We've been wanting to do this for a while. For those of you unfamiliar with the Mount Rushmore challenge, it is picking the four best of something, like steak sandwiches, Dolphin Players, etc. Herewith is our Mount Rushmore of REGJB judges, with the following parameters: 1- no current judge; 2- circuit court judge; 3- Impact on the court system and community versus smartest, best, nicest, etc.
4. Stanley Goldtsein. First Drug Court Judge of the first drug court in the nation. Brought into the criminal justice system the concentrated and systematic approach to helping a defendant end their drug addiction and break the cycle of arrest and incarceration. A former Miami Motor-cycle cop, and a heck of a nice guy to boot. Judges and defendants in drug courts around the country are all sitting in the shade of his oak tree that he planted decades ago.
3. Ellen Morphonios. One of the first female circuit judges (Mattie Belle Davis was the first Judge in Miami we believe, but she served in the old Metropolitan Court) and in 1970 became the first female circuit court judge elected to the bench. Prior to becoming a judge she was one of the first female prosecutors hired by State Attorney Richard Gerstein. Groundbreaking, she often was larger than life because of her over whelming personality - did you know she hosted a late-night radio talk show when she was on the bench?. Said "sorry Merc" when she gave Dolphins star running back and member of the legendary 1972 undefeated team the fifteen-year drug trafficking min man (later reversed on appeal). Not our favourite judge, but once she got to know us, she treated us well, and while defendants got slammed for losing, she let most everything in for the defense, turning trials into wild west shootouts. She makes Mount Rushmore based on her legend, her over-sized personality, and her tight control over her courtroom- announce ready for trial during the initial calendar call and everything stopped and a jury was brought down. Were there many judges who were "better" than she was? Sure. But none cast as large a shadow.
2. Gerald Kogan: a legendary trial judge who on December 30, 1986 was appointed from his seat in the REGJB to the Florida Supreme Court (and how we know this from memory is a clue to our identity...). Justice Kogan eventually became Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court-local judge makes good. He had as great a legal mind as any judge or lawyer you will ever come across, and he was as humble as pie.
1. Not a close call. Brillant. Given to quote scripture in a southern homespun way (often said "well bless your soul" in response to an objection, causing confusion amongst the lawyers over whether the objection was sustained or overruled) and the Judge who presided over Ted Bundy and sentenced him (see below). In many ways the Judge against whom all other judges who sit at the intersection of 12th street and 12th avenue are measured. Our number one judge on the REGJB Mount Rushmore is none other than the Honorable Edward Cowart.
Turn up the volume so you can hear Judge Cowart sentence Bundy to death and then tell him that he wished he had taken a different path in life and would have enjoyed having Bundy appear before him as a lawyer.
47 comments:
Are you CRAZY? Judge Ellen Morphonios was at the bottom of the list. The FBI felt that she was so corrupt, dirty, unethical and had violent tendencies.
She punished poor Black and Brown young males with excessive prison time for stealing cars. They went away for 10 years. Possession cases even more. She put first time offenders away for decades to show how tough she was on crime.
On the other side of things as shown in the evidence in the nationwide Judicial corruption FBI case in the early 1990’s, she was the mentor of Judge Harvey Shenberg. He was convicted of a violent murder conspiracy in the undercover operation.
The FBI would have made it easier for Shenberg. They only wanted one thing. For him to confess to Judge Morphonios splitting bribes with him as an organized crime operation.
He told them to go fuck thrmselves and did 11 of 14 years of maximum security prison time.
She made a deal with the feds to testify against her corrupt judge colleagues in exchange for no criminal charges and resigning.
To say that this Judge, under these circumstances, deserves to be on Mt. Rushmore is an affront to all of the honest, dedicated and high integrity jurists who serve our court.
What I said is irrefutable and you should issue an immediate correction and apology.
I’m disappointed in your post Rumpole.
