JUSTICE BUILDING BLOG

WELCOME TO THE OFFICIAL RICHARD E GERSTEIN JUSTICE BUILDING BLOG. THIS BLOG IS DEDICATED TO JUSTICE BUILDING RUMOR, HUMOR, AND A DISCUSSION ABOUT AND BETWEEN THE JUDGES, LAWYERS AND THE DEDICATED SUPPORT STAFF, CLERKS, COURT REPORTERS, AND CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS WHO LABOR IN THE WORLD OF MIAMI'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE. POST YOUR COMMENTS, OR SEND RUMPOLE A PRIVATE EMAIL AT HOWARDROARK21@GMAIL.COM. Winner of the prestigious Cushing Left Anterior Descending Artery Award.

Thursday, May 11, 2006

SOMETIMES WRONG NEVER IN DOUBT

KIMBERLEY MILLER WROTE:

Have heard and confirmed that Judge Bronwyn Miller's photo is the blog – would you mind using her current campaign photo?

Rumpole replies: Who do we look like, the Committee to Re-elect Miller? The photo we used was good enough for the eleventh judicial circuit web site, and that’s good enough for us. Give us credit for giving your candidate a little breathing room away from Maximum Moron, who people are confusing with your Judge Miller. Give some people an inch, and they take a mile.

EDITED UPDATE: MS MILLER WROTE US BACK:


please spell my name properly next time - thank you! Inbox
Kimberly Miller
to me
More options
4:48 pm(0 minutes ago)
Kimberly Miller


Rumpole responds: typical fancy pants high faluttin civil lawyer without the common sense of a gnat. Can you read? (true, we can't spell) But... Can you see we're in a bad mood? You are representing a candidate and you want to pick a fight with us? Keep it up smarty pants and you will really regret it. This is a blog for Criminal Lawyers. Go back to your Coral Gables cocktail parties where partners discuss the weekend polo matches and their yachts. This is for real lawyers who know how to try cases and make a difference in peoples lives. This is not for paper pushers who bill by the tenth of a minute. Go sue someone.
(Should have known it was a civil lawyer by their pushy attitude. Who are you billing this little contretemps to? [go look it up] )

SECOND EDITED UPDATE: Boy are we blowing it. First we accuse Judge Farina of something he didn't do, then we eviserate Judge Bronwyn Miller's sister when she is not even an attorney and is a fan of our blog. Some days...nothing goes right.

Here is the last email from Sister Miller:

I am Bronwyn's older sister and not an attorney and I think your blog is the best. I send excerpts to all defense attorney friends day and night – cut and pasting like a maniac. I think it's the best. I heard that her photo was posted (from the friends to whom I normally send excerpts from your blog) and saw that it was older and first, did not realize that you are Rumpole, the Rumpole, as in ohmigosh I am emailing Rumpole – can you believe??? And, second did not pay enough attention to today's blogging to realize that I would be cut to shreds with my firm's name on the blog. So sorry. Thank you.

Rumpole says: Sorry to be so mean. Of course you are just trying to help your sister, who as we said in an email to you, was a wonderful and well respected prosecutor, and who we think will be a great judge. All is forgiven, and for the second time in two days, we look like a real horses-ass. Well, we've looked like worse in front of juries, so at least this is anonymous. Good luck with the campaign.



Here’s why we’re really in a bad mood. Turns out our plans for a grand sit in in Judge Farina’s office have to be abandoned. Mr. Rick Freedman, always on top of things, wrote in to say this:

Let's clear this matter up. I spoke today with one of the Directors of the Court Interpreter Office at the REGJB, and he informs me that there is NO Administrative Order in this County, signed by Judge Farina, or anyone else that prohibits what happened in Judge Rosa Rodriquez' court. The interpreter mistated and misunderstood what is a directive from Court Adminsitrator Ruben Carrerou. That directive was written and is intended to make every reasonable attempt to use the resources the interpreter's office has been provided and keep members of the public informed as to what is going on in court to the best of their ability.What the directive does say is that if a person who does not understand english is involved in a legal proceeding at the REGJB, a defendant, a witness, someone that the judge is addressing, then the interpreter must interpret. They are not there for the general public; meaning that when the spanish speaking grandmother wants an entire hearing interpreted for her, that will not be done. However, when the english speaking attorney asks the interpreter to simply explain to grandma what happened and when the next court date will be, the interpreter has always in the past and will continue in the future to make every reasonable effort to help the attorney out.I hope this clears the matter up. Personally, I think the interpreters do an amazing job given the limited resources they have. They are constantly being pulled from one hearing to another, from one attorney to another, from one location to another, and they always seem to do it professionally and with a smile on their face. This despite the fact that we rarely thank them for all they do.Keep up the good work

Rump.
Rick Freedman


Just remember Rumpole’s most cherished motto: SOMETIMES WRONG….NEVER IN DOUBT.
NEVER LET IT BE SAID WE ARE TOO PROUD TO ADMIT WE ARE WRONG.

