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, December 03, 2024

PARDONS 2.0

 First some sad news. Word reached us that retired Circuit Judge Martin Kahn passed away on Thanksgiving. Martin Kahn was a judge for too few years. He was wise, intelligent, and applied common sense with a good dose of humor, He was a judge during a time when judges did things - as he did- like have lasagne competitions and cookie bake-offs with defense and prosecutors participating. He was a fun person to be around and he loved his job and he loved doing justice. He had no discernible political bent on the bench and his eye was fully on the case and now how his decisions would affect his personal ambitions. There were too few like him then, and even fewer now. We will have more to say about him in a future post.

Our guest blogger found President Biden’s pardon of his son repulsive. We find it to be well taken, needed and hopefully will highlight the need for a closer examination of prosecutions and people serving long sentences from the 90s war on drugs. 

As to his son Hunter, the incoming administration has made no secret of its plans to seek revenge on their enemies by prosecuting them. President Biden had every reason to believe the incoming president would direct the DOJ to file more cases against his son as revenge for his multiple indictments. We are approaching a world where our justice system is going to be perverted by angry idiots who have never read the Constitution and have no intention on following it. More on that in January. 

What we hope is that the President turns his attention to the thousands  of people serving long sentences for non-violent drug crimes. Many of them have been in prison for 20,30,40 years and and it is time to set them free with a commutation.  Fair is fair, and these people have not been treated fairly. 

We also hope the President preemptively pardons former military officials, and current members of his administration who the incoming President and his brown-shirt like thugs have threatened. They have threatened to recall retired generals who protected the country and spoke out against the former and President-elects crimes and attempts to use the military against the citizens of this country. They have threatened to prosecute the media  who they call “enemies of the state” and they ascension to power is going to being very dark days indeed to this country. 

But for now, having protected his son, President Biden can commute the sentences of thousands of people serving non-violent drug crime sentences and allow them a chance at a life. 


54 comments:

Scotty Saul said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Scotty Saul said...

I find the disparity between the elite, "connected" defendant and the everyday defendant repulsive. What triggered my position was talking to a man convicted for a federal misdemeanor failure to file tax return case, where the client lost everything...and with tears in his eyes he said to me " I wish my last name was Biden". For decades I have been fighting so hard on behalf of my clients, yet if your last name is tied into top ranking government officials, you get a different set of rules. Just as when you were a kid and brought food to your classroom, everybody had to be eligible to get a piece, everybody and I mean EVERYBODY should be entitled to the same applications of the law. How do you think people in impoverished and oppressed areas feel about the pardon system ?
Tuesday, December 03, 2024 11:49:50 AM

Anonymous said...

The current administration has been carrying out precisely what you describe in your third paragraph, since at least 2020. Now, everyone wants to cry democracy and be scared. Trump is easy to hate, but the DoJ needs an overdue thorough housecleaning, starting with the FBI. In Kash we TRUST!

Anonymous said...

Mr. Saul: Director Patel magnificently outlines our "two-tier justice system" in "Government Gangsters." I too find it repulsive.

Sir Wilfred said...

Scott, a Pardon is an Executive act of clemency. It is solely at the discretion of the President. That is the way the Constitution / Supreme Law of the Land, set it up. It is a constitutional action , not an action of the Judicial System. It is outside the Judicial System in a way. No it isn’t equatable, it is an Executive gift of forgiveness.

Anonymous said...

I think you're confused about what you want. Your emotional connection to this client appears to have clouded your rational thinking. It sounds like what you're saying is that you are repulsed by the the pardon power generally, and not by THIS pardon. Because every pardon is basically the same as this one - someone was convicted of a crime and got exceptional relief from that conviction by way of the whim of the POTUS. And make no mistake, Hunter probably wishes that his name WASN'T Biden. Because if his name wasn't Biden, he wouldn't have been charged with being an addict in possession of a fire arm (or whatever the correct name of the charge was), and wouldn't have needed a pardon to begin with.

Anonymous said...

Man, you struggle with words.

Anonymous said...

how about trump letting alice johnson out because kim flashed her titties, hey rumpole, scott bubala, the shit is about to his the fan, a miami attorney is suing trump to stop his inauguration

Anonymous said...

RE: "We find it to be well taken...."
Swifty fan here. Well, well, well, that is the smartest thing you have written all year. Perhaps there is hope for you yet.

Anonymous said...

I know Kash personally. It’s going to be fun at the local level.

Anonymous said...

Any comments about former Miami PD Kash Patel being nominated to head the FBI? I remember him, but not well. I am wondering if anyone with more experience with him can provide us with some additional insight into him.

Anonymous said...

In other news, the SAO hosted members of the FBI Civil Rights Division today. It was a friendly visit, not that the SAO is under investigation for civil rights violations. Why would they? You can’t make this shit up. 🤦‍♂️

Anonymous said...

Protected his son from crimes that he at best enabled and at worst participated in.

Anonymous said...

2025 is going to be a helluva year. Helluva year! Cocaine is a helluva drug!

Anonymous said...

