JUSTICE BUILDING BLOG

WELCOME TO THE OFFICIAL RICHARD E GERSTEIN JUSTICE BUILDING BLOG. THIS BLOG IS DEDICATED TO JUSTICE BUILDING RUMOR, HUMOR, AND A DISCUSSION ABOUT AND BETWEEN THE JUDGES, LAWYERS AND THE DEDICATED SUPPORT STAFF, CLERKS, COURT REPORTERS, AND CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS WHO LABOR IN THE WORLD OF MIAMI'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE. POST YOUR COMMENTS, OR SEND RUMPOLE A PRIVATE EMAIL AT HOWARDROARK21@GMAIL.COM. Winner of the prestigious Cushing Left Anterior Descending Artery Award.

Monday, April 25, 2016

ELECTION CENTRAL UPDATE .... WENDELL GRAHAM UPDATE .....


THE CAPTAIN REPORTS:

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

COUNTY AND CIRCUIT COURT RACES

A whole lot of changes in the landscape of judicial races has taken place in the past week in both the County Court and Circuit Court.

COUNTY COURT

GROUP 15

We were the first to report (on March 8th) that Judge Judith "Judy" Rubinstein had decided to hang up her robe after 16 years on the bench.

As soon as Judge Rubinstein announced her intention to retire, two attorneys who had filed to run in Circuit Court jumped at the opportunity for a less crowded field and filed in her County Court Group. The first attorney, Antonio G. Jimenez, who had previously filed to run in Circuit Group 34, is still now running for County Court.  But, the second lawyer, Raul Perez-Ceballos, who previously filed to run in Circuit Group 52, then filed to run in County Court Group 15, has now firmly chosen to return to the Circuit Court race in Group 52 against Jodie Breece, Elena Ortega-Tauler, and Oscar Rodriguez-Fonts. Perez-Ceballos plucked down his check in the amount of $5,843.20 last week representing the filing fee to run for Circuit Court Judge.

GROUP 35

We previously reported to you that only one incumbent, Judge Wendell Graham, had yet for file to run for reelection in his Group 35 of the County Court. When we spoke with Judge Graham this past October, he indicated to us that he intended to run again. Judge Graham has been on the bench since 1994. With two weeks left in the filing period Graham has still not filed to retain his seat.  When we recently spoke with him again, he reiterated his intention to file.  The problem is, because he waited as long as he did, when he does file, he will now have to face two challengers who are attempting to take his seat away from him.

Filing to run in Group 35:

Antonio G. Jimenez. Yes, the same Jimenez that had first filed in Circuit Group 34; then moved to County Group 15, has now settled into running for the open seat in County Group 35.

Ruben Y. Alcoba. He joined the race this past Friday. Mr. Alcoba has been a member of The Florida Bar for the past 17 years. He is a patent attorney having handled over 500 patent and trademark legal matters.

GROUP 15

Wait, so if incumbent Judith Rubenstein first filed, then dropped out of County Group 15; and if challenger Antonio Jimenez first filed in this Group and then switched to County Group 35; and if challenger Raul Perez-Ceballos first filed in Circuit Group 34, then switched to County Group 15, only to switch back to Circuit Group 34,

Who, you ask, is left to run in County Group 15. Well, until a few days ago - nobody. Enter:

Linda Luce. She has been a member of The Florida Bar since 1995. We believe Ms. Luce handles primarily family law matters with an office in Coral Gables.

Eleane Sosa-Bruzin. She has been a member of The Florida Bar since 2005. Ms. Sosa-Bruzin is currently employed with Landau & Assoc., a large firm based in Hollywood. She began her career at the Broward PD’s office. She now handles PIP suits.

No doubt there will be a lot more hopping around between Groups and a few last minute surprise candidates as we draw closer to the filing deadline of Friday, May 6, 2016.

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

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a dismal state of affairs.

Anonymous said...

Watch for a well connected Hispanic attorney to challenge David Young who failed in his TV gig and cannot make a living in private practice himself. Now he wants his old job back which was given to him courtesy of his father's influence.

The Professor said...


BREAKING NEWS
Tom Brady’s four-game suspension by the N.F.L. in the “Deflategate” scandal has been reinstated by an appeals court.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/26/sports/tom-brady-deflategate-new-england-patriots-suspension-reinstated.html

Anonymous said...

A certain ASA on the fourth floor is leaving the office and holding a going-out-of-business sale, GIVING away pleas at INSANE BARGAIN BASEMENT numbers. The offers are so good, you'll think you've gone crazy. This is a once in a lifetime deal.

Get to the ASA quick. These deals won't last forever.

Anonymous said...

Jimenez was fired by the State for incompetence. Can't make it in private practice, so on to the judiciary because of a Hispanic name. So very Miami.

Anonymous said...

David Young will not get opposition-just watch

Anonymous said...

Antonio has made more money in private practice than most attorneys. If he wins he's going to be taking a pay cut.

CAPTAIN JUSTICE said...



UPDATE:

JUDGE GRAHAM filed today at 1:45 PM.

CAP OUT ...

Anonymous said...

Zzzzz

Anonymous said...

Well said Antonio.

Anonymous said...



Here's a list to help with the races:

Stuzin (That name cannot win and not campaign aware. She has Calleja of all ditz!)
Hirsch (Poor lay people skills.)
Bailey (Saw the condo jam she created?)
Sarduy (Never returned to the people who elected him.)
Freeman (¿Quien?)
Luck (With Yolly there a ___ can run away with the seat.)
Thomas (The 305 has changed.)
Thornton (Would need to learn a skill called campaigning.)
Kelly (Pompous and no regular people skills.)

Anonymous said...

BREAKING

Bernardo Roman III has hired Jose "Pepe" Herrera as his campaign consultant and word is he is filing to be honorable shush of dees honorable court !

Anonymous said...

I am curious as to why Antonio Jiminez chose Wendell Graham's seat to challenge. I have known Judge Graham for 30 years, and I am proud to consider him a friend. He is a kind, decent, humble man who has the temperament and maturity to be an excellent judge. His judicial record is unblemished. He is well-regarded by his peers. He works hard. So why that seat????

Is it because Judge Graham seems vulnerable because 1) he is black and blacks are perceived as politically weak against a Hispanic and 2) he did not file for reelection until the last minute, creating a perception that he is not prepared to fight for his seat? Perhaps this is a clever political calculation-clever, but deeply cynical and morally repugnant. Why run against a good judge simply because the ethnic politics of our community favors you? I am tired of judicial races that are more about ethnicity than qualifications and experience.

I do not know Antonio personally. I know he did not complete three years as an ASA, so he either broke his commitment to the State Attorney or was fired. Either scenario requires explanation. Antonio, what qualities and experience from your brief legal career will you bring to the bench?

I may be completely wrong about my assessment of this race. So I am calling you out Antonio. Please explain your decision to run against Judge Graham to the readers of this blog.

David S. Markus

Anonymous said...

I don't think Jimenez has the temperament to be a judge, but Markus you are completely wrong when you say Wendell works hard. He is very very lazy. He is far better than Jimenez, but I would support a hard working ethical lawyer who ran against Wendell.

Anonymous ASA said...

The 4th floor is admin. So unless you are talking about Don Horne or Esther Jocobo... DOH!