Ahemm… ummm… ‘weresorryjudgefarinaandwewontdoitagain.”

There. We said it. Sorry Judge Farina. You didn’t sign the order. As we have said before, gee it must really stink to be accused of something you didn’t do. You can thank defense attorney Rick Freedman for your successful defense.


See You In Court feeling a bit stupid. See, there are hundreds of perfectly valid reasons for remaining anonymous. And this is one of them. That’s the last time we rely on anonymous source “worlds meanest defense attorney” who we think is Front Porch Phil R.

99 comments:

Anonymous said...

Now that you mentioned the Order, maybe we can get something like that; or, that any time I am in the building and need an interpreter, I am provided with that phenomenaly gorgeous and elegant tall blonde one.

Anonymous said...

I made the post yesterday under the signature WMDA.

I was in court on the day the interpreter refused to interpret for a defendant’s mother. It was not my case. However I was standing right behind the lawyer. It occurred in open court as Judge Rosa Rodriguez was addressing the attorney. The Defendant’s mother was standing next to the attorney and the Defendant was in custody. When the interpreter arrived she asked who the woman was. Told it was the defendant’s mother, she said that because of an administrative order signed by Judge Farina, she could not interpret for the Defendant’s mother. She then turned and walked right out of court. In my opinion, everyone, including the Judge was surprised to say the least at the actions of the interpreter. I have not ever seen anything like that occur in the 20 years I have been in the Justice Building. I share Rick Freedman’s sentiments that we have a great group of interpreters who almost always go above and beyond the call of duty for attorneys on both sides.

I posted what I saw happen on the blog, and the blogster made a big deal out of it and put Judge Farina’s picture. I didn’t accuse Judge Farina of anything ( I like practicing law here and want to continue to do so).

Phil R.

Ps. Although I am not thrilled about either nickname, forced to choose, I would choose WMDA over FPP.

Phil.

Anonymous said...

I know I'll be critized again, so let me do it for you, Schwartz, you're a *****&$@%*&.
With that out of the way, when Lenny Rivkind was Chief Judge, he allowed each Judge to establish a "dress code" for lawyers during the summer months. ever since, any lawyer who has evcer apologized to me for lack of tie or jacket has always been told "that I never look at what thy're wearing, as long as they're predpared to represent their clients."
In my current division, as long as it's my division, I don't care about jackets or ties, especially during these months.
Please note this is posted at 5;12pm
Judge Larry Schwartz

Rumpole said...

Judge Schwartz has a NO TIE NEEDED RULE FOR THE SUMMER MONTHS. (obviously this does not include trials). HURRAY!!! OTHER JUDGES, CAN YOU MATCH THIS?

DEAL.....OR NO DEAL????

PS. Ignore the morons who curse.
Even worse, ignore the civil lawyers who are harassing us.

Anonymous said...

Rump....you're way off on Kimberly Miller. She's not an attorney an actually has a great sense of humor (I can picture her smiling as she wrote you). Lighten up.

Anonymous said...

Great stuff - trash farina for something he didnt do, trash kimberly miller (real nice girl) for something she isnt - seems rump like you are playing to the mentatlity of the commenters on this blog (save for the professional apology)

Anonymous said...

yes judge schwartz, we see you are at the office past five. haha

Anonymous said...

GREAT JOB SLANDERING Farina. He's only one of the best judges our county has ever seen. Next time try doing what anyone whose integrity meant anything to himself or herself and check your facts.

What happened to the Rump who was so interested in truth?

Anonymous said...

Actually, it was libel not slander (sorry, never practiced civil law). Still, it was stupid any way you slice it.

Rumpole said...

We have seen Ms. Kimberly Miller's sense of humor and we responded we think appropriately. She took our shots like a real champ, was funny, kept her cool, and in the end, looked a whole lot better than we did. As we said, we're having a bad day. You try apologizing to a Judge and see how it feels.

Anonymous said...

So, what judge who went from county to circuit at light speed just made it out of the 3rd district jnc committee. Hint:This same jurist has been admitted to the Florida bar for a grand total of 11 years. Last hint: He's never seen an a-form he didn't believe nor a defendant he did. Can you guess? Did you get it? This selection is proof that instead of the making the business of choosing judges less political the appointment process merely concentrates the power in a smaller circle of people who have their own agenda and are beholden to only one person instead of the public. The phone lines running from the governors mansion to Miami must have been on fire.I wonder if they got a bulk rate?This is underscores the point that nothing, including partisan politics, grows well in the dark. I have nothing personal against this judge, I think he's a nice guy and an adequate judge, but this is serious stuff here.This isn't just locking people up and throwing away the key one at a time this is giving the ability to shape the law into the hands of babes. Babes who wear nightsticks and carry tasers. If we are not careful we will be creating our very own wermacht in that ivory tower known as the 3rd. This governor and his stooges (aka the jnc) are quickly assembling a group of appellate judges to rival the Taliban in their conservativeness and willingness to erode the constitution and personal freedoms. You can probably substitute president for governor and come out with the same result.Must be a family thing. Now to be fair, there are actual competent, respected, and experienced appellate lawyers in the group that went up to JEB!!! for his careful and conscientious consideration. Unfortunately, they have the same chance of getting the nod as Haitian immigrants do of being treated the same as Cuban immigrants (which is a subject for a different rant). This isn't really about this particular pick, its about the process.It's always held up as an example to show that these selection committees end up with better candidates and therefore better judges than the electoral system. I say if this is the best we can do let my vote be cast and counted any day.

