Our Judge of the day is Judge Hank Newkirk of Georgia and you can see what he did to merit blog mention.
Let's be honest. How many of you robed readers have ever wanted to do this?
When you see something that is not right, not fair, find a way to get in the way and cause trouble. Congressman John Lewis
JUSTICE BUILDING BLOG
WELCOME TO THE OFFICIAL RICHARD E GERSTEIN JUSTICE BUILDING BLOG. THIS BLOG IS DEDICATED TO JUSTICE BUILDING RUMOR, HUMOR, AND A DISCUSSION ABOUT AND BETWEEN THE JUDGES, LAWYERS AND THE DEDICATED SUPPORT STAFF, CLERKS, COURT REPORTERS, AND CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS WHO LABOR IN THE WORLD OF MIAMI'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE. POST YOUR COMMENTS, OR SEND RUMPOLE A PRIVATE EMAIL AT HOWARDROARK21@GMAIL.COM. Winner of the prestigious Cushing Left Anterior Descending Artery Award.
58 comments:
“Mispronunciation”?? That’s a stretch.
But if you think there are a lot of judges that would like to do that or that actually enjoy sentencing I think you’re very wrong.
Corrupted Administration at the SAO
Judge is a moron
Judge C Clyde Atkins in the early 80"s would often say when jurors knocked on the door to signal a verdict was reached, " We must stop for a moment , the Jury has reached a guilty verdict." This was even before he was handed the verdict form.
I think most judges do not like sentencing. I think most judges are pleased when the sao over reacts and goes after people who don’t really belong in the criminal justice system and are acquitted. But then there’s that 2,3,4,5% who actively cultivate a reputation for excessively punishing people after trial in some misguided way of trying to get their caseload down and those judges ruin the reputation of all the others.
Never heard this before.
Former Miami ASA here.. had that happen once in a heroin trafficking trial.. I forget the name of the judge but the clerk read the verdict.. the clerk didn't get all the way to "guilty".. but started to say "guil".... before correcting herself to say "not guilty". Defendant went on a rollercoaster of emotions in those 5 - 10 seconds or so. Guy was nice enough to come into court the next day to thank us all for our work.
That would be Cristina Correa in County Court. The way the beat her is to try everything. Juries rarely convict in county court.
SAO is vile
CLERKS HAVE BEEN DOING THIS TO ME AND MY CLIENTS FOR YEARS
Most new judges want their reputation as “tough” out early in their career. They are proud of the “maximum” sentences given in any type of case.
Word gets around for reelection that they are “no nonsense” and they think they need to do this to get the police union PBA endorsement etc.
They think they need to let those defendants waiting trial that it is not worth the chance of an adverse jury trial because the judge will “max” their sentence if they waste the judge’s precious time with a trial.
It is very sad.
I know because that is how I was taught as a young judge.
It is wrong. I was wrong.
ALWAYS request polling of the jury when the verdict is returned.
Is this the title of your book, or is this just a reflex for you?
Understood. I agree.
He did not do that intentionally. It was when he was getting on in years.
Sao needs new mangers
NY appeals court dumps Trump’s $500 million fraud fine but upholds judgment
https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5463599-trump-fraud-case-appeals-court-tosses-penalty/
Leonard Thompson = win at all costs including being corrupt.
If Harris was president instead of Trump does anyone actually think we would be better off. The man is getting things done. And when and if he get peace in Ukraine you can change the landing page of your blog.
Yes. We'd be better off with an administration that didn't use its justice department to punish critics, didn't use its armed forces to patrol cities, didn't raid workplaces, courthouses, schools and houses of worship to round up brown folks who have been living here productively for years and stick them in cages in the Everglades, didn't alienate our allies, didn't promote vaccine skepticism, didn't fire experts for telling the truth, didn't capitulate to Russia, and didn't seek endless ways to personally profit from government action. Inflation is up, as is unemployment. I don't know what's wrong with you. But I'd guess you're a young white male with insecurities about your professional and sexual performance.
If DEI Harris was in, there would be more Trans Comic Books and Drag Queen Story Hours making the world a safer and more accepting place using millions of American taxpayer $$$. And if you don't agree, the Harris DOJ would find a way to lock you up on no bond for 428 days. Just sayin.
Getting things done is not the same as making things better. Carter got things done. Biden got things done but you didn't like those things. The man is an inveterate liar. Sooner or later there will be peace in Ukraine with or without his involvement, so you've set the bar very low. But he promised to end the war on his first day. If the price of peace is rewarding Russian aggression he will have gotten something done but it will be a bad thing.
You are delusional. Trump gets nothing done other than create smoke and claims to have put out the fire. What a moron.
So true about Leonard Thompson, the arrogance of power. Driven in no doubt to do so by his boss. He is the epitome of I do it because I can, when his true job is doing what’s right. What a difference from the days of Janet. They have no class and no moral compass.
