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.

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

COURTHOUSE IN CRISIS



This was the scene Tuesday morning, as the lines to get into the courthouse stretched from the rear entrance (by the bridge to the jail) around the corner. If the line was any longer it would have met the line waiting to get into the front entrance. The citizens who own this courthouse should not have to wait for an hour to get inside. (Click on the picture to enlarge it).

And yet, we wait in vain while those in charge of scheduling court cases refuse to even address this crisis.

More cases, more defendants, more court costs being paid, and yet, there is less money for the courts. Something smells fishy to us.

This is an email Chief Judge Farina sent out today on the court's fiscal crisis:
We have received further disturbing information regarding the status of the State Court budget. In addition to the expense budget reduction we communicated last week, the court has been advised that reductions in the salary budget in excess of $12 million dollars may occur this fiscal year. One of the scenarios being contemplated to meet this unprecedented cut will be to enforce furloughs statewide for all court employees with the exception of judges. This will mean 22 days of unpaid leave for state funded court employees whose position is funded in the circuit court budget and 58 days for state funded court employees whose position is funded in the county court budget to occur by June 30, 2008.This is not the type of news we were anticipating. We are hoping that this will not be the ultimate solution to meet this major additional setback in our financial picture. However, please know that there are many who are tirelessly expressing how serious a dilemma this represents for the judicial branch, the courts' ability to provide access to justice and quality service to the public and for all of us. We will continue to keep you updated regarding this fiscal crisis.

Joseph P. Farina, Chief Judge
Ruben O. Carrerou,
Court Administrator.

Rumpole says: If we're reading this correctly, county court employees will be forced to forfeit 2 MONTHS PAY (58 days) just to keep their jobs. Something stinks.

57 comments:

Anonymous said...

Michelle Obama is in fact proud of her country and her husband Barack does not look like a chimpanzee.

Anonymous said...

OK - Rump.

Take down the 'anonymous' post at 8:57. Seems RACIST to us old liberals.

Anonymous said...

Congrats on beating the Herald to the punch by 30 minutes!

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking_news/story/425308.html

Anonymous said...

The hotel's registered owners are one Jacob Lawrence, and Sidney
Barclay, both Beverly Hills
attorneys. In reality it's split between the Old Lakeville Road Group from Cleveland, and our
friend in Miami. He takes care of others outside the country, you know who I mean. Meyer Klingman runs the store, and does all right, but I've been instructed to tell you, that if you move him out, our friend in Miami will go along with you.

Rumpole said...

The comment is clearly racist. The asshole who wrote it should be brave enough to sign his/her name.

I believe that rather than hide racism, you should shine the cold harsh light of truth upon it. That moron wrote it- now you call it for what it is- and lets see if s/he is brave enought to defend their stupid comment.

Anonymous said...

Some people are not even allowed to wait in line at the PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE because DIRTY OLD Brummer bans certain lawyers from entering. Some of which represent the finest who have that public office in years. I say bring back sleepy.

Anonymous said...

02/19/2008 ORDER-OTHER SUBSTANTIVE DY Respondent's Verified Motion to Vacate this Court's Two Orders on the Basis of The Florida Bar's Fraud, filed with this Court on December 26, 2007, is hereby denied. Upon consideration of respondent's petitions for writ of mandamus and petitions for writ of prohibition, filed with this Court on December 31, 2007, on January 7, 2008, on January 9, 2008, on January 18, 2008, on January 28, 2008, and on February 11, 2008, and all supplements thereto, it is ordered that all petitions are hereby denied. (SEE SC07-80 TO VIEW ORDER)


02/19/2008 ORDER-SHOW CAUSE TO: JOHN BRUCE THOMPSON It appears to the Court that you have abused the legal system by submitting numerous frivolous and inappropriate filings in this Court. Therefore, it is ordered that you shall show cause on or before March 5, 2008, why this Court should not find that you have abused the legal system process and impose upon you a sanction for abusing the legal system, including, but not limited to directing the Clerk of this Court to reject for filing any future pleadings, petitions, motions, letters, documents, or other filings submitted to this Court by you unless signed by a member of The Florida Bar other than yourself. (SEE SC07-80 TO VIEW ORDER AND FULL TEXT)

Anonymous said...

So, you are Rump. I saw you standing on the roof of State attorney's office building with a camera.

Anonymous said...

Great picture, did you take it Rump?

Anonymous said...

RFB= small potatoes.

Anonymous said...

If Michelle Obama is not proud of her country, then resign from the board, forfeit your harvard degree, and give up your 400k a year salary. oops, not a bad country after all.

