Courthouse stunned by death of Broward Circuit Judge Charles Kaplan: The 45-year-old father of three was found in his home after not coming to work.

Byline: Tonya Alanez

Oct. 16--The death of 45-year-old Broward Circuit Judge Charles "Charlie" Kaplan stunned the courthouse Wednesday. When the judge didn't arrive for work and his assistant couldn't reach him by phone, she went to his Lauderdale-by-the-Sea home about 11 a.m. and found him unconscious. The divorced father of three young children apparently died of natural causes. In his 20-year legal career, Judge Kaplan transformed from tenacious sex-crimes prosecutor to dogged criminal-defense attorney, and finally to strict but kindly juvenile court judge after winning a 2006 judicial election. Throughout, he was a devoted father to his children, said …