UPDATE: We will be live blogging the NFL draft begining about five minutes before the draft. And we know something you don't know about a certain team's 8th pick.
Former ASA Ariana Fajardo is your new circuit judge.
Judge Fajardo, 41, takes over the seat vacated by the untimely death of Judge Julio Jimenez.
Big shoes to fill.
61 comments:
did you catch the new county court appointment? Rodolfo Rudy Ruiz?
why didnt you post about the new 32yr old county judge Rudy Ruiz?
No idea whatsoever . But I am sure you are mistaken. 32 year olds are not allowed to be judges. They are still going to happy hours somewhere while texting or sexting or whatever it is people under 50 do to meet each other- no wait- I believe the phrase is "to hook up"- which otherwise should logically apply to more piscatorial activities.
That photo is disturbing. Best of luck to her.
Who and What is a Rudy Ruiz?
Gov. Rick Scott has appointed Rodolfo “Rudy” A. Ruiz II, of Coral Gables, to the Miami-Dade County Court.
“Rudy has built a reputation as a smart, diligent and committed attorney at both the trial and appellate levels,” Scott stated in a release. “He will bring these qualities to the bench as he continues a career of public service.”
Ruiz, 32, has been an assistant county attorney with the Miami-Dade County attorney’s office since 2009. He previously practiced with White and Case from 2006 to 2008. From 2005 to 2006, he was a law clerk to Judge Federico A. Moreno of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
Ruiz fills the vacancy created when Judge Norma Lindsey was appointed to the 11th Judicial Circuit Cour
Rodolfo Ruiz got a BA from Duke in Economics and a JD from Georgetown. Young, but probably not a dummy.
Herald says today that an Australian actor named Matthew Newton has a case before Judge Newman and his lawyer is John Skerry? Who's he? I cannot find him in the Bar web site either.
THE CAPTAIN REPORTS:
NEW COUNTY COURT JUDGE RUIZ ....
Amazingly, Rump, 11:36 PM is correct. Rodolfo "Rudy" Ruiz II, has been practicing law for 6 years; two years with White & Case and the past four years as an Assistant County Attorney in Miami.
As for Ms. Fajardo, she has been an attorney for 16 years, she spent 6 years at the SAO here in Miami and for the past nine years, she has been with Orshan & Fajardo. The firm handles exclusively family law matters.
From their web site:
Ms. Fajardo is a partner with the law firm of Orshan & Fajardo, Pa. in Coral Gables, Florida. She specializes on the area of family and matrimonial law. Prior to her work in this area, Ms. Fajardo developed a strong litigation background as an Assistant State Attorney with the State Attorney's Office in Miami-Dade County, Florida. As a prosecutor, Ms. Fajardo worked in the Special Prosecution Unit handling complex litigation cases involving public corruption, narcotics, homicides and criminal organizations. Throughout her career, Ms. Fajardo has also successfully written and argued appellate cases before Florida's Third District Court of Appeal.
Ms. Fajardo has been a member of the Florida Bar since 1996 and is also a member of the Federal Bar for the Southern District of Florida. Ms. Fajardo is involved in numerous civic and legal organizations. She is a member of the Florida Bar Grievance Committee and the Cuban American Bar Association. She is on the Florida International University Alumni Board of Directors and a member of the City of Miami Springs Board of Adjustment/Building and Zoning. As a prosecutor, Ms. Fajardo was the President of the National Hispanic Prosecutor's Association, Southern Region, as well as, a member of the National District Attorney's Association.
Ms. Fajardo's trial experience has afforded her the opportunity to lecture both in the United States as well as in Honduras and Venezuela. Ms. Fajardo was an adjunct instructor for the National Advocacy Center and the United States Department of Justice. She has also taught locally in the area of trial advocacy and trained police officers in various legal and ethical issues. Ms. Fajardo also enjoys giving her time to judge Moot Court competition at local law schools.
Ms. Fajardo is a graduate of Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad Law Center and received a Bachelor's in Science from Florida International University with honors. She was born and raised in Miami, Florida and is fluent in Spanish.
how you doin'?
hold me in contempt anytime
Scary picture.
As for Fajardo, I'm just glad to see a judge come on the bench from private practice. Don't know her, but her resume is certainly adequate.