Rumpole said...

As to slandering Farina, we were WRONG. WE ADMIT IT. GO SEE THE POST. WE HAVE EDITED IT TO SAY WE WERE WRONG. SOMETIMES WRONG NEVER IN DOUBT. FRONT PORCH PHIL CAUSED ALL OF THIS AND HE'S GETTING AWAY SCOTT FREE. HE'S THE ONE WHO STARTED THIS WHOLE MESS. WHO TOLD HIM TO BE A MISS GOODY TWO SHOES AND RAT OUT AN INTERPRETER? GO YELL AT HIM. HE HASN'T APOLOGIZED FOR ANYTHING.
grrrrrrrr.

Anonymous said...

You're both responsible. Him for bringing it up. You and the others for hammering Farina. Anyone who has practice in the county for more than few years knows Farina is a straight shooter who actually gives a damn (a rarity, apparently). Did you see the post from the Herald reporter asking for more information? Way to go. Maybe next time your libel can be re-published in the paper.

You think you're apology covers it? HELL NO. I assure you that the original posts got a lot more play in the community than the apology. That's why you and Phil should've exercised a lot more common sense and discretion before posting it.

As defense attorneys you should be a LOT more sensitive to what false accusations can do to people.

Anonymous said...

PS---At least Phil confessed using his real name.

Anonymous said...

Just one minute here. To Rumpole and the poster above, I don't owe anyone an apology for anything. I just wrote what I saw and heard, which is the truth. I never took it upon myself to accuse Farina of signing the order. I just said the interpreter said she was not allowed to interpret because of Judge Farina's order. I didn't accuse anyone (outside of the interpreter) of doing anything wrong. No apology for me. And call me Phil. In the incident in question, I was never on the porch.

Anonymous said...

The merit selection system is far more political than the electoral process, and unlike campaigns, it takes place behind closed doors and is controlled by a few powerbrokers. I think that going back to a totally elected judiciary would be a step in the right direction. As it stands now, the merit in "merit selection and retention" refers mainly to political merit.

Anonymous said...

Jiminez going to the 3rd?

And relax on the 'pole. You never made a little boo boo before. And surely a distinguished Judge's reputation which has been built up over years was not brought down in a single sentence about a stupid order? was it? toss in some prozac or something.

Anonymous said...

Not Jimenez....Try again Frodo.

Anonymous said...

miller?

Anonymous said...

hmmm are the great malenko and joe scarpa the same person, or are their TWO wrestling obsessed fans in the criminal court house?

Anonymous said...

Not Miller time either...Think police...HMMMM

Anonymous said...

Izzy Reyes! wow!

Anonymous said...

THIS BLOG OWES AN APOLOGY! AN APOLOGY SENATOR!

Anonymous said...

Sorry Phil, when you repeat a false statement about someone without checking its accuracy, you're just as guilty.

Regardless, it shouldn't have gotten the wide distribution it got on this site without some fact checking.

Anonymous said...

it wasnt a false statement about anybody. dude just repeated what he heard in an open and public court room. if you check the court record, you will see it there. if you were one of the dozens of people in court, you would have heard it there as well. jackass.

Anonymous said...

Phil, just say the truth, the blog got boring, the summer has started and the news cycle is slow. You saw a story in the Farina muzzle and you ran with it. Oh well. Sorry. But the point is that it got our collective heart rates up a small percentage and we felt like advocates again. The Espanol problem is forgotten however. I will have my secretary Maria follow me to court on a daily basis just in case some limited-ass english only attorney loses a client because his parents while working at the Swap Shop failed to force a second language on his ass. Espanol is our futuro, mi Doctor. Aqui esta el dinero que usted necesita para sus hijos. Gracias.

Buenas Noches.

And this is not excusable.

Anonymous said...

there is a down side to every paradise, and for the gringo, its having to learn another language b/c the lazy crooks he represents wont learn english.

Anonymous said...

NORTH OF THE BORDER UPDATE

NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS

Rump - although we are all whipped up in a frenzy about who is running against who in Dade, I have an update on practicing in broward:

DON'T BRING A NEWSPAPER INTO THE COURTROOM THAT IS VISIBLE TO THE 12 BROWARD SHERIFFS OFFICERS THAT "WORK" IN THE COURTROOM

As you know, in Broward, they do not have one baliff who occasionally appears in the courtroom to yell "SHUT THE $&*(&*(# UP AND TURN OFF THAT G-D DAMN CELL PHONE BEFORE I KILL YOU.

