Our Judge of the day is Judge Hank Newkirk of Georgia and you can see what he did to merit blog mention.
Let's be honest. How many of you robed readers have ever wanted to do this?
When you see something that is not right, not fair, find a way to get in the way and cause trouble. Congressman John Lewis
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.
34 comments:
“Mispronunciation”?? That’s a stretch.
But if you think there are a lot of judges that would like to do that or that actually enjoy sentencing I think you’re very wrong.
Corrupted Administration at the SAO
Judge is a moron
Judge C Clyde Atkins in the early 80"s would often say when jurors knocked on the door to signal a verdict was reached, " We must stop for a moment , the Jury has reached a guilty verdict." This was even before he was handed the verdict form.
I think most judges do not like sentencing. I think most judges are pleased when the sao over reacts and goes after people who don’t really belong in the criminal justice system and are acquitted. But then there’s that 2,3,4,5% who actively cultivate a reputation for excessively punishing people after trial in some misguided way of trying to get their caseload down and those judges ruin the reputation of all the others.
Never heard this before.
Former Miami ASA here.. had that happen once in a heroin trafficking trial.. I forget the name of the judge but the clerk read the verdict.. the clerk didn't get all the way to "guilty".. but started to say "guil".... before correcting herself to say "not guilty". Defendant went on a rollercoaster of emotions in those 5 - 10 seconds or so. Guy was nice enough to come into court the next day to thank us all for our work.
That would be Cristina Correa in County Court. The way the beat her is to try everything. Juries rarely convict in county court.
SAO is vile
CLERKS HAVE BEEN DOING THIS TO ME AND MY CLIENTS FOR YEARS
Most new judges want their reputation as “tough” out early in their career. They are proud of the “maximum” sentences given in any type of case.
Word gets around for reelection that they are “no nonsense” and they think they need to do this to get the police union PBA endorsement etc.
They think they need to let those defendants waiting trial that it is not worth the chance of an adverse jury trial because the judge will “max” their sentence if they waste the judge’s precious time with a trial.
It is very sad.
I know because that is how I was taught as a young judge.
It is wrong. I was wrong.
ALWAYS request polling of the jury when the verdict is returned.
Is this the title of your book, or is this just a reflex for you?
Understood. I agree.
He did not do that intentionally. It was when he was getting on in years.
Sao needs new mangers
NY appeals court dumps Trump’s $500 million fraud fine but upholds judgment
https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5463599-trump-fraud-case-appeals-court-tosses-penalty/
Leonard Thompson = win at all costs including being corrupt.
If Harris was president instead of Trump does anyone actually think we would be better off. The man is getting things done. And when and if he get peace in Ukraine you can change the landing page of your blog.
Yes. We'd be better off with an administration that didn't use its justice department to punish critics, didn't use its armed forces to patrol cities, didn't raid workplaces, courthouses, schools and houses of worship to round up brown folks who have been living here productively for years and stick them in cages in the Everglades, didn't alienate our allies, didn't promote vaccine skepticism, didn't fire experts for telling the truth, didn't capitulate to Russia, and didn't seek endless ways to personally profit from government action. Inflation is up, as is unemployment. I don't know what's wrong with you. But I'd guess you're a young white male with insecurities about your professional and sexual performance.
If DEI Harris was in, there would be more Trans Comic Books and Drag Queen Story Hours making the world a safer and more accepting place using millions of American taxpayer $$$. And if you don't agree, the Harris DOJ would find a way to lock you up on no bond for 428 days. Just sayin.
Getting things done is not the same as making things better. Carter got things done. Biden got things done but you didn't like those things. The man is an inveterate liar. Sooner or later there will be peace in Ukraine with or without his involvement, so you've set the bar very low. But he promised to end the war on his first day. If the price of peace is rewarding Russian aggression he will have gotten something done but it will be a bad thing.
You are delusional. Trump gets nothing done other than create smoke and claims to have put out the fire. What a moron.
So true about Leonard Thompson, the arrogance of power. Driven in no doubt to do so by his boss. He is the epitome of I do it because I can, when his true job is doing what’s right. What a difference from the days of Janet. They have no class and no moral compass.
I took over an armed robbery case like that one which was tried by a deceased lawyer who shall remain nameless. The jury came back with “a verdict and a question.” The late Judge Arthur I. Snyder was puzzled. “What’s your verdict?” he asked the jury foreman? “Guilty.” “So what’s your question?” the confused judge asked? The jury foreman responded: “does it matter that one of the jurors knows the victim?”
The judge was perplexed. “We read off the names of all the witnesses during jury selection . We asked if anyone knew any of the named people.Why didn’t you tell us you knew the victim” he demanded of that juror.
“I didn’t recognize his name. We weren’t friends in high school.” “So, how can you say that knowing the victim affected your verdict?!” the judge demanded. “Well, I recognized him when he testified. I knew that he was very smart so I figured, if he says that was the guy who robbed him, even 2 weeks later, he must have been right.” Mistrial granted.
I was appointed. I learned that the assailant was held up by a robber holding the gun in his right hand. My client was a lefty, taking copious notes throughout trial with his left hand. “A robber never holds their gun in their weak hand, I demanded.” Not Guilty.
SAO needs change! Horrible administration running it to the ground. Toxic work environment. KFR has no idea. We need help.
Thank goodness we finally have a president that ostracizes, demonizes and seeks to erase transexuals and transvestites from the culture. At last we can all sleep at night. Unless we're transexuals and transvestites. Or scientific experts. Or immigrants. Or the children of immigrants. Or critics of the administration. Or journalists. Just sayin.
Kilmar Abrego Garcia, at the center a high-profile immigration fight, released from jail
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/08/22/kilmar-abrego-garcia-deportation-case-released-jail/85776266007/
Great work!
Leonard works his ass off trying to train, mentor, and help everyone. Most of us appreciate it. He doesn't tolerate laziness or incompetence, but why should he? Regardless, he doesn't deserve this. The anonymous nasty comments are ridiculous and unprofessional as hell (read the Bar rules). There's something seriously wrong with those of you who get some level of satisfaction (or, worse, joy) by bashing another human being on the blog. Grow up. If you have an issue with someone, try speaking to them.
Kathy Rundle is hiring ASAs, start $77k, https://miamisao.com/
You still don't get it. The Dems were forcing that stuff down our throats, and the voters rejected that crap. The voters rejected that crap. Trump was a Democrat before the Democrats went nuts. Transexuals and transvestites can do as they please. But the voters don't want that lifestyle jammed down their throats. And minors must wait until age 18 to cut off their offending appendage. Seems reasonable. Immigrants are welcome to follow the law when entering the United States. Fence jumpers get kicked out. Journalists? You ought to be glad MSNBC is going away. Rachel Maddow and her "Russiagate" hoax helped Trump. Now that the "Russiagate" hoax has been traced back to Obama, I hope Trump locks Obama up. Can't wait for 2028. If 4 terms was good enough for FDR, why not Trump? Trump vs. Harris? or Trump vs. Hilary? It was their turn! Trump took the presidency away from two women! The horror!
7:53:47 PM - in what way were transvestites and transsexuals forced down your throat? Were you forced to pleasure them orally?
What? I write lefty but my dominant hand is the right. I bat right. I throw right.
Post a Comment