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.

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

HAPPY THANKSGIVING








The odds makers are making it tough today. All three games have an over/under of 39.5.

Going to keep riding our home town Fins. Give the three on the road with a short week, because our heroes are hitting their stride, while the Lions are just hitting the bottle. Matt Millen is the worst GM in the league.

Denver is getting 3 on the road at KC. Give the three, take the over 39.5, enjoy your turkey.


Tampa Bay is getting 9.5 visiting the Cowboys, who are riding high after nipping the unbeaten Colts. Take the under 39.5. I don’t have a strong opinion on the line, but two thoughts: Dallas is overrated, and Dallas is do for a let down. I see this as a 10-3, or 17-10 snoozer.

Also, take Rumpole and Not Guilty. It’s a lock.

60 comments:

Anonymous said...

If Rumpole gets a NG on a non murder case, will anyone on this blog care?

Rumpole said...

Just my client.

Anonymous said...

anyone know if Joe Fernandez and Don Cohn are going to be in the traffic court in north dade? please help.

Anonymous said...

why the desperation about North Dade? Relax

Anonymous said...

Don Cohen is a guest announcer on CNN for the Macy's day parade!!!!How about that??

Anonymous said...

Big deal. Andy Kotsin is in the parade.

Anonymous said...

F rump. Who is the Captain????

Anonymous said...

F Andy Kotsin

Anonymous said...

Cohn - NDade civil
Fernandez - NDade Traffic/criminal

Anonymous said...

this blog is dominated by traffic hacks. so on this thanks giving day, i fart in your general direction.

Rumpole said...

Hack? Yup. Traffic??? yuck. No way. I have already written about the nameless-faceless attorneys scurrying from courtroom to courtoom on floors not otherwise in use- only to be chastised and put in my place.

Writing WH and 4 hours of traffic school on my file (even when the presiding magistrate is as entertaining as Tom Cobitz) is not my idea of a fun way to earn a living. But we respect those who do it, and do it well.

Anonymous said...

Who else besides Judge Joe Fernandez is traffic court in North Dade? Thanks!

Anonymous said...

Horace,
Thought I would weigh in on the methods used by law enforcement.

I read lots of blogs from persons who are upset that prosecutors would dare use subtrefuge to try to capture politicians who steal from the public, cops who corrupt their badges and oaths, and drug dealers who poison our children.

I only wish that we had more information which would justify using these ploys more often. Perhaps then I could stop hearing the complaint that we only go after the little fish and the minority defendants.

We would love to get the persons in high office and the kingpins. Maybe the defense bar could keep that in mind when discussing pleas. I really enjoy hearing from those who say that their clients will never snitch. Snitching just means telling the truth about those who are more evil. Does that bother you? If so, you need a new magnet to re-orient your moral compass.

Perhaps we can all re-evealuate how we want our community to be in the future; as we take the day off -- and give thanks for all that we do have in this flawed, but amazing nation.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY!

Go fins -- leading 27-10 with just over 9 minutes to go.

Anonymous said...

Mr. abe laeser:

Very well said on this day that we give thanks for all that is good.

In Miami the defense bar may want to think twice the next time there client gets framed by a corrupt system. What I mean is that if you tell the truth about a powerful person doing wrong it will all come back to the next guy.

All in all its up to those entrusted to have a bar license or elected/appointed Judge to clean the system out.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Anonymous said...

Happy Thanksgiving, go f yourselves morons!

Rumpole said...

Fins win. Fins cover. We called it. Again.

We're really going to have address this snitch/court records dispute.

Anonymous said...

Really Rump because no one has snitched on your identity.

someone please snitch who is Rumpole!!

Anonymous said...

there's only one traffic judge is Ndade. The others are mags

Rumpole said...

Careful readers know no one knows. A half a life time around criminals has taught me no one can keep a secret. So I have told no one. My reward is my own satisfaction.

You know, the most brillant cross examinations I have done, my best opening and closing arguments, have been mostly in empty courtrooms. Success is its own reward.

David Oscar Markus said...

Abe,

I'm not ready to get a new magnet... Snitching bothers me because it typically does *not* "just mean telling the truth about those who are more evil." If that was the case, no one in their right mind would be upset about these sorts of witnesses.

But, of course, you must know that snitches often lie. And who can blame them for lying. They are offered the most precious thing in the world -- their liberty. They are offered this chance at freedom after they are told that they score out to some outrageously high sentence in which there is no other way out except to tell the story that the prosecutor is looking to hear.

Too often, the ethics hypo presented to criminal lawyers is whether they would put a lying defendant on the stand. The better question, and the one that comes up much more frequently, is how should prosecutors handle a cooperating witness who they have reservations about or who has a story that just sounds too perfect...

To top it off, many snitches are the kingpins you say we should be going after. Instead of flipping the little guy to catch the big fish, prosecutors often flip down because the case against the little guy is the weakest and toughest to prove at trial.

