Monday, October 28, 2024

TIME TO REMEMBER

 There are certain people who spent their life in our little corner of the legal world, and we do well to remember them when they are gone. 

Thus, we remember on 10/28/2024 the passing of REGJB legendary Judge Gerald Klein, who passed away on this date in 2012. 

For you young judges, prosecutors, PDs, and REGJB staff members, you would do well to ask a colleague about "Fast Gerry."

Here's our original post. 

Here's a report on his passing. 

30 comments:

  1. RIP Gerald you were a good man.

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  2. Alex Micheals RIP you son of a btch

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  3. I learned a lot about judicial economy from Judge Klein, it’s true when I introduced myself the first time as a prosecutor he told me I could stay in court, he also told Maxine Cohen (later Judge) who introduced herself as the new PD , that she could leave , “he didn’t need one”. I did learn to try a disorderly intoxication case in 10 questions. Rumple , you brought up some grin worthy memories with this honorable name. My second county court assignment. My first, Judge Alfred Nesbit, with M.Tarkoff and M.VonZampt, the public defenders. But that’s another story.

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  4. I recall Judge Gerald Klein, as I often was sent to cover the morning jail arraignments. I chuckle once recalling when a defendant was asleep during first appearance on a very petty minor crime, and had a long list of convictions, that he told Corrections, "Tell him when he wakes up, that he is going home, he has credit time served." Those who flouted the law, but the offenses were so trivial but often difficult to really enforce, he called them, "scofflaws". He was like a machine, able to move things along efficiently. He had a particular wisdom to move matters along very quickly having seen so much and been experienced with so much. He was on top of his knowledge. Every time I was in the jail arraignments courtroom (5-3) recently, I would point to his picture, and ask if anyone knew he was, or heard of him. Judge Tom Petersen often would cover the afternoon jail arraignments, another individual whose friendship I greatly miss.

    Woody Clermont

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  5. Never appointed the PD so no jail time for the defendants. Out on the golf course by noon. Only problem, he got robbed on the golf course at Miami Beach when he should have been working. But a great guy, Was married to Rhea Grossman. He could have been an actor with his great looks.

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  6. Anyone recall Mattie Belle Davis? One of a kind. Never went to law school and became a County Court Judge. Was better than many Judges who went to law school and passed the bar.....

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    1. Similar to an ASA who never passed the bar was parading as an “A” ASA. Wonder what happened to her?

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  7. Glad to see that Judge Klein has not been forgotten. He was truly a unique figure who managed to transend the decades. He also belongs in the REG Hall of Fame.

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  8. Sy Gaer, Ken White, Loren Letner, Zena Duncan.

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  9. i loved fast Gerry. He was nice, he was fair and he was a good guy. He was also my friend.

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  10. Rest in paradise Alex Michaels you were always correct. You were unorthodox how you delivered your arguments but always right.

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  11. Judge Alan Postman - truly one of the greatest jurists at REGJB. Everyone loved him. He knew the law and he let you try your case. He also should be listed on the legal LEGEND list.

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  12. Louis Jepeway was a very nice man and very sharp.

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  13. How about we minimize the celebration of a judge who sexually harassed a prosecutor, and many others, and was removed from the bench for doing so…

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    1. Sexual harassment no way. That never happens.

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    2. Which judge did that ?

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    3. I’m open for a sexual harassment discussion.

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    4. Anyone want to hear my story at the SAO?

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  14. I also miss Jean-Claude "JC" Dugue. Pat Trese. Judge Julio Jimenez. Richard Sharpstein. Harvey Watnick. Louie Casuso. We have lost so many.

    As well as those already mentioned such as Sy Gaer, Zena Duncan and so on.

    Woody Clermont

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  15. Judge Arthur Snyder? The WORST. He took advantage of women just like Harvey Weinstein - and that is of a personal family member of mine. Please don’t say he was the best.

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  16. Love the Julio Jimenez reference. He was fun

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  17. RIP Janet Reno a real leader.

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  18. But the all time best - Henry Letevidal

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  19. Wondering if Marie Mato is taking leave for these constant hours long networking events during working hours she is attending as opposed to actually working as an asa before she becomes a judge. I’m gonna guess she’s on leave for the last several weeks…. We hope so and we’d like to see those leave hours for last couple months. MVZ taught her well… she was one of his biggest supporters

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    1. Wasn’t Matos 2nd chair under Von Zamft on the case where the young man was falsely accused by the state of killing a rabbi? The one where they had the audacity to use a very racist, muppet like eyewitness sketch, very weak dna evidence and obvious mistaken cellphone records? Oh Von Zamft ……
      Did the SAO’s office ever create that “prosecution integrity unit?”

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    2. No they have a justice blog watch committee. prosecute anyone who goes against them.

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