How about outstanding BAD Judges:
1. The Court Broom Judges that were convicted in federal court for taking bribes.
2. Phil Davis who beat his Court Broom case but got convicted for defrauding a charity he created. Being in his courtroom when he was totally coked up was like being with an actively decompensated schizophrenic .
3. Ric Margolius who started at 8:59 am and was finished by 9:30. If you were late and he left the bench, to bad, reset it to tomorrow. Also don’t ever talk in court to anyone , not even a client in the box to convey a plea, if you’re not on the case he is handling .
4. Ana Maria Carnosares . When a defense attorney was to forceful in advocating for the client she would shut the lawyer down by saying ‘ not one more word or $50 a word fine’.
5. David Tobin tough , hard and believed in a Trial Tax
I take this moment to remind my readers of my remarkable ability to predict what others will say and do, not to mention my perspicuity and perspicacity. Please hold your applause until the end of the show.
Kinda liked Tobin. We got along. He enjoyed my style.
Ana Maria Carnesoltas is the correct name. What an idiot. Left the bench and moved to the west coast of Fla and got in all kinds of Bar complaints.
If Rick Margolius like you, all was well. He liked me.
Phil Davis was doing crack cocaine in his chambers. Good riddance.
Best judges: Peter Lopez, Marc Schumacher, Roberto Pineiro, Harold Solomon, Katie Pooler, Andrea Wolfson to name a few.
Judge Sepe was the favorite of Roy Black and Jack Denaro.
How about Judge Peter Adrian if you think so highly of Judge Ellen Morphonios Rumpole?
Both of them violated the civil rights of “lightly guilty” minorities.
So many were sent for 30 years to life when a Non corrupt judge would have given probation or 1 year in jail.
Two rotten humans that can burn in hell for cruelty and injustice.
Morphonios was before my time but I have represented multiple clients she senenced, including some where life sentences she imposed were reversed by subsequent judges due to various issues. I read the lengthy trial transcripts of those cases. I read her autobiography as well as contemporary coverage of her. I have also spoken to multiple people who knew her. Although she clearly had a larger than life personality and like many cruel people could be personally charming, she lacked judgment, she did not see humanity in defendants, and she was at the forefront of a still-existing problem of judges using a "Maximum" reputation to abridge the right to jury trial. Once you don't care about the 4th, 5th, and 6th amendment as a judge, you become a lot easier to corrupt--who cares about all these assholes anyway, nothing of greater importance for society is at stake, might as well get my piece of the pie.
The clip of Cowart you shared is the opposite. He saw Ted Bundy's humanity even as he sentenced him to death. A judge like that could never be corrupted because he clearly believes in something greater than himself.
The FL AG is coming after Hersch on Facebook!
AG James Uthmeier
Tallahassee Judge Tiffany Baker let a convicted child predator stay out on bond, leading to 5-year-old Missy Mogle’s murder.
Miami-Dade Judge Richard Hersch gave bond to a boy who shoved rocks into a girl's mouth as she was raped.
What will it take for the FL House to impeach?
So I’m batting 500. I’ll take it.
Morphonios was a crook albeit a charming one. Re: Courtbroom. She never "cut" a deal with the feds. There was evidence that she took bribes before Courtbroom happened but it was all beyond the statute of limitations. The evidence was that she took payoffs from bondsmen. Her role in early 90's scandal was that Al Sepe's bagman, David Goodhart, a former judge, approached her about taking a payoff on a dope case in front of her. She declined the offer but not out of any moral revulsion that the offer was made. After the case blew up in the media, rumor was that her chambers were wired. She was subpoenaed before the grand jury and was under the impression that the government had a tape recording of her meeting with Goodhart. She fell for it and ratted him out to the feds as she was afraid of facing a perjury charge. When she testified at trial, she could not weasel her way out of it and gave the performance of a lifetime but sunk Goodhart anyways. But there was NEVER an agreement with the government. As Ellen herself repeatedly told the media she "was a standup broad."