They have one BSO officer for each task of:

1. Telling you where to sit
2. Telling you where not to sit
3. Telling you where to stand
4. Telling you where not to stand.
5. Telling you where the judge sits
6. Telling your client to plea guilty, because "we don't fight too hard in Broward"
7. Telling lawyers who are shaking hands to "SHHHHHH"

And TODAY - 2 BSO Officers agressively telling someone in the gallery to put away his newpaper that was sitting on top of his file.

A third BSO officer would have gotten into the fray, but he was busy handing out notices. (Very securely I might add)

Anonymous said...

that place is whack! jack up your fee for the gas, the parking, and the bso henchman. you know they have a uniformed dude at the outside of the court room checking people in (open and public courts dont exist in broward). fuck it, dont bother...

Anonymous said...

Mr. Rumpole:

Chief Judge Farina has always been someone who has fought for our department, has lobbied greatly for more funding for more court interpreters to better help serve our diverse community and the Courts, and I am glad that you and your blog have cleared up his name and reputation.

Criminal Court Interpreters have always been provided for parents or legal guardians of defendants who are minors or mentally incompetent. However, up to the point of all this ruckus and accusations towards Chief Judge Farina, many of us in the Criminal Court Interpreters Dept., including myself had been told that due to a limitation of resources, that there was an administrative order by the Chief Judge that we could not interpret for family and friends since our first duty was to the defendants, especially those in custody. Despite this many of us try to accomodate or help out whenever possible or when we are not in the middle of one courtroom's plea colluquy and a bailiff signals that we are needed before another Court.

When possible we accomodate private attorneys, SAs & PDs in hallway interviews if they are willing to wait until we are done with our respective assigned judges' calendars, since the judges morning calendars and the defendants therein are our first priority.

When we have multiple courtrooms to cover, particulary on Sounding days, with either Judges or PDs/Attorneys wanting to convey pleas or do colloquys and a bailiff comes from one courtroom, we do not know for what, we just go. How many times have you or one of your colleagues had to run from courtroom to courtroom or send the bailiff looking for one of us, because the interpreter in your particular courtroom is in the midst of interpreting pleas or other proceedings because defendants, PDs, private attorneys needed to close out cases, but we are too busy at that given moment.

When I was called by the bailiff into the courtroom and the lady was pointed out, the proceeding was already in progress and I immediately began interpreting. It was not until the Hispanic private attorney mentioned the name of the male defendant that I inquired who was the defendant, thinking that I may have been interpreting the wrong proceeding to the wrong defendant as sometimes happens when cases are passed until I arrive. When the attorney informed me that the defendant spoke English and that HE wanted me to know if I could interpret the proceeding for the mother so she would be in the know was when I told him that we weren't allowed to interpret for family and friends pursuant to an administrative order by the Chief Judge.

It was at this point that the Judge inquired and I repeated what up to that moment I thought was an order, even though I added that we do interpret for family or friends if the Judge is inquiring from them or testimony is being given to the Court. Since the Court neither ordered me nor was speaking with the Defendant's mother directly, I returned to the courtroom across the hall were they were waiting on me to finish conveying a plea in order for the Judge to proceed with the plea colloquy.

As an interpreter, I try to help whenever possible while following my department's rules and/or directives, maintaining my professional code of conduct and trying not to run afoul of any of my multiple Judges' wrath. I do not always succeed. However, each of us can only cover so many defendants cases in so many courtrooms at a time without getting someone upset.

Glenda Obando

Anonymous said...

and I forgot to add:

yes, they have someone who checks people in - NO FAMILY MEMBERS ALLOWED WITHOUT PERMISSION.

I asked if my client, CLIENT, could come in, and I was told "yes," and then he said "wait a minute," and asked another one of the 34 BSO officers if it was OK to bring my client in - no lie.

Anonymous said...

rory stien, bennett brummer, warren schwartz and c. david weed run the largest law firm in miami. Tje Law Offices of Bennett H. Brummer. few deny that they are the best of the best in criminal defense. none of them speak spanish. the gringo still rules criminal the defense bar.

Anonymous said...

In stead of forcing the poor interpreters to explain themselves on the blog, shouldn't we be focusing our attention on the security guards? Especially at Miami Beach.

By the way, is Glenda the hot one?

Anonymous said...

Isn't Glenda the wicked witch of the west...or is she the good witch.I can never remember. QUESTION AUTHORITY!!!!

Anonymous said...

I'm a gringo. went to school to learn spanish. Lot of money on the table if you can communicate with a clients family. If you dont want to learn, more money for me!. spanish is easy, comedy is hard

Anonymous said...

Here is the list for Circuit Court as of 1 min. ago. The word qualified has nothing to do with there abilities. Rather it refers to the fact that the candidate has paid the filing fee and is really, really, really going to run. Really!!

