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Monday, June 26, 2017

BOLO...OR JUST SAY NO

Todays post is about the over-worked, under-appreciated cog in the court system: the bailiff. 

A great bailiff is like a great umpire: s/he is doing their job well when you don't notice them working. Every well-run courtroom needs a competent judge and a great bailiff. A good bailiff shows compassion to the litigant, whispers a well placed tip in a lawyer's ear ("check your fly counselor" is always our favourite, especially when it's up),  and keeps their judge grounded and focused. 

A bad bailiff lets the badge go to their head. They try and close the courtroom although the law doesn't allow it. They try and stop people from texting on their cell phones when they have no authority to do so, and they are rude to people who need their help - like litigants who show up late and are worried they missed their court appearance. 

Which brings us to this @Davidovalle305 tweet:

Not sure what a "GRM" is, but at least they are as well informed as the ASAs. 

So BOLO for a fake bailiff. 
Or the next time one comes up to you and asks you to stop texting, and leave the courtroom, "just say NO." Say: "Rumpole told me to tell you that you have no authority to close a State of Florida Courtroom to any individual on earth. They don't even need to be a US Citizen. They just need to be an earthling." (It's not clear if ET can enter a courtroom without permission.)  Even visiting judges from Broward have the right (as unpleasant as the thought is) to enter a Miami-Dade Courtroom. Which reminds us of the idiot Judge in Broweird who      (we are not making this up) used to order his bailiff to close and lock the door at 9:01 am and issued BWs to everyone who wasn't seated inside the courtroom. This included people running late, stuck in the elevator, or talking to their lawyer outside. 

Anyway, be on the lookout for a fake bailiff. Maybe it's the low pay or long hours that they find attractive.

From Occupied America, where affordable health care appears to just make our president and his republican pals nuts, Fight the Power!

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

GRM stands for Graham Building ASAs.

Seth Sklarey said...

If the Constitution requires that courts be open to the public how can people be barred from entering Federal Couthouses and Bankruptcy Court for failing to have an I.D.?
Are there any lawyers willing to challenge this unconstitutional ban?

Seth Sklarey said...

I remember when Judge Barbara Levenson informed the bailiffs that they couldn't prevent people from having newspapers in the court.

Seth Sklarey said...

I remember when Judge Barbara Levenson informed the bailiffs that they couldn't prevent people from having newspapers in the court.

Seth Sklarey said...

Also I don't think the bailiffs have a right to exclude the public from courtrooms when their casevis not being heard like the often do at the North Dade Justice Center and the Courthouse. Courtrooms are supposed to be open to the public and if the chamber isn't big enough to handle the audience the Judge should move it to a larger courtroom.
I for one like to observe the demeanor of a judge and determine their mood for my upcoming case or what kindvof jurist they are.

Anonymous said...

And of course, bailiffs have always been a source of client referrals to slime ball attorneys who reciprocate by paying cash in return, low ball the fee, do nothing for the client and after countless delays, push the client to take a plea. Couple hundred bucks, no work put into the case -- job well done! Next case.

Anonymous said...

Maybe they are just getting ready for Halloween......

Anonymous said...

To 6:49: Pretty low shot. I have been around for quite a while. Never heard of a bailiff doing that and would be quite difficult given the logistics. Maybe a bondsmen in days of yore. Unless you have someone specific in mind, just not right to disparage a group of people who are hard working.

Anonymous said...

Someone had to fill the shoes of Gaer and Mishkin.

REAL TOKYO KENNY W said...

Since I am in Tokyo -/

Judge Hanzman did a GREAT job on that order. Kudos as they say here.

Fake Tokyo Kenneth W said...

Hanzman stinks. Long live the right and honorable Mr. Justice Milton Hirsch.

(a real W would never use the name "kenny" it's always Kenneth la dee da)

Anonymous said...

Judge Hanzman is RUMPOLE!!!!

Anonymous said...

Heard of corrections referring clients never bailiffs

Anonymous said...

you people have no sense of humor. wanting to have a great halloween costume as a judge dressing as a bailiff at some rich defense attorney's private party is harmless.

Anonymous said...

How about th judge Betty Capote in Miami who when at North Dade abusively would not allow anyone in after 9am on the dot and for each calendar successively even if their name had not been called. She used her bailiff to send defendants home with bench warrants even though court was not over and she was still on the bench. nobody ever asks the clerks about how horrible she was even our bosses knew but everyone was afraid to lose their job. Oh and when she had he court temporarily moved to REG while pregnant she continued that bullshit even knowing that the majority of her poor black defendants from North Dade Area had to take Miami's unreliable public transportation to court at REG, she still would not let them in and I'm not exaggerating, 5 minutes late you still were not getting in, it wasn't her bailiff it was her. Someone should pull the recordings so people can hear How many times in court she said the asa could not nolle prosse for a good dl because it was, "too late right state" on the day of trial. Now at REG she can't get away with that shit but for the first 3 years she is the cruella of county court.

Anonymous said...

The bailiff had to it was the judge's orders, if he didn't do it he would have been fired. That was judge Betty Capote. She should gave been removed or reprimanded for the shit she did to people in North Dade.