Chief Judge Sayfie has appointed Luis Montaldo, Esq., the former general counsel for the clerk's office, and oft described as Harvey Ruvin's right hand, as your new clerk. His appointment runs through the expiration of Ruvin's term in January 2025.
We welcome Mr. Montaldo and alert him to some issues that we would like to be resolved.
1) The ability to obtain pleadings in PDF format from the docket. The feds do it with CMECF. Most jurisdictions around the country do it. It's time for Miami to join the 2000's and give criminal practitioners the ability to get pleadings from the docket. FYI Miami is in violation of the Florida Supreme Court edict that all files be digitized. Shhhshhhh... we won't tell if you won't.
2) Not that it matters to us, but there are still these "paper files" in misdemeanor court, which are the criminal, non-traffic misdemeanor cases. We understand the "retro-craze"- buying music on albums instead of getting it digitized for example. Going to a theater to watch a movie instead of streaming it. Driving a non-electric car. But really, is there a time when criminal misdemeanor cases will be digitized before 2075?
3) "Abandon hope all ye who enter" should not be the de facto motto of the clerk's office help desks. And yet... time is relative when you go to view a file. Of course, if the files were digitized and available for downloading in PDF format (see #1) then we wouldn't have to stand in line. Neither would anyone else for that matter, including the public. How about an APP? The Dade County Clerk's App! Go tap your app, get on line, get a file, download it, and voila! You have what you need.
Now we understand that if lawyers and general public could get what they needed without the help of clerks making us stand in line for a few hours first, it just might make people wonder why we need a clerk's office. But fear not, the clerks can employ an army of scanners, scanning documents, making them available in PDF format, and we would be happy. Think Santa's workshop, but with Cuban Coffee and cafe con leche breaks.
In any event Mr. Montaldo, you have big shoes to fill, and should you need any help or advice, we are at your beck and call.
We blog to serve.
Harvey was a dinosaur, tied to the reforms he helped create over 30 years ago. The reality is the Clerk's need to take the next step to bring that office into this century. Luis is a nice guy and not wedded to the old systems like Harvey was. Hopefully the change at the top of that office, along with Chief Judge Sayfie's efforts to modernize the courts, will generate true change that would help us all.
ReplyDeleteMr. Ruvin never lived to see the day when Miami-Dade criminal court record documents would be available for online public viewing. Under the current plan, that update is still more than a year away?
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry but Miami's system is an outdated joke. Best wishes to the new guy. He has a very very low bar to clear.
ReplyDeleteWill the governor appoint a Clerk or will there be a special election? Sayfie's appointment runs until either of those events takes place.
ReplyDeleteHarvey was stuck in the 90’s and that is sad. Luis Montaldo is a joke and that office is filled with issues which forced Jany good clerks to resign. Some are seeking Justice through the EEOC. Chief Nushin made a huge mistake and she will loose her Chief Judge seat on this appointment. It is well known she knows the problems and she knew Luis is part of the problem. Zero Luis as he is known. Morale is down. The craziest are running that asylum. Worse the permanent appointment may be a politician looking for advancement. Not someone who could fix the problems. Vaya con Dios!
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