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.

Friday, August 03, 2007

IN THE END ....A BIG MURDER CASE

Miami.

Land of SOBE;tall slinky euro models. Gyms, tanned bodies, 6 pack abs.

All of that meant nothing to Manuel Cordero. Give him an ample bottomed rubenesque Woman any day of the week. And in the end, his love of rear ends cost him his life.

David Ovalle of the Herald has done it again, as he …ummm…
uncovers
….the murder of Manuel Cordero who was killed by the boyfriend of a well endowed woman who was going to Cordero’s home for a photo session.

The article reports that ASA Laura Adams helped police get the warrant and that Perry Bailey, the aforementioned apple bottomed affection of Cordero’s eye, is cooperating.

RICHARD GERSTEIN

Known as the Boss before Springsteen was playing the Stone Pony, Gerstein was the State Attorney before Janet Reno. A man admired for his loyalty to his assistants and ex-assistants. And if you know many who worked for Gerstein you know that that loyalty is a two way street. And yet, there were rumors, whispers, and unsubstantiated allegations. In the aftermath of our post on Joe Gersten, there has arisen a hue and cry for information on the man whose name graces our place of business.

Come on you old time ASA’s. Now is the time to write your memories of the man who was criminal law in Miami for decades.


What many people may not know was that Gerstein and the Miami Dade SAO were involved in the investigation of the Watergate break in. Pretty heady stuff for a small southern prosecutor's office. There are probably a thousand Gerstein stories out there and we'd like to hear a few.

MICHAEL BIENSTOCK

ASA Michael Bienstock passed away the other day. Mr. Bienstock ran for County Court Judge in the last election. Mr. Bienstock had spent his career as a prosecutor setting up and then working in the Child Support division.

We never met Mr. Bienstock but the Herald article HERE reported on the over one hundred thousand children who benefited from Mr. Bienstock's work. Although he died way too early at 59, Mr. Bienstock leaves a legacy of concern and action on behalf of children. What a wonderful way to be remembered.

Here is the comment Judge Joe Fernandez left yesterday:

Michael was a gentleman during our race. The only time we saw each other after the election, we shook hands and he was extremely gracious. Besides wanting to become a judge we had at least one other thing in common--a loving and supportive family.

I know they are missing him terribly.

Joe Fernandez

35 comments:

Anonymous said...

Rumpole...BUTT out of this one. hahahahahahaha. Couldn't resist.

Anonymous said...

oh yes o revisionist historians tell us about that great murder case with the heiress defendant and her poolboy codef when Tal Buchanan was "Sheriff" before the Metro stupidity........let it flow...............

Anonymous said...

I was talking to a client today that many of the judges in miami-dade are so liberal and the 3DCA is so tight.

I have nothing negative to say about Richard G, but he is oblviously a loved man... that the building keeps his name is a tribute to him and kind of follows the left kind of feeling here at home.

Anonymous said...

someone who we all know from the 2006 election loses his life and you do not even say a kind word on the main post.

Shame on you Rumpole.

Those with kind words regards Michael Aaron Bienstock, please write them below and show Rumpole what it means to pay tribute to a member of the bar when they have payed the ultimate price.

Rumpole when you die I will remember to change the subject after someone tells me of your passing.

Michael Aaron Bienstock RIP.

Rumpole said...

I exercise every day and take fish oil capsules. I'm going to outlive you tough guy.

Anonymous said...

Re: Richard Gerstein
Someone could write a book about the Market Connection case. Gerstein had provable associations with Miami Beach gangsters. There are pictures of his top assistant, David Goodhart, meeting with them. Goodhart, an ex prosecutor, ex judge, ex defendant, ex inmate, and now convicted racketeer. No one talks about it anymore but it is out there and everyone who has a law license in this town pre 1980 knows about it.

Anonymous said...

Anyone who wants the full story should make a public records request from the SAO and request all of their files on the Market Connection Case. You will spend days reading this stuff and not beleive what you are reading. It is mind boggling stuff.

Anonymous said...

