CLERK'S OFFICE TO CLOSE

David O Markus In County Court? See Below. 

The Clerk's Office to close???
Well, not quite. But we're heading that way. Think we're "foolin?" Check the date of the post: 3/31/2016

Changes are coming to the Clerk's office, none of them good. 

You want limited government? You got it. 

Just don't arrive on the 9th floor of the Dade County Clerk's Office with a question because the clerk who sits in the booth opposite the elevators and answers questions is being re-assigned. You have a question? Google it. 

In our milieu, there used to be two clerks in the attorneys room handling file requests. 

Now there will be one. 

There will be longer lines and increased wait time. 
As a smart and resourceful lawyer you are thinking that you will just use one the clerks at the windows for the general public. Think again. Attorneys are BARRED from using those services:
"Sir. Drop your file request form on the floor, raise your hands in the air and step away from the window."

Here is what our sources are saying: 

Right now visitors to the 9th floor (attorneys and general public) are welcomed by a deputy clerk who works in a general information booth directly across from the elevators (one window).  For the uninitiated, this clerk then directs people to one of many windows which are found in the various rooms of the 9th floor.  There are general rooms and an attorney room.  The general rooms include a payment/information room (many many windows), a bonds/bondsman room (a few windows), an appeals room (one window), and a case file room (many windows).  

Then there is one attorney room and it is dedicated to defense attorneys and prosecutors where they can file orders signed in court, review files, get dispositions, get certified copies of orders and request a variety of other services.  The attorney room has two windows.  Attorneys line up and wait to be helped by two great deputy clerks, normally Leida and Mike.  The line in the attorney room is often times long, but fluctuates throughout the day and generally moves quickly because there are two clerks who only work with the attorneys and have a great deal of experience (and patience) in dealing with them and their requests.  

Here is the plan: 

1. Close the general information booth which directs the public to the window or room that will most efficiently handle their need (so in the future they will be walking around aimlessly, waiting in line in one room before being directed to the appropriate room or a totally different floor, which the information booth clerk would have sent them to in the first place), 
2. Close one of the attorney windows, leaving only one window and only one clerk to handle all the attorneys and their requests.
3. Prohibit attorneys from using the various general public windows which offer the same services to the public but which are often times less busy when the attorneys need help the most (e.g. during the early mornings, as calendar calls come to an end, at the end of the day to file/certify last minute transport/modification orders).

This is happening because all the temp clerks were recently fired en masse and there are seven deputy clerk positions on the 9th floor that are not being filled.

Don't blame the clerk's office. Blame your "limited state government" officials who want to lower your state income tax (oh, wait- we don't have a state income tax) and reduce waste (like the clerk who answered the questions of befuddled citizens) and privatize services - like the new "El Chapp" Cafe which is opening, we are proud to announce- the 6th of never. 

By the way, there's a new El Chapo cafe diet craze sweeping the nation. No food. Weight loss. Amazing concept. Wish we thought of it. 

CALLED STRIKE THREE

There are no small cases. 
And thus, your favourite federal blogger and federal defense attorney David Markus found himself a stranger in a strange land on Wednesday: Before Judge Ed Newman in Dade County Court representing Major League Baseball player Delmon Young, who was charged in some affray with a valet. 

It was hardly Casey At The Bat. But the mighty state attorney's office dug in, and stood by as the Ump called strike three! The complaining valet didn't show up in court and the case was nolle prossed (technically- "never mind"). 

Mr. Markus, not used to standing in court surrounded by hoi poli of defense attorneys representing the mundane DUIs, expectorating in public, disorderly intoxication and such, still managed to maintain his dignity, and left the courtroom, only to be promptly interviewed by TMZ here. 

There is no rest for the weary or  busy defense attorneys,  and you can see Mr. Markus in more familiar terrain, as he is rumored to be in trial today before Judge Moore. 

See you in court.