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.

Tuesday, April 14, 2020

THE DEFINITION OF INSANITY

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. Like calling a Broward JA and asking to put a case on calendar,  or showing up for certain judges' 9 am calendars when they never wander into the courthouse before 9:45 am. 

For most of his career, Judge Steve Leifman has made how courts treat clients with mental health diseases his life's work and passion. A documentary tonight on PBS, The Definition of Insanity covers how Miami- admirably under the leadership of Judge Leifman- has successfully addressed the problem. 

Despite our frequent criticisms of our courts and judges in Miami, Miami has led the nation in innovative solutions to societal problems. Our Drug Court, founded by the late Judge Stanley Goldstein, was the first in the nation to address the problems of drug abuse and to treat defendants as people with a disease. Hundreds of other jurisdictions have followed Miami's lead, and tens of thousands of lives have been saved- including some prominent attorneys in Miami who faced the struggle of alcoholism and drug abuse. 

Judge Leifman took that blueprint and applied it to a disease with even more stigma than drug abuse- mental illness. After the scandals and financial crises  of the 1970's the justice system became the dumping grounds for the mentally ill. Judges, prosecutors, and defense attorneys were ill prepared to handle clients who, having committed crimes, were mentally ill. For misdmeanors, the local jails became a revolving door for arresting the same mentally ill people over and over again for the same crimes of panhandling, loitering, and disorderly conduct. 

There had to be a better way. 
The documentary, which shows how Miami -under Judge Leifman's leadership- addressed the problems, is must-see TV.  

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Rumpole. Hope you and your family are ok.

Please tell me ... Should us investors in the market (with our life savings) take money off the table right now in advance of a potential collapse of our economy.

Or - hold on to our Microsoft, Google, Facebook, Amazon etc and ride it out long term?

We value your insight and guidance over the years. Perhaps the opposite is true - BUY more now?

Anonymous said...

Dade has Judge Leifman. Broward has Judge Lerner-Wren. Both are deeply immersed in mental health. Why do they hate each other so much? To me, both are really good people who mean well. What's the beef about?

Anonymous said...

Bravo to Steve Leifman, who has always been a gentleman. And cheers to Ginger Lerner Wren and..don't forget super nice guy Ari Porth