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.

Monday, March 05, 2007

CLE

BREAKING NEWS

SCOOTER LIBBY CONVICTED ON 4 OF 5 COUNTS. JURY OUT TEN DAYS.

NYTIMES ARTICLE


File this under the truth is stranger than fiction category.

We received an email from FACDL President, big-wig, and all around nice guy (Plus everyone's favourite federal blogger ) David O Markus, announcing that lawyers can attend a Marlin's Game on Thursday April 19, 2007 and receive CLE Credit to boot.

The Marlins are hosting (we kid you not ) LAWYER APPRECIATION NIGHT.

Query: Who will set the record for BOOS this year? Barry Bonds, or the Miami Bar?

We just can't imagine ponying up to the concession stands and having someone offer to buy us a beer when they find out what we do for a living.

"You're a lawyer? Let me buy you a beer. You guys are so misunderstood."

Pour a beer on us? Much more likely. And a terrible waste of beer.

Back to the evenings festivities:
Lawyers who attend this event will:

1) Meet Billy The Marlin AND the Marlins Mermaids.

2) As surprising as it seems, the flyer trumpeting this event also touts the ability of attendee to "Watch the Mets and Marlins!" (That's an actual quote).

Go to a ballgame and watch the game. What will they think of next?

3) Get CLE credit.
("Objection your honor. It's hearsay and a violation of the infield fly rule. Plus, the prosecutor may well have made a motion to first during the question, and that's clearly a balk.")


And now for the show stopper.

Want to know what the CLE event is?

We couldn't make this up if we tried.

HOW TO AVOID A BAR COMPLAINT.

See you in Court.



68 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love this blog. I love Rumpole. his blog always makes me laugh. Thanks Rumpole. Just a simple fan.

Anonymous said...

I have season tickets (my share is 16 games). Can I get my CLE and Ethics credits,too ,if I do not curse at the Marlins - just their opponents?

Anonymous said...

On March 23, 2007, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles return to the big screen.

Anonymous said...

Bring scott hidnert and no one will mess with you. you know about life's ironies, hidnert was an asa once and has a personal trainer for weightlifting so why carry a gun. he also can use the self defense law to avoid prosecution that a lawyer he despises was reasonable for. LESSON TO LAWYERS: IF YOU ARE GOING TO DRIVE AROUND MIAMI IN 100,000 CARS EITHER STAY IN AT NIGHT OR CARRY A GUN. THE DOCTOR KILLED AT HOUSTON'S A FEW MILES AWAY ALSO HAD A NICE CAR. AS SOMEONE ELSE ADVISED YOU HIDNERT WATCH OUT FOR THIS GUY'S BUDDIES AND INCREASE THE INSURANCE ON YOUR OFFICE AND HAVE BACKUP FOR YOUR FILES. AND I STILL THINK YOU ARE A JERK BUT TAKE THE ADVICE ANYWAY.

Anonymous said...

I am a well known personality with a history at the Justice Building. You all know me. I have held off for a long time in responding to this blog. There have been many cruel and hurtful Blog statements made. I am hurt and would hope that people are more sensitive. To attack innocent folks on this blog is not what this world should be about. We all work so hard to try to do the right thing. You can attack the ethics, integrity or the way in which one works, but to attack and insult a person's appearance can and is hurtful. i hope that people will listen to this and it is not a joke when people suffer.

CAPTAIN JUSTICE said...

THE CAPTAIN REPORTS:

The latest Circuit Court Judge races for 2008:

Group 5

Amy S. Donner (INC)

Group 9

Ronald Friedman (INC)

Group 11

Josie Perez Velis
(this seat is presently occupied by Judge Eugene Fierro)

Group 18

Migna Sanchez-Llorens
(this seat is presently occupied by Judge Jon Gordon)

Group 27

Ronald Dresnick (INC)

Group 38

Mario Garcia
(this seat is presently occupied by Judge Leonard Glick)

Group 50

Abby Cynamon
(this seat is presently occupied by Judge Stuart Simons)

Group 51

Douglas Chumbley (INC)

Group 63

Stephen Millan

(this seat is presently occupied by Judge Jeffrey Rosinek)

---------

Speaking of Judge Rosinek, check out his temporary replacement, Judge Scott Bernstein, who will be covering for Judge Rosinek while he is away on vacation. Bernstein is the heir apparent for the Drug Court Judge when Rosinek officially steps down in 2008.

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

CAPTAIN JUSTICE said...

THE CAPTAIN REPORTS:

This just in from the Florida Supreme Court:

Our favorite "mad Romanian" attorney, the former Alex Micalescu:

Alexander John Michaels, 1507 N.W. 14th St., Miami, reprimanded under the terms of a Feb. 8 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1984) Michaels was cited for contempt of court for using inappropriate language and making improper comments in the courtroom while serving a two-year probation ordered in another disciplinary action. (Case No. SC07-190)

CAPTAIN OUT .........