Circuit: 011 Group: 008
Miller , David C. (NOP)
Qualified
Circuit: 011 Group: 014
Lederman , Cindy S. (NOP)
Qualified
Circuit: 011 Group: 015
Langer , Lester (NOP)
Qualified
Circuit: 011 Group: 020
Young , David H. (NOP)
Qualified
Circuit: 011 Group: 022
Cardonne Ely , Gisela (NOP)
Qualified
Circuit: 011 Group: 024
Glazer , Mindy S. (NOP)
Qualified
Circuit: 011 Group: 025
Murphy , Dennis J. (NOP)
Qualified
Velis , Josie Perez (NOP)
Qualified
Circuit: 011 Group: 029
Echarte Jr., Pedro P. (NOP)
Qualified
Circuit: 011 Group: 031
Enriquez , Carlos A. (NOP)
Qualified
Korvick , Maria M. (NOP)
Qualified
Circuit: 011 Group: 042
Mendez , Gina (NOP)
Qualified
Schwartz , Lawrence A. (NOP)
Qualified
Circuit: 011 Group: 043
Venzer , Ellen Sue (NOP)
Qualified
Circuit: 011 Group: 047
Rothenberg , Arthur (NOP)
Qualified
Circuit: 011 Group: 048
Lando , Maxine Cohen (NOP)
Qualified
Circuit: 011 Group: 049
Leban , Mark King (NOP)
Qualified
Circuit: 011 Group: 056
Dennis , Maria Espinosa (NOP)
Qualified
Circuit: 011 Group: 059
Pereyra-Shuminer , Cristina (NOP)
Qualified
Circuit: 011 Group: 060
Gross , Maynard 'Skip' (NOP)
Qualified
Circuit: 011 Group: 061
Leesfield , Ellen L. (NOP)
Qualified
Circuit: 011 Group: 065
Reyes , Israel U. (NOP)
Qualified
Circuit: 011 Group: 066
Brown , Joel H. (NOP)
Qualified
Circuit: 011 Group: 067
Platzer , Victoria (NOP)
Qualified
Circuit: 011 Group: 068
Blake , Stan (NOP)
Qualified

Anonymous said...

I hear the champange poopping at the david miller party right now

Anonymous said...

Dear Rump:

Sorry, but when did this blog become the Farina Fan club?

I've been around the block a few times and I wonder if he even knows where the criminal courthouse is located. When is the last time you even saw him in the building?

Sorry, but as a criminal defense attorney, I'm no "Fan of Farina". Let's list just a few reasons why:

1. They buy a brand new courthouse for family court and rehab the civil courthouse. What do we get at the REGJB? Rebuilt escalators that are shut every other week?!
2. Wireless access is universal in the civil courthouses so you can bring your laptops to court. At the REGJB? We are all Sy Gaer without the notepad.
3. All the newbee county court judges without a clue are sent to the REGJB; hey, we are only talking about the possibility of jail time or mandatory criminal records, not disputes under 15k!
4. The Dade County Jail. Need I say more?

Sorry folks, but it looks like the few $$$ we get for the courts are ending up in civil, not for us lowly criminal defense practitioners.

No Farina Fan

Anonymous said...

we are the blue collar lawyers; even though we make pretty good cash. someone should fight for a new courthouse, we need pimp digs. marble, glass, columns, a skydome.

also, thanks to the interpretors. you all do great work and rarely get thanked.

Anonymous said...

Here lies the wreckage of lives unfulfilled, dreams unrealized, and unrequited potential...nah its just the latest list of the races and candidates for the county court. Read em and weep. So far not much movement but I expect by tomorrow there will be a whole lotta shakin going on


2006 CANDIDATES AS OF May 11, 2006
* * * * * CANDIDATES * * * * * * TREASURER * * PARTY * * EXEMPT * *
COUNTY COURT
Group 01
Patricia Marino-Pedraza NOP Q
Shirlyon J. McWhorter NOP 11 Q

Group 02
Mary Jo Francis NOP Q
Group 03
Samuel Joseph Slom NOP Q
Group 04
Robin Faber NOP Q
Ivan Hernandez NOP Q
Group 06
Luise Krieger Martin NOP Q
Group 08
Shelley J. Kravitz NOP Q
Group 09
Victoria del Pino
NOP Q
Joel S. Jacobi NOP Q
Group 10
Sari Teichman Addicott
NOP Q
Ana Maria Pando
NOP Q
Group 11
Karen Mills Francis NOP Q

Group 12
Juan F. Gonzalez NOP Q

Steve Leifman NOP Q


Group 14
Gloria Gonzalez-Meyer NOP A
Michael J. "Mike" Samuels NOP Q

Group 18
Deborah White-Labora NOP Q

Group 21
Andrew Stuart Hague NOP Q
Group 22
Linda Singer Stein NOP 11 Q


Group 25
Darrin P. Gayles NOP Q
Group 26
Maria Ortiz NOP Q
Group 27
Migna Sanchez-Llorens NOP Q
Sheldon R. Schwartz NOP Q
Group 28
Catherine M. Pooler NOP Q

Group 29
Myriam Lehr NOP Q

Group 30
Stephen T. Millan NOP A
Robert Y. Twombly NOP A
Group 32
Caryn Canner Schwartz NOP Q
Group 33
Teretha Lundy Thomas NOP Q
Group 39
George A. Alvarez NOP A

Bronwyn Catherine Miller NOP Q
Group 40
Don S. Cohn NOP Q
Bonnie Lano Rippingille NOP Q

Group 41
Larry King NOP 11 Q

Anonymous said...

speaking of movements..........anyone got a newspaper.

