Thanksgiving Eve at the Gerstein Justice Building

THE CAPTAIN REPORTS:

YOUR NEXT COUNTY COURT JUDGE .......

Will be one of the following 23 attorneys who have submitted an application to the JNC for consideration to replace newly named Circuit Court Judge Charlie Johnson:

Michele A. Vargas
Elijah A. Levitt
Griska Mena Rodriguez
Karl S.H. Brown
Gordon C. Murray, Sr.
Alexander Spicola Bokor
Paul Aiello
Gina Beovides
Barbara T. Govea
Joseph J. Mansfield
Linda Luce
Ansley B. Peacock
Norman C. Powell
David Alschuler
Ramiro C. Areces
Carolyn G. Epstein
Julie H. Nelson
Peter S. Heller
Javier Baños Machado
Luis Perez-Medina
John W. Wylie
Jonathan Meltz
Robert A. Lesperance

The JNC can narrow the list before inviting some of the candidates for personal interviews.  They will then send between 4-6 names to Gov. Scott for his consideration.  Anyone care to weigh in on who are the favorites to wear the judicial robes?


ELECTION CENTRAL 2016 ...................

The judicial election for 2016 just got a bit more interesting.  Incumbent Judge Fred Seraphin will have opposition next year.  Attorney Milena Abreu has filed to run against Seraphin.  As of today, Judge Seraphin has not filed his papers indicating that he will run for re-election.  Assuming he does, that would create at least six contested elections, (four in Circuit Court races and two in County), for the 2016 election.

Milena Abreu has been a member of The Florida Bar for 14 years and she is currently employed at the Office of Regional Counsel.  Judge Seraphin was first appointed to the bench by Gov. Bush in 2001.  He was the first Haitian American Judge in the State of Florida.  He was an APD for ten years before becoming a Judge.  He last won election in 2010 when he ran unopposed.

FACEBOOK MURDER TRIAL UPDATE .....

UPDATED: After approximately seven hours of deliberations over the past two days, the jury returned a VERDICT of Second Degree Murder.  A PSI has been ordered and Sentencing is set for January 11th at 11:00 AM.

A long and well deserved four day weekend ahead for most in the GJB.  But jurors are still deliberating in the "Facebook" murder trial of State v. Derek Medina.  Jury deliberation began late Tuesday and continued for a couple of hours before adjourning for the evening.  Medina is charged with First Degree Murder in the shooting death of his wife, Jennifer Alonso.  The State has waived death, but 12 jurors are currently deciding on the verdict in the case.  They are also considering lessers including Second Degree Murder and Manslaughter.  During the deliberation yesterday, jurors asked to review at least two videos including a snipnet of the video of the victim and the defendant arguing near the kitchen, and the video of the interview by a detective of the ten year old daughter of Alonso.

What do our readers think the verdict will be in this case?

Happy Thanksgiving to all our loyal readers. 

CAPTAIN OUT .........
Captain4Justice@gmail.com