CAPTAIN JUSTICE said...

THE CAPTAIN REPORTS:

Check out your latest issue of The Florida Bar News; it includes a photo of Judges' Emas and Leesfield, at the latest judicial college:

Pictured are 11th Circuit Judges Kevin Emas and Ellen Leesfield taking questions from the new judges as part of a trial skills faculty team and former Justice Major Harding asking his class to identify traits consistent with being a good judge.

CAPTAIN OUT .........

Anonymous said...

to 9: 27. you sound like a judge, trying to be dignified. some of the biggest purveyors of slander, gossip etc. are judges, their personnel and the inhabitants of the pickle barrell/au bon. any time you do a trial before a judge who hardly knows you the first thing they do is email other judges to find out the gossip about you. some of the biggest jerk judges: glick, emas, miller, piniero who all happen to frequent the blog, and one judge everyone loves had an affair with the asa in his division. black robes don't mean shit to me because half the judges in miami don't deserve to have one.

Anonymous said...

"Biggest jerk judges" .... Glick, Pineiro and Emas? Get a clue buddy. Maybe if you stopped blogging at 2:31 am and started getting some sleep you'd be able to think a little clearer. You just named three of the best in the circuit. They are smart, knowledgeable and easy to deal with. Most of us get along very well with them. You must be an incompetent lawyer to have gotten on the wrong side of all three of them.

Anonymous said...

Yeah Alex. This could have been a lot worse. He was facing the big DB. That idiot Judge who held him in contempt in naples was just a jerk and trying to screw an out of town attorney who didn't do anything wrong.

Wheewh. Dodged a bullet there. Now Alex, just stay in dade will ya?

Anonymous said...

See here, now. We're gonna take this town by storm. I'm announcing the Moldovian/Romanian slate for 2008 (I can't wait) starting with ALEX MICHALES FOR PD.

Now you get your butts up and vote for Alex, or else.

Anonymous said...

A.M. for PD would be a disaster. I still think Naftalli Wachs would make a fine canidate.

Anonymous said...

This just in:

In order to celebrate his new found freedom, and because he just can't live anymore without the shadow of a bar investigation, Alex Michaels is planning to go to Federal Court today and tell Chief Judge Zloch he is not ready for trial and doesn't give a damn what the judge says. WOW!

Anonymous said...

No- I have bigger plans for Naftali. I'm running him against Country Joe Farina.

Anonymous said...

(chomp chomp) harrumpf...what about me..(chomp chomp) Freddy?

Anonymous said...

Happy belated (by one week) bday to Ted Mastos. One of the truly nice guys at the REG

Anonymous said...

Judge Ted Mastos is one of the nicest guys and a really terrific trial lawyer. i saw him during a voir dire in a very difficult case and the jury absolutely loved him. if i was in trouble, i would call on ted. Happy Birthday Ted.

Anonymous said...

Mastos was awful on the bench -- rude to everyone. Now he can only hurt one client at a time.

Anonymous said...

whatever happened to ernie plead em" yokam? is he dead or what...

Anonymous said...

Ernie Yokham is the Ed Frank Professor of Law at Nova University where he teaches basic trial litigation and advanced appellate advocacy.

Anonymous said...

The Justice Building says Good-bye to long time and well known attorney Kenny Weisman. Kenny announced his retirement recently to pursue his first love- acting. Kenny has landed the role of C3PO in the soon to be Broadway Musical- Starwars the musical. Also in the cast is Broadway legend Ben Vereen as Darth Vader, and Brandy as Princess Leia.

I am sure we all wish Kenny the best in his new endeavors.

Anonymous said...

hey r2d2 I'M BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK

Anonymous said...

THIS IS JUSTICE BUILDING JEOPARDY!!!!

(C) Rumpole's Blog. All rights reserved.

Alex, I'll take Judicial Scandals for 200.

This Judge was a prosecution witness in a federal judicial bribery and kickback corruption case who improperly solicited and received a loan without reporting it.

Who is ______________?

Anonymous said...

Roy

Anonymous said...

Postman as Jaba the Hut...Robert Rudolph as Yoda...Chief Judge Joe Farina as Supreme Chancellor Finis Valorum...Chihuly as Captain Typho...Judge Barzee as Princess Leia Organa...

Rumpole said...

If someone feels they are being made fun of on the blog, please email me privately and I will deal with it. I removed that last post because it didn't seem right- too many non-sequitors and spelling errors.

As to Justice Building Jeopardy, which I think is a great idea, ROY as in Roy T Gelber is NOT the correct answer to the first question.

