On November 9, 2011 we did a blog post on the passing in May, 2011, of REGJB Legend Judge Phil Knight here.
Early Saturday morning, more than four years later, we received this comment:
The law, for better or worse, has now been our occupation, vocation, and avocation for half our life (plus or minus a year or two). And we have practiced law mostly in the REGJB (plus or minus a trip to Broweird or the federal courts around the country- one of our favourite cases being a three week trial in DC several years ago.)
The REGJB has been a building that has held the judges and juries and lawyers that have decided the fates of Miamians for over a half a century. The people who have worked in our building have defined Miami (Richard E Gerstein) and shaped this country (Janet Reno). From clerks and bailiffs and corrections officers to brilliant Judges (Phil Knight, Ed Cowart), to uniquely Miami characters- Sy Gaer, Ellen Morphonios, their stories needed to be told, their work needed to be remembered, their lives needed- in some small way-to be honored.
That's what we try to do here.
Time marches on, and the next generation replaces the last. We have new judges and lawyers marching (confidently or trepidatiously) into the REGJB in 2015, and they will affect the lives of Miamians who come to the courthouse as defendants and victims and witnesses. Some will do great things; some will fail miserably.
All are working under the shade of trees, grown from acorns planted by those who came before them. Some of those were giants in their fields. Many were mediocre, most tried to do their best; all sought that most amorphous and shadowy of highest ideals: JUSTICE. It was, after all, first called the "Justice Building"
For better or worse, here comes 2015. It all starts Monday.
*See You In Court.
*Figuratively speaking. Our first rule of trials is to never ever let a case be set for trial the first week of January. Too many judges and prosectors return with new year's resolutions of trying more cases and getting tougher at sentencing dancing in their egg-nog -hung-over-minds. Some of the worst injustices that we have ever seen have occurred during this first week or two. Long time, and careful readers know our inviolate rule by now.
I tired some civil cases when Judge Knight came downtown. He was a great judge, fair to all,played no favorites and unlike alot of the little girls on the bench today, had no "black robe fever". When the jury went out, he would order drinks for the for the attorneys (and himself and baliff) and would send his baliff to SALLY'S RUSELL to return to Chambers where he and the attorneys would tell war stories until the jury reached a vercict. He great guy, we will not see the likes of his kind anynore.
ReplyDeleteYOU -- Rumpole -- are one of the GREAT ONES, like Richard Sharpstein, Sy Gaer and Janet Reno.
ReplyDeleteYOU have given so much of yourself to all of us with your precious time and intellect and have made this Blog so well read. I personally never miss a day. You keep what goes on within the court system relevant and call out the ones who violate the rules - while giving kudos to the winners.
YOU keep them honest and hold all to their oath.
I am grateful for all you do my friend and wish you many more years of success, both in court and with the time that you spend with your loved ones. I have respected you greatly ever since I met you years ago in Judge Sepe's courtroom!
Where is the Honorable Peter Adrien when you need him ?
ReplyDeleteIt's really funny to me:
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this I read your original post about Judge Knight.
I was shocked by the comment by Jason Grey. The reason I was "shocked" was that the post could have been written word for word by me.
I was an ASA at the time. Identical facts. I said, "Judge Knight, I haven't finished my calendar." His response was, "Yes, you have!" "But, I have no file." "Someone from your office will bring it to you."
The trial started.
What a judge!
Please ye we may contrive this afternoon
ReplyDeleteAnd quaff carouses to our mistress' health
And do as adversaries do in law,
Strive mightily, but eat and drink as friends.
Rump, you have done more for me than you know. Thank you for your blog, your honesty and your kindness. Namaste.
ReplyDelete