Anonymous said...

speaking of movements..........anyone got a newspaper.

Anonymous said...

As far as what we dont have at the REGB, I mean besides an unbiased, fair, level playing field. We dont have a copy machine that works. Why can the civil lawyers purchase a copy card and we cant even get a machine that works let alone a change machine for coins to put into the inoperative machine. How about the insidious way they are slowly ebbing the life force from the law library (afterall what does one really need it for, never let it be said that the criminal bench let the law get in the way of a desired ruling). Why is it when on those rare occasions I visit the civil courthouse there is never a line to enter nor do the lawyers have to present an identity pass to gain access to the building in order to ply their trade. This despite the fact that the building is larger, has more judges and lawyers there on a daily basis. Ditto for CHC. Is it that they send the security guard school dropouts to the REGB? And the list goes on and on....

Anonymous said...

anyone concerned that Pres Bush has somehow acquired the phone records of at least tens of millions of AT&T, Verizon, AND BELLSOUTH!? peace out to the 4th amendment. nice knowing ya! (barely).

i'm beginning to think when Bush had Saddam whacked he was simply killing a fellow Dictator.

And Somehow, just somehow, I see JEB becoming next president. Not being elected like his brother (sort of), but somehow just getting the job.

Anonymous said...

we have a law library? no shit! where?

Anonymous said...

shit - i didnt post that thing about you being a dictator, W. mr president, i was only kidding. please dont trace this back to me and have the govt ruin my life. it was just a joke........

Anonymous said...

What does a lawyer with more than 5 years experience have to do to file by 12 noon tomorrow? Can someone please inform me on the process. Step by step would be nice as my brother's wife wants to file. Thank you.

Rump, Captain anyone? Help?

Anonymous said...

Where oh where has my constitution gone, oh where oh where can it be? Its nice to know that our government is hard at work on the war against terror by mining the phone calls of millions of innocent citizens. These "terrorists" have no affiliation nor are they suspected of any ties to the bad guys. Its also nice to know that corproate america has the backbone of a mad cow cow. All of them save one capitulated to the demands of the Bush administation. Kudos to Quest for protecting the rights of their customers in the face of a government that uses fear as a tactic and terrorism as a means and ways to get more. The administration is saying that this is a war on terror and that we have to go after the terrorists, I guess we the people are now the enemy. Oh, and did I forget to mention this is the brainchild of Colonel klinks nominee, Gen. M. Hayden, for the post of top dog at the CIA. Makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.I am sure as this story unfolds there will be a lot of hand wringing and gnashing of teeth but nothing will happen because this is the time of mid term elections and no politician, from either party, wants to rock the boat untill they know which way the wind blows. All I know is that from where I sit it is an ill wind for sure and it stinks. DENY EVERYTHING!!!!

Anonymous said...

New category?

WHERE HAVE YOU HAD SEX AT REGJB?
IN COURT
IN CHAMBERS
IN JURY ROOM
IN AU BON PAIN
IN GARAGE
IN STAIRWELL
OUT SIDE COURT ON BENCH
CLERK'S OFFICE
IN THE BUT

Anonymous said...

It has finally come, it is officially friday...I can hear the sounds of sphincters contracting all over Miami-Dade County. You ever notice that Judges that don't normally give you the time of day are all of a sudden very friendly and ameable...when they have to bring out their tin cups and beg for alms.Why can't they maintain the same degree of civility during the year as the farcical behaivor they display at election time. Oh, I forgot putting on the "ROBE" doesnt make you a better person( despite the wearers belief to the contrary). If you are an a-hole to begin with, you will continue to be an a-hole (despite those lapses around election time). You will just be an a-hole wearing a robe.

Anonymous said...

What do you say to a lawyer with an I.Q. of 65????

GOOD MORNING YOUR HONOR

Anonymous said...

butt!

Anonymous said...

After much speculation, George Alvarez qualified this morning to run against Bronwyn Miller. The weeks of pressure resulted in creating a candidate with the determination and commitment required to win on September 5th.

Anonymous said...

the only factor that would even begin to qualify alvarez is his last name

Anonymous said...

alvarez, the ticket guy? that's very funny! winning - why? becuase of his name? becuase he's with d'arce?

Anonymous said...

alvarez loves "pressure" and cant get enough of it

Anonymous said...

obviously, he craves "pressure" given that he prefers a man's arse...

Anonymous said...

exactly

Anonymous said...

the funny thing is Judge Bronwyn Miller is going to carry 90% of Hialeah

Anonymous said...