Rumpole said...

The "abortion" comment and the "gams" comment did not make it, for obvious reasons.

Anonymous said...

Does anyone else find all of these goings on at Cafe Versailles - the people screaming at cars or those carrying a coffin with a puppet in it - RIDICULOUS? This city is a laughing stock.

Rumpole said...

Nope- no "turd" comments calling someone a felon.

Anonymous said...

Small Potatoes am I? Wait until the senate calls me to testify. I'll hang you out to dry.

Anonymous said...

Rump: "What can you tell me?"
Fake Blecher: They got real fake blecher, that's all I know.
Rump: We got time.
FB: I didn't know it was going to be a hit Rump, I swear.
Rump: Why would you go against the blog?
FB. Johhny Ola bumped into me. He said you and Fake Alschuler were in a deal, and you were being tough in negotiations, and there was something in it for me.
Rump: And you believed that?
FB: There was something in it for me. A BLOG OF MY OWN! This ain't the way I wanted it. I can handle things. I can handle my own blog. I'm smart. I'm not dumb like everyone says. I'm smart and I wanted my own blog.

CAPTAIN JUSTICE said...

THE CAPTAIN REPORTS:

to 7:58 pm, thank you for the heads up.

He/she pointed out that a John A. Babun has an interesting past that I did not mention when I announced earlier that Babun had filed to run in the Republican primary for Clerk of Court in Miami Dade County.

F92-4976

1. Agg. Assault
2. Agg. Assault
3. Falsely Imp. a PO
4. Falsely Imp. a PO
5. F/A use Comm/Felony

All charges were No Actioned.

also

M91-63846

1. Alc. Violation

Case was Nolle Prossed after completion of PTI.

Cannot confirm that it is the same John Babun, but it appears to be based on the middle initial A.

Thanks again to 7:58 pm.

Also, this note ....

After I reported the news on Babun, there was an entry on the blog that purports to be from none other than Mr. McGillis.

It read:

Captain, thanks for the heads up.

I have said that if a republican enters the race that I may drop out because I would prefer Ruvin over a republican.

If this filing is a serious candidate I will have to drop out and support a fellow democrat.

Tuesday, February 19, 2008 6:19:00 PM

CAPTAIN OUT ....

Anonymous said...

Rumpole,

Thank you for your help on getting me out of this horrendous system. Without knowing, you have placed me in a better situation where I am happier and more focused.

The Phoenix has risen again stinker.

Love and war,
John

Anonymous said...

Line Shmine, these guilty defendants should leave earlier, like 5 a.m.

Anonymous said...

Yesterday Fidel, today Wacky Jacky T?!!!!!

Who's next to go?

Anonymous said...

A quick lesson in driving Jack crazy: Dont respond to him! Jack is a provocateur (Jack is whack). Lets all band together and agree to pay absolutely no attention to him, and not to respond to anything he says, no matter how offensive. That is the best way to deal with a spoiled snivelling little brat. Pay him no mind.

South Florida Lawyers said...

What are you complaining about, we're spending our tax money on important things, like giving it away to a private business to run a poorly-funded and noncompetitive baseball team.

Anonymous said...

I don't see the goings on at Versailles as any more ridiculous than when yahoos got together to burn Dixie Chick albums. People gather and cheer on all sorts of causes. Stupidity is in the eye of the hateful beholder.

Anonymous said...

Perhaps one solution to a state budget crisis is to stop having so many cases. then you do not have to keep expanding the number of judges and have the sao and pd complain of insufficient budgets and stop sending nonviolent people to prison, empty the jails of pss.cocaine, and other crap cases and start fining people instead of short jail sentences and probation. and tell the cops to concentrate on felonies and repeat misdemeanants who regularly steal or obstruct small businesses and duis. anyone who has been an asa or apd knows that in county court 90% of the cases are crap. I once went and watched county court on Miami Beach because I was considering after 20 years as lawyer applying for vacatn seat.I was appalled at what I witnessed. Half the cases were disorderly drunk cases by tourists who just got a slap on the wrist laughing at the system and being in court. 3 girls arrested together, all about age 20, were laughing at the whole thing and the judge gave them a warning and costs. then a 60 year old woman with a petty theft has the judge, without objection by the state and with no defense motion, dismiss the case because she felt sorry for an old woman who was remorseful. no penalty , no punishment, jsut the indignity of the arrest and being in court. would a 39 year old get the same treatment? my point is that cops waste half on day on arresting people for this nonsence, and then they may have to go to court or trial. until violenct crime goes way down law enforcement should concentrate on crime PREVENTION, FELONIES, DUI, AND aggressive speeders and cut out all the crap. when miami is back to 20000 felony cases a year instead of 45000 then you can go back to putting all the crap back in the system. FINE THEM, RAISE MONEY FOR THE STATE. DUI 500, PETIT THEFT 300, THEN YOU'LL SEE HOW FAST THESE PEOPLE CAN COME UP WITH MONEY. OFFER SOMEONE 10 DAYS IN JAIL OR 500 DOLLARS FOR THEIR 2 ND DUI. ETC.

