Substance Use and Co-Parenting: Critical Considerations and Strategies for Family Law Professionals

Judge Jason Emilios Dimitris

Judge Dimitris is a Circuit Court Judge presiding over the “Complex Trial Division” of Unified Family Court, which includes Family, Dependency, Delinquency and Domestic violence cases. 

Before becoming a judge in 2013, Judge Dimitris held statewide positions.

From 2010 to 2013 Judge Dimitris was General Counsel and Chief Ethics Officer at the Florida Department of Management Services (DMS) a 700 employee Florida agency that essentially handles the business operations of Florida government, including: human resources, retirement, health benefits, real estate, state purchasing, and telecommunications.

Before DMS, Judge Dimitris served from 2007 to 2010 as the Chief of Staff and Inspector General for the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) the Florida Social Services Department consisting of over 13,000 state employees.

Judge Dimitris began his legal career in Miami as a state, statewide, and then a federal prosecutor, and has tried nearly 50 jury trials and hundreds of bench trials. As a prosecutor, Judge Dimitris specialized in technology and economic crimes and became the head of technology crimes and identity theft cases for the Florida Office of the Attorney General. Now, as a Circuit Judge, Judge Dimitris has been appointed by the Chief Judge as Chair of the 11^th Judicial Circuit Technology Committee.

Judge Dimitris is an adjunct professor at the University of Miami School of Law and teaches trial practice. Additionally, Judge Dimitris is the St. Thomas University School of Law Peter Fay Inn of Court President and helps organize and lead meetings of students and practitioners. The Inn is dedicated to professionalism, ethics, civility, and excellence in the legal community. Judge Dimitris is a track leader at the Florida Circuit Court Judicial Conference and a track leader at Florida’s Advanced Judicial Studies School.

While a student at Stetson Law School, Judge Dimitris served as Editor in Chief of The Stetson Law Review. Before law school Judge Dimitris was a teacher of youth at risk for the Outward Bound School.  Judge Dimitris is married and has two young daughters. Judge Dimitris has volunteered as a licensed emergency medical technician and firefighter for over twenty years. Judge Dimitris enjoys health and wellness and has completed three Ironman triathlons and nearly twenty marathons and has summited Mount Rainier.

Dr. Aaron Robb

Dr. Robb has worked extensively with children and families involved in the legal system, specializing in divorce and other family law cases. In addition to National Counselor Certification and license to practice as a Professional Counselor in the state of Texas he is trained as a family law mediator and is an approved provider of continuing education for Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists and Social Workers.

Dr. Robb serves on the editorial boards of the journal Family Court Review and the Journal of Child Custody, has served nationally on the Social Work and the Courts Specialty Practice Section Committee for the National Association of Social Workers, and is a past-president of the Texas Chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts. In addition to his professional work he volunteers with the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program.

Dr. Robb is the author of numerous publications, has been an invited speaker at national trainings for judicial officers and presents frequently across Texas and the United States on issues related to mental health and the law. His ongoing research interests focus on high conflict family systems, child maltreatment, and forensic mental health services.

Taryn Fisher

Taryn Fisher is a co-managing partner of Sage Counsel, LLC where she is known for her zealous, solutions-based client advocacy in all family law matters, including but not limited to dissolution of marriage, child support and maintenance conflicts, parentage, guardianship, and estate planning. Taryn centers her practice on a future-focused approach to litigation, mediation and settlement negotiations.

Taryn serves as a Guardian Ad Litem and Child Representative in the Family Law Division of the 19th Judicial Circuit Court of Lake County- a role that requires her experience and nuanced approach to the issue of substance abuse. She has written and speaks on the topic of Legalized Cannabis and its impact on the family court system . Taryn just finished a second term as a Board Member for Collaborative Divorce Illinois. In April of 2021 Taryn was elected to the Village of Lake Bluff Board of Trustees where she represents her community with honor. She graduated Law School from University Chicago Loyola in 2012 and is proud Rambler.

Chris Beck

Chris Beck is the VP of Family Law Business Development for Soberlink Healthcare, he works with Family Law Judges, Attorneys and Health Care Professionals across the country to educate them on Soberlink’s modern approach to alcohol monitoring for Child Custody Cases.

Chris and his wife Sheila are Foster Parents. The experience continues to strengthen his family values and advocacy for children. In May 2021, Chris and Sheila finalized their 3^rd adoption which brings the total to 5 kids.

Chris holds a BA in Psychology from the University of California Irvine with an emphasis in child psychology.

Danielle Kestnbaum, JD

Danielle earned her law degree with honors from IIT/Chicago-Kent College of Law in Chicago, Illinois. Prior to graduating from law school, she received her Masters degree in Social Work from Columbia University in New York City and a BA from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. Danielle externed with the Chief Judge of the Domestic Relations Court for the Circuit Court of Cook County during law school. She has worked in the public sector as a child’s advocate and also in the private sector representing parents in a broad range of family law matters. She currently works as a professional liaison for OurFamilyWizard. Danielle also currently serves as Vice President of the North Carolina Chapter of Association of Family and Conciliation Courts.