Bronwyn Miller 4 life, she is hot

Anonymous said...

AND WHY NOT? SHE'S BRIGHT, GORGEOUS AND QUALIFIED - "ALVAREZ" DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN ONE IS "BRIGHT GORGEOUS AND QUALIFIED" MERELY THAT ONE BELIEVES HE CAN CARRY MIAMI-DADE BASED ON NAME ALONE

Anonymous said...

the funny thing is when he loses (ALVAREZ) he is going to cry like a little piece of s.. baby! that's really funny!

Anonymous said...

alvarez can cry in his pink crying towel

Anonymous said...

hi, i appeared in court 3 times to fight speeding tickets issued by state troopers - my name is alvarez and some of the pips love me because i like to do the white with my unelected friend aa - should i run for judge? please advise asap - thank you so much.

Anonymous said...

I am not sure GA can afford a towel, albeit pink, after having to pony up $5k for his qualifying fees.

Anonymous said...

Is he going to change it "Jorge" to get the 90+ years olds who are officially dead and illegally voting to vote for him? Or is Alvarez enough to recieve those votes?

Anonymous said...

alvarez has a huge poster of jeff striker over his bed

Anonymous said...

juan y ou fat f... do you think you will have enough time to work illegally on campaign during paid ja career, play dominoes, sleep with the guy and win the race? talk about multi-tasking

Anonymous said...

juan is it true you and art love white together - it's legal in mexico - NOT MIAMI - are you (ILLEGALLY) splitting the consulting fee?

Anonymous said...

is it white that they love

or is it poppers

Anonymous said...

they love trips to mejico to do the white togehther while they stay up all night long babbling about how they are the top shits in miami - art and juano and jorge for life bro - that's what i'm talkin about - pips forever bro, wannabe lawyer running for office for ten years, that's really funny art - are you going to drop out after you blew (literally) your $ car house etc? or just continue to run thru your connections with the alvarezs of miami? sniff it up bro.

Anonymous said...

are you sure they are up all night just 'babbling"

or is that what they are calling it these days

CAPTAIN JUSTICE said...

Congratulations to all the Judges who have secured employment for six more years. Good luck to all the candidates; may your campaigns be clean, professional, ethical, and classy.

Now in'S on to September where the voters will finally get to decide.

CAPTAIN OUT .......

Anonymous said...

Looks like someone knows who's getting the 3rd DCA position:

Circuit: 011 Group: 065
Reyes , Israel U. (NOP)
Qualified
Swartz , Jeffrey D. (NOP)
Active

Anonymous said...

babbling, sniffing, whatever it's called, bottome line when did you become a bar member arnau? you're a pip atty now? news to us... too bad you sniffed up your money and need a little extra on the side to continue your twenty year long unscucessful campaign and get that little boost (not the white, that's automatic) by "consulting" unqualified, ugly, stupid, piece of shit traffic attorneys like alvarez to run against an incumbent who was appointed due to nothing else but superior qualifications? sniff away art. keep it up - hopefully it will get to your heart sooner rather than later.

Anonymous said...

Sam Slom also got an opponent. Cristina Chavez? Anyone know her or about her? Never heard of her. Is she qualified, as in able and competent?Whats the story...As to the swartz candidate. I, as well as a majority of the world, think he's a pompous, conniving, know it all who has the personality of tofu but....it was a very slick move and he gets props for that. He has no intention of running a race, hes just waiting to see if "el Jues" gets elevated. Let him enjoy his six years cuz after that hes toast with a capital nuclear. I am sure he will fondly recall all of the people (2) who supported his last candidacy and will be as nice and couteous as he always was...is.

CAPTAIN JUSTICE said...

TARGET #3:

Circuit Court Group 65

Incumbent Judge Israel Reyes has a challenger. He is none other than former County Court Judge Jeffrey Swartz.

Reyes has had a quick rise to power. He was a cop for five years before going to law school at Nova. He was an ASA from 1998-2002 when Gov Jeb appointed him to the County Court bench on March 26, 2002. 18 months later, Bush came calling again, this time appointing him to the Circuit Court. Is he soon headed to the 3rd DCA???

Swartz (that is the way he spells it) was a County Court Judge until 2004 when Ada Pozo Revilla convinced the voters of Dade County to vote looks over age by a margin of 121,595 to 110,445.

Many remember Judge Swartz as the one who would offer those charged with a Miami Beach excessive noise violation the choice of a $500 fine or listening to the opera La Traviata for 2 1/2 hours.

TARGET #4:

County Court Group 4:

IT'S THE ST. THOMAS LAW SCHOOL MANO Y MANO

Where Administrative Judge Sam Slom drew an opponent in Cecilia Armenteros-Chavez.

Slom, a 1987 graduate of the charter class of St. Thomas Law School, is the Administrative Judge of the Criminal Division in County Court. He has been a Judge since 1996 ans was formerly an ASA.

