THE CAPTAIN REPORTS:
"Speak the truth to one another, render true and perfect justice in your gates" ......
It was reported in The Guardian this week that Israeli archaeologists have unearthed two dozen Dead Sea scroll fragments from a remote cave in the Judean Desert. The biblical scroll bits of parchment were found after teams rappelled down an 80 metre cliff and scoured The Cave of Horror. It is believed that the scrolls have been there since approximately AD132. The scrolls found were Greek translations of the books of Zachariah and Nahum. One fragment read:
“These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to one another, render true and perfect justice in your gates”. Powerful words that could be hung over every bench in every courtroom in our own Gerstein Justice Building.
ELECTION CENTRAL - JUDICIAL ELECTIONS 2022
One year from now, candidates will be qualifying to run for Circuit and County Court Judge in Miami-Dade County. But, after having already received no less than a dozen invites to campaign fundraisers within just the past couple of weeks, we thought we would share the list of Incumbent Judges and likely races.
CIRCUIT COURT
A total of 23 Incumbents:
William Altfield - has communicated with me that he intends to file for re-election
Barbara Areces - intends to file for re-election
Ramiro Areces - FILED for re-election
Jennifer Bailey - FILED
Gina Beovides - has not responded to my requests so we have no idea of her intentions
Scott Bernstein - intends to file for re-election
Mark Blumstein - intends to file for re-election
Samantha Ruiz Cohen - FILED
Laura Shearon Cruz - intends to file for re-election
Marcia Del Rey - we have no idea of her intentions
Christina DiRaimondo - FILED
Marlene Fernandez-Karavetsos - intends to file for re-election
Milton Hirsch - FILED
Zachary James - FILED
Lody Jean - FILED
Thomas Rebull - FILED
Oscar Rodriguez-Fonts - we have no idea of his intentions
George Sarduy - intends to file for re-election
Nushin Sayfie - FILED
Bertila Soto - intends to file for re-election
William Thomas - we have no idea of his intentions
Robert Watson - FILED
David Young - intends to file for re-election
COUNTY COURT
A total of 15 Incumbents:
Cristina Rivera Correa - we have no idea of her intentions
Miesha Darrough - intends to file for re-election
Elisabeth Espinosa - intends to file for re-election
Carlos Gamez - we have no idea of his intentions
Michaelle Gonzalez-Paulson - intends to file for re-election
Ayana Harris - we have no idea of her intentions
Chiaka Ihekwaba - intends to file for re-election
Scott Janowitz - intends to file for re-election
Carroll Kelly - FILED
Jeffrey Kolokoff - intends to file for re-election
Linda Diaz - we have no idea of her intentions
Julie Nelson - FILED
Fred Seraphin - we have no idea of his intentions
Diana Vizcaino - we have no idea of her intentions
JUDGE Edward Newman, we believe, is retiring, and an attorney has already filed to run in his Group 7 seat. That attorney is Marcus Bach Armas. He has been a member of the The Florida Bar for 12 years and he is listed as corporate counsel for the Miami Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium. (https://bacharmas.com/).
So, loyal readers, which incumbent Judges deserve to face opposition in the next election?
Marcus Bach Armas is the son of former County Court Judge Mercedes Bach, now retired.
ReplyDeleteDo judges have to respond to your requests? Defense lawyers don’t contribute to campaigns...biggest whiners on the planet.
ReplyDeleteLittle R. Areces was appointed by the governor based on apparent political ties of his parents. He has no experience in litigation and has zero experience in jury trials. Gamez was similarly appointed based on his wife's influence as she is with Holland and Knight. He was a disaster as an assistant city attorney and sat second chair. He was reprimanded by two separate judges for his amateurish conduct in two trials. Both deserve a qualified opponent, but in Miami-Dade both will probably continue their undistinguished careers to collect a paycheck they could not obtain in private practice. Although it has to be said, they are both better than Aponte which is a low bar.
ReplyDeleteCRIME OF THE CENTURY .......
ReplyDeleteIs there anything sacred anymore:
https://www.insider.com/assistant-principal-teen-daughter-charged-with-rigging-homecoming-queen-vote-2021-3
Here's all that matters with regard to judges:
ReplyDeletewhat are their positions on which court proceedings ought to return to in-person only?
Far as Im concerned, the only reason a lawyer should ever darken the floors of REG again is to begin a trial, a PVH, or to take a plea with a client in custody (who should also be brought in-person) or one whose fingerprints need to be taken.
Important motions, dispositive motions, perhaps should be optional.
Everything else should be online-only.
ReplyDelete8:44 AM:
Of course not. And by not doing so, a prospective candidate might just decide to jump into a race because the sitting judge is undecided, waffling, etc. If you are a sitting judge and you know you are going to file, it would seem like the best strategy would be to let everyone know that fact. Most of the sitting judges did exactly that.
Cap
Deserves opposition: Hirsch, Rebull.
ReplyDeleteR. Areces = everything a defendant could hope for in a judge. Willing to listen, fair minded, courteous.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. Reads everything beforehand and rules based on the law. Very fair and very smart.
DeleteWatson
ReplyDeleteDo you mean Tómas Rebull?
ReplyDeleteAreces has been a pleasant surprise. Gámez an unpleasant one. Bach sounds like another silver spoon joke.
ReplyDeleteAll incumbents with Hispanic names = no opposition. Those who don't are shaking in their robes.
ReplyDeleteRamiro Areces is humble, has a big heart, is respectful towards the lawyers, tries to be very fair, will undercut the State and, most importantly, desires to learn. He's been a good judge with a potential to become a great one. What's not to like about him? If you are condemning him, it must be the condemner and not Areces since he is such gentleman. He's a diamond in the rough
ReplyDeleteAgreed. I don’t know him well (barely, at all) but I am his colleague and I see a future de la O there.
DeleteAreces is outstanding
ReplyDeleteAltfield has been poor. He shows up on time but has openly sided with the state on most issues and has been terrible on bonds. A huge disappointment.
ReplyDeleteUncle Milty is getting burnt out. He is rude to probate litigants and inaccessible. His shtick is not aging well. He makes me want to be struthious.
ReplyDeleteBye bye blumstein! There’s no hiding from your criminal law opponents by shifting to the civil side. Maybe you’ll just resign and help us all.
ReplyDelete