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.

Saturday, May 17, 2008

PARTY LAST NIGHT?

The Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers - Miami Chapter was founded in 1963 and in 2008 celebrates 45 years as one of the largest voluntary bar associations located in Miami Dade County. This year's Annual Installation & Awards Banquet takes place on Saturday, May 17, 2008 at 6:00 PM at the JW Marriott on Brickell Avenue in Miami. The event is a sellout and 400 lawyers, judges and guests will be attending. To date, we have 65 confirmed judges including one Florida Supreme Court Justice, 6 Federal Court judges, 2 3rd DCA judges, 37 Circuit Court Judges and 19 County Court judges. This year, Bail Bonds.Com and Transitions Recovery Program, have graciously offered to be our two signature underwriters. The evening includes an open bar cocktail hour with hot and cold hor'dourves beginning at 6:00 PM.

The dinner begins at 7:00.

During the evening, the new officers elected for 2008-2009 will be sworn in including President Rick Freedman of the Law Firm of Gordon & Doner. Also, Vice-president Hector Flores (a Federal Assistant Public Defender), Treasurer Sabrina Puglisi (a Federal Assistant Public Defender) and Secretary Robin Kaplan (an associate with David Oscar Marcus, PA).

The highlight of the evening will be the awarding of our three most distinguished honors: The Honorable Gerald Kogan Judicial Distinction Award to County Judge Steve Leifman, The Rodney Thaxton "Against All Odds" Award to The Padilla Trial Team and The Daniel Pearson-Harry Prebish Founders Award to Benedict Kuehne.

Below is additional information about the Awards:
The Honorable Gerald Kogan Judicial Distinction Award: This award is given in recognition of an extraordinary career contribution and dedicated service to the improvement of the criminal justice system and for the preservation of constitutional rights. This year's award will be presented to the Honorable Steven Leifman.

The Rodney Thaxton “Against All Odds” Award”: Named after the late and gentle Rodney Thaxton, this award is given, when appropriate, to a criminal defense lawyer who, having taken on a particularly difficult or unpopular client or cause, represents the heart and spirit of criminal defense, and who epitomizes the courage of the criminal defense lawyer to stand apart (and often alone) as Liberty's Last Champion. This year's award will be given to the team of defense lawyers in USA v. Jose Padilla, et al. Jeanne Baker, Michael Caruso, Orlando do Campo, Marshall Dore Louis, Anthony Natale, Marjorie Russell, Kenneth M. Swartz, William W. Swor.

The Daniel S. Pearson-Harry W. Prebish Founder's Award: This award is given in recognition of a lifetime commitment to preserve the constitutional rights of all citizens and for manifesting the very best principles for which FACDL-Miami stands – an openhearted devotion to justice, civility, discretion, courage, respect for human dignity and mercy. This year's award will be presented to Benedict Kuehne.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

You gotta see what Jerk Thompson is posting over at JAABlog. The downward spiral continues.

I wonder if he thinks the FACDL awards last night were a veiled message to him, as awarded were Ben Kuehne, lawyers who represented alleged terrorists, and a judge who helps the mentally ill.

Anonymous said...

To FACDL

The affair last night at the JW was absolutely fantastic. Kudos to President Rick Freedman and his group in putting together a truly memorable evening honoring Ben, the Padilla defense team and Judge Leifman.

Rump, I don't know if you were there, but we all saw your note in the program. And because I wear a robe and carry a gavel, I can say this to you; see you in court!

Anonymous said...

Who won the Judicial Awards?

The Judge Arthur Winton award for Judicial Mediocrity?

The Judge Arthur Snyder award for Judicial crankiness?

The Judge Ben Willard Award for Judicial Obscurity?

The Judge Meek Robinette award for Efficient Bond Hearings?

Anonymous said...

Best Quip of the night:

"Judge Dava Tunis, step out into the hallway; there's a process server here on behalf of Jack Thompson, to serve you with a new law suit."

Anonymous said...

Great event ; problem was misspelled name tag of former FACDL President David O. Markus.

Anonymous said...

Arthur Snyder was pretty good judge with common sense and a mind of his own and he'd listen to a good argument. You had to see the face of the prosecutor one day that Snyder was sitting as a retired judge and he granted my motion for ROR on a client who picked up a new case while on probation.

Anonymous said...

Meek Robinette was quite efficient in his bond hearings. Almost as fast as Gerry but more picturesque.

Anonymous said...

Arthur Winton was not a mediocre judge. He was quiet and did his job well while wearing his shortie robe.

Anonymous said...

TO: Members of the Florida Bar and especially FACDL Miami;

From Fake Jake Thompson

Gadfly@comcast.com

RE: Insurance coverages

Dear Florida Bar Members:

Well, your Bar has done it again. They have failed to comply with the rather small 156 public records requests I have filed. Nor have they turned over their insurance coverages to moi.

NOW THEREFORE, I FAKE JAKE THOMPSON DO HEREBY SWEAR BY ALL I HOLD HOLY, that I intend to sue EACH AND EVERY MEMBER OF THE FLORIDA BAR.

I HEREBY DEMAND EACH MEMBER OF THE BAR PROVIDE ME, LITTLE OL'D FAKE JAKE THOMPSON, ESQ., AND GADFLY, the following information:

1) your bank account numbers;
2) the complete listing of all real property you hold;
3) a complete listing of every book you have purchased in the last three years;
4) all insurance polices you may have.

REMEMBER, WHEN YOU GET YOUR COMPLAINT, YOU CAN THANK YOUR FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD FLORIDA BAR GOVERNORS FOR NOT COMPLYING WITH MY REASONABLE DEMANDS.

PUT ON YOUR TRIAL SUITS LADIES AND GENTS. THIS SHOULD BE A BLAST.
SEE YOU IN COURT. (and you can watch me on 60 minutes re-run, available on you-tube, which I am also suing by the way, as well as CNBC re-runs, and PBS Sesame Street re-runs- I sue the cookie monster for playing a video game and the grouch hits me over the head with a garbage can. It was great wholesome family fun.)

Sincerely,

FAKE JAKE THOMPSON
ESQ., AND GADFLY.

Anonymous said...

TO: Daniel Sackheim, Director of Homeland Security.

From Fake Jake Thompson, Esq., and Gadfly.

Dear Director Sackheim, at this date and time I am formally placing every member of the Florida Bar Board of Governors under house arrest for various violations of homeland security acts, rules, procedures, recommnedations, suggestions, and haikus. You may want to take them into formal custody. May I suggest an FBI SWAT team with orders of shoot to kill if even one of them twitches? Plus while you're at it, round up their henchman B Min and Judge Dava Tunis. Want to hear something? The Bar employees are paid by the State of Florida. They referred my disbarment trial to Judge Dava Tunis, who-you guessed it- just so happens to be paid by the very same state of Florida. Stinks to high-heck doesn't it? I have a meeting with a very influential 60 minutes intern this week. Stay tuned on Sundays at 7PM and you just might see me again on your favorite CBS station.

Anyway, round up Min and Tunis with the rest of those scoundrels and you will be doing america a great favor. I am certain Bush's Justice Department can "cook something up" against the whole crew (wink wink). I mean think Guantanamo, but the defendants speak english.

Anyway, just a short note to let you know I have these guys confined to quarters until I get my marching orders from you.

I will be waiting. This should be fun.

Fake Jake Thompson, Gadfly, ESQ., and Homeland Security Sergeant at Arms pro tempore.

Anonymous said...

Did a Shumie today and took the whole day off. No work. No billing clients. Just a few cold green lizards and watching b-ball on my new 60 inch HD TV. Just chillin and grillin the shumie way.

Anonymous said...

Rump, this Fake Jake Thompson is gold I tell you. Pure 100% gold. Sign him to a long term contract. Now.

David Oscar Markus said...

1:49, no worries. I say 10 to 1, Rumpole was there.

Anonymous said...

The FACDL event was ruined for many by the ear-splitting band making any type of real conversation impossible. An otherwise superb event was literally drowned-out by the cacaphony. Please tone it down next time. Thanks!

Anonymous said...

9:10, I didn't know my 86 year old aunt was there

Anonymous said...

counsel, your motion is dennnnnniiiiieeeeeeeeedd.