I took over an armed robbery case like that one which was tried by a deceased lawyer who shall remain nameless. The jury came back with “a verdict and a question.” The late Judge Arthur I. Snyder was puzzled. “What’s your verdict?” he asked the jury foreman? “Guilty.” “So what’s your question?” the confused judge asked? The jury foreman responded: “does it matter that one of the jurors knows the victim?”
The judge was perplexed. “We read off the names of all the witnesses during jury selection . We asked if anyone knew any of the named people.Why didn’t you tell us you knew the victim” he demanded of that juror.
“I didn’t recognize his name. We weren’t friends in high school.” “So, how can you say that knowing the victim affected your verdict?!” the judge demanded. “Well, I recognized him when he testified. I knew that he was very smart so I figured, if he says that was the guy who robbed him, even 2 weeks later, he must have been right.” Mistrial granted.
I was appointed. I learned that the assailant was held up by a robber holding the gun in his right hand. My client was a lefty, taking copious notes throughout trial with his left hand. “A robber never holds their gun in their weak hand, I demanded.” Not Guilty.
SAO needs change! Horrible administration running it to the ground. Toxic work environment. KFR has no idea. We need help.
Thank goodness we finally have a president that ostracizes, demonizes and seeks to erase transexuals and transvestites from the culture. At last we can all sleep at night. Unless we're transexuals and transvestites. Or scientific experts. Or immigrants. Or the children of immigrants. Or critics of the administration. Or journalists. Just sayin.
Kilmar Abrego Garcia, at the center a high-profile immigration fight, released from jail
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/08/22/kilmar-abrego-garcia-deportation-case-released-jail/85776266007/
Great work!
Leonard works his ass off trying to train, mentor, and help everyone. Most of us appreciate it. He doesn't tolerate laziness or incompetence, but why should he? Regardless, he doesn't deserve this. The anonymous nasty comments are ridiculous and unprofessional as hell (read the Bar rules). There's something seriously wrong with those of you who get some level of satisfaction (or, worse, joy) by bashing another human being on the blog. Grow up. If you have an issue with someone, try speaking to them.
Kathy Rundle is hiring ASAs, start $77k, https://miamisao.com/
You still don't get it. The Dems were forcing that stuff down our throats, and the voters rejected that crap. The voters rejected that crap. Trump was a Democrat before the Democrats went nuts. Transexuals and transvestites can do as they please. But the voters don't want that lifestyle jammed down their throats. And minors must wait until age 18 to cut off their offending appendage. Seems reasonable. Immigrants are welcome to follow the law when entering the United States. Fence jumpers get kicked out. Journalists? You ought to be glad MSNBC is going away. Rachel Maddow and her "Russiagate" hoax helped Trump. Now that the "Russiagate" hoax has been traced back to Obama, I hope Trump locks Obama up. Can't wait for 2028. If 4 terms was good enough for FDR, why not Trump? Trump vs. Harris? or Trump vs. Hilary? It was their turn! Trump took the presidency away from two women! The horror!
7:53:47 PM - in what way were transvestites and transsexuals forced down your throat? Were you forced to pleasure them orally?
What? I write lefty but my dominant hand is the right. I bat right. I throw right.
Leonard does a great job. Unfortunately he supervises a lot of entitled and lazy new hires.
Agreed.
Hey, could KFR please find someone normal to run Kounty Kourt.
Retired Judge Roger Silver passed away earlier this month. He was a fair and decent judge who always treated lawyers and clients with respect.
It's a metaphor, a figure of speech. According to the Free Dictionary, to stuff (something) down (one's) throat means, as I used the phrase, is found at definition 2. "To force, compel, or attempt to make one accept, endure, consider, or agree with/to something."
https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/stuff+down+our+throat
During an interview, Kamala Harris told Mara Keisling of the National Center for Transgender Equality Action Fund, that she supported tax-funded gender-affirming surgery for prisoners. It became a political advertisement for Trump, see
"Kamala is for they/them, President Trump is for you" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVU7pYq3WHw
Trump's ad shows podcast host Charlamagne tha God (a Harris supporter) commenting about Harris' statement during a segment of The Breakfast Club, saying, "Hell no, I don't want my taxpayer dollars going to that."
This example shows Harris is both an idiot and pandering liar. Harris is an idiot for making the statement. Harris, as a former prosecutor, knows prisoners notoriously get poor healthcare, and would never get tax-funded gender-affirming surgery.
Two years ago Architectural Digest profiled RuPaul's home (not to be confused with Rumpole), showing social acceptance of the most famous drag queen in the world.
Inside RuPaul’s Fabulous Beverly Hills Mansion | Open Door | Architectural Digest
https://youtu.be/5WH-PSs9hI8?si=6dr7r04utAYu6y1A
RuPaul also embraces another American value, Capitalism: RuJardin Azure Blue Peel & Stick Wallpaper $59.99 https://rupaul.com/decor/
The question you should ask, why have the Democrats gone bat shit crazy? (and made Trump look like the sane, competent alternative?)
Be prepared to win at all cost. Be gaslighted. Make sure you have a good support group around you.