Rumpole said...

BREAKING BLOG NEWS

DOWN GOES SCOOTER

WASHINGTON, March 6 — I. Lewis Libby Jr., the former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, was convicted today of lying to F.B.I. agents and grand jurors investigating the unmasking of a C.I.A. operative amid a burning dispute over the war in Iraq.

Skip to next paragraph
Enlarge This Image

Doug Mills/The New York Times
I. Lewis Libby Jr. leaving court today in Washington.

Multimedia
Graphic
The Libby Jury
Graphic
Diary of the Leak Trial
Related
Text of the Indictment (U.S. v. Libby)
Times Topics: Libby Case »

The New York Times
The jury rejected Mr. Libby’s claims of memory lapses as it convicted him of obstruction of justice, giving false statements to the F.B.I. and perjuring himself, charges embodied in four of the five counts of the indictment.

The panel acquitted him on an additional count of making false statements to the F.B.I.

The jury deliberated for 10 days before handing up their verdict to Federal Judge Reggie B. Walton this morning, ending one of Washington’s most closely watched trials of recent years. Mr. Libby, 56, could theoretically face more than two decades in prison, but as a first offender he will almost surely get a much lighter penalty.

Mr. Libby appeared composed as the verdict was read. He was then taken to be photographed and fingerprinted as a convicted felon. He will remain free on his own recognizance until sentencing, scheduled by Judge Walton for June 5.

“We are very disappointed,” Mr. Libby’s chief lawyer, Theodore V. Wells Jr., said outside the courthouse soon after the verdict. “Despite our disappointment in the jury verdict, we believe in the American criminal justice system. We believe in the jury system.”

Anonymous said...

I have noticed that Kenny Weisman is looking more and more like my old sidekick Sammie Davis, Jr. with his stovepipe pants and skinny dancers legs. I am searching for some more MJB lookalikes so that I can reform the fake rat pack.

Anonymous said...

Keep making fun of me. Go right ahead.

SAY HELLO TO MY LITTLE FRIEND!!!

Anonymous said...

Kenny Weisman in the Sammy Davis Jr Story, co-staring Judge Gerry Klein as Jerry Lewis, and special guest star Judge Leon Firtel as Frank Sinatra and Judge Ellen Venzer as Nancy Sinatra.

Rumpole said...

SCOOTER

FROM THE BBC WEB SITE

A member of the jury, Denis Collins, said although jurors decided Libby was guilty they also had a "tremendous amount of sympathy" for him, and thought he might just be "the fall guy".

"Where's Rove?" he asked, referring to Mr Bush's top aide.

Anonymous said...

gee, I feel so bad a member of the bush team is a convicted felon. now only if some Dems with a sack would start impeachment proceedings....

Rumpole said...

I just looked at that. I don't approve of that crap. Seems libelous to me. I don't want the blog associated with angry-ex's. So I deleted the post.

Anonymous said...

Bush should pardon Libby for protecting President Cheney and taking the fall for the White House.

Anonymous said...

Hillary Clinton has promised to pardon Libby for 500k if she is elected. Call her brother Hugh Rodham for the details. 1-800-get hugh for all the details

Anonymous said...

Rumpole I spilled some hot soup from Au Bon Pain on me. Can I sue?

PS Can I sue country Joe Farnia as well?

Anonymous said...

maximum ellen morophonios was the judge who testified in the federal trial held in the central courtroom. i watched her testify.

Rumpole said...

ARRRNNNKKK.... WRONG ANSWER PLEASE TRY AGAIN AND THANKS FOR PLAYING JUSTICE BUILDING JEOPARDY

Anonymous said...

cALL ME Immediately

1-800-5mi-rick

Rick Freedman. I will sue anyone and everyone for 5 million.

Anonymous said...

Sepe?

Anonymous said...

SHEBOYGAN, Wis. - Too bad nobody told him his fly was down. A 22-year-old man was arrested for drug possession after police found a marijuana pipe and drugs stashed in his underwear.

Police made the arrest after they found the man's car stuck in a ditch in the Town of Wilson. According to a criminal complaint, the man's pants were undone and officers asked if there was anything illegal in his clothing. They found a pipe and a small amount of marijuana.

The Sheboygan man was charged with misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, felony marijuana possession and operating a vehicle after having his license revoked, police said.

Anonymous said...

David Goodhart

Anonymous said...

I was a new prosecutor back in the court broom days. Thinking back, it's incredible how many scumbag Judges there were back then and when I think about it, there were obvius signs of what total jerks they were (Shenberg, Goodhart, Sepe, Morphonius to name a few)...I can't think of any current judges that seem sleazy like that.

