THE CAPTAIN REPORTS:
THE FLORIDA SUPREME COURT SPEAKS .......
INQUIRY CONCERNING A JUDGE NO. 18-572
RE: CINDY LEDERMAN, MARCIA CABALLERO,
ROSA FIGAROLA, TERESA POOLER, MAVEL RUIZ.
"In this case, we review the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the Judicial Qualifications Commission (JQC) concerning Judge Cindy Lederman, Judge Marcia Caballero, Judge Rosa Figarola, Judge Teresa Pooler, and Judge Mavel Ruiz (the respondents). We further review the stipulation entered into between the respondents and the JQC. We have jurisdiction. See art. V, § 12, Fla. Const.
As we explain below (see attached ORDER), we approve the parties’ stipulation that during a competitive procurement process, the respondents improperly submitted a letter to the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF), encouraging DCF to award a contract to a particular vendor. Moreover, we approve the JQC’s finding that this misconduct violated Canons 1, 2, and 4 of the Code of Judicial Conduct, and we also approve the stipulated discipline of a written reprimand via publication of this written opinion."
YOUR TWO NEWEST JUSTICES OF THE FLORIDA SUPREME COURT .....
Will have to wait. Governor DeSantis, according to the Florida Constitution, had 60 days to appoint two justices from the nine names as recommended by the FSC JNC as the result of the resignations of Justice Barbara Lagoa and Justice Robert Luck. One of the two named must reside in the 3rd DCA (noted by the *). The deadline to name the two justices was on Monday, March 23, 2020. Governor DeSantis has announced that he is just a little bit busy with more important matters and the court is functioning just fine with its five current justices. Here are the finalists:
*John Couriel
Renatha FrancisJonathan Gerber
Jamie Grosshans
*Norma Lindsey
Timothy Osterhaus
*Eliot Pedrosa
Lori Rowe
Meredith Sasso
SO, YOU WANT TO BE A CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE .......
Meanwhile, the JNC for our local 11th Judicial Circuit did go ahead and interview by telephone conference last Thursday all 16 applicants for the two open Circuit Court seats resulting from the retirements of Judges Jacqueline Hogan Scola and John Schlesinger. The 12 names sent to Governor DeSantis include:
Jason Bloch
Raul Antonio CuervoChristopher Green
Kevin Hellmann
Chiaka Ihekwaba
Zachary James
Scott Janowitz
Lody Jean
Joseph Mansfield
Marie Elizabeth Mato
Melissa Damian Visconti
Craig Weissberg
CAPTAIN OUT .......
Captain4Justice@gmail.com
10 comments:
Too bad about Judge Cindy Lederman’s reputation. She tried hard in her years, but she made an error in ethics. Keep your head up. Retire in peace. You were nice to everyone.
Rumpole. BREAKING NEWS FROM ME...MR IMPORTANT IN THE KNOW
BREAKING ....VIRUS HITS US HARD
BREAKING......CONGRESS CONSIDERS ACTING FOR STIMULUS RELIEF- Congress asked me Mr. Important to spread the news.
BREAKING STARBUCKS REOPENING IN CHINA and the CEO personally called me...Mr. Important and asked me to be the VERY FIRST ONE to spread the news...
BREAKING lots of sick people in NYC and Governor Cuomo and mayor DeBlasio both called me...Mr. IMPORTANT and begged me to tell everyone that since I know everything first and since everyone depends on me to tell them everything first that I tell you all first that People in NYC are getting really really sick.
BREAKING General Motors to close some auto plants because no one is buying cars and the president of GM called me MR Important to tell everyone first that GM is closing plants.
BREAKING Some police officers in Florida have Covid 19 and the police and the Governor and the mayors of all the cities and all the congressmen and both senators called ME MR IMPORTANT TO TELL EVERYONE that some police officers are sick. WOW this is serious news and who learned of it first? OF COURSE IT WAS ME MR IMPORTANT
STAND BY YOUR EMAIL IN-BOXES TO GET ALL THE NEWS FIRST FROM THE PERSON WHO KNOWS IT FIRST ME- MR IMPORTANT
AND BREAKING...Joe Biden appears to be winning the nomination for President for the democrats and he called ME MR IMPORTANT TO ASK THAT ME MR IMPORTANT TELL EVERYONE THAT JOE BIDEN WILL BE THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE
MORE IMPORTANT NEWS COMING SOON FROM ME MR IMPORTANT
This pandemic and looming Depression doesn’t bother me.
I just bought the rights to Arizona for “Phil Reizenstein’s BBQ PIZZA” restaurants. I’m going to retire early. They are delicious.
Thank you Mr. Impotent
Dear 8: 41.
I don't know the Cindy L that you know. I saw a very mean and vindictive judge who pushed so many good judges out of Juvie. I also saw a power hungry mean spirited person who had no respect for anyone's input.
Everyone and I mean everyone in Juvie is glad she is gone.
Cindy L pushed those judges to sign that letter. The other judges had no idea it was in violation of the canons. Cindy should have been removed and the other judge not even written up.
I hope this keeps Cindy from ever coming back as a retired judge.
No Jason Bloch. He was horrible.
Norma Linsey, nice person but, couldn't make a decision to save her life.
Well, poor judges, signing a letter without knowing what the canons are. Maybe you should send them a copy.
Those who live in stone houses shouldn't throw stones...
What a difficult predicament! Would the pre-judge career, as well as what goes on once they became a judge, prepare them for this situation? I am assuming that there was satisfaction in the previously provided services and the judges signed off putting their stamp of approval for what they have experienced.
I've never liked Cindy Lederman's judicial temperament since she's always been way too dour yet, I've attributed that to commitment to her cause rather than flat out, personal nastiness. Teresa Pooler, Mavel Ruiz, Rosa Figarola...those are all good judges and nice people. They have always tried very hard and been accommodating to every lawyer. If those judges simply went along, at the behest of their senior judge, then this reprimand is so unfair to their otherwise excellent reputations. Now, when their terms come up, an opportunist will exploit this issue, an issue that many would have innocently succumbed to.
This can be such an unforgiving and mean
profession.
Hooray for 8:59:00 for telling it like it is. The original post omitted the part that Lederman would have been singled out for a public reprimand for her more egregious misconduct had she not retired. I am sure that a number of judges (the ones referred to by 8:59:00)--both past and present--would have taken a day off to attend the Florida Supremes' dressing down of Lederman.
I would back Norma Lindsay as the best qualified. She was wonderful as a circuit judge. But she may not have the poltical connections to join the ultra conservative supreme court bench who overrules prior precedent on only poltical reasons.
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