Rump- is the F. Moldovan listed as "writer/createor" of the SCi Fi series The Moldovan Chronicles the same as our Freddy?

Rumpole said...

Ahhh. before there was Courtbroom there was Market Connection. You should ask Sy Gaer or Ed O'Donnell about that. They were around for it. Just when you think you know everything about the REGJB, there is Market Connection. Come on pre-1980 old timers. Enlighten us.

CAPTAIN JUSTICE said...

THE CAPTAIN REPORTS:

(reprinted for 4:31 am and others)

Our sincerest condolences to the family of Michael Aaron Bienstock.

Michael, who spent 23 years fighting to protect children as a prosecutor for the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office, died Tuesday of skin cancer. He was 59.

Many of you may remember that Michael ran for Judge in 2006 against Cecilia Armenteros-Chavez and eventual winner Jose L. Fernandez.

''Michael gave himself endlessly,'' said Howard Pohl, a Miami-Dade chief assistant state attorney. ``His death is a tragic loss for the community.''

In 1985, Bienstock joined the state attorney's office, working to enforce child-support orders. He helped feed, clothe and shelter more than 110,000 children, said State Attorney Katherine Fernández Rundle.

Michael leaves behind his wife of 30 years, Esther, and four children.

CAPTAIN OUT ...........

Anonymous said...

Old-time stories of past glories: ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!

Anonymous said...

along with F. Lee, Gerstein was also partners with our own judge ron dresnick.

Anonymous said...

rumpole
have you heard the rumor about a certain criminal defense atty who sports a bow tie under indictment?? something about money laundering, pat sullivan and roy black??

Anonymous said...

FISH OILS WONT SAVE YOU OLD MAN

Rumpole said...

4:21- I have received multiple emails on the subject but I have not yet been able to confirm anything.

6:13- In that case, I'll just have another beer.

Anonymous said...

The Market Connection caper was circa 1972. It involved one Frank(?) Martin, the owner of a gas station/grocery store that was supposedly the location where bribes were exchanged for judicial favors. Dave Goodhart was involved in this as was Gerstein and a number of his underlings who later became judges. The Miami Beach episodes were different and involved allegations, corroborated by photographs, that Gerstein was paid off by the mob. He allegedly took his payoff by visiting a haberdashery on the Beach where he would slip into the dressing room, try on a pair of pants where a pre-determiined amount of cash was already inserted in the pants pocket and walk out after trying on the pants and not buying them. Another interesting surveillance observation: the "Boss" was suspected of picking up his payoff loot from a local barber shop that he frequented once a week. Gerstein, bald even then, entered the premises weekly, hung out for a while, and then left. But wait. No haircut! As the saying goes, fact is stranger (and better) than fiction.

Anonymous said...

WOW negative stories about"Saint Gerstein".........wait do Jews have Saints ?????An inquiring non jewish mind wants to know ?????

Anonymous said...

Let's have a post with negative stories about "Saint" Reno.

Anonymous said...

10:33--that was investigated by a Republican Governor and no charges were filed (much to the dismay of the Gov. Kirk). Kirk wanted Gerstein in a bad way, but there was NO evidence of wrong doing.There was a Kirk crony from Lee County that was the lead investigator (I'm sure he loved jews). If there was even a bit of evidence of criminal behavior they could have indicted him, they would.

Anonymous said...

4:21
revenge is best served cold.

Anonymous said...

This goes back a long way but I believe Gerstein was indicted by a runaway grand jury. Any information out there on this?

Anonymous said...

Hey, 12:46:00

What does a righty believe in; divine right of kings? I hope the terrorists follow us here and look you up.

Anonymous said...

gerstein was never indicted by any grand jury. the "runaway grand jury" was headed by former proscuter fred graves, who was the nephew of judge george orr.[ a real character and a great guy]. under fred's control the grand jury went on alot of end runs and went way outside their legal jurisdiction. fred was later disbarred because of failing to deal with clients ect. last time i heard fred was selling insurance or something. he was a major crimes proscuter.