Anonymous said...

Now Rump -

The turd comment was in response to what another person wrote last post. As far as this person being a felon, well they're not yet. That would be for a jury to determine. I was just commenting on what I know they did. If you are going to allow people to continue implying that Brummer is an a-hole for "banning" people from the office, then you should allow those of us who know why they are no longer allowed in to respond accordingly.

Rule of completness Rump!!!!

Anonymous said...

Probably better for Ruvin not to have your support

Anonymous said...

"One of the scenarios being contemplated to meet this unprecedented cut will be to enforce furloughs statewide for all court employees with the exception of judges"

LOL. Figures. Judges are the highest paid people in the system. Ironically, some of them also are thelaziest. Now, when they are contemplating asking people to take furloughs.......who do they start with........the most underpaid. Makes perfect sense. Instead of asking judges to give up 1 day, let's ask 3 employees making a third as much to do so. Don't worry about the fact that we don't pay them enough to pay their bills as it is........we wouldn't want our judges to have to forego a golf game or club membership to make up the loss in income that would come with our treating them like everyone else. WHAT A JOKE.

I can't believe no one else is complaining about this shameful, self-serving crap. Where is the holier than thou defense bar on this one? Too busy defending Kuehne to care about the 30K a year clerks being screwed by the legislature and judiciary?

Anonymous said...

JT I know your busy with that show cause order but this is really going to just get under your skin:

Domestic-rights proposal advances
Posted on Tue, Feb. 19, 2008Digg del.icio.us AIM reprint print email
Plans to create domestic-partnership rights in Miami-Dade County passed a first test Tuesday, winning a preliminary 8-4 vote by the County Commission.

No debate was allowed before the vote, which moves the proposal to the commission's Economic Development and Human Services Committee. That group will hold a public hearing March 12 and could move along the proposal for a final vote by the full Commission in late March or early April.

The proposal would let non-blood-relation couples who live together -- gay or straight -- register with the county government and receive the same hospital and jail visitation rights as married couples.

It would also allow county employees to buy health insurance through the county for their partner and their partner's children.

Broward and Palm Beach counties have similar rules.

Anonymous said...

Dear Wednesday, February 20, 2008 12:35:00 PM,

Some of us think that the judicial branch is getting too encrusted with fiefdoms, deadwood and programs. If they aren't a judge or her secretary, they should not be there and if they suffer good. All these mediators, case managers and professional clerks are parasites and should be fired tomorrow.

If a young lawyer graduates from school and wants to clerk with a judge, they should be paying for the experience. 30K is 30k too much.

Anonymous said...

I would suggest an unpaid furlough for Judge Farina. That would be a good start.

Jack Thompson, Attorney

Batman said...

Alex Ferrer takes it in the you know what from the US Supreme Court. Here is the link.

I should have happened to this far less than nice guy. What a jerk.

http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssTechMediaTelecomNews/

Anonymous said...

Michelle Obama's comment yesterday, which she repeated four hours later, is the single dumbest thing any candidate for President or his/her spouse has ever uttered.

She wasn't proud of our success in bringing down the Berlin Wall, in feeding survivors of the Christmas Eve tsunami, in rebuilding Europe after WWII, in passing and enforcing the 1964 Civil Rights Law, in ending segregation in the South, in our commitment to fighting AIDS, and on and on?

If Obama loses the White House, it will be because of this arrogant woman's running of her unpatriotic mouth.

Jack Thompson, Attorney

Anonymous said...

Here a thought Harvey Ruvin can stop spending over $36 million dollars on outside web software developers. Since when is the Clerks office a place for teaming up with software engineers in the unrealistic view of selling a useless program. 36 million reasons Ruvin needs to go!

http://www.miaminewtimes.com/2004-11-04/news/yours-for-the-hacking/full

That money could be very useful in todays budget cuts. But get this Ruvin is spending millions more everymonth. $3-K per month for some idiot to travel each week to miami and stay in a hotel.

Read this New Times story just amazing.