As for Ruiz, the appointment is disturbing. 32 is too young. Six is too few years in practice. Interesting that he appears to be on exactly the Tony Arzola track -- clerk for Fred Moreno, Republican governor appoints you to the county bench at a young age, get elevated soon thereafter (?).
But six years is too few and 32 years is too young -- whatever schools he attended. Are we to believe there were no qualified applicants with, say 12 years in the bar?
Hope to hell he's a good judge (not that anyone, including Gov. Scott can possibly guess at that yet) because with incumbency and an alliterative Latino last name, he could be on the bench for 40 years.
This is the truth, and you know it in your hearts.
Ed Newman can't be found on the bar website??
I knew he could not be a lawyer.
Tanya didnt get appointed? Oh no!! Now she will have to win an election
THE CAPTAIN REPORTS:
WHO DID NOT GET CHOSEN .....
We were asked for the names of the finalists for the two open seats.
For County Court, Judge Lindsey's replacement, the names were:
Tanya Brinkley
Judson Lee Cohen
Ivonne Cuesta
Carlos Guzman
Rodolfo Ruiz
For Circuit Court, Judge Jimenez' replacement, the names were:
Alan Fine
Judge Hague
Judge Miranda
Bonnie Riley
Ariana Fajardo
The JNC currently has two open seats: Judge Maxine Lando Cohen & Judge Scott Silverman.
The JNC will name up to six names for each open seat and send those names to the Governor. Therefore, we should have two new Circuit Court Judges in approximately 90 days.
Captain Out .....
So Judge Rodolfo “Rudy” A. Ruiz II has a whole 6 years experience ?
DS
The rules should be changed to require at least 7-10 years experience before becoming a judge.
5 years is a joke. The only people that think 5 years experience is enough are 5 year lawyers.
Remember that when Ed Newman ran the first time he had barely 5 years as a lawyer and look how qualified he turned out to be.
Yes, this is a joke.
I'm a 32 year old lawyer that has been practicing for seven year and tried numerous felony and misdemeanor cases. Both bench and jury. I routinely text and sext the ladies I meet at bars, lounges, clubs and court happy hours. I definitely am not qualified to be a judge. I'm too much of a scally wag.
all the criticisms of the ruiz appointment are dead on. but the rule should be changed to prevent this sort of thing. having said that, rudy will soon be in the top list of county judges. good pedigree and a genuinely dedicated person. the appointment still stinks, but rudy will have to show people, which he will, that he was an exception to the general rule.
There are qualified 5-year attorneys.
There are unqualified 25-year attorneys.
5-year attorneys will agree with both of these statements. 25-year attorneys won't agree with either one.
That is one scary-ass picture. Yikes.
Too bad the Governor is bypassing competent County Court Judges that have being nominated recently by the JNC such as Miranda, Smith, White-Labora and others. I would think that a "tested" County Court Judge has some sort of preference over an "untested" young attorney. That's just my opinion.
Fucking joke
6 years as a lawyer, no jury trials, really?; REALLY?
Fajardo will be difficult but restrained until reelected without opposition. Then she will be impossible to deal with
Future Judge-
You have my vote. Clearly, your admission of your "vices" indicates you are human.
I want people on the bench not only with legal experience, but life experience. I want judges who realize that not every drug user is an addict or a dealer or a waste of life.
I want judges who understand that sometimes people use the law to get back at people they dislike. I want judges who think critically. I want judges who dont blindly believe witnesses.
You may think you are not qualified, but you may be more qualified than others.
4813:
Could not agree more with your statement that there are unqualified 25 year attorneys. While there are undoubtedly a few exceptions, most 5 year lawyers are unqualified for the bench. I think 10-12 years should be the minimum.
Out of curiosity why did you pick that photo of Fajardo? A quick search on Google finds at least one other (possibly more recent) photo that doesn't have her shooting the ol' crazy eyes. Is this a Newsweek-Bachmann thing? Do tell.
I am a 33 year old attorney who has been practicing 6 years and aspires to be a judge but would never dream of applying until I've got another 10 years experience under my belt. Congrats to Judge Ruiz for having the balls to throw his hat in the ring.
Scallywag is one word, lol.
I understand the hesitation that some may have if a 32 year old attorney being a judge. I would ask my colleagues to maybe wait and see what this young man does. He will do us proud. He is smart, hard-working, respectful, and as far away from a know- it-all, as you can get. He wants to spend his entire career as a judge. He will be an excellent addition to the Court.
