Florida Bar honors Circuit Judge Jonathan Sjostrom for work with therapy dogs

Jeff Burlew, Tallahassee Democrat
Updated ·2 min read

Circuit Judge Jonathan Sjostrom was honored for his work with therapy dogs during a courthouse ceremony full of furry, four-legged friends who put children at ease in the courtroom.

Attorney Ralph DeMeo presented Sjostrom with the Florida Bar Animal Law Section's 2023 Judicial Achievement Award on July 17 at the Leon County Courthouse. Those in attendance included therapy dogs and their handlers along with Sjostrom and his colleagues and friends, who brought along their own pets.

The Florida Bar Animal Law Section awarded Circuit Judge Jonathan Sjostrom with the 2023 Judicial Achievement Award on July 17, 2023, for his support of the 2nd Judicial Circuit's Animal Therapy Dog Program. Pictured are Sjostrom with his dog Mike.
The Florida Bar Animal Law Section awarded Circuit Judge Jonathan Sjostrom with the 2023 Judicial Achievement Award on July 17, 2023, for his support of the 2nd Judicial Circuit's Animal Therapy Dog Program. Pictured are Sjostrom with his dog Mike.

Authorized by then-Chief Judge Charles Francis, the 2nd Circuit launched the first court-sponsored animal therapy program in 2007 in Florida, with therapy dogs used to comfort and support child victims of violent crime, according to a news release from the judicial circuit. In 2009, under an initiative by Wakulla County Judge Jill Walker, the circuit became the first to utilize therapy dogs in dependency proceedings involving children who were abused and neglected. Therapy dogs also are available to adults in need.

"Numerous research studies show that petting dogs can have a calming affect by lowing levels of cortisol, a stress inducing hormone," Walker said. "We are taking advantage of this science. By lowering stress levels of parties coming to court, you get more complete and accurate information by having everyone able to focus on the issue at hand. It makes my job easier as the decider of fact.”

The Florida Bar Animal Law Section awarded Circuit Judge Jonathan Sjostrom with the 2023 Judicial Achievement Award on July 17, 2023, for his support of the 2nd Judicial Circuit's Animal Therapy Dog Program. Pictured left to right at the top are Noah Sjostrom, Erin Sjostrom, Chief Judge Frank Allman, Allison Hankinson with her dog Sadie and Circuit Judge Angela Dempsey with animal therapy dog Jazz, and in the bottom row, Dawn Talley and Judge Sjostrom, with his dog Mike.

Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare provides the animal therapy dogs at no cost to the courts, the 2nd Circuit said. Some 86 animal therapy teams have participated in 391 court events and 362 mass dependency dockets.

In 2019, the late Circuit Judge James Hankinson, who died July 6 after a battle with cancer, became the first recipient of the award. Circuit Judge Angela Dempsey also was honored with the award in 2021.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida Bar honors Circuit Judge Jonathan Sjostrom for work with therapy dogs