For 77k be prepared to throw away your ethics. Win at all cost. Don’t turn over exonerating evidence
https://theramparts.substack.com/p/snakes-why-ukraine-and-the-eu-dont
Thompson does his job, sure, but he decides nothing. Everything has to go through Steve, his mentor and another prime example of why Kathy has to go. Janet would never tolerate his or the office-wide behavior we have all seen.
We've tried speaking to him. We've tried speaking to his supervisors. We've even tried speaking to KFR about him. He is training and mentoring young ASAs to act unethically and they blindly follow him. The administration does nothing about it.
2:51:01 is the reason why Democrats keep bleeding voters. What you meant to say is you support using the justice department to punish critics when they are against you policies which is basically supporting criminals and illegals at this point. And if you disagree with me I will use racism against you.
I say keep it up, even the NYT knows you guys are bleeding voters while we are growing. We don't hate you enough.
Nice try super Diddy
“The cruelty is the point.” The thing about the USA is that a sizeable fraction of the population have been seething in resentment for decades because white dudes no longer get the automatic preference they used to count on — preference in hiring, in housing, bank loans, how the criminal justice system treats you, school positions.
In the 1960s to 1970s period the black civil rights movement won various gains such as the civil rights laws and voting rights act and various social programs to address disadvantaged groups — such as anti-dicrimination laws, funding for nonprofit affordable housing. And there were other social movements of other previously discriminated against groups such as the women’s movement and gay liberation movement. And these won non-discrimination rules for LGBT people and for women. In response to these gains various institutions such as corporations and universities began to create internal policies to make the corporation or university or government agency more inclusive or accommodating to people other than straight white dudes. The goal was to create a more level playing field in terms of access to social resources of the various groups in a heterogeneous society. This is what Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) refers to.
A sizeable part of the population have quietly (or not so quietly) resented this change. No longer getting automatic preference they interpret as “racism against white people.” So you can see why the Trump regime is engaged in a universal attack on all these (DEI) initiatives, not only in the government but in universities, which Trump regime is trying to intimidate to end these policies, and intimidate companies too.
Back in the 19th century the dominant Republican ideology was Social Darwinist. This ideology holds that there is a “struggle for existence” and unfettered capitalist competition is the way to let her rip, so the “fit” will rise to the top — so they interpret the wealthy as superior and if you’re poor “it’s your own fault.” So Social Darwinists were against regulations of business — their ideology is maximum freedom for the owners to screw the working class as much as they like, discriminate if thy want to, and they’re against public benefit systems lest “Those People” (such as black Americans) might benefit. This ideology was always a minority trend in the Republican party but now it’s taken over, as it reflects also the thinking of the various components of the MAGA neo-fascist coalition from Christian Nationalists (white supremacy in bible drag) to the techbro neofascist ideology of Curtis Yarvin (Musk and Vance are fans). So they want to “blow it all up” — destroy or undermine the concessions won by working class protest over the past century — as in making unions illegal (Trump has started with federal worker unions), gutting Medicaid, slashing the CDC and NIH — premier biomedical research facility, destroying collection of data about global warming to keep the dying, ecocidal fossil fuel industry happy.
So what MAGA likes about Trump is he’s a soulless hardass with no empathy so they can count on him hurting the people they want hurt. It’s totally nihilistic, but that’s what a movement built on deep resentments gets you.
The fascist creep of the Republicans is on display in Trump’s rolling project of police state takeover cities. For years people in the GOP have said cities are scenes of carnage that need controlling — and this clearly has a partisan and racial aspect to it as cities like New York, Baltimore, DC, Chicago. But in DC they aren’t patrolling poorer neighborhoods but the more cosmopolitan and diverse neighborhoods. They SAY it’s about crime but it’s not. Crime has been falling in recent years — especially so in Chicago which is Trump’s next target.
Hi Diddly Ho Lawerinos I advise all ASA’s not to read this blog.
It’s win at all cost! Even if it means not turning over exonerating evidence.
Oh, they can't disagree with your learned assessment? Talk about arrogance. Some of you atre such hypocrites. You claim to fight for due process, but give the prosecutors none. You talk about ethics but violate the Bar rules with your disparaging posts. You saw a Bar violation? Follow the Bar rules, report it like you're supposed to and stop blasting people here. Or maybe the Bar rules (and rules of human decency) don't apply to you?
SAO is criminally negligible
Evil people run the SAO
The Koolaid drinkers always act like we are never satisfied and we just dont know how good we have it down here in Miami. But.. Elvia Medina Marcus was fair, so it's not impossible to run County significantly better than this guy.
Oh please entitled really
Our poor asa is on the verge of tears daily. They work him to death. He’s definitely going to quit soon.
ICE detains Kilmar Abrego Garcia again
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/kilmar-abrego-garcia-faces-deportation-again-as-he-surrenders-to-baltimore-ice-office
Who? Tell us a better name or stfu.
Steve a mentor? He’s just someone that tells you what to do and you do it to keep your job. Go join him walk laps around the Graham building.
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