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, September 08, 2020

HOT POTATO

 As reported by ace Miami Herald Reporter @Davidovalle305 the investigation into Attorney Michael Grieco's possible culpability in the scandal involving the payoff of witnesses against NY Giants 2019 first round pick Deandre Baker and Seattle Seahawks Corner Back Quinton Dunbar has become a hot potato that no prosecutor wants to investigate. To recap, Baker and Dubar were accused of robbery. Enter attorney Michael Grieco who advertises that he has a specialty in representing athletes (which sort of begs the question what class in law school teaches that? When facing a battery charge, use identity as a defense UNLESS your client is an athlete...).  On Tuesday the NY Football Giants released Baker. 

In any event, there was a meeting at Grieco's law office in which the complaining witnesses (Rumpole tip #9- never call the witness a victim- it legitimizes their allegations, even on a subconscious level) were paid $55,000.00 to sign affidavits exonerating the athletes. (Superstar representation 202- always do a pay-off on a private plane or the high seas, where jurisdiction is shaky). 

We have NO idea whether Mr. Grieco was involved. There is an allegation he walked our of his conference room where the cash was paid to the witnesses telling them to do whatever they needed to do. But nobody knows if that is true and Mr. Grieco has NOT been charged. He has been listed as a witness. 

But here's the rub: As per David Ovalle the Broward State Attorneys Office (Motto "Charge em all, let the jury sort it out") says they do not have jurisdiction because the payoff occurred in Dade. While we rarely agree with anything coming from the Kingdom of Injustice North Of the Border, and as much as it pains us to say this, this time they may be correct. The Dade State Attorneys Office,  which is shortly expected to release its close out memo on the 1933 attempted assassination of President elect Roosevelt  by Giuseppe  Zangara* (yes you millennials, that did happen, and no, there is no You Tube or Tik Tok video about it) has declined to investigate the case because they claim the case belongs to Broward. 

Well then, you might say, isn't this what the Statewide Prosecutor's office is designed to handle? Sure- but they do not want it. 

The investigation is a ....(wait for it) ... a hot potato 🥔 that no one wants. 


*Giuseppe  Zangara fired six shots at Roosevelt after he had concluded a speech in Bayfront park. The president elect was not wounded but Chicago Mayor Anton Cermak died after being shot in the stomach. In Rumpole's rules, successful presidential assassins have three names- John Wilkes Booth, Lee Harvey Oswald, Charles Julius Guiteau (Pres. Garfield) Leon Frank Czolgosz (Pres. McKinley)  Unsuccessful assassins have two names- like Zangara and John Hinkley, Jr.  

11 comments:

Sir Wilfred said...

Just watched the video of the payoff on channel 7.
Ypu can see the stack of money changing hands in the hallway my the conference room in Greico's office
Sir Wilfred

Anonymous said...

Rump, you are losing it. You forgot about Squeaky Fromme and Sarah Jane Moore who separately (3 weeks apart) came very very close to murdering Gerald Ford. As for Squeaky Fromme, watch Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. She was a Manson acolyte. As for Moore, and to give you an idea of how crazy a time it was, she subsequently did a Playboy Interview while incarcerated. They both did 30+ years. Moore was recently arrested (at 89!!!) for violating her parole. She took an unauthorized trip to Israel.

Anonymous said...

No matter how incredibly dirty Grieco has been over his career in law and politics, he somehow gets away with it and continues to get good clients. I just don’t get it. Really hope the bar takes his behavior seriously.

Anonymous said...

Are you serious? Watch "Once Upon a time in Hollywood" to learn about the Manson family? That's Miami in a nutshell.

Donald J Trump said...

I fail to see the problem here with a lawyer representing his client and arranging for the lying fake news witnesses to take money to tell the truth.

Donald J Trump

Fake Judge Elect Rosy Aponte said...

The conduct is salacious, contumacious, and outrageous! The practice of law should and is a privilege and not a write. No tolerance- zero- for such unethical conduct. I think I speak for the entire judiciary of Miami Dade in condemning such conduct and putting out notice that all of us judges will not accept such conduct EVER
Kindly act like a accordion and fold.

