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, October 08, 2018

WHO DO YA LOVE?


    I have previously griped and complained about various courthouse-related shortcomings. So, as not to be a complete Debbie Downer, let me gush and pay homage to some positives. At the RJG, there must be some strong positives; "this must be the place" where some good goes on; 



1.   The kindest, most accommodating jurist anywhere,  

    Broward Mental Health Judge "Ari Porth", emerging in his   

    court room well before almost anybody else and passing out donuts.


2.    Judges that ask lawyers if they can call their cases out of turn.


3.   Munching on Cuban toast in between court sessions.


4.    Bailiffs that pass out numbered, jury seating charts.


5.    Judges/Judicial Assistants that make their calendars accessible

     and put you on their docket the very next day.


6.   How well Mindy Glazer ran the felony bond hearings. Sorry to see you go, you left some big shoes to fill.  


7.   Last month’s David Byrne’s “American Utopia” tour at the Filmore South was the best live show in South Florida in the last 5 years. Why was it so epic? The former Talking Head re-invented and re-imagined what a concert should and could be.  


8.  At the nearby eatery, Fiesta Salsa’s “Lava Cabbage salsa” …that’s some tasty condiment!  


9.  The Clerk’s employees at the lawyer’s desk; even though they are in an untenable situation, their pleasantries and initiative help.


10.      Litigating something substantial before judges where   

       they actually have significant real world and legal  
       experience;


11.    Commemorative plaques for the late attorneys “Sy Gaer” 

       and “Richard Sharpstein”; A lot more plaques need to go  

       up since we need to honor those that have paved the way.


12.     Federal Judge Mark Walker of the Northern District of   

       Florida, Tallahassee, what a breath of fresh air in federal

       court.


13.        How incredibly accommodating the Miami Public  
        Defender’s Office has always been to all attorneys.

14.        The feeling of successfully convincing a prosecutor to take  

        no action on a flawed arrest.


15.          When another lawyer takes over a case that was nothing 

         but aggravation.


16.          My wonderful Palm Beach lawyer friends that stand in      

         for me for those West Palm Beach calendar calls.


17.         Getting the front row spot in the lawyers’ parking lot.


18.         Receiving complete discovery at an arraignment.


19.        Stainless steel watches like the Rolex Submariner with the

        green dial, Patek Phillipe Nautilus with a blue dial and

        Omega Speedmaster with black dial.


20.        Being able to call the Broward county jail visitation desk  

        and arrange for your incarcerated clients to be waiting for 

        you. Walking into the FDC as your client is already there 

        waiting for you is also not too shabby.


21.         A reliable and professional bail bondsman.


22.         Dealing with brand new, fresh-faced ASAs that have yet to 

         be maligned.


23.          Getting into the elevator at the 9th floor and having it go 

         down. non-stop.


24.           Having two judges fight over you as to who gets you to try 

         their case.


25.           Getting paid up front.


26.           Clerks kind enough to make a certified copy in the court 

         room.


27.           Courtroom correctional officers that you can rely on.   


28.           Yoga pants, fishnet stockings, form-fitting white pants 

          and other apparel that celebrates, accentuates and  

          complements the body beautiful.


29.           Receiving feedback about the presentation of a tried case 

          by the discharged jurors.


30.          Watching talented attorneys and learning from them.


31.           A 750 ml bottle of Chimay Blue and some dark chocolate.


32.           Professionalism on all sides of the criminal justice system.


33.           Getting hired to do a bond hearing, achieving a great 

          result and now the client is willing to pay anything for 

          your continued representation.  


34.          Getting a desired verdict early in the day and taking off 

         the rest of the day to celebrate.


35.           Running into classmates from days past while you’re in a 

          court house; nothing like catching up.


36.    First time possession of cannabis; pass the case 60 days,  

         no new arrests...nolle prosse.


37.    The euphoria of the night before a cool vacation starts.  


38.           Family






23 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great post!

anonymous said...

A few of my favorites:

ASA's who return calls & emails promptly.

Sharing war stories at the 9th floor attorney's window while waiting to be served.

CTS plea offers on difficult cases when you finally file that motion the was the straw that broke the camel's back.

Great depos when the state witnesses make your case a slam dunk NOT GUILTY by their honest testimony.

Listserve attorney's helping each other out with great advice.

Great free CLE presentations at the PD's office with free lunch.



Anonymous said...

Scott. I have, for the most part, enjoyed your writings. But number 28 is horrible. It not only objectifies women but it reminds every woman whose body shape can’t fit into those outfits that society expects that we should have a body that does.

Not every woman’s body looks as good as your wife’s and two daughters do. In fact most don’t. But woman are fed up with society’s obsession with the Ariana Grande (insert your pencil thin star’s name here) kind of body.

Anonymous said...

I miss sweet, warm and great judges like Judge Amy Steele Donner.

NASA follower said...


Mindblowing to understand that the Apollo guidance system had the processing power of 2 Nintendo game systems. The new Starliner by ULA has over 4300x that.

Scott Saul said...

10:59 pm,

How can I be objectifying women when the comment doesn't refer to a gender? Body shaming? I'm merely complementing. Are we in that crazy of an overly-PC world where I cant simply compliment the "body beautiful"? By the way, they're good in many shapes and sizes.

Anonymous said...

Scott what the fuck are you talking about? Is there any possibility that you were speaking about a dude?

Anonymous said...

Scott,
Good try at covering. But only a few men could carry off form fitting white pants and I don't know of any that look good in yoga pants, much less fishnet stockings.

CAPTAIN JUSTICE said...


THE CAPTAIN REPORTS:

TO SUNDAY AT 8:47 PM .....

Attorney Bruce Jacobs, under a Rule to Show Cause Order, has retained famed appellate attorney Roy Wasson to defend him. Mr. Wasson has filed a request for extension of time to file his response with the 3rd DCA. No response from the 3rd yet.

We will keep you posted.

Cap Out .....

Anonymous said...

Dear 10:50 am. I agree.

I wish to thank all the list serve lawyers who have covered for me, helped me in a bind and who gave me really good advise.

I wish to frown on the list serve lawyers who post over and over how a PD won a case, Bejan asking questions that anybody could look up on google, that Nancy lady who "wears" out her welcome by giving her personal opinion about everything and my top complaint, the people who respond with... you will win, don't take a plea, fight hard.....

Anonymous said...

Scott:

I agree on yoga pants and form fitting white pants.

As a wise man in the movie "Heat" said, "Great ass!"

Anonymous said...

Item #28 qualifies you as a pig. STFU and stop posting.

Anonymous said...

Congrats to PD2B on winning the SURVIVOR POOL this year. This has to be the earliest the contest has ever been over. Five weeks and 32 contestants eliminated and one left standing. The only one to pick five winners in five weeks. Much harder than it sounds.

Rump. Let’s do another one as this one ended so early.

Anonymous said...

Cant we all just get along and embrace the Patek Philippe Nautilus white dial ?

Anonymous said...

Walking clients out of the building after not guilty verdicts.

Anonymous said...

Body beautiful? Who talks like that? Good in many shapes and sizes? Seriously what the hell are you talking about? Maybe you should keep your comments to yourself? Just a suggestion.

Anonymous said...

3 new county judges named on Friday- Luis Perez-Medina, Christine Bandin, and Raul Cuervo. Still waiting for Circuit announcement

CAPTAIN JUSTICE said...


THE CAPTAIN REPORTS:

REGISTER TO VOTE ... DEADLINE IS TODAY

If you have not already registered to VOTE, please do so by today. Today is the last day to register if you want to vote on November 6th.

Cap Out .....

Anonymous said...

There is absolutely nothing wrong with #28.

The PC machine is out of control. Nothing is allowed to be excellent at the fear of hurting someone else's feelings.

Our own insecurities about our human imperfections do not change reality. Some people are simply better looking than others. And we all (men and women) like looking at aesthetic beauty - whether its the Sistine Chapel or a well sculpted set of abs (of which there are several in the Sistine Chapel, btw). And just the same, aesthetic beauty is not the full measure of a human, so don't take it so hard.

Anonymous said...

I’m not worried about 28. I’m more worried about Scott’s response bc he might have been refering to a dude. ��

CAPTAIN JUSTICE said...


TO 9:48 AM. Thank you for reading the BLOG. Maybe you could take the time to read past this latest post, (I know that's hard for you give the length of the post), and scroll down to last Friday when the Captain posted a story about "EIGHT NEW JUDGES COMING TO A COURTROOM NEAR YOU". That post included the names of the three newest County Court Judges; the fact that two judges on the 3rd DCA have resigned; and that there are two open seats on the Circuit Court and one open seat on the County Court pending Governor Scott's appointments. Thank you to the Captain for his award winning journalism on behalf of the best Blog in the land.

REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION FROM THE CAPTAIN: (in part):

Friday, October 05, 2018

EIGHT NEW JUDGES COMING TO A COURTROOM NEAR YOU .....

THE CAPTAIN REPORTS:

BREAKING NEWS:

AND YOUR THREE NEWEST COUNTY COURT JUDGES ARE ......

Today, Governor Rick Scott announced the appointment of three new County Court judges to replace Judges Dawn V. Denaro, Andrea Ricker Wolfson, and Renatha S. Francis; all three were previously promoted to the Circuit Court.

JUDGE CHRISTINE BANDIN, age 39, currently a partner with Shutts and Bowen. She has been a member of The Florida Bar for 11 years. She currently handles the defense of class action and mass litigation cases for them. She replaces Judge Andrea Ricker Wolfson

JUDGE RAUL CUERVO, age 63, currently a shareholder at Carlton, Fields, Jorden, Burt. He has been a member of The Florida Bar for 33 years. He currently handled the defense of insurance claims, class action suits, and commercial litigation cases. He replaces Judge Renatha Francis.

JUDGE LUIS PEREZ-MEDINA, age 58, currently an ASA at Miami-Dade’s State Attorney’s Office. He has been a member of The Florida Bar for 12 years and has worked at the SAO for his entire career. He ran for an open Circuit Court seat in 2016 in a four way race coming in second place in the primary. In the general election run-off he lost a close contest to Judge Mark Blumstein, 51%-49%. He fills the vacancy created by Judge Dawn Denaro.

To read the remainder of the post, please scroll down to Friday, October 5th.

Anonymous said...

I love lawyers who kiss judges ass at arraignments and soundings. Especially the ones who request permission to be excused after making their pitch.

Anonymous said...

What a bunch of pc assholes! Good post Scott!