Did you know that your Miami legal bloggers talk? Well at least by email we exchange ideas, tips, and try and stay in our own lanes during Pax-Blogger-Miami. Of course from time to time lines are crossed and we have to go to the mattresses, but the disputes are short lived. When Mr. Markus blogs well we all win. And of course we always blog well.
And so it came to pass that during an electronic exchange of ideas we went down the path of getting a shoe shine before court. It is a ritual. It inspires confidence. It is a brief repast before the day begins, or during the day, when a shot of Cuban coffee, and a glance at the sports section clears one's mind before the troubles of court intrude.
In the course of this exchange of ideas we mentioned that in an "only in Miami story" the gentleman who shinned shoes at the REGJB in the 1970s-80s was of course arrested and convicted of murder. Or at least that is how we remember it in the foggiest part of our memory.
So it is time for the Justice Blog Irregulars, many of whom are legal historians par excel-lance, to weigh in on the details.
Have at it.
His name was Lorenzo. When he first got started, he would come to your office. As his customer base grew, he could be found at the west end of the 4th floor hallway and the customer had to come to him. In addition to a great shine, he always dispensed philosophy concerning the virtues of shined shoes. As I remember it, his murder case involved his defense of his brother. I don't know that he was convicted. He was represented pro bono by Richard Sharpstein. I think he developed some mental health issues after that.
ReplyDeleteI recall the little guy very well. Was very nice. He would also go to Chambers and shine the shoes of male judges as well. I believe all of the judges recused themselves and a judge from Broward was brought for the trial. I vividly remember Lorenzo showing me how he kept a double edged razor blade in the cheek of his mouth and demonstrated how quickly he could pull the blade out of his mouth and slash one's throat. He would do in a just a second or two. I believe the case ended in a favorable outcome for him. How about the crazy "Dorlores". Or some of the other more sane "railbirds" that walked the 4th floor?
ReplyDeletehttps://www.cnn.com/2021/04/06/politics/alcee-hastings-died-florida-democratic-congressman/index.html
ReplyDeleteAlcee Hastings has passed away. Loss of a personal friend. May his memory forever be a blessing.
And don't forget at the civil courthouse Big John who gave a great shine and always had shoes, umbrellas, other stuff he found at surplus for sale. Gave a great shine and a good chat. Went a little Jesus-y at the end and his aggressive proselytizing got him the boot.
ReplyDeleteDo you remember the guy who used to wash cars in lot 26? He disappeared too, along with a car belonging to Ted Mastos.
ReplyDeleteIt was amazing how he could clean a car without a hose.