Sally Weintraub, a fixture in the Miami-Dade State Attorneys Office for over 35 years has passed away. She was known as hardworking, diligent, and as Abe Laeser noted on her remembrance page here, she never sought the fame of being a great lawyer. But a great lawyer she was, as noted by David Ovalle, who covered her retirement in the Miami Herald in 2014 when Ms. Weintraub was 85 years old:
Early in her storied legal career, Sally Weintraub represented three poor black students from Perrine arrested during racial unrest at their high school. The year was 1970.
A judge, then known as a justice of the peace, stood up and angrily ordered her out of his courtroom.
“It hit the national news,” Weintraub said. “I was representing blacks, and he was a good ol’ boy and you just didn’t do that.”
Unless you were Sally Weintraub. She appealed. And prevailed. More than four decades later, Weintraub would again find herself fighting for the voiceless, a murdered foster child named Rilya Wilson. The 4-year-old vanished while under state supervision, and her body has never been found.
After a grueling trial, a Miami-Dade judge last year sentenced Rilya’s Kendall caretaker, Geralyn Graham, to 55 years in prison.
U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson, a longtime advocate for reforming the state’s child welfare system, credits Weintraub’s tenacity for closing a difficult and emotional case.
“She was determined that she was not going to leave until she found justice for Rilya,” Wilson said. “Rilya had no relatives. She was a little foster child no one cared about. But Sally cared about her.”
Those cases bookend the long and accomplished career of a prosecutor who — at age 85 — has finally decided to retire after more than five decades practicing law in Florida.
Sally Weintraub was tough. She was tenacious. She prepared meticulously and she rarely lost. She mentored generations of young lawyers who passed through the State Attorneys Office. But she was also fair- which is one of the best things we can say about a prosecutor. She cared passionately about the victims whose cases she prosecuted, and she made Miami a better place to live.
Judge Reemberto Diaz, who tried cases against her when he was a defense attorney called Ms. Weintraub "The Best of the Best" and that was the title for our blog post covering her retirement here.
A life well lived that touched many others and made the world and our community a better place. May she rest in peace.
When I was a student at UM Law, I worked for Sally in her "inner city" law firm in South Dade. It was a tremendous experience. Sally was so bright, so energetic, so devoted to our client base, and devoted as well to teaching the interns. Sally was without limiation when it came to energy. But, what was the most impressive feature that she had to me was how much she cared for our clients and for the legal principles that she thought would most make a difference in improving their lives.
ReplyDeleteI never discussed why she returned to the state attorney's office, but I suspect that what she saw down at SW 168 and Dixie Highway convinced her that the community had to be protected from crime, and from everything that I saw, she was as dedicated to representing the people of the state as she had been to representing our clients.
They just do not make lawyers like Sally Weintraub. She will be sorely missed. Joe Klock
Sally was an excellent lawyer and an even better person. I tried a multi-defendant death penalty case against her early in my career and she was the consummate professional. It really made an impression on me that she could be in charge of such a serious case while still being friendly, compassionate and professional. When my father-in-law died in the middle of the trial, she was the one to push the otherwise reticent judge to adjoin the case early to allow me to fly north to be with my wife and her family. It was a kindness I never forgot.
ReplyDeleteMy condolences to Josh and her family. RIP Sally.
May she rest in peace. Did she work as a public defender or private defense attorney or both prior to joining the State Attorney's Office?
ReplyDeleteI was blessed to co-counsel a case with her at the SAO. She was all about the case, no grandstanding, no attitude. It was one of the best litigation training experiences of my life. Thank you Sally. Rachel
ReplyDeleteMy condolences to Josh and the entire family. I can only image how close he was to his mom.
ReplyDeleteI remember seeing her in court when she was in private practice doing civil work at 73 West Flagler Street back in the late 70's maybe early 80's. We were both female attorneys bucking the "good old boy" system. I didn't know her by name back then but I distinctly remember one incident and the unpleasant, sexist and condescending way one of these "civil" attorneys treated her during a Motion calendar.I admired how she kept her cool and handled the situation with steely professionalism.
May she RIP.
I think it goes without saying that I (like pretty much every woman lawyer I know) idolized Sally. It's a cliché to say that somebody "forgot more law than I've ever learned", but I feel safe in saying that about her. One of the proudest moments of my career was when she called me into her office to ask ME for help on one of her cases. Proud and terrified, because this was SALLY and I not only wanted to impress her, but I also didn't want those piercing blue eyes to be turned on me with That Look.
ReplyDeleteShe blazed a path for generations of women lawyers and those of us who had the opportunity to work with her are better lawyers, and human beings, because of her. Thank you, Sally. May her memory always be a blessing.
Joanna Sandstrom
ReplyDeleteThe Captain Reports:
COVID-19 ADVISORY #50
SELF-MONITORING NOTICE
An individual who worked in the location and on the dates listed below has tested positive for COVID-19.
Persons identified as having been in close proximity to the confirmed individuals are being notified and will be asked to take all necessary precautions.
Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building, 1351 NW 12 St.:
Room 507
Last date worked: Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2020
Persons who were in this location recently should follow self-monitoring steps for the next 14 days as outlined in the Centers for Disease Control website at:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/public-health-recommendations.html
Cap Out .......
I had a case with her and she was very professional. Some thought she was very reserved but, when you sat down and talked, she opened up and was nice.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear.
Not only was Sally a brilliant trial lawyer, she epitomized professionalism and class. As these legends pass there are few who replace them, and fewer who remember them. My condolences to the Weintraub family.
ReplyDeleteOver the years, as an Assistant Public Defender, I had several cases against Sally. Each time she was involved, I knew I had to be on top of my game: prepared, centered, and with strategies firmly in mind. She was a formidable opponent; she had a direct and commanding presence. When I first met her I thought her to be the Maggie Thacher of the State Attorney's Office. Over time I learned that her toughness was tempered by kindness and a well developed ability to listen and intuit. I became a better lawyer, and person, by knowing her.
ReplyDeleteCondolences to Josh. A gentleman prosecutor.
A question. I've never understood why, on this platform, when one offers condolences, it is customary to do it anonymously. What are we hiding? I really believe that messages such as these should be made by a known human being.
I join in with the many tributes regarding Sally Weintraub. She was one of the great trial lawyers and a fixture in the Gerstein Building. As Lucien Ferster stated in his comment you had to bring your best game to court when Sally was the prosecutor. She came super prepared and battle tested. She will be missed. My condolences to Josh and his family.
ReplyDeleteTheodore G. Mastos