JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Rhonda Peoples-Waters made history in Duval County on Tuesday when she was sworn in at the courthouse as the first elected Black female court judge to take the bench in the county. Peoples-Waters is not the first Black female in the role, as three others have been appointed, but she is the first to be elected. Today with family and friends beside her, Peoples-Waters, will finally take her seat as judge Peoples Waters and become a part of the diversity the city wants in courtrooms. Today with family and friends beside her, Peoples-Waters, finally took her seat as Judge Peoples-Waters and become a part of the diversity the city wants in courtrooms. “Both the state and the city are finally starting to move forward, and finally starting to eliminate discrimination by sex and race.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Dozens of activists gathered Saturday on the steps of the Duval County Courthouse to pay tribute to the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and speak in opposition to her seat being filled before the election. It’s disheartening.”The rally also included Judge-elect Rhonda Peoples Waters, the first Black woman to be elected to a county court seat in Duval County. “I thought it was important for me to be here to honor RBG and what she has done for so many of us and especially me,” Peoples Waters said. Senate Republicans are readying for confirmation hearings in two weeks, with a vote in the full chamber now expected before Election Day. The move has sparked an outcry, particularly among Democrats, who believe a pick should not be confirmed until after the election.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Attorney Rhonda Peoples Waters has tried 16 times to become a judge in Duval County. Eleven years after her first attempt, she did it -- making history as the first black woman elected to the seat. I believe this is truly a story of hard work and perseverance and not giving up, said Peoples Waters. Shes not the first black female in the role of a county court judge in Duval County. I felt like I had been before the people enough that the people of Duval knew me, said Peoples Waters.

Katrina Brown and Reggie Brown, fellow council members at one point but unrelated, are on trial on a total of 36 counts of fraud and conspiracy. Palmisano said that Katrina Brown would email a check request for thousands of dollars along with an invoice. Katrina Brown is representing herself after her court-appointed attorney withdrew from the case. Coming into the courthouse Tuesday, Katrina Brown said she felt great, but her father said she's not getting much sleep. Reggie Brown said he is glad most of the focus so far is on his co-defendant, something that he anticipated.