It was an era when being a criminal defense attorney meant being a trial lawyer. And two of the very best trial lawyers of that era were Jay Hogan and Bill Richey and both have passed away within the last 24 hours.
Jay Hogan was one of the true superstars of the Florida criminal defense bar. He looked and talked and dressed and acted like a trial lawyer, and it was a case of if you can walk the walk and talk the talk. When judges got into trouble, Jay Hogan was called. People still talk about his performance in the Miami Court Broom Corruption case. When Jay Hogan walked into the courtroom, prosecutors took notice, judges took notice, and jurors, even through they may not have known his reputation, quickly learned they were in the presence of greatness.
Bill Richey was an alumnus of the Dade State Attorneys Office when Richard Gerstein and then Janet Reno routinely turned out legal superstars. Bill was the type of prosecutor unrecognizable today- his word was his bond, he was concerned with justice, and defendants weren't punished for taking discovery, filing motions, or going to trial. When Bill Richey left the SAO he went into the world of criminal and civil practice and we didn't see him as much, but Judge Jonathan Goodman has some great memories which are on DOM's blog here.
We lost two more legal giants today. The ranks are thinning fast.
See you in court.
When you see something that is not right, not fair, find a way to get in the way and cause trouble. Congressman John Lewis
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21 comments:
I remember him well. Had a wicked sense of humor and a smile that gave it away: he never took himself seriously but representing his clients well was a dead serious business. His face was the map of Ireland. Tall, good looking, and wore expensive Brooks Brothers type suits. But had some kind of magic of relating to the average guy on the street. About as unpretentious a human being as you will ever meet. I sent a few clients to him who were in really really deep trouble with the FBI. I remember a different client who went to see him on some mundane federal matter. He did not hire him on the grounds that "I will put him on retainer when I murder my wife and get caught with her body in the trunk of my car. But for now, I am not gong to use a bazooka to kill an ant." Just to correct the record: it was his cross of Roy Gelber that stood out. Takiff was untouchable because every word he uttered was on tape. And the cigars were never brought into court. He would leave them on the concrete ledge and pick them up after court. But that was in the 90's. Rumor has it that he did a phenomenal job of getting Joe Gersten acquitted on corruption charges in Jacksonville. He represented David Goodhart in Court Broom and Raul Martinez the first time around.
We lost a true American hero. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Thank you for your service. I Will never forget you! Semper Fidelis Marine!!
We lost a true American hero today. You will never be forgotten. Thanks for your service. Semper Fidelis Marine! RIP!
I saw Jay Hogan try a case 40 years ago where, in closing, he called the state's cooperating witness a "trained seal." The man was brilliant.
Maybe I am getting old but just doesn't not seem right that a post about a country court judge getting into a fight with a few teenagers in front of her house gets over 100 comments and this post about two of the best people and lawyers you will ever meet gets only 4 comments. I think 95% of the readers never even knew Hogan or Ritchie existed.
Privileged to watch both of them in action. Great lawyers and class acts, although Hogan was in a category of his own. RIP.
Jay Hogan was a lawyers lawyer and saved my rear end in his career. What was so intricate about him was that he saw the criminal defense in terms of true combat. He thought everything through and of course Joe Beeler was always close, at least in my experience. There was only one Jay Hogan and to me, he made the federal Court an even playing field when all of us know it is not. RIP big Jay.
Brennan temporarily reassigned to dependency division until December 31st, 2016.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article97916242.html
MAHI Shrine parking to close as of September 30, 2016. Clerks, bailiffs, JAs, security monitors, interpreters, SAOs, PDs, and many others who cannot afford $100 or more monthly parking are going to be left stranded. Chief Judge Soto please help us like you helped with the police cars parking!
Ding dong, the witch is dead.
Joe Beeler in the class of a Jay Hogan. Are you on crack? Maybe more in line with someone like Dan Lurvey.
Calling Mr. Lurvey! Calling Mr. Lurvey! Vicky is ready to enter her guilty plea to criminal mischief with full cooperation. You are set for tea and scones with the ASA to hammer out the cooperation agreement. Great press is promised in exchange.
Hector threatens Brian on FB, calls him a "pussy" over del rey.....shit's getting good.
Thursday, August 25, 2016 12:31:00 PM, you are! Aren't we all?
I am so sad at Jay Hogan's passing. We had cases together when I was a young AUSA in Orlando in the early 90's. We handled everything on a handshake. He showed me how a great defense lawyer should conduct himself. He was both a tough guy and an old school gentlemen, with a wicked sense of humor. He was my friend. Godspeed, Jay.
"Keep her out" Keep her out" Keep her out". Let her fester in JV forever. One of the worst for judicial temperament ever.
I worked with Bill Richey in a contentious and complicated matter with complex criminal and civil implications. He was unfailingly polite and a genuine gentleman. The kicker was that he knocked it out of the park for his client, a grand slam by any measure. He never raised his voice and was never acrimonious yet he was viciously effective. May he rest in peace.
Bill Richey was an unusual man. He was bright, personable, witty, extremely intelligent, highly persuasive, and an excellent writer. He left Janet's office and went to Steel Hector & Davis where he practiced civil and regulatory law for a number of years before he decided to buy a ranch near Lake Okeechobee, buy a large RV/Camper which served as his "in transit" law office and to practice here, at the ranch, and in between. Three weeks ago, he was a guest at a Palm Beach wedding and regaled folks with stories of his experiences at the bar.
He loved that ranch and that life. He slowed down his talking speed to accommodate his neighbors and fit in like an original country boy. It is a shame to lose Bill because he seemed so young, so vibrant, and so full of life. He was just about to sue the county about an issue dealing with his ranch. And, while I am sure that Bill would rather have stayed a while longer, I know that having his ranch as the last thing he saw would have made him very content. Joe Klock
This post is for memorials of great attorneys. Respect that. Let's save other matters for what is an inevitable post. Please be kind and respect the passing of great individuals.
I worked with Bill Richey starting in 1987. He was the single greatest influence in my legal career. The man was one of a kind: wicked smart, disarming, strategic, story teller extraordinaire, fiercely loyal, discreet, gracious, competitive, gregarious, eccentric, hunter of big game and small. His biggest victories for clients are the ones that never received publicity. His was a remarkable journey - from a very rough childhood in Harlingen Texas to Harvard Law, hired by Janet Reno as an ASA ultimately becoming a chief assistant for organized crime and public corruption. He then became one of the go to lawyers in the entire country in his specialty - international asset recovery. He was taken from us abruptly. I miss him terribly.
Alan Fine
I met Bill several years ago while sipping a glass of Pinot Noir at a small Italian Bistro in Downtown Miami. I was lamenting on the fact that I had left my cigars at home when this gentleman asked if I would share one of his. Being from Boston, it was great to share stories with this unusually bright Harvard Graduate about my hometown and then many other things we had in common. We became immediate friends and over the coming years I learned on my own about the incredible reputation Bill had as a prosecutor under Janet Reno. My daughter got into a very minor scuffle with local police at a late night bar for telling an officer to not arrest her friend who was misbehaving. Bill sent me to an attorney to represent my daughter and it resulted in a legal bill for several thousands of dollars. The next time my daughter saw the attorney there was no bill. Mr Richey had once again displayed his kindness and influence to ask favor of another friend on my behalf.
Over these past years, Bill and I have shared a number of dinners, drinks, cigars; and mostly old war stories. His knowledge of American History is second no none. Especially if you would open the subject of Sam Huston or San Antoine, Texas. His humor was as wide as his intellect; and his gentle being, kindness, generosity will long outlive all of our earhly presence. Bill was his own man 100%; humorous, outspoken, direct, and on the side of anyone in need; and today I imagine he is surrounded by the heavenly beings, while they are asking themselves "What have we got here"; and just constantly keeping the Lord entertained....I am convinced that Bill Richey will put them into shape as well. RIP My Dear Friend. You are missed....Aaron Sorgman, Miami and Boston
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