VOTE!!!

Tomorrow/Today is election day in Dade County. There are several judicial races that will directly impact the readers of this blog. Unlike in past years, we have refrained from making endorsements, primarily because we don't know most of the candidates, and quite frankly, the choices are demoralizing at best.  How many races pit candidates both of which have never tried a case before a jury?  As far as we can see, Stacy Glick is the only real trial lawyer running for Judge. 

While it takes more than trial experience in being a Judge, shouldn't trial experience be required? When we as criminal defense attorneys stand before Reemberto Diaz, or Stan Bake, or Orlando Prescott,  or Joe Fernandez in County Court we know that whether the rulings we receive are favorable or not, that those Judges have stood where we stood. They have faced the anxiety and fear and pressure and they understand like no other person could what we are feeling.  And appointment versus election doesn't make a difference as Blake and Fernandez were elected while Diaz and Prescott were appointed. 

So this election day might well be the only time these future Judges know what it really means to put everything on the line, do your best, and then have your fate decided by others who you hope and pray are smart enough to make the correct choice. 

Some other thoughts: Denise Martinez never really explained to us why Bernie Shapiro deserved opposition.

The Cynamon/Corona race is a weird one.  We don't think Cynamon's time spent watching trials counts for much, and Mr. Corona never did explain whether or not there  is a cloud hanging over his prior work with his family's bank that effects his ability to be a Judge. Again, we're not sure if either of these candidates represent the "best and brightest" the legal community has to offer. On the other hand, we don't know either of these two people, and perhaps both will make outstanding judges. Time will tell. 

Anyway, we find it awfully hard to get excited about the election. And if we can't get excited about the election, what does that portend for the general public, most of whom will never appear before any of these Judges?

Well, no matter what, we will endeavor to blog live tomorrow night bringing election updates as they occur throughout the evening. The Pepsi Center was wired by Qwest and they claim to be able to handle 50 million emails a second, so internet access shouldn't be a problem. Wooops.

See You at the polling both. Or Not.