We received these two comments and are posting both in their entirety.
The Judge goes first:
Good evening!
Zoom is indeed available in my courtroom! It simply is not available for trial setting and evidentiary hearings. Pop in for arraignments tomorrow and you can see for yourself.
I hope this clarifies things. I am simply trying to follow the law on in-person trials and eliminate the Zoom information on trial notices, which is terribly confusing for all parties involved.
Feel free to come by Chambers for coffee to discuss anytime. Seriously. I am not above receiving constructive criticism. I welcome feedback and hope to continue to serve the community to their satisfaction and in accordance with the law.
If you wish to send me feedback anonymously or otherwise, I also monitor my judicial email regularly.
Best,
Judge Bach Armas
Zoom is indeed available in my courtroom! It simply is not available for trial setting and evidentiary hearings. Pop in for arraignments tomorrow and you can see for yourself.
I hope this clarifies things. I am simply trying to follow the law on in-person trials and eliminate the Zoom information on trial notices, which is terribly confusing for all parties involved.
Feel free to come by Chambers for coffee to discuss anytime. Seriously. I am not above receiving constructive criticism. I welcome feedback and hope to continue to serve the community to their satisfaction and in accordance with the law.
If you wish to send me feedback anonymously or otherwise, I also monitor my judicial email regularly.
Best,
Judge Bach Armas
Thursday, January 22, 2026 6:27:53 PM
Rumpy:
This matter is a bit more nuanced than you may know. Judge Bach does not seem to want to eliminate Zoom for those 10-second hearings that do not need one’s physical presence. He seems to want to avoid the prosecution from announcing READY for trial when they really aren’t.
The rules of criminal procedure, as you have noted, are clear. We just need to file a pleading that requests Zoom hearings where appropriate. I have been filing such requests since the day that rule was passed by Florida’s Supreme Court.
While I would not be so formal in my requirements if I were a judge, I am not the judge, he is. And that position gives him the power to run his courtroom as he chooses, as long as it is within the law.
The law says that you need to request a Zoom hearing; he is asking that you do that. That probably isn’t too much to ask (that we follow the law).
Let’s see how this all plays out. If, down the road, his policies are not to your liking, you can always run against him, or support someone who will do so. In the meantime, perhaps your favorite saying should apply to us defense attorneys: ‘Lighten up, Francis.”
This matter is a bit more nuanced than you may know. Judge Bach does not seem to want to eliminate Zoom for those 10-second hearings that do not need one’s physical presence. He seems to want to avoid the prosecution from announcing READY for trial when they really aren’t.
The rules of criminal procedure, as you have noted, are clear. We just need to file a pleading that requests Zoom hearings where appropriate. I have been filing such requests since the day that rule was passed by Florida’s Supreme Court.
While I would not be so formal in my requirements if I were a judge, I am not the judge, he is. And that position gives him the power to run his courtroom as he chooses, as long as it is within the law.
The law says that you need to request a Zoom hearing; he is asking that you do that. That probably isn’t too much to ask (that we follow the law).
Let’s see how this all plays out. If, down the road, his policies are not to your liking, you can always run against him, or support someone who will do so. In the meantime, perhaps your favorite saying should apply to us defense attorneys: ‘Lighten up, Francis.”
Wednesday, January 21, 2026 8:48:38 PM
22 comments:
Kudos to Judge Bach Armas. The pandemic is over. Time to get back to court in person and be real lawyers instead of Zoom lawyers. Private counsel are against this for personal reasons. They are only looking for their best interests and not the best interests of the client. They don’t want to dress for court, Drive to court. Park for court. They want to save money and time regardless of best interests of client. In the meantime, the client is NOT well represented and suffers greatly as a result. NO WAY can an attorney do as good a job in a Zoom trial as with a trial in person. For those that disagree with me, please elaborate on ways you believe you can obtain better results for a client in a Zoom trial over a trial in person. Thank you Rumpole for the platform and chance to talk. Have been a long time reader. I wish you were not retiring from this blog.
Where are my legal divas at?
Zoom for arraignments, non-evidentiary motions/hearings, and soundings is fine. I'm a firm believer that trial, for all - witnesses, officers, defendants, lawyers - should be mandatory and in person. The judge starts calling the trial cases at 10 or 15 after and it's put up or shut up. Witnesses not there, state not ready - force the nolle prosse - old school style. State ready, either defense announces ready and you set the file aside, or it closes out by plea.
And while the trial-ready cases are lingering, that's when great last minute deals get worked out. In person, face to face. You can't do that online.
Zoom is convenient but I am a firm believer that the best results happen when humans interact with each other.
11:25 Get off your high horse and get fucking real. Nobody should do a zoom trial but come on, come to court for a calendar call or a report or routine Motions??? Zoom saves lives keeping people off the highway. Allows working class people to work and still care for a sick child, elderly parent or even sick or elderly self. Much more productive day instead of wasting time driving, looking for a space to park, waste gas, waste money pollute the environment, catch a germ or spread contagious diseases, etc., etc., etc.
Trials, at least jury ones, have no business being in person. Anyone who needs an explanation as to why this is so is not an experienced trial lawyer and has probably never tried a case. Period. Full stop.
Actual trial has always been in person. What is upsetting EVERYONE is turning off Zoom for all the bologna before the swearing in. Works in EVERY courtroom EVERY day.
Bach only seems to care about his case load. The young prosecutors and PDs are getting tired of being insulted and harassed. I tried to like him but, he lost me about 8 months ago. He makes Al Milian look like a lamb.
Kudos to Kathy!
Zoom constipates case flow, and everyone knows it. Moreover, most of the cases are bullshit, in the sense that the case does not deserve a trial, jury or otherwise, and everyone knows it. Zoom cheapens the courtroom experience. Its ironic how most defendants complain about the interminable delays while knowing that the "no contest" plea bargain is the likely end game. If you are rational, and