I deeply regret and am saddened to inform you that Paul Tunis, husband of Judge Dava J. Tunis, has passed away.
Paul was an excellent trial attorney and a valued member of the public defender's office for many years.
All services will be private and held out of state.
Condolences may be sent to:
Judge Dava J. Tunis
Richard E. Gerstein Building
1351 NW 12th
Rm. 624
Miami, FL 33125
Please pass this information on to your offices and/or organizations if you wish.
Thank you.
Nushin G. Sayfie, Circuit Court Judge
Administrative Judge of the Criminal Division
We did not know Paul very well. But we knew his reputation as a superb lawyer. This is sad news.
On another topic: what if another supreme court justice passes away within the next month? What would the Republicans position be then on holding confirmation hearings?
See You In Court.
I had the pleasure of working with Paul at the PDO for many years. He was an excellent advocate for his clients and had a huge positive impact on the careers of many young attorneys. Paul has left us way too soon. My thoughts and condolences are with Dava and the girls.
ReplyDeleteA good lawyer, but More importantly Paul was a Great Man
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ReplyDeletePaul was a colleague for many years. A fierce advocate for his clients, a great role model for the younger attorneys in the PDs office, and a really nice guy.
My thoughts and prayers go out to Dava and the rest of the Tunis family.
Cap
Paul litigated aggressively for his clients, but as a prosecutor working against him, he was ALWAYS a class act and gentlemen. That was his reputation and is his legacy. He remained polite throughout difficult death penalty litigation.
ReplyDeleteDava and their children must be personally devastated; the REG community has lost a truly GREAT human being. While I'm a Gator, this goes out to you Paul an your alma mater: Go Duke Blue Devils!! Rest in peace my friend.
12:03 pm: from another person who was a prosecutor when Paul was defending cases - Paul was a total gentleman. Polite, kind, but also a fantastic advocate for his clients. So very sad to hear he died before his time, and wish his family peace at this difficult time.
ReplyDeleteI met Paul when he was a young PD. He was always a gentleman in court and a fierce advocate for his clients. Later, when he became a mediator with Jim Chaplin's office I used him as much as I could. Also had a brief attorney-client relationship with him. Heard he was a good tennis player as well. I am shocked by his untimely passing and give my sympathy to Dava and his family.I will miss his smiley face.
ReplyDeleteWow - Today 3DCA issued 23 PCAs and 2 citation opinions in criminal appeals. Just imagine the cumulative years in prison for 25 people with criminal convictions that have now been inoculated from further review, except through post-conviction, where most defendants have no $ for counsel and the standard for reversal is so very high.
ReplyDelete2:19 - Wow, just imagine all the frivolous, cumulative claims made to the 3rd. No wonder there are so many PCA's. Why waste time on stupid?
ReplyDeletePaul was much more than a very worthy opponent. Practicing against him as a prosecutor, I knew he would pursue every avenue for his client. However, he NEVER left his politeness and general kindness as a fellow litigator. He was always a gentleman; he most probably received better pleas because of that.
ReplyDeleteOn our case, he was masterful as a mental health expert. He asked for tests, such as PET scans, years before they became the norm.
While we did not always agree, he was always a gentleman and a scholar. RIP my friend....I will always remember NYC!
Paul Tunis was truly one of the nicest gentleman I ever met.
ReplyDeleteI am a court reporter, and I worked often at the Public Defenders' Office in the 1980s.
I thoroughly enjoyed his humor and his overall kind and decent behavior.
He had a very steady temperament and was not at all haughty or arrogant.
I just recently was informed of his passing, and it truly saddened me.
I will remember him fondly. And I shall pray for him and his lovely family.
Paul Anthony Lisanti,
Hollywood, Florida
Good post.
ReplyDeletemy condolences to judge Dava Tunis such a awsome person
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