Ps. I am not a fan of McGiullis just pointing to facts.

Anonymous said...

Please read the below docket entry idiocy from the Florida Supreme Court and then my response, further below:
02/19/2008 ORDER-SHOW CAUSE TO: JOHN BRUCE THOMPSON It appears to the Court that you have abused the legal system by submitting numerous frivolous and inappropriate filings in this Court. Therefore, it is ordered that you shall show cause on or before March 5, 2008, why this Court should not find that you have abused the legal system process and impose upon you a sanction for abusing the legal system, including, but not limited to directing the Clerk of this Court to reject for filing any future pleadings, petitions, motions, letters, documents, or other filings submitted to this Court by you unless signed by a member of The Florida Bar other than yourself. (SEE ORDER TO VIEW FULL TEXT)


This is the single greatest gift that any court has ever given me in my 31 years of practicing law. I shall now, through a new federal lawsuit, deconstruct The Florida Bar.

The Florida Supremes, in an act of incredible arrogance, has proven I have not only no "adequate state remedy" but beyond that NO state remedy.

Thank you, Supremes! You have given me the weapons I need.

Jack Thompson

Anonymous said...

Jack said:
She wasn't proud of our success in bringing down the Berlin Wall, in feeding survivors of the Christmas Eve tsunami, in rebuilding Europe after WWII, in passing and enforcing the 1964 Civil Rights Law, in ending segregation in the South, in our commitment to fighting AIDS, and on and on?

I said: If you actually listened to the speech, she was referring to how proud she was of how hoeful people were these days. And...she said in her adult life. She was not alive, no less adult, after WWII, she was a child in 1964.

Anyone who wasn't looking for something to skew against her would have plainly seen that she was referring to how the cynicism of these last 20 or so years has given way to hope, and that she was not discussing her love of this country or pride in its achievments. I understand the feeling. I feel it too.

Anonymous said...

Dave Pettus and Lynn Overman were "banned" from the PD office for very good reasons

Anonymous said...

Just an old white lady playing devils advocate concerning Michelle Obamas comment. Place yourself in her shoes and the shoes of the blacks in this country. They were brought over in servitude, fought for this country in war, built this country from the ground up and still were made to feel like less of a person. Blacks were not given credit for their many accomplishments and whites actually took credit for some of them. Racism is alive and well. It was in the 30s, 40s and 60s and is today still... defense let's talk about DWB(thats driving while black- for the prosecutors out there that don't recognize that this still actually happens).She proud that her black husband can actually run for president and actually have a shot and not be shot. She is proud that Americans can set color and race aside and vote for the candidate that they believe in... not just vote against him becasue he is black. Maybe she hurt him but lets look at it from all sides. American has never been a great source of pride for many blacks when you are on the receiving end of racism. especially American born blacks with generations of their family from America . So she is finally proud of her country. ... for setting aside the bias and bigotry. STOP THE HATE!!! By the way, went to Europe recently and I did not as a white person feel very proud. Ask yourself, how proud are you to be an American when you leave this country? Do you still hold your head high or do you just shrug and say Bush's reign is almost over and don't blame me, I did not vote for him.

Anonymous said...

Rump, this is going to impact everybody who works for, or has anything to do with, the court system. The LEAST affected will be furloughed 22 working days, the most, 58. What does this say about the vilification of the Court System, and Florida as a whole? According to the Herald, another scenario is to end some child advocacy programs, traffic infraction hearing officers, mediators and the statewide grand jury. Both scenarios are untenable. WRITE YOUR LEGISLATORS including the governor, and get your friends and collegues to do the same. Maybe if enough people complain, this mess can be avoided.

Anonymous said...

No, really. I think Barack Obama looks like a chimp because of his ears. This has nothing to do with his race but his ears. People want to imply race into everything and therein lies the racism. The fact is that some people look like certain creatures. I know somebody else who looks like a lizard.

Anonymous said...

it's hard with this guy JT because sometimes he is such a dick but then he makes a lot of sense

CAPTAIN JUSTICE said...

THE CAPTAIN REPORTS:

The cite for viewing the Alex Ferrer Supreme Court opinion is:

http://www.supremecourtus.gov/
opinions/07pdf/06-1463.pdf

Cap Out ...

Anonymous said...

"The citizens who own this courthouse should not have to wait for an hour to get inside."
PLEASE Rump, you know that most of those deadbeats in that line don't pay taxes because they don't work and they never pay their court costs. Most of the people in that line are a blight to society and spend much more of our tax dollars than this courthouse does.

Anonymous said...

"...traffic infraction hearing officers"

We could do without them. That is the biggest waste of money in the state justice system. The only reason they exist is so that the County Judges can work 3 days a week and play golf every day at 2pm.

We can start with getting rid of the traffic infraction hearing officers today!.

As for the Children programs if they cut those before the traffic infraction hearing officers I for one will write letters.

Unknown said...

I see Man Coulter is still harping on his "I'm right, everyone else is wrong" tirade.

So tell me, Jack, how do you like knowing 9/10 lawyers in Florida hate you? Is it all part of that vast conspiracy where everyone who disagrees with you is actually out to get you because you're a christian?

Anonymous said...

Did the Judge Ferrer thing really have to go all the way to the Supreme Court. Couldn't it have been handled by one of the other idiot TV judges?

Anonymous said...

Jack, you do have a remedy. File reasonable, thought out pleadings based on hard facts, not your whacked-out opinions or beliefs. Just because you believe something does not make it the cold hard truth--and this applies to everyone, not just you.

Many courts have issued Orders similar to the one the Florida Supreme Court issued in your case. The main difference is that most of them pertain to pro se litigants who have no clue swhat they are doing. You are a trained lawyer who should know better.

Anonymous said...

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Our newest Clerk of Court candidate can make it happen. Visit

http://www.dryprojects.com

John Babun - Email JohnB@Dryprojects.com

He might have the cash to win? FYI the qualifying fee for Clerk is over $10,000 or submit 11,000 signatures.

Anonymous said...

Hey Captain, the filing documents seeking elected office should have your address "home"? Why is the address for John Babun a warehouse business address?

http://www.keyes.com/search/properties/commercial/details.aspx?ListingNo=3467131&SessionSource=Google


http://www.precinctfind.com/pdf_fl_dade/doc_604_20080219152909_Filing_Doc.pdf


http://www.dryprojects.com/Contact%20Us.html

Ummm....

Anonymous said...

Lionel Tate

As a defense attorney it disgusts me to hear Lionel's attorney blame the system. This is a man who at 12 killed another individual. This man was given another chance by being put on house arrest. This man was given another chance when he was running around with knives. This is a man who pulled a gun on a pizza delivery man. This is a man who will kill and should be sent away for much longer than 30 years.

I hope the Broward judge, and I am sure he will, does NOT reduce Lionel's sentence. 30 years is not enough.

What bothers me is defense attorneys who do a good job for their clients cry and blame the system. This is a system that has way too many horrible people that need to be removed.

It is defense attorneys who cry over a guy like Tate that harm the rest of us when we try to get our deserving clients good deals.

Anonymous said...

Rump..errr Tom Cobitz was not to happy to read that comment at 3:57.

Anonymous said...

Dis is BULLSHEEEET!.

I am in line, before dis Judge...Diss Fish...dis Salmon retired Judge. And dis prosecutor and diss defense attorney taka plea. And diss Fishy Judge takes like fifteee minuteeees doing a pleeee coloquy, and den, get didss: dis Judge finds NO factual basis for a plea on counts 1,2 and 4. And dis is some bulsheeeeet grand theft auto burglary case. So now de whole courtroom is in de uproar, and people yelling, and now Im been waiting more den an hour to get my case called. You know what dis is? Dis is BULSHEEEET!!!!

Anonymous said...

Wednesday, February 20, 2008 2:55:00 PM,

The black man was not the only one brought to this country in servitude.

The folking Irish were slaves for 400 years before they even found Africa. Stop your whining.

Anonymous said...

You know it's kind of funny, we really need a new Criminal Court House and Jail but what are the priorities in this City/County...yes folks keeping the Marlins here and investing millions in building them a brand new stadium...got to love us Cubans...Maybe thats why they laugh at us outside of Miami..

Anonymous said...

f the Irish. Ain't no Irish in this city anyway.

Anonymous said...

Yeah Patrick Irish that may be true but the difference is at least you Irish still know that you are Irish and have a sense of your own history and culture.

I on the other hand have no fucking
idea whether my ancesters were from
Benin, Nigeria, Ghana, etc. All I know is that my ancesters were from
somewhere on the African continent.
And for the record, all Africans are not the same. It's like if all
you knew was that you were from somewhere in Europe. Get a clue about history before you open your mouth Irishman.

ScottAfrica

Anonymous said...

Any of you genuises ever think that someone took that picture and sent it with the description to Rumpole?

OHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!! YEAH!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

have you heard of the Judicial Assistants going on strike this monday morning feb 25 and maybe feb 26,