governor Crist in 2010 and began his term serving in the criminal division. Prior to being appointed, Judge Lopane served as a General Magistrate, where he presided over and decided tens of thousands of hearings involving abused, neglected and abandoned children and also matrimonial matters.

Judge Lopane began his legal career in the mailroom of Manhattan law firm eventually working his way up the ladder from the mailroom to become a paralegal handling corporate reinsurance litigation and administrative law matters. Following law school, Judge Lopane worked for the Florida Attorney General’s office handling complex litigation in eminent Domain matters, and the private practice with the law firm, Goren, Cherof, Doody and Ezrol. 

As a result of his hard work, he has been honored numerous times receiving the following awards and honors: 2014 EPIC (Exceptional People Impacting the Community) Awards from the Broward County Mental Health Association; 2003 Heart Award for Outstanding Public Official; 2004 Summit Award for Excellence from the Dependency Court Improvement Summit;  2000 Award for Exemplary Contribution to Broward Children and Families from Broward Committee for the Prevention of Child Abuse; 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003  JAFCO (Jewish Adoptions and Foster care Options) judicial recognition; 2001 finalist for the William Gladstone Award for outstanding statewide Judicial Officer; Restoration Youth Ministries Community Service Award; 2002 Justice for Children “Making a Difference Award”; 2002 Award for Exemplary Contribution from the Broken Heart Foundation. 

Additionally, he has been asked to teach numerous classes and seminars not only in the area of Dependency law but also for lawyers trying to improve their trial advocacy skills. For instance he was recently part of a three day seminar where he taught a course entitled “Advanced Trial Skills Course for Juvenile & Family Lawyers” for the National Institute for Trial Advocacy.

Finally, since being appointed he has consistently received high approval ratings from Broward County legal community annually polled by the Broward County Bar Association. In the most recent poll conducted in 2004, he received high ratings with eighty six percent (86%) of respondents rating him as being qualified/extremely qualified in the judicial ability category and eighty nine percent (89%) of respondents rating me as being qualified/extremely qualified in the judicial temperament category.     

Judge Lopane has been an instructor for the Office of Professional and Continuing Studies since 2025. 

Course:

Paralegal Certificate Program