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.

Sunday, March 15, 2020

SUNDAY MARCH 15 2020 UPDATE#2

UPDATE:  A few things on our mind as we prepare for sleep Sunday night. First, we support the passing of immediate authorization making it a felony for any individual who uses the song My Sharona for a song about the current crisis. 

Second. For those of you applauding Joe Biden's commitment to name a woman as vice president. We wonder who you want working on a vaccination for the virus. The best possible scientist, or a minority woman named to head the program because in the past they have been discriminated against? Our point is that VP is too important a position not to pick the best possible person. Now in our opinion Senators Warren or Senator Harris fit that bill. But so does senator Booker, Governors Cuomo or Kasich and others. Biden should have answered he would pick the most qualified person, not a woman. Neither sex nor race should enter into such an important calculation.  

Our Public Defenders, much like US Rangers,  lead the way! (The motto of US Rangers is "Rangers lead the way.). 

Federal PD Michael Caruso announced that starting Tuesday his office will mostly  telecommute. 
Dade State PD Carlos Martinez announced that his office is closing to the public. If you have state depos- they are canceled. If you think you have federal depos, wake up- you're dreaming. 

This in contravention to our court system which stubbornly remains open and committed to fully staffing the courts (Motto: "Bringing as many people as possible into close contact to defeat the Corona Virus in ways known only to us."). 

The Federal Judges are meeting Tuesday because there is probably some CFR that prevents meetings on Mondays. They are expected to announce that they are watching the situation closely. Whew! That will make us feel better. 

The State Courts are grudgingly closing traffic court to the public but not staff. 

Basically in all state court cases you should try and call in. You do not need to appear and your client does not need to appear and no warrants will be issued if someone doesn't show up (This is Dade. Broward is itching to fill its jails we are sure). Basically to be a lawyer for the next month you need to be able to say "reset". 

Dade PD Carlos Martinez showed he is a real leader Saturday by giving all employees administrative leave who need it for child care. State Attorney Rundle, looking like an uncaring clod because she initially refused to authorize that, quickly said #MeToo although she didn't realize the bad pun.

Slowly we are dragging our community leaders to the idea "Hey! Wait a second. If we keep people apart, we can...uh...ummm...stop the virus from spreading and that umm..means...like....umm...we can all get back to work sooner.

And having stumbled upon that brilliant observation it took some of our community leaders a bit more time to arrive at this startling conclusion- not all of their employees are independently wealthy with their children grown and they might need to stay home take care of their family and practice social distancing without losing their weekly paycheck which they need. 

It takes longer for some people than others to get the message. 
Well, as we like to say, "Welcome to the party pal."

Meanwhile our federal judges fume because nobody is following their rules. People are panic buying toilet paper. Rule violation. The Fed just cut rates to zero on a Sunday. Rule violation. Inmates are getting sick in FDC. Rule violation because they don't give a damn. Lawyers are taking care of their families. Rule violation. 

If ever there was a group of people who could help society out by practicing social distancing... (If the shoe fits, slip it on under your robe.). 




3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Think about it. In business, we have lower parking spaces for customers. When government is involved, the best is for their employees, even though they will presumably be there all day. The public exists to serve the bureaucrats, which is why we conservatives hate anything that results in one more government employee.
Well done blog, not even a hint of anti-Trump blogging. Or as Bernie says: :Three free houses for everyone and let the two thirds who do not go to college have the satisfaction of knowing that their betters will get free tuition and that the largest overpaid group of welfare recipients, college profs, continue to live high on the hog.

Carmen Vizcaino said...

1- Carlos Martinez shines in moments like this.
2- This is unprecedented, unlike a hurricane which has a beginning and an end, this is amorphous with undefined edges.
3- Judge Soto and Sayfie and all others involved have been working 2/4/7 on this issue. This is not a dingy but a massive battleship that does not turn on a dime. We're the 4th largest criminal justice system in the nation. They have done a great job under impossible never before seen circumstances.

as with trials, criticising is easy, doing is hard.

- Carmen M. Vizcaino

Unknown said...

Well said Carmen. Well damn said