As we worked toward the swift completion of our appointed rounds today, we couldn’t help but notice that something was in the air in our beloved REGJB today.
In one hallway, there was a judge grabbing a bunch of lawyers into chambers where the judge personally brewed a batch of Cuban coffee.
Then there was the courtroom where the Judge could not have been more helpful.
Judge: “Motions in writing are for strangers. We’re all friends here. What can I help you with counsel? I’m here to serve the people of the state of Florida to the best of my ability. You want a continuance? Of course. A little delay never hurt anyone. No need to put in writing. In fact, I’ll pull the file, write the motion myself, grant it, and if you don’t mind, I’ll be happy to hand deliver the order to your office this evening. All part of the service with a smile we provide here”
Judge’s handing homemade cupcakes from the bench. Coffee in chambers. Continuances with a smile. What in the name of Arthur Snyder is going on here?
(for those of you new the building, ask a friend about Judge Snyder.)
Call us jaded, but could it be the filing deadline for candidates to challenge Judges that looms at then end of the week? Or have our Judges in Dade been sneaking off to take those sensitivity training seminars that are all the rage north of the border?
Either way, take our advice and strike while the iron is hot. Get those motions to dismiss or suppress on calendar this week. Move to continue the case while the atmosphere of love and happiness still wafts through the hallways and chambers.
Because next Monday, those Judges who do not have opposition will be secure for the next six years and ….well, let’s just say we would advise you not to pop in for some more home made Cuban coffee because those bailiffs carry handcuffs. And be ready for trial. Because continuances are for nice guys, and nice guys finish last.
See You In Court, singing Kumbaya this week. And trying cases next week.
When you see something that is not right, not fair, find a way to get in the way and cause trouble. Congressman John Lewis
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.
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THE CAPTAIN REPORTS:
Congratulations to the newly elected officers of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (FACDL-Miami):
President - Rick Freedman
Vice-Pres. - Hector Flores
Treasurer - Sabrina Puglisi
Secretary - Robin Kaplan
Good luck.
CAPTAIN OUT ......
I have learned that De la O has a flight to Tallahassee booked for Friday. Will we have a surprise late entry? Will he return bearing Cinnabons? Will Hector have to squash him? Will Captain Pro Se endorse him? Stayed tuned.......
De la O, say it aint so.
If elected, he will be just another ____ hole.
He will not make a good judge.
Miguel would be an asset to the bench. Calm and pleasant attitude.
I am new to the blog who is Captain Pro Se?
Dude. Some guy grabbed my car in the parking lot. Parked it for me. Then offered to wash and wax it. I said yes, and then I realized it was some Judge. Weird.
Not so breaking news:
Pat Riley bows out as head coach of the HEAT and his assistant Erik Spoelstra takes over.
Jack hard at work protecting us from posters promoting video games:
A complaint by Jack Thompson has prompted Miami’s transit authority to remove ads for Grand Theft Auto IV from local bus shelters.
Miami thus joins Chicago as the second major US city to pull GTA IV ads from its public transit system in recent days.
GamePolitics reported on Thursday that Thompson had complained about the GTA IV ads to Miami Mayor Carlos Alvarez. The GTA IV ads were apparently removed sometime on Friday afternoon. Hugh Chen, Miami-Dade Transit’s deputy director of operations, told GamePolitics on Friday evening, via e-mail:
The posters were removed after a review of our approval process and contract… Be assured that the circumstances around placing and removing these specific posters were reviewed before action was taken. We are governed by our contract with our shelter contractor and County ordinances.
A spokesman for GTA IV publisher Take-Two Interactive said the company was still reviewing the situation. A spokesman for the ESA referred inquiries back to Take-Two.
For his part, Thompson wasted no time in crowing about the removal of the ads in a news release:
…Jack Thompson has today persuaded the Miami-Dade Transit System to pull all advertisements for the Grand Theft Auto IV cop-killing simulation game from its bus stops.
In the wake of this success, Thompson is proceeding to get all GTA IV ads pulled from all US transit systems since such ads clearly violate promises made by the [ESRB], found right at its web site, not to place “Mature-rated” game ads in venues that will be seen by teens.
However, Thompson’s contention about the ESRB appears to be incorrect. An ESRB spokesman told GP on Friday, “Considering the overwhelmingly adult demographic profile of mass transit riders… the placement of GTA IV ads in these types of outlets would typically not be in violation of [Ad Review Council] guidelines.” Nor do the advertising guidelines listed on the ESRB website appear to support Thompson’s contention.
Thompson may be confusing the ESRB ad guidelines with a 2002 report on the marketing of media violence by the Federal Trade Commission which addressed limiting the advertising of M-rated games in media where children constitute a specific percentage of the potential audience. The FTC report notes that the video game industry has a self-regulatory standard prohibiting print ads when children comprise more than 45% of the likely audience.
In his news release, the embattled Thompson also alleged a conspiracy between the video game industry and the judge who presided over his nine-day trial on Florida Bar ethics charges last November. That judge’s recommendation on Thompson’s future status as an attorney is expected in August.
Maybe de la o is going for more bar examiner business in tallahassee so he can terrorize the states law students
Speaking of elections, there is quite a movement brewing in South Florida to get rid of the old guard (the Diaz-Balart brothers and Illeana Ros-Lehtinen) this November. Ros-Lehtinen's Democratic challenger for the 18th district's Congressional seat is Annette Taddeo. She's a local, self-made business woman with progressive policies and a great head on her shoulders. Plus, she's shown that she can fundraise - which, rightly or wrongly, is an important indicator of electability. Right-wing incumbent Ros-Lehtinen has reason to worry.
Given the frightening state of our economy, the Iraq disaster, the massive lack of health care, the public education crisis and all of the other many problems plaguing our country, the importance of the upcoming elections cannot be overstated. It's time to challenge business as usual and infuse our government with new and energetic talents.
1. I am not traveling to Tallahassee on Fridy. It must be one of the many other de la Os in town. In the Cuban community, de la O is as prevalent as Smith.
2. I am not running for office in 2008.
3. I have not terrorized a law student in man, many months. My term on the Board of bar Examiners has expired. As an Emeritus member, my opportunities are much more limited.
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