Great is a term often overused, but in Mr. Gilbert's case, it doesn't seem enough.
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| David Hugging a surviving victim in an awful mass shooting case |
Mr. Gilbert has been a fixture at the courthouse and the SAO roaming the halls and courtrooms (back in the 70's and 80's in his trademark three piece suit) handling many of the toughest cases the State Attorney's Office prosecuted. Homicide cases. DUI Manslaughter cases. And not just slam-dunk cases with DNA, video and confessions. But the types of cases that merited a trial, where there was a story to tell on each side. And Mr. Gilbert did it with exceptional skill, style, and the type of fairness not often seen from lawyers on either side of a case.
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| Mr. Gilbert representing the SAO on the Justin Bieber DUI case (not one of his more serious cases) |
From the defense bar viewpoint, Mr. Gilbert was the type of prosecutor you could feel comfortable speaking with. You knew he was going to seek justice wherever the road took him. And if justice meant a more lenient plea, or even a dismissal, David Gilbert was the prosecutor you wanted to work with. If justice meant a trial and a stiff or maximum sentence, then you knew you were in for a fight- a fair fight- but a fight.
We will not see his like again very soon. And we in the criminal justice system have all benefited from having a man like Mr. Gilbert working for justice.
We wish him Godspeed in a well earned retirement.
11 comments:
David Gilbert: Honest, ethical, polite, respectful, trustworthy, fair, and good guy.
Rump, that was a beautiful post about a truly great man. David was a great prosecutor and is a true mensch. I wish him the very best.
BTDT
Who is Justin Bever? Do you mean Justin Bieber?
Yes, but that's what I wrote: Bieber. Not sure of your point.
Now I’m really confused. I thought he was talking about Jerry Mathers (Beaver Cleaver). Which is it Rumpole?
Speaking of really great prosecutors who I liked a lot... Barbara Piniero retired on short notice and moved to Stuart. She's been doing extraditions for about 25 years and ALWAYS returned your call. She and her late husband, Judge Rob Piniero were both class acts and I am better having known both of them.
Never had a case against him but seemed like a class act from seeing him in the courtroom. Now does anybody have any information on getting our new REG attorney ID's?
David was ahead of me in the SAO by a few months. Even then he was always available to mentor the new ASA's. Things moved quickly in those days and you had to quick on your feet. Dave was always a great resource for questions from us newer lawyers.
DAvid went on to have a great career and leaves a spendid legacy. A real role model for all ASA's.
It has been my honor and privilege to know you, work with you, and to watch your legion of victories in the pursuit of always trying to do the right thing.
WELL SAID 8:39 PM. They don't run all their retirements by me. Ms. Pinero was a class act. A pleasure to deal with. A real pro. Always willing to help. Her husband, put simply, was THE BEST. Boy do we all miss Rob Pinero. A lot.
I ve known mr gilbert for over 25 years he was always soft spoken and a true legal professional very skilled and fair
David was the type of prosecutor we in the defense bar could trust. His word was his bond. You could settle a death penalty case over a cup of hot chocolate (he didn't drink coffee) and a handshake. In fact, although it's an over simplification, we did just that. In one of his last cases, David approached me about a juvenile defendant with multiple life sentences and multiple post conviction motions pending. He frankly acknowledged the issues had some merit, offered a long but fair term of years to settle all cases- cases where he had been the trial prosecutor- and we shook hands and when my client approved we had a deal. I never worried about his word once it was given, and I trusted his innate sense of fairness.
I'm going to miss David. I hope he trained enough young prosecutors who can follow in his very very large footsteps.
Phil Reizenstein
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