Anonymous said...

the answer to your trivia question is former circuit judge ralph person. he was my first judge in 1981 at the sao, a great judge and a nice guy to boot.

when i was an asa i needed him to grant an emergency order for a blood transfusion on a dying infant whose parents were jehova's witnesses. he had the parents in chambers, quoted them scripture, chapter and verse, and saved their child's life.

i know who the lawyer was that he solicited the loan from, but as neidermeyer said "decorum prevents me".

Anonymous said...

Our Attorney general Alberto Gonzalez i making the US legal system look like a third world legal system. Hey Berto, respect our country a liddle bit and stop firing people that don't suck up to your rican ass.

Anonymous said...

Dear 8:37 rocket scientist. Alberto Gonzalez was born in the U.S. His parents were born in the U.S. And his grandparents were born in Mexico.

You really should try the Google.

Anonymous said...

Dear 9:23

Hey Super-Googler, you have the wrong Alberto Gonzalez. You're the genius. He is not even Mexican. Latin America is more than just Mexico. Buy an Atlas.

Anonymous said...

LIBBY, LIBBY, LIBBY!

Sure, one JEW in the whole Bush administration + he takes the fall. Who called us the 'chosen people'?

Anonymous said...

Choosen to be the sucker

Anonymous said...

Pardon Scooter Libby!

Anonymous said...

Anyone read the article about North of the border Judge Dale Ross. Apparently a letter signed by several minority associations have complained about comments he made during weekend bond hearings. I can't wait until all these old fart judges in broward start losing to younger minority lawyers running against them. That should be fun!!

Anonymous said...

Unlike Dade County, no one runs against a sitting judge. It is just part of the good ol' boy system there. There have been a few exceptions due to scandal( Judge Julian) but it really is not done despite bad behavior. Like it or not Ross is there to stay and african americans and other minorities will have to be appointed or run when a vacancy is created.

Rumpole said...

IN MY OPINION MR BLECHER WINS THE JUSTICE BUILDING JEOPARDY QUESTION

JUDGE PERSON TESTIFIED AS A WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION AND HIS ACCEPTANCE OF A LOAN FROM AN ATTORNEY CAME INTO PLAY RESULTING IN HIS RESIGNATION FROM THE BENCH AND THE BAR.

Anonymous said...

Regarding the "no one runs against a sitting judge in broward theory" might be right, but the population is changing so much, that I don't think that is going to stick around for that much longer. I believe there use to be a time in Dade when no one ran against a sitting judge. Am I wrong?

Anonymous said...

anyone know the name of the lawyer judge person solicited the loan from?

Anonymous said...

We all know but we ain't gonna tell.

Anonymous said...

Mario Garcia is a dumb moron.

Anonymous said...

From my present location in the seventh ring of hell, I just watched the segment on the fired U.S. Attorneys on Countdown and find myself enraged. Couldn't G.W. and the Boy Genius find a better sock puppet for Attorney General than Alberto "Torture Boy" Gonzalez? Is there any doubt that at least 10% of the attorneys who practice in Dade County (and 50% of the attorneys and judges who contribute to this blog) are smarter and more qualified for the position (as well as his previous position on the Texas Supreme Court) than this charlatan, affirmative action hack? Even in my day, we didn't FIRE U.S. Attorneys who failed to follow our political orders; we ACCEPTED their resignations.

Anonymous said...

Breaking news: Couey convicted in 4 hours

Anonymous said...

Support your comment clowning Mario...anecdotes?

Anonymous said...

MAYRA TRINCHET

Anonymous said...

Given G.W. Bush's limited intelligence, surrounding himself with hacks like Cheney, Rumsfeld, Ashcroft and Gonzales, has proven to be a recipe for poor governance for the United States.

Anonymous said...

mayra trinchet was the attorney who gave a loan to judge raplh person? whats wrong with that?

this was long before the "wheel' so was she getting court appointments from him as a way of repaying the loan?

if so, was she ever prosecuted in the court broom case? if not, was she granted immunity in exchange for testimony? did she ever testify?

i heard that randy maultasch, the ticket guy, was involved in this somehow. is that true?

Anonymous said...

They (Mayra + Randy)both seemed to be billing for over 24 hours a day of court appointed work.

Anonymous said...

Blecher sounds like he may have had some credibility at some point in his legal career. I never would have guessed.

Anonymous said...

Blecher credibility.....Nah...He's just angling to be the asst. courthouse historian (next to or dare I say it under Silverman).

Anonymous said...

If Mario Garcia is really a moron, then there's a very good chance that he'll be one of our newest judges to be elected, as was the case with Patti Marino whatever, Marissa Tinkler mendez, Valerio Manno-Schurr and many others. Also, one day josie Velis Perez will win.