I understand the hesitation that some may have if a 32 year old attorney being a judge. I would ask my colleagues to maybe wait and see what this young man does. He will do us proud. He is smart, hard-working, respectful, and as far away from a know- it-all, as you can get. He wants to spend his entire career as a judge. He will be an excellent addition to the Court.
Those eyes
The smile looks forced.
For Christ's sake, do we not have enough women on the bench? I am a liberal, want women to have every opportunity possible, but damn it. A older man with 20+ years of experience under his belt and the life experience not to take this shit personally is becoming a dinosaur on the Miami-Dade bench.
5:17........thowing your "hat in the ring" to a judge with only six years of experience isn't "balls," it's arrogance.
No way a 32 year old with six years of legal experience is ready to be a judge.
BTDT
Guys come on--you are acting like being a county judge is rocket science?? Its not like the county bench is packed with Posners and the like--a 32 yr old like Ruiz might be an improvement--just sayin'.....
Most men who are good lawyers are at the top of their game with 20 years of experience Are making far too much money to want to give it up and become a judge.
Key fact on Fajardo c.v.?
"The Federalist Society,
President/Board of Directors, Miami Chapter, 2009 to present"
Congrat to whomever Rodolfo Rudy Ruiz is on his appointment! To all of you bitching & moaning about not enough experience this is the same song and dance you were doing when Judge del Pino and others ran for office. How come nobody has moaned about the inept hearing officer Labora hubby having the gall to run for Circuit Court when he can't even handle traffic hearings!
Get over it, if air-heads Judge Mary Jo Francis, Judge Newman and "I do whatever I want" Pando can still be on the bench, then I say kudos to the appointment & time will tell.
anyone who has not tried at least 15 cases to a jury verdict should not be a judge. period.
@George.
~72,000 - Total number of civil cases disposed of in Dade Circuit Court in calendar 2011.
~250 - Number of cases disposed of by jury trial in 2011.
0.35% jury trial rate.
So, as much as we all want to imagine we live in Maycomb, Alabama, living the life of Atticus Finch, maybe most of the disputes at least civil lawyers handle, and most of what judges decide, no longer occurs in jury trials.
If your only criterion for judges is number of trials, then only former prosecutors will be judges, since they and PDs are the only ones who get a lot of trials (heck, sometimes a couple DUI trials a day, and we know what a quality experience that is) and PDs more or less always get slaughtered in elections.
We sure have LOTS of former prosecutors on the bench (and some not all that former, if you know what I mean). And that's working out perfectly, right?
Is Rudy Ruiz related to Facundo Bacardi?
I have been an attorney for 6 years and have over 15 jury trials to verdict. I am not saying that I could or would want to be a judge but I have no doubt that someone with 6 years could make a fine judge. I am sure that there are attorneys with over 20 years of experience with less jury trials than some younger attorneys.
Don't know about this guy Ruiz but keep an open mind people!
Mary Jo Francis does her own thing, but she runs a misdemeanor jail division. A good number of her defendants are homeless and mentally ill who can't afford a $500 bond for a trespassing charge. She takes great measures to see to it that people who are repeat offenders due to their mental illness get the help they need so they can stop getting arrested.
You hit the nail on the head.
I've been practicing 5 years and although I believe myself to be good for a young lawyer- I am just that a good young lawyer. I may respect other good young lawyers, but I do not find anyone at this level capable of handling what is supposed to be a coveted and well respected position. The robe should garner respect not mockery. Rudy Ruiz has parents with deep pocket books and that is why he got appointed. PERIOD. This appointment has nothing to do with his capabilities as a lawyer. I hope he proves me wrong.
Why do I bother with this blog anymore?
4:09 here
I agree with BTDT. I don't care how smart you are or what kind of brilliant legal mind you may have, at 31 years old you do not have the maturity or the legal or life experience to be a judge. What most of you don't know is the story of why the Constituional Revision Commission made it only 5 years in the Bar for qualification over 40 years ago.
The system was not set up for young lawyers to be judges as a career. The reason why judges get 3.3% per year as a retirment benefit, is that no one saw anyone under 55 becoming a judge for the miniscule salary that was being paid at the time.