Anonymous said...

9:48 it was from narajanja county !!!!!

Anonymous said...

Amazing how many racists post on this site. A lot of anti-semites in particular.

Anonymous said...

What about the money Gerstein had in his safe just before he died? We all know that Gerstein was a crook and died before they could get him.

His best pals, Dave Goodhart and Al Sepe are now convicted felons.

Gerstein was partners with:

F. Lee Baily - Now disbarred for stealing.
Ron Dresnick - Now a judge.
Paul Rashkind - Now a real good Fed PD.
Bonnie Rippengile - Just defeated as a judge.

Sepe was a judge and was convicted in a plea deal that spared him a long jail sentence.

Goodhart was the bag man. He delivered the money. He was is a rather mean person. He was a judge but, that did not last long. He is now selling cookies in South Miami. Even his wife was caught stealing from poor people at Jax Hosp. Nice people....

Yes,... the good old days....

Anonymous said...

actually sepe went to trial and i believe had a hung jury. then he plead. ellen m. testified in the federal trial and claimed she had no knowledge of this particular bribe. she was in on this as well but avoided arrest. she was something else.

Fake Peter Adrien said...

Joe Fernandez proves again why he should have been a judge years ago and belongs there now. Oh, if all the judges could be of such intelligence, demeanor and humility.

Why is there so much talk about someone who died years ago and has not been in the public eye for 25 years. Gerstein left the SAO in 1978. Who cares about him or his cronies? Objection - irrelevant. SUSTAINED.

Anonymous said...

Michael Bienstock was most importantly a devoted husband and loving father. His loss to his family and friends will be unbearable for certain. All the rest may be unimportant, when all is said and done, but Michael was a "lawyers' lawyer" Those of us who made our way over to child support were always treated with respect and information. Why information? because Michael was always prepared. He read his files and knew the case histories. There were no automatic snappy standard answers from Michael Bienstock. He reviewed, he listened, he cared about a fair and equitable result. Michael understood being a lawyer wasn't a job--it was a calling to protect and preserve an honorable profession. It is said that Michael made a difference in the lives of thousands of children. This is true. But Michael did so much more in showing us what it means to be a lawyer--civility, honor, compassion, and reason. For those of us who didn't know Michael Aaron Bienstock--too bad. We lost a good one.

Anonymous said...

To Batman: You are dead wrong. If there were a vault that held the truth about Gerstein and it were opened in the building that has his name, I assure you about 500 lawyers would show up. And another 50 or so would be racing out of town and another 50 would be spinning in their graves!

Anonymous said...

If I support the PLO am I an anti-semite?

Anonymous said...

Monday--7:58AM--are you a living and breathing person? Your comments about having money in a safe are hysterical. What a sense of humor. Why do you hate Gerstein? Did he not hire you? Probably a good thing. You couldn't shine his shoes you idiot.

JHQuinn said...

I stumbled on this blog when doing a search for Joe Gersten who's office was across the street from my restaurant in Coral Gables and who I didn't like at the time. Now I find myself taking his side against the Reno coalition.

Having left Miami in '90 I find a lot of these little anecdotes fascinating. Somebody should write a book about Miami in the 90s.

As to Gerstein, before I knew the difference between left and right I worked a little on his campaign for gov, probably about '75. I held a fund raiser for him at my home and there was a wise guy there who slipped me two one hundred dollar bills. I stuck them in Gerstein's jacket pocket. A few minutes later he came back to me and handed me the money. he didn't say anything but I knew he didn't want to take any cash.

Later we 'suffered' thru election night results in a room at the Dupont Plaze, the results are well known. I can't even remember who won that year.

Anonymous said...

Michel Beinstock was invaluable to our family. Although I did not know him personally, the he showed great kindness to us in aiding our guardianship of our niece.

Urubamba said...

My father gave endlessly to the SAO. It was his passion..to help kids...and to treat the people he worked with with the utmost respect. He is missed evry moment of everyday...
There will never be another one like him..