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, March 22, 2022

SUPREME COURT DRAMA

 So how do you think the confirmation hearings are going so far? Not bad, not great, and a real window into a broken system. 

Do you think the Republicans would be muddling through this if she was nominated to replace Thomas and was a deciding vote flipping the Court? Or do you think there would be a level of histrionics about Judge Kentanji Brown Jackson that would be unlike anything we have ever seen? 

As it is, the Republicans are making her backtrack from her work as a federal PD and shaming her for defending people accused of crimes, as if they never heard of John Adams. The whole thing stinks. 

REGJB HALL OF FAME 

Lots of traction in posts about the great lawyers and stories of our little courthouse which is a stone's throw from the Miami River. We need to get a handle on it, and here is what we are going to do. We are going to create a few separate divisions. There will be a PD division, an ASA division, a Judicial Division, a private defense attorney division, and a staff division recognizing the great clerks, JAs, bailiffs, and corrections officers that make the trains run (somewhat) on time. 

Just like in sports where someone can make the HOF as either a player or a coach, a nominee can also make the HOF in the part of their career they distinguished themselves at. Some of the decisions may be difficult. For example, Roy Black made his mark at the REGJB mostly as an assistant Public Defender, who along with a core group of attorneys like the great Jack Denaro, changed the culture of the PDs office and the courthouse. And Roy did this before he ever gained any fame in private practice. Personally, we would place him in the REGJB HOF as an assistant public defender. 

On the other hand, great criminal defense attorneys like Ed O'Donnell Sr., and Jim Woodard, were really good ASAs but probably made their mark on the courthouse as criminal defense attorneys. Some ho-hum ASAs and PDs became great judges. So there is a lot to consider. 

In the coming weeks we will announce nominations for each division and people can vote.  

Until then, keep the war stories coming. 

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Putnam Powell and Loeb are buying up a coterie of small criminal defense firms. The British firm is making a big move into Miami criminal defense law. Anybody know why?

Anonymous said...

Maybe they should suggest that Judge Jackson use the braile method to figure out who is a woman.

Anonymous said...

I've reached out to my friend Don to ask if he knows. He has some familiarity with them.

Anonymous said...

After a year and a half of Zoom hearings the clerk's office has finally updated their website to give Zoom information instead of listing a courtroom. I guess video for many things is here to stay.

Anonymous said...

If she doesn't know what a woman is how can she rule on title ix cases? And is she even qualified since the nominee must be a woman? Is she a woman? How does she know?

Anonymous said...

Lindsay Graham is a tool!

Anonymous said...

6:54 pm,
I don't know if you have one or not, but I know you are a d*ck.

Anonymous said...

There is a large difference between a woman and a woman strapped with a 7 inch shlong. Everyone from palmetto knows this. Let's go panthers!

Anonymous said...

If Justice Clarence Thomas is called to hell who would be nominated to replace him? Garland?

Anonymous said...

Best Judges in REG now:
Wolfson (everyone loves her)
Brinkley (almost as good as Wolfson)
Tinkler-Mendez (decent, reliable and fair)
Watson, (new and nice)
Stuzin (decent person)
De la O (Solid as a rock)
Richard Hersch (Super smart and OK, if in a good mood)
Fajardo (decent and fair)
Areces (good guy, means well)
Ruiz (decent person)
Glazer (denies bond and makes you and client feel respected. Good person)
Faber (good guy and means well)
Kolokoff (really nice guy)

So so Judges:
Altfield and Cruz (Both nice but, boy are they in favor of the State)
Cabarga (OK judge but, sometimes needs to shut up)
Trawick (decent guy but, been rather state oriented lately)
Zane (decent person but, doesn't really understand her role)

Worse judges:
Venzer( Almost always a nasty control freak)
Newman (Love him but, he really belongs in branch court)
Joe Fernandez (Just plain rude and condescending)
Perkins (decent guy but, doesn't understand criminal law)
Rebull (Never and I mean NEVER gives a defendant a break)

When I appear in court, I expect the judge to:
1. Be on time or apologize for being late.
2. Be polite and courteous to everyone.
3. Shut up and let me finish a sentence.
4. Read the shit I give them in advance.
5. Do some fucking research before ruling when needed.
6. Make people feel like she or he values our opinion even when it comes from the worse lawyers.
7. Work with us on scheduling.
8. Have your JA answer the fucking phone and not tell you that judge z ONLY does this on Christmas day.
9. When the judge hears of a death... immediately say, I am so sorry to hear that.
10. When hears of a birth or a marriage, asks to see a photo.
11. Work harder at helping people with problems.

I'm just saying...

Anonymous said...

I agree with Mr./Ms. 4:30 pm except, I put Joe Fernandez at the top of the list of rude judges.

the trialmaster said...

Now that it has been exposed the "Justice" Thomas wife conspired with Trump's chief of staff to overthrow our democracy and that Thomas was the only Justice to vote in favor of Trump isn't time to start impeachment against Thomas. Assuming he does not die from his infection.

Anonymous said...

Agree with 8:23. Very rude. No care for attorney’s time. Fortunate for the folks at REG blumstein is no longer there. Unfortunately he is still wearing a robe in civil. Not sure how he has raised money from all the lawyers who he disrespects daily. He takes 45 minutes to address a motion to withdraw while 45 lawyers wait for their hearings. He doesn’t follow the law and has no business being a judge.

Anonymous said...

I agree re: Roy Black. He was voted one of the best criminal defense attorneys in Miami as a public defender!!! Unreal.

Anonymous said...

Jack Denaro was and is a better lawyer than Black.