The idea was to reward older, experienced and qualified attorneys who wished to give something back to the community for the benefits they obtained from a career of ethical lawyering. At the time, if someone served 10 years as a judge, they would receive a $15,000a per year retirement benefit.
The salaries went up as qualified attorneys kept saying no for financial reasons and the quality of the bench diminished. Unfortunately the raising of the salary and benefits had the opposite effect. It attracted attorneys who had, and would, never make $150K a year in their lives, or "mommy judges" who could help the family with the salary, retirement and other benefits and work part time.
Back in 1968 the smaller counties in the panhandle and elsewhere, had very few lawyers who would serve as judges. Many of the county judges weren't even lawyers. So any lawyer who would serve would do better than a lay person.
I would love to see how long some of these pretenders in robes would stay if we went back to the old days by reducing the salary, benefits and retirement.
On another note, the commment that Fajardo is just another Flora Seff is correct. She has not had to deal with the real world and can afford to be self righteous.
If I'm not mistaken, Judge Ruiz makes it exactly one Hispanic male on the County Court bench.
1:53 PM You are correct. Give the man/woman a cigar! Or whatever is politically correct these days.
Judge Fajardo is VERY smart. Like many people, she is self-conscious when her photo is taken. In person she smiles naturally and constantly. She is well know for her smile - she lights up any room she enters. And, as stated above, she is VERY smart, which is far more important than the way she looks. Give her a chance.
President, Miami Chapter of the Federalist Society*? Sorry, right wing nut jobs, you don't get my vote.
*The Federalist Society ... is a group of conservatives and libertarians ... founded on the principles that ... it is emphatically the province and duty of the judiciary to say what the law is, not what it should be.
Wow...I'm 27 years old and have probably been through and seen and experienced more crap than anyone can fathom. Yet still, I don't completely agree that Mr.Ruiz's parents didn't have something to do with it, you shouldn't bash a person without having collaborated with them at some point in your life. To all those being judgmental, you would probably suck as judges anyway for being so closed minded. The Defendants that are dealt with are as human as you and I. For you to take it upon yourself to feel above this person to "judge" or criticize is immature. It takes more than just an education and work and life experiences. It takes dedication to each and every case, which is becoming rare in our county. Just sayin'
Rudy Ruiz's parents? Really? Anyone who thinks that Rick Scott is going to appoint someone because of his/her parents' supposed connections has absolutely no idea how the process works or how this Governor thinks. Do you truly think that Rick Scott, who financed his 2010 campaign with $70 million of his own money, needs a check from Ruiz's parents?
Meet the new judge, she's as same as the old judge. But I won't get fooled again.
shes no Julio Jimenez, more like Peter Adrien Camacho
Ruiz is a joke. Unqualified.
Sit in his court room for one case and you can see his ineptness.
Who backed him to get Scott to appoint him?
There has to be a back story here.
Clearly afraid of lawyers in front of him..he doesn't listen and berates witnesses.
Disgusting abuse of power in exercising his judicial inexperience.
His daddy should be embarrassed.
Anonymous said... you are so SPOT ON! regarding Judge Fajardo. She has a self-righteous attitude and looks down at everyone. She does not have wisdom, life experience and just plain nasty. She outwardly insults with no remorse and does not follow the law even when it is literally read to her. She makes her own rulings and does not follow procedure or due process. I have seen her stated in open court, "Well, I want to see what they have to say" referring to 5 witnesses and a trial that lasted for 3 1/2 hours! From a 15 Hearing Set. When objected for lack of due process and not follow procedure, she stated she didn't care and wanted to proceed anyway.
Anonymous said... YOU GOT HER PEGGED THE FIRST TIME... I'm surprised you don't have your own column
@Anonymous Said... you got Judge Fajardo Pegged !! So self-righteous with no life experience and just plain nasty. She doesn't follow or even know the law when it is presented to her. Her ego and pride gets in the way of any good judgement skills. You can't correct her and when you do she punishes you like a child. Truly, she acts more like opposing co-counsel than a judge. It is a popularity contest when going to her courtroom more than allowing the law to dictate. She had literally said in open court, "I can do want ever I want!" Really?!*% what happen to be governed by laws, procedures and rules.. I am pretty sure she keeps a swinging noose behind the courthouse.
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