SOMETIMES WRONG NEVER IN DOUBT

 Our sagacity was called into question as assistant public defenders celebrated some sweet victories while violating one of Rumpole's most sacred rules- never try a case during the first two weeks of the year. 

We extend our congratulations to jobs well done. 

From: facdl-miami@googlegroups.com <facdl-miami@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of James Dubray
Sent: Sunday, January 12, 2025 7:17 PM
To: facdl-miami@googlegroups.com
Subject: FACDL-Miami APD Trial Victories

FACDL-Miami,

 

Rumpole counsels to never try a case in the first week of January, but four Assistant Public Defenders proved him wrong!

 

Please join me in congratulating the following Assistant Public Defenders for kicking off 2025 with trial victories:

 

• APDs Samantha Cook and Daniela Torrealba (who else, lately, right?) heard the magic words 5 times on a case where the top counts were two F1 Aggravated Batteries in front of a covering Judge Javier Enriquez. They saved their client from an unwaivable 10-year minimum mandatory sentence after his one and only arrest in this self-defense case.

 

• APDs Cameron Costello and Vivian Pitchik’s F3 Grand Theft Vehicle case never made it to the jury after Judge Gonzalez-Marques granted the defense’s first Motion for Judgment of Acquittal. This client’s actual innocence was apparent from the moment he was arrested, but the State preceded to trial nonetheless. Not delaying the inevitable, the judge’s granting of the JOA motion stopped the bleeding of our tax dollars, sending the client and jurors home before the defense could begin to present their case.

 

Big stuff to kick off the year!

 

Best,

 

James

 

James R. DuBray

Director of Training and Professionalism

Board Certified Criminal Trial Attorney

Assistant Public Defender

One of our lesser-known mottos comes into play here with the trouncing of the SAO by PDs Costello and Pitchik- 

A day without a JOA is a day without sunshine. 

Well done. 

Well done indeed.