Cecilia Armenteros (as she is listed with The Florida Bar and as she practices in her law firm; we do not know why she added the name Chavez to the end), is a 1993 graduate of St. Thomas Law School. She has been a member of The Florida Bar since 1994 and practices family law as an associate with the law firm of Buckner & Shifrin in Miami.

TARGET #4:

County Court Group 11:

As predicted by The Captain, Judge Karen Mills-Francis will be running for Judge this summer against candidate Stephen Millan.

Francis, a UF law school grad and former PD has been a County Court Judge since 2001.

Millan, was formerly a candidate in Group 30, but when that seat suddenly disappeared with the appointment of Judge Silver to the Circuit Court, Millan made the move to Group 11. The other candidate for the Group 30 seat, Robert Twombley, dropped out completely, just as I predicted.

CAPTAIN OUT ............

Anonymous said...

capi
your full of shit. i scooped you on the mills francis /millan race.

Anonymous said...

Since when did the word "incumbent" get confused with "birthright?" Simply because someone won an election once or was appointed for whatever reason, does that mean they're a judge for life? The masses of the world have to fight daily to keep their jobs; if you screw up you're fired; if there's someone out there who's better, you're fired. Why do we have different standards once you put on a robe?
And to anyone who now complains about an incumbent without opposition, your time to put up or shut up ran out a little over two hours ago. So, shut up!

CAPTAIN JUSTICE said...

TO 2:26 PM

read the blog; I called that race on Tuesday, May 9 at 1:27 am; now go back to picking your nose.

and the CAPTAIN HAS SPOKEN .....

Anonymous said...

Karen Mills-Francis is
1) Incredibly qualified
2) Hot
3) Wonderful
4) Charming
5) Gonna kick Millan's ass.

GO KM-F!

Anonymous said...

I'm with you on KM-F. Millan is a punk for running agfainst her, as she is incredibly qualified. There are significantly less qualified judges who did not draw opposition, perhaps because their names may be more desireable in Dade. I got KM-F's back completely, and I hope Millian is sent packing.

Anonymous said...

KMF: Thought I could save some $, but it's yours now. Check will be in the mail as soon as I'm back in the office to steal a stamp.
Go KMF!

Anonymous said...

I think voters will confuse Steve Milian for Left Hook Al. Will that be to his advantage or disadvantage? What do you think?

Anonymous said...

I think voters will confuse Steve Milian for Left Hook Al. Will that be to his advantage or disadvantage? What do you think?

Anonymous said...

dis

Anonymous said...

Steve Millan is bright, experienced, and more importantly, a true gentleman. People may underestimate him for being softspoken and humble (not dominant character traits in many of our current judges), but he will make an excellent jurist. Courteous, respectful, professional, fair - things missing from too many coutrrooms in our county.

Anonymous said...

If what you say is true, 5:19, then he probably would be a good judge. The problem is that he chose to run against a judge who also has those good qualities and because of it she is well liked by those who appear before her and well qualified to keep her postition.

Anonymous said...

then let her fight for it.

Anonymous said...

If what you say is true 5:31 then KMF would never have gotten the second worst bar poll ratings behind Judge Pando for being unqualified and the second worst for being unprofessional behind Judge Schwartz. At least she is consistent. She would also have used all of those good qualities to benefit the community through some bar or civic organization.

Anonymous said...

Karen is the bomb. Millian will suffer great defeat and humiliation. INFIDEL!

Anonymous said...

is he vindictive cause i got to give to kmf.

Anonymous said...

7:12 poster.....I think you read the Dade County Bar Association poll results wrong. Pando's bar ratings were the worst among sitting county court judges in both categories. Almost 36% said she was unqualified in an overall evaluation. No one else was rated as unqualified by more than 28%. This, despite being the most defense oriented judge on the bench while in criminal court. How could that happen? Partly because she's now in civil. But, more importantly I suspect, because over 32% found her unqualified in professionalism (Shelly and Karen were the only county court judges who were close). Nobody likes judges who are or were routinely late for court and don't know the law.

Anonymous said...

Karen Mills-Francis is a good judge and Millan made a mistake running against her.

Anonymous said...

Before suggesting what Judges are good or bad,it is suggested that you actually appear before the particular Judge.(i.e.Schwartz always on time,talks with and to the paople appearing and nnot just at them,and does not appreciate the lack of professionalism often times one may observe in County Court(last week he called atty.on phone when atty.told defendant he was mailing his papers back after filing n/a and no motion to withdraw,and this was trial date).Perhaps those complaining about the way matters are handloed by Judges,should look at the way they themseloves practice law.What goes on in county court would not be condoned in circuit court:what goes on on county court would lead to many contempt citations in federal court.The practice of law should be honorable and professional,but unfortunately the practice has turned into a business and nothing more by many in the county court arena.
j.s.

Anonymous said...

i think this site is wicked cool

Anonymous said...

It sure is, my bald Mass friend.

Go Sox!

Yankees suck!!

Anonymous said...

Go Heat!

Anonymous said...

I hear the Millan is a great guy.