Liberals, their policies, and resulting consequences got Trump reelected. Wail and gnash away. Reap what you sow.

Anonymous said...

Does Kathy Pardon her ASA’s when they don’t play by the rules?

Anonymous said...

Struggle is real.

Anonymous said...

Kash will end the corruption at the SAO. Those ASA’s are not going to get away with it anymore.

Anonymous said...

I think Corey Smith should get pardoned.

Anonymous said...

No, she pardons and appeases the defense bar

Anonymous said...

Judge Martin Kahn was a pleasure to know. He was kind and polite. He never made the lawyers look bad. Sorry to hear of his passing.

Anonymous said...

If we call the Shumie on Scott Saul does that mean he can no longer post his nonsense? Is there a procedure or something? Do we vote? Everyone who wants to call the Shumie on Scott Saul raise your hand. ✋

Anonymous said...

Swifty fan here-- yes, let's call the Shumie on Scott Saul and his nonsense. Where is Rumpole anyways? Let me guess- working on his tan at the beach? Or trying to pick up chicks at Art Basel?

Anonymous said...

I believe that it was Kahn. Martin Kahn. Am I wrong here?

Anonymous said...

Trump should follow the rule of law and "norms" the exact same way Biden and his crew did.

Anonymous said...

The American people spoke loud and clear about how they felt about the pardons of connected criminals in the recent. Stone, Kushner and Bannon did a lot worse than pay their taxes late and own a firearm while high, yet they were pardoned by a president who knows how to pay loyalty to criminals who love him. The voters believe NOT pardoning is the outrage. The dems can cry all they want but republicans have no right to even opine.

Rumpole said...

Working. I’m always working just like Dom Draper. I don’t doom scroll on snap and IG. I work. I read. I write. I peloton. I go to Bruce Springsteen concerts and eat great food and drink expensive wine. Meanwhile you can watch ten girls dancing in their living room to Swift on tik tok. Waste of time.

Anonymous said...

Swifty fan here, it seems like you are having memory issues. First off, I explained, I don't have tiktok. I am not apart of the idiotic tiktok generation. Nor do I have snapchat. Secondly, what makes you think I don't eat great food and drink expensive wine and go to concerts? Do you assume because I like Taylor Swift I am not a food and wine connoisseur? How narrow minded of you to stereotype all us Swifty fans. Even Prince William attended her 8 sold out shows at Wembley. You Peloton? Ohhh good for you!!. There's more to life than just working or in your case 'always working' away and what makes you think I don't work? And what if I do scroll on IG? So what? How dare you shame me! Truly, you are a miserable cranky, grumpy old fart. BTW, your comment is filled with spelling errors. Spell check much?

Anonymous said...

I think I know who this is.

Anonymous said...

Springsteen is a pansy liberal

Anonymous said...

To the Swifty Fan @837- -- RE: Or trying to pick up chicks at Art Basel? LMFAO!! I always picture Rumpole looking like Benny Hill and wearing a peruke. Not exactly chick magnet material.

Anonymous said...

Bar complaints

Rumpole said...

I envision you and your like as scarfing down chicken fingers and fries while doom scrolling your phone on IG while squealing OMG! over and over while watching fifteen second snippets of Swift and her lame ass football BF. I’d say that your OMG squeaking would be annoying the crap out of me except there is zero likelihood we would ever frequent the same eating establishment.

Rumpole said...

I would say more like a cross between George Clooney and Daniel Craig and I don’t go to art Basel because I am not some intellectual wannabe need to be seen type of person who has memorized a few nonsensical lines to say while viewing trashy art like “the lines and use of color suggest Monet…” Put it this way- I’ve made a very successful career and life by not doing what the crowd is doing. And along the way I’ve found transcendental happiness in aloneness and peace and quiet and the ability to quietly spend hours in places like the Louvre enjoying real art and not pop culture look at me while I take a selfie with a bunch of deflated balloons on a rotten banana type of art. Enjoy art Basel before waiting in line at prime 112 so you can be seen paying 200 for a steak and wilted veg.

Anonymous said...

So nice to see all the ASAs at the mandatory Brady/Giglio training today. Finally, they are learning what their obligations are. It’s about time! I guess MVZ didn’t teach them well enough? Oh yea, he doesn’t know what exculpatory means! I hope they were all taking notes. Happy Friday!

Anonymous said...

@727 here-- who is to say I don't have a successful career? Not everyone who goes to Art Basel is an intellectual wannabe, let's start out with that first. Don't lump us all in one boat I never have to wait in line at Prime 112 and if I want to drop $200 on steak, who cares? It's nothing to me. I enjoy my life. And if I take a selfie- so what? Talk about being judgemental. A cross between George Clooney and Daniel Craig??? Keep telling yourself that, hell if believing that makes you feel better including putting others down and judging them, go on right ahead. You must suffer from severe self esteem, buddy. I'm calling the Shumie

Anonymous said...

Swifty Fan here-- " And along the way I’ve found transcendental happiness in aloneness and peace and quiet and the ability to quietly spend hours in places like the Louvre" Oh really? You enjoy the peace and quiet??? Interesting considering it is one world's most visited museums, with an average of 9 million visitors each year. Oh wait, you must visit during the low season.

Anonymous said...

5:04 - go fuck yourself you sanctimonious dick.

Anonymous said...

Swifty fan here--. I used to have United Health Care until I found out that they didnt cover one of my medications. I also had to pay $110 a month to them just for membership, also there were high copays on prescriptions. I changed my insurance last year, now zero copays on prescriptions and good medical and hospital coverage. Whoever replaces him as CEO might want to make some changes.

The U.S. spends three to four times more on health care than South Korea, New Zealand, and Japan. And those Canadians have publicly funded healthcare insurance, a program often called “single payer” because all funding and payments come from a single source: the Canadian federal government. All Canadian citizens and permanent residents receive medically necessary hospital and physician services FREE.

Rump, you must be having a sane momen for you to write these two points because I agree-- 1) The health insurance industry is broken
2) Perhaps it is time to recognize that private health care insurance does not work.

I am not an expert and nor do I condone violence but I suspect the shooter is someone who had his claim denied and where a life was lost as a result which is why there has been some public sympathy for the accused. This was not some random attack, it was very personal. RIP to the deceased but Insurance companies push and skirt the rules regularly. All in an attempt to please share holders. When they hold a financial meeting they don't ask how many lives were saved. They ask how much profit was made. Profit is only made by denying claims.

Rumpole said...

You have no idea what it means to be alone. It can be a cabin in the woods. Or an apartment in the 5th arrondissement in Paris or in a 50 story building in Fidi manhattan. In other words you can be alone in a crowd. Try finding some videos on tik tok that explain that before the site it closed.

Anonymous said...

Swifty fan here-- RE:" It can be a cabin in the woods:" Who do you think you are? Charles Ingalls from Little House on the Prairie? I betcha chop wood and hunt for food too. Say hi to the Walnut Grove gang.

Anonymous said...

Swifty Fan here- I prefer pizza over chicken fingers any day of the week! And as for you calling him lame ass bf. Hmmm, I have to ask, how many NFL championships have you won? When was the last time you dated a beautiful woman? I doubt many women are attracted to cranky old miserable guys who find absolute fault with everything and complain about everything. G-d Damn you need to remove that stick up your ass.

Anonymous said...

Fuck you back.

Anonymous said...

Big mad 😆

Anonymous said...

8:52 well well well 5:04 struck a nerve in you. Guilty conscience?

Anonymous said...

Struggling to turn over discovery

Anonymous said...

Alex Michaels lives!!!

Anonymous said...

Who uses the word “sanctimonious dick”. Definitely someone with a small dick. Hahahaha

Anonymous said...

I just pissed my pants laughing 😂.

Anonymous said...

Pin the tail on the (former or current) ASA at 8:52 pm. 😂

Anonymous said...

Swifty fan, you’re fighting a losing battle. Give up now. For no man, dead or alive, nor extraterrestrial being, not even AI, is a match for our own Rumpole. We are living in grand ole times for we are blessed to walk alongside the greatest erudite to ever roam the universe. He who possesses the highest, longest, mightiest, and deepest of all attributes known to mankind. A divine fusion of Shakespeare, Homer, Einstein, Brando, and Darrow. A god amongst mortals. This man doesn’t have time for your nonsense and he is definitely above the trivial distractions posed by the opposite sex. Asexuality is preferred. For this masked crusader is a man on a mission. A mission to propagate his wisdom to every corner of the universe (starting with this humble conduit colloquially coined “the blog”) while simultaneously fighting for the downtrodden before judges, juries and executioners. A modern day Don Quixote, although more like Sancho Panza, this deity has better things to do than to banter with you. Accordingly, please direct all of your comments to any of his loyal disciples, like Scotty, who need a little more excitement in retirement.

Anonymous said...

Peenie weenie!

Anonymous said...

The idea of a ramped up FBI does not sound appealing.

What will be the focus? More COINTELPRO? The objective under the Hoover administration, according to an FBI memo: to “expose, disrupt, misdirect, discredit, or otherwise neutralize” the radical fight for Black rights — and Black power. Hoover used that agenda to target the NAACP, Freedom Riders, MLK, Malcolm X, NOI, Thurgood Marshall. Exterminating the Black Panthers.

"But its legacy is alive and well. In 2017, amid widespread Black Lives Matter protests, a leaked report from the FBI’s counterterrorism unit defined the security threat posed by so-called Black Identity Extremists — a name that, for many, echoes the inflammatory labels given to civil rights groups during the era of COINTELPRO."

https://www.lib.berkeley.edu/about/news/fbi

David Troyer said...

It's sad not to see more comments about the passing of Judge Martin Kahn. He was a good man and a good judge. As I recall, he came to the criminal bench as somewhat of an unknown, and quickly proved himself to be one of our better judges. If I'm not mistaken, he was also a Philly native, like me. He treated all parties fairly, and with dignity and respect. RIP, Judge Kahn.