I don't know who the first Hispanic female judge was, but it was not Margarita Esquiroz. I appeared before Judge Maria Korvick long before Judge Esquiroz became a judge. And wasn't Lenore Nesbitt a state court judge before becoming a federal judge?
Let't not forget Alan Schwartz. I have never seen a judge with a worse judicial demeanor both at the appellate and trial level.
Rumpole - please explain how Judge Morphonios escaped prosecution, corruption convictions and prison in the Operation Courtbroom trial?
Judge Harvey Shenberg was evil.
How could a Judge sell the name of a confidential informant after he is told that a cartel wanted to murder the witness?
He must have been shocked to learn that the “cartel” was fake and part of an FBI undercover investigation into corrupt judges?
LOL!! By the time the AG comes after him, wouldn’t he be retired!?
Judges have discretion and should not be penalized for exercising it or holding judgement until a trial is had.
I would be Scola, Emas and Moreno above all of them
Dear May 13, 2026 at 1:35:38pm, as it pertains to Hersch, you have no idea what you are talking about. If you watched the hearing instead of the news you'd stop talking so much garbage and understand why he made the decision he made.
Judge Michael Hanzman was the number 1 criminal court judge ever. He was the smartest and most caring for all sides. There is no one who ever came close. Prosecutors loved him. Defense lawyers loved him.
See the comment at 3:41. They never had the goods on her.
When evaluating these judges, judicial temperament is just as important as quality of the rulings. So even if a judge is brilliant in their jurisprudence, if they are rude then that cannot be ignored. Props must be given to some of these veteran county court judges that mentored numerous ASAs and APDs. I would imagine it’s not easy being an exceptional judge since so many variables can impact their actions and attitudes. The all stars out of Miami I have encountered have been Mapp, Goldstein , Rosineck , Peter Lopez, Hanzman , William Thomas, Melvia Greene , Andrea Wolfson, Lody Jean , Del la O , Hoeveler, The current jewel in the crown is Miguel de la O .
No one has mentioned Rodriguez-Chomat, Izzy Reyes, or Judge Fernandez. All great!
Judge Sayfie has been nothing but a great judge
Herb Klein
Roy Gelber was one of the worst and corrupt. But he was a great handball player at Flamingo Park.
I always ordered the Roy Gelber sandwich at arnies and Richie’s deli on the beach back in the 90s. Chopped liver and red onion on toasted rye cost 7.95 and if you gave them a ten they withheld the change as a nod to the sandwich’s namesake.
Stan the Man.
When are we getting another judge ranking? With the ones who are currently on the bench?
Someone struck a nerve
Judge Thomas
Great zoom judge
Judge Scott Silverman. Moved his calendar fast. Very very smart. No nonsense in his courtroom. Took care of private defense lawyers. Fair sentencing.
Current Top 10
De la O
Wolfson
Hersch
Jean
Young
Delancy
Stuzin
Hernandez
James
Brinkley
Also, it was rocks he was alleged to have put in her mouth not socks. And he didn't rape, allegedly the co-defendant did... this dumbass AG cant even get his facts straight while he disparages judges making decisions well within their discretion.
judge Fernandez, great?!?!?! ha ha
Milian is among the current 2 or 3 best.
Ellen Venzer is my favorite. Ever. Brilliant and beautiful and kind.
Ellen Leesfield, Ralph Person, Roberto Pineiro, Nushin Sayfie
Venzer for sure.
This post exemplifies “ different strokes for different folks “
Judge Ted Mastos was my favorite. A good and honorable man.
2 or 3 worst.
Three greats. Add Stan Blake, Diane Ward
No love for Lenny Glick?
He was a great Judge
The best Judge is the one the stood up and called out MVZ and Mitchell
He is retiring. But there is a very uneducated, disturbing movement online, going after judges who release violent offenders. It’s gaining momentum.
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