Roy T Gelber said...

Payoffs are part of the legal profession. Always have been always will be

Anonymous said...

Teflon Mike !!!

CAPTAIN JUSTICE said...

THE CAPTAIN REPORTS:

THIS IS NOT A TYPO .... 33 YEARS OLD ... FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT JUDGE
(courtesy of the DBR)

Big Law associate Kathryn Mizelle, an attorney for seven years, faced opposition on her qualifications at a confirmation hearing Wednesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee for a seat on the Middle District of Florida bench.

The former clerk to Justice Clarence Thomas and University of Florida law graduate was rated “not qualified” Tuesday by the American Bar Association for a federal judgeship due to a lack of trial experience.

President Donald Trump announced last month that he would tap the Jones Day associate in Washington for the open seat, and the ABA Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary wrote to say a “substantial majority” of the group believes Mizelle is “not qualified” for the seat.

A minority of the group found she is qualified, according to the letter from Randall Noel, chair of the ABA committee. The letter said Mizelle, 33, was admitted to the bar in 2012, “a rather marked departure from the 12 year minimum” generally required for federal judicial nominees. The letter also noted Mizelle has not tried a case as a lead or co-counsel, and only one of her federal clerkships was at the trial court.

Senate Republicans have attacked the ABA over its ratings, questioning the group’s involvement in evaluating judicial nominees. At the nomination hearing, GOP senators defended her, pointing to her other qualifications. “It is unusual that I see an individual who has been out of law school for this period of time, who has accumulated this much experience,” U.S. Sen. Mike Lee said.

“This is an exceptionally qualified nominee, and one who not only meets but exceeds many of the qualifications from nominees of presidents of both parties who I’ve seen come before this committee,” he added. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham agreed.

Mizelle leaned on her experience as a federal prosecutor in defending her credentials, saying she has argued in trial courts in adversarial settings. “I also think it’s the experience I had as a senior advisor at the Department of Justice, where I was routinely, daily advising the associate attorney general on strategic legal decisions and settlement agreements, and matters arising out of the tax division. And then I think it’s also the experience I have now at Jones Day where I’m litigating and advising clients on their high stakes matters,” she said.

Part One

CAPTAIN JUSTICE said...


Part Two

U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the top Democrat on the panel, was joined by other members of her party in pressing Mizelle on her qualifications.

Feinstein expressed frustrations about Mizelle and other judicial nominees appearing before the committee virtually. “This is one of the times, Mr. Chairman, when having the witness before us would give us some understanding of how mature she is, what her views are and to see the response. It makes it impossible if you look up to see the witness and you see yourself,” she said.

The ABA committee said it had taken all of Mizelle’s prior work — including “10 months at a reputable law firm and approximately three years in government practice” — into account for a combined five years of experience in trial court.

Mizelle clerked for Judge Gregory Katsas at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, Judge William Pryor on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and U.S. District Judge James Moody in Tampa, now a senior judge in the Middle District of Florida.

She also worked at the Justice Department as a counsel to the associate attorney general, trial attorney in the tax division and assistant U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia,

“In view of the importance of substantial courtroom and trial experience as it relates to professional competence to serve as a lifetime Article III judge, the Standing Committee accordingly has concluded — after a thorough peer review evaluation and careful deliberation— that the nominee presently does not meet the requisite minimum standard of experience necessary to perform the responsibilities required by the high office of a federal trial judge,” Noel wrote.

“Ms. Mizelle has a very keen intellect, a strong work ethic and an impressive resume. She presents as a delightful person and she has many friends who support her nomination. Her integrity and demeanor are not in question,” the letter continues. “These attributes however simply do not compensate for the short time she has actually practiced law and her lack of meaningful trial experience.”

Mizelle is the latest Trump judicial nominee to receive a “not qualified” rating from the ABA along with a handful of the more than 200 Article III judges appointed by the Trump administration.

Anonymous said...

Speaking of Broward, what has become of attorney family life?

https://www.local10.com/news/local/2020/09/09/two-killed-another-injured-in-hollywood-shooting/