The "Bench Buddies" program, a collaboration between the judges and staff of the Miami-Dade Courts' Juvenile Division and its justice partners, visited students at the Downtown Miami Charter School during the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday to encourage reading and teach about the role of courts in protecting citizens' rights. They also read excerpts from Martin Luther King Jr's biography.

This award-winning program was established by Judge Cindy Lederman and Judge Maria Sampedro-Iglesia of the Juvenile Division, and Ms. Susan Sommers of the Guardian Ad Litem Program.