So, on Thanksgiving, I'm thankful for criminal defense lawyers who during cross-examination are fighting to expose the lies that snitches, rats, stool pigeons, chivatos, and the like tell to save their own skin.

One thing I do agree with you on -- Go Fins.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Anonymous said...

Oh no Markus the federal bloviator has lowered himself to write in the state court blog.

Markus you win the prize. you have bested Abe Laeser in a battle of egos and self righteousness, no small accomplishment.

Why dont you go back to your federal blog and dedicate your blog to the rodriguez-orijuela brothers and shed a tear for them as you happily spend thier blood money.

Anonymous said...

10:40 bite me!!

Anonymous said...

10:40 posts way to much. You have no credibility, and are the scorge of this blog and probably hate your stupid irrelevant life.

G
O

A
W
A
Y

Anonymous said...

10:40-you are an angry, jealous little runt-really you are!. It is probably too late to change so just go away. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

Anyone know who is taking over for Judge Pineiro? We will miss him so much!!

Anonymous said...

Where is Judge Pineiro going?

Anonymous said...

10:24 - Someday you may grow up. Then you may be able to find your way to a federal courthouse. If you behave, they may even let you in. You can sit in the gallery -- inside the bar is reserved for real lawyers.

Anonymous said...

10:24 - Someday you may grow up. Then you may be able to find your way to a federal courthouse. If you behave, they may even let you in. You can sit in the gallery -- inside the bar is reserved for real lawyers.

Anonymous said...

Noticeably absent from this discussion about snitches and the encouragement by the sao to have defense attorneys have their clients snitch is that any time a defendant agrees to testify against another he puts his health and safety and probably that of his family in GRAVE danger and for any attorney to simplemindedly encourage that risk in order to get his client a good plea to brag about is pathetic. Once again the esteemed asa shows his lack of understanding to have the life of someone in their hands as a defense attorney and this intellectually dishonest mindset that all defendants are scum and cops are above reproach. Come on man, this is Miami, just read the paper - a cop or corrections person is arrested ever 2 weeks and the cops kill someone every 3 weeks. Sociopathic and career criminals probably represent 2-5% of the felony cases; the rest are there because of poverty, drug and alcohol problems, and abusive childhoods or inability to deal with events in their lives such as 9/11, war veterans who save death and maybe killed, people dealing with a death of a child, parent, spouse etc. You need to think of all defendants as scum to justify your lack of compassion, forgiveness, empathy and other Christian principles. If you were given real power you would be a dictator-shooting anyone who disagrees with your point of view.

Anonymous said...

There is no 10:24 Mr. Real lawyer.

Anonymous said...

To all you big shots: It is your obligation to discuss any plea offer from the government with your client and certainly advise him as to what his best course of action would be. Often, substantial assistance is an appropriate resolution for a client who doesn't want to next see his infant child at her high school graduation. Any attorney who foregoes this possibility because he is not a "flip" attorney is putting his interests ahead of his client's and obviously doing a disservice. Certainly, the client is free to elect not to pursue this course of action after considering all of the potential consequences.

Anonymous said...

To 1:21; DUH. HOW LONG TO COME UP WITH THAT? next you'll tell us all plea offers have to be conveyed and to wear a tie to court.

Anonymous said...

added into this discussion should be reverse stings - cant we get rid of them? They only work to create crime and give cops something to do. Isn't there enough real crime?

Anonymous said...

Hey 3:11/ don't you love how much money cops spend on lap dances in broward and tampa.

Anonymous said...

lap dances are better in dade

Anonymous said...

I have an idea. What if every criminal defendant had to be represented by a public defender? Our system of criminal justice would no longer be tainted by big money and celebrity, all defendants would get roughly equal representation, the PDs' offices would be better funded as middle class and rich people realized that they had no other options, and it would be impossible for lawyers to make big (blood) money defending rich scum like OJ, the Colombians, Denis Kozlowski, or Ken Lay.

Anonymous said...

4:50, you forgot to list the biggest benefit of your plan: we'd all be spared bloviators like David Markus and Rump himself.

Anonymous said...

thats why we dont have universal medicare for everyone!!

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Like Canada and most of Europe have universal medicare.

We Americans could give a shit about the poor and powerless.

Anonymous said...

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Anonymous said...

"poor and powerless" you mean lazy and greedy, right?

Anonymous said...

Too much petty jealousy among the bottom-feeders.

Anonymous said...

Bottomfeeder: lawyer who laughs his ass off when the bigshot goes to prison for abhoring the possibility of becoming a bottom feeder who bribes bail bondsmen for cases and represents drug lords.

Anonymous said...

We need an investigation into KFR. Based upon the amount of work she does she is committing grand theft every time she cashes a paycheck!

Anonymous said...

Like Brummer is not committing Grand Theft on the last day of every month!

Anonymous said...

The Christmas Epidemic of poetry continues:
You need to read this carefully. Its sort of a Dr. Seuss book on our little world.
Say- “The Grinch who was arrested before Christmas”; or "Green Eggs in the Dade County Jail."

(we figured almost all of the abbreviations- see the code below)


Speedies fell from the skies with glee,50 days to Christmas week!
The PDs slept with thoughts of jury pardons;
While ASAs cried about the promotions.
“I will not come…you can’t make me do it."
“But you won’t let me give the guy PTD!”
“Get a continuance, Judge X, loves us.”
“You don’t understand, 3.191 says no way.”
A poor ASA with no wits to go forward,PDs circling like waiting vultures.
What to do to save my record?I’ve never lost a case…I want to stay like Mr. Reiff (just kidding Mr. Reiff, please don’t hurt me).
So up the chain the ASA did go;
First his DC says “CYA it ain’t so!”
Then to HP for candy galore….If you have ________, better leave open the door.
Oh damm you’re the wrong body type,What about Don, he could help set things right.
Oh? DH has reprimands to deliver…Some ASAs forgot leave slips for Christmas Dinner.
KFR will surely have the answer!All I must do is mention the paper....
What’s that, she will not take my call?But why not, I donated to her campaign dole.
There are dinners to do, cocktails to drink, Wine to taste and friends to thank.
It is something the SA must do;Stay away…that camera’s for me!
But the cop refuses to come and say,Why he took the guy to jail that day.
And if he doesn’t than I must do,The KNP dance before Judge (you know who).
What’s that? I should have set it earlier?
But the AV said he would deliver.I should have called just to make sure?
What the hell is CJIS for?
Now a reprimand I must take,Due to the filing decision I did not make.
Don and Lorna, they stood side by side,To make sure the HR file hurts my pride.
And what happened our famous leaders?A pound cake, a pay raise…a personal driver.
CYA is the name in the office today;It is kind of sad for the poor ASAs.



HP= Howard Pohl?; DH= Don Horn? KFR= Kathy Fernandez-Rundle fer sure.

AV=???

Anonymous said...

Someone needs a life -- way too much time on your hands.

Anonymous said...

Bottom-feeder = Not-very capable lawyer, barely earning a living, while resenting those who succeed where they fail.

Anonymous said...

12:12 - awesome...

Anonymous said...

Is that ALL you have on your mind at midnight?

Anonymous said...

Bottom feeder: idiot who went to law school not knowing the bar would add 2000 lawyers a year, every year, now 78000, who thought he was entering a profession that cared if he made a decent living like the medical profession, 20 years of education to represent people facing life in prison for 1500 dollars. Hey, at least I don't live in a communist country.Still waiting-now 5 months, for payment on my last murder case, 25th of career. I guess I am a bottom feeder because I take murder cases off the wheel, wait months to be paid, and then have my bill chopped 10-15%. P.S. I once was a big shot non-bottom feeder. Good luck hotshots and do toe touches so you are ready when they catch up with you.

Anonymous said...

bottomfeeders are not lawyers who take cases off the wheel - theyre the advertising slimes who steal cases and undercut and do nothing while trashing lawyers on this blog who make more than them.

Anonymous said...

All you private criminal defense attorneys are clearly riven by petty jealousies. Enough with this "bottom feeder" crap! Who cares?

I like idea of doing away with the private criminal defense bar and requiring all persons accused of a crime to be represented by a public defender. It's egalitarian, and would go along way towards ridding the system of money's pernicious influence.

Anonymous said...

If there were no private defense attorneys, who would treat judges to free meals and who would contribute to their campaigns?

Anonymous said...

Forget about Culpepper, Harrington is the Dolphins QB of the future!!

Anonymous said...

Picks from the female defense attorney:

Florida over Florida State (Bye Bye Bobby)

Notre Dame Beats USC

Georgia Crushes Georgia Tech "Between the Hedges"

Anonymous said...

Hey 11:50; as a football fan would you mind sharing your cup size?

Anonymous said...

Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite!

Anonymous said...

THIS BLOG IS DOMINATED BY TRAFFIC HACKS AND NOW JOINED BY SOCIALISTS WHO WANT EVERYONE CHARGED REPRESENTED BY RORY N CO..

LOVELY/!

Rumpole said...

Let me be perfectly clear. Those of you swift enough to understand the meaning of part of my email address, know that I have no tolerance for altruists with collectivist ethics. That being said, the socialists who lift themselves off the ash heap of history, are welcome to state their case.

As to health care, it is a complicated issue, but ask yourself this: when someone is very very sick- where do they come for treatment? Canada? England? No. The USA. I have a friend in England who is on a 10 month waiting list for a simple hernia operation. Not the system I want to be treated in. That being said, I could think of a lot better things to spend the 200 Billion Plus dollars we are wasting in Iraq. Feeding the hungry in America and fixing (not socializing) the health care system would be a good start.

(A new criminal courthouse in Miami would be nice too.)

Anonymous said...

what about the poor ? Have you ever visted Jackson Memorial Emergency Room were the poor get care? It looks like a hospital in downtown Bagdad.