Sunday, April 19, 2020

ORLANDO DUARTE HAS PASSED AWAY

UPDATE: Read Judge Hersch's remembrance of his friend below:

Orlando Duarte, Judge Richard Hersch has passed away (from a non-Covid-19 issue). 
Mr. Duarte was a bailiff supreme. The best. Efficient, friendly, part of a team with Judge Hersch's courtroom staff that made the trains run on time and helped get things done. 
We invite you to comment your remembrances of him and to contribute to the Go Fund Me Account set up for his family. 
CONTRIBUTE HERE. 
As you know, bailiffs do not make a lot of money, and this contribution will help. Be generous. (h/t Mike Catalano for getting the word out on this sad news). 



JUDGE RICHARD HERSCH WRITES:

Orlando Duarte, our bailiff and friend, has passed away.



On behalf of Orlando’s wife (Connie), and son (Fernando), please accept our gratitude for the huge expression of support and sympathy.  Orlando was a wonderful husband and father.  It is comforting to the family that they and Orlando are in the prayers and thoughts of so many….and that so many thought so well of Orlando.



Understandably.  Orlando brought a lot to our courtroom family.  For those of you who don’t know, born in Nicaragua, Orlando was an officer in the Nicaraguan Navy.  He was American-military trained and all that time in Lakeland TX led to his abiding affinity for Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, and country music.   He managed a security agency at MIA for about 15 years, pre-9/11.  Deeply religious (sat next to JLK, James Lawrence King, at church nearly every Sunday), Orlando had an extraordinarily true moral compass and an overriding commitment to be in service to others. 



That may be why he was so truly proud to be a bailiff.  He thought it was an honor to be a part of the criminal justice system.  Granted, most of the day was keeping order, taking fingerprints, and putting up with the REG denizens.  But we often had talks about how important the criminal justice system is in defining our individual rights, protecting the rights of the accused, and enforcing legitimacy and credibility in the enforcement and corrections system.  He understood and embraced the mission.  It made him very happy to be part of a force dedicated to public good.





My friend for 32 years, we will miss you.  The lawyers may excuse a few tearful moments on the bench over the next months, but they will not soon forget the tower of strength that so capably manned the front door of our courtroom.  Or the secure feeling they always had in your presence.  God Bless.






7 comments:

  1. Nice guy. Sorry to hear that.

    ReplyDelete
  2. How sad, he was always very nice.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh my God bless an keep him he always greeted me w a warm smile a gentleman he will missed

    ReplyDelete
  4. As a former Judge with two bailiffs working with me during my service, I am so impressed by the post by Judge Hersch. I was so blessed with the work, devotion and friendship that my bailiffs gave to me and the people that we worked for and with.
    They are the unsung heroes of the system that allow all of us to function and try to make a difference in the world in which we work.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I do not live in Florida, but have practiced law for over 33 years, and have mourned the loss of friends who were bailiffs. It is a job that looks easy, but is difficult to do well. It requires people skills, physical courage, and yes, a high boredom threshold. An incompetent or bad bailiff makes a bad situation worse for all. Sorry for your friend's loss.

    ReplyDelete
  6. This man was one of the best. He loved his job and dealt with all of the various attitudes in his courtroom. He treated everyone with dignity and kindness. Attorneys, staff, and jurors alike had the highest regard for him, and he made sure that the courtroom met with his judge's standards of decorum. He was always professionally turned-out He was far too young to go, and his passing leaves a huge gar in Judge Hersch's division. The judge will have a very hard time replacing him. All of us will miss him terribly, and me particularly so because he always let me know how the judicial winds were blowing when I walked into his courtroom. . Joe Klock

    ReplyDelete
  7. How terribly sad to hear this news and know that I will not see that kind face again. He was such an Angel.

    I love Joe's comment that he would alert as to "how the judicial winds were blowing". Yes, that was a needed service in that courtroom and WILL be missed.

    RIP dearest Orlando. My deepest sympathy to his family.

    ReplyDelete