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, April 30, 2009

JOHNNY K NEW CIRCUIT JUDGE

UPDATE: AU REVOIR SUSANNAH NESMITH - see below.


John Kastrenakis, long known in these parts as an assistant state attorney who, along with ASA Kevin Digregory obtained a hard fought for  murder conviction against Joyce Cohen for plotting to kill her wealthy husband in their Coconut Grove house, has been appointed a Circuit Court Judge in West Palm Beach. 

After leaving the SAO Kastrenakis was an AUSA in Dade, Broward and most recently West Palm. 

The title of the post links to the Palm Beach Post article. 






Rumpole and friends,

I've already talked to a bunch of the Justice Building regulars, but I wanted to let everyone know, I have left the Herald as part of the recent "force reduction." The story on Abe was my last.

Thanks for the help so many of you have given me over the years, understanding the courthouse and the law. The Justice Building is a fascinating place to cover.

I'm still in town, looking for work, and even considering going to law school, if I can find a way to pay for it.

I hope many of you will stay in touch. My cell stays the same, 305-772-4380. My personal email is susannahnesmith@yahoo.com

Susannah Nesmith
former Herald scribe


Rumpole ponders.....we never got to meet the lovely and talented Ms. Nesmith. 

"Of all the words of song or pen
the saddest are these:
it might have been."

Take care Oh Susannah....you did a great job. 

29 comments:

Scott Saul said...

good guy, deserving lawyer

Anonymous said...

John Kastranakes is in many ways like Abe Laeser--a highly skilled trial attorney, very tenacious and thorough yet very fair and possessing the highest degree of ethics. He should make an excellent judge and deserves our congratulations.

Also, I still think Mr. Laeser deserves serious consideration for appointment as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District.

CAPTAIN JUSTICE said...

THE CAPTAIN REPORTS:

SCOTUS

Obama will get to appoint his first Justice to the Supreme Court as David Souter announces that he will resign.

Will Florida finally get the seat?

Cap Out ....

Anonymous said...

Are there strong liberals from Florida in the running? If not, then I hope not. I think the seat will go to a woman. Kathleen Sullivan, Sonia Sotomayor, or Diane Wood.

All You Need ... said...

So all I need is a face mask?

See link to picture of doctor testing child for swine flu. I am guessing no face masks available?

Anonymous said...

I nominate Cecilia Altonaga.

Anonymous said...

Judge Peter Adrien is rumoured to be seeking the Supreme Court seat being vacated by Justice Souter. Judge Adrien calls upon all of the REGJB community to support him in this endeavour.

Anonymous said...

Johnny K. got the Cohn conviction because alan ross was incomptent.

Anonymous said...

But Johnny K sucks as a softball player!!! Only kidding Johnny; we love you and miss the post game beers and sliders.

SAO Softball Team circa the 1980's

Anonymous said...

Rumpole and friends,

I've already talked to a bunch of the Justice Building regulars, but I wanted to let everyone know, I have left the Herald as part of the recent "force reduction." The story on Abe was my last.

Thanks for the help so many of you have given me over the years, understanding the courthouse and the law. The Justice Building is a fascinating place to cover.

I'm still in town, looking for work, and even considering going to law school, if I can find a way to pay for it.

I hope many of you will stay in touch. My cell stays the same, 305-772-4380. My personal email is susannahnesmith@yahoo.com

Susannah Nesmith
former Herald scribe

Anonymous said...

Ilove it. You called Alan incompetent and YOU could not spell incompetent.

I watched some of that trial. They had evidence and it was affirmed on appeal.

Anonymous said...

Laeser would make an excellent choice for US Attorney. He has the following qualifications:
1. Integrity
2. Independence
3. Not part of the federal/bench/bar establishment; and
4. Does not aspire to some loftier amition, be in monetarily or politically.
Numbers 3 & 4 are the most important attributes for the job.Unfortunately they are also the most important ones that make him a 10000 to 1 longshot.

Anonymous said...

Only 613 more days until Adrien is unemployed. Then he can get a job moving "the seat" from Washington to New Hampshire in furtherance of his new endeavor as a mover for Allied Van Lines.

Anonymous said...

10:40:00 am, it's Cohen, not Cohn.

Anonymous said...

Peter Adrien has the SCOTUS seat clinched.

Anonymous said...

Girl you know it true......

Anonymous said...

1:21--you forgot to include his exceptional skill as a prosecutor as well. Plus integrity should be highest integrity, utmost integrity or something similar.

I would love to see Abe take over at the feds.............

Anonymous said...

the state in the cohen case was very very week.one of the alleged cospirators always maintained that the snitch was a liar and joyce was innocent. Ross's incomptence got her convicted and he almost put her in the chair when he bungled the sentencing hearing. I see a rule 3 coming.

Anonymous said...

Sorry all. This is a major political appointment, not a county court position. To get a US Atty seat, you need major political connections tied to El Presidente Obama. There's a long list of persons that sat through the Democratic primaries who supported him (and raised funds) when Obama was just a no name senator from Illinois. Those persons will now be rewarded for that loyalty. So unless you were hanging with the Dems at the convention or pulled in some major dinero for Obama, you can just move aside.

Anonymous said...

Abe,

Any interest in top dawg at the Feds?

Anonymous said...

buh-bu-bu-buh, buh-bu-bu-buh baby....don't you forget my number....love will so you through

said..... said...

Said.... a new weekly blog feature:

Fake Clay Kaiser said: "That David Waksman was tricker than I thought."

Fake Peter Adrien (I just can't stomach calling him Judge) said : "That Jeff Swartz, curses!!!"

Fake Blecher said "Ouch. That Gout hurts!"

Fake Alex Michaels said: "Dis fake stuff is bullllsheeeeeeet!"

Fake Betty Butchko said "At least no one thinks I'm a racist any more."

Fake Rick Freedman said: "hehehehehhehe"

Fake Blake said: "Is everybody happpppy????"


And that's this weeks "said....."

Anonymous said...

Bravo I said.

Anonymous said...

i am a client in need of a great technical lawyer to analyze a narrow legal issue. Who do you guys suggest? please advise. no b.s. your input is greatly appreciated.

Anonymous said...

10:37:00 p.m., what kind of legal issue? We need to know more to direct you to the right person.

Anonymous said...

The best criminal lawyers in Miami are Jack Denaro and Roy Black. Buck up, because they cost.

Anonymous said...

Unfortunate that the Herald saw fit to let you go Nesmith!

Their loss!

Bigger and brighter things ahead in your future.

Anonymous said...

Oh Susannah, I bet you bounce back and end up on top.

Good luck!

Now, who will be the official blog "scribe" from the MiamiHerald?

Anonymous said...

Susanah, I am glad to see you go. Though, I have to wonder why your buddies at REGB did not repay your work to keep them elected with a job.

Interesting...