A couple of things are on our busy mind:
First: And with apologies to everyone's favourite federal blogger for entering his milieu, why does FDC need to know the license plate of our car and the make and model when we fill out that form to see a client at FDC? Sometimes we take Uber. Sometimes we park on a lot on Flagler, do some business with our civil brethren, and then walk a few blocks over. How far away does our car need to be before that information is not important enough for the feds to require it on the form to enter the facility?
We are old enough to remember when most federal clients were held at the facility by Metro-zoo and you had to drive and park in the lot. But with a facility downtown served by Uber and Metro-rail (btw- the former Chief Judge, Federico Moreno, has been a proponent of taking Metro-rail to court ever since its inception), why do they still require this information?
Second: We can email the facility to see our clients. Why can't we fill out the forms in our office and email them as well?
It's hard enough to be a lawyer without all this nonsense.
Third: As we approach Thanksgiving, just how many trial weeks are left in the year? Figure next week and the week after. The week of Thanksgiving (the 20th is out). Then the following week and the weeks of December 4 and 11. So that's a total of five real trial weeks left in the year.
And while we are on the subject of it, now is a good time to remember Rumpole's first rule of trial: never ever ever allow a trial to be set the first week of the year. That's when Judges and Prosecutors- who have spent the holidays ruminating on the defendants who got away- put their plan and resolutions to be tough on crime and defendants who go to trial into effect.
From Occupied America, fight the power.
I always put "walked" in the spaces asking for make of car and tag number and have never had problem. As you note, those boxes are only relevant for federal facilities with an attached parking lot--mainly federal prisons.
ReplyDeleteOne time I went to FDC and said "I didn't drive my car here." The answer from that asshole that I think is no longer at the front desk was "I don't care."
ReplyDeleteMark my word —
ReplyDeleteThe next CHIEF JUDGE of the 11th Circuit will be:
JUDGE MARTIN ZILBER. He has the respect and friendship with all his colleagues and has mentored and taught all of the new judges how to be more academic and to be more efficient in their courtrooms.
I had a similar experience to 10:01 where I took Uber, and the person at the front desk called me up and said that wasn't sufficient. So then I said I sold my car yesterday which was clearly a lie and he said he wanted the information of the car I sold so I then said he could write 1959 Studebaker with the vanity plate FU cee kay U at which point he called for a supervisor who laughed and waved me in.
ReplyDeleteI would think Judge David Young would be the best leader as Chief Judge. I love Judge Martin Zilber, but Judge Young has the votes. Judge Zilber should be chief of Criminal Court or go to Federal Court.
ReplyDeleteYoung is nothing but a flamboyant clown. Not nearly in the mold of Farina,Wetherington,or The late, great best of all Judge Ed Cowart
ReplyDeleteTrialmaster - don’t you think Judge Martin Zilber has the political connections with the legislature and with the electorate to get a new courthouse built?
ReplyDeleteZilber is so well respected as an academic real deal Judge and he gets stuff done. His Judge colleagues absolutely adore him and he is a born leader.
Ok, you want to go all Zilber today?
ReplyDeleteTop ten things nobody knows about our greatest judge.
I'll start us off
10. He is a big fan of the early comedy of Gabe Kaplan and an expert in "Welcome back Kotter" trivia. Horseshack's mother anyone?
9. He is a connoisseur and collector of fine Bavarian wines.
7. He has a kiln in his home and bakes fine pottery that he sells on Amazon under a pseudonym.
6. He's written several scholarly critiques of General Sherman's campaign in the south in the civil war, focusing on tactics used in the siege of Charleston.
5. At parties he plays a fair ukulele and likes Polish Polkas.
Say what you want, Judge Zilber has done so much for the UM Law School and is a Mentor to all students there. Judge Zilber made Juvenile Court into an elegant venue where everyone was treated with respect and justice. He taught all the new judges that worked with him how to make the system better. Just ask Judge Fine and Judge Hanzman about the leadership of Judge Zilber.
ReplyDeleteRead his Orders. I don’t think he has any reversals and his orders are brilliantly written.
I see Chief Judge written all over this fine man’s commitment to our system. Bravo Sir.
mORE OF THE TOP TEN
ReplyDelete4 He volunteers at a local Parrot rescue shelter, donating his free time to abused and abandoned parrots. He is vice president of the national Parrot Rescue Network (PRN).
3. He hydroponically grows organic vegetables for his family and friends.
2. He is in the process of editing the collected works of Justice Taft for a major legal publishing house.
1. And the number one top ten thing you don't know about Miami's best and mostest brilliant judge is ....
He is an expert in Gilbert and Sullivan operas and often can be found in his chambers singing songs during breaks in trials.
Too frreaking funny...especially the parrot rescue. Thanks for the laughs.
ReplyDeleteThe Zilber stuff is brutal; this post is stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid
ReplyDeleteWho would be a more charismatic brilliant Chief Judge if not Judge Martin Zilber?
ReplyDeleteStan Blake would have been a great Chief Judge. Same with Judge Ellen Venzer. Every judge and lawyer loves her and she is a real leader. PS. I think Judge Zilber is being considered for something in the Trump administration maybe Attorney General or Deputy to his very close friend Pam Bondi. You heard it here first.
ReplyDeleteUntil I read 623pm comment I was certain all this Zilber talk was a put on. Everyone knows he's an idiot. And Venzer is smart but so lazy that discussing her as chief material must also be a put on. But you mentioned Blake on the same breath and he was the best. So do you really admire Zilber and Venzer??? Hope not cause that makes you an idiot too.
DeleteDan Lurvey should be chief judge.
ReplyDeleteDJ Esquire should be chief judge
ReplyDeleteAt FDC, I always write "N/A" for car and have never had a problem.
ReplyDeleteOne time, when I drew a straight line down the "No" column re: all the stuff I'm not bringing into FDC, I was required instead to individually check off each "No" line.
Oooookay.