JUDGE VICTORIA BRENNAN

Your new Circuit Court judge is (former) County Court Judge Victoria Brennan.

Congratulations to Judge Brennan. Now get to work. (unless you're furloughed. See below.)

Governor Scott (who, if you have been following us on Twitter, has recently been getting booed at his appearances around the State) has one more Circuit Court appointment to make.

COURTHOUSES TO BE SHUTTERED?

From the JAA Blog- a note on the impending shut down of courthouses and furloughs:

Today's judicial pow wow was in response to the brewing constitutional crisis currently playing out in Tallahassee. The legislature has denied a request to extend an emergency loan to the judicial branch, which means the judiciary, already in the red, may be facing furloughs. No one is sure whether or not constitutional officers can be furloughed, but court interpreters, judicial assistants, court reporters and other state employees who make the wheels of justice turn certainly can. The good news is we're hearing there's a general consensus amongst judges statewide to sit it out with their lesser paid colleagues if furloughs do happen, in a showing of solidarity. By one estimate there will only be four furlough days next month if the judges join them, or eleven days per employee if the judges turn their backs and report to work in non-functioning courthouses. The shutdown is anticipated as early as next week if the funds aren't released, and the number of expected furlough days is likely to skyrocket the longer funds are withheld (possibly impacting eligibility for health benefits).

Stay tuned ...

Rumpole explains: It's very simple to figure out whether or not a furlough will affect you.

Situation one: You have been denied your motion for a last continuance. The trial is set for Monday. You forgot to depose one witness and need to file two motions to suppress. You are praying the furlough strikes the courthouse and you get a reprieve. Outcome: The Legislature will figure this out and the courts will remain open.

Situation two: You have an absolute winner of a case and are holding, pursuant to a retainer agreement, $15,000.00 in your trust account which you can release to yourself for fees the day a jury is impaneled. Outcome: The crisis will not be solved, courts will be closed, your case will be administratively continued until the end of September, 2011.

See how that works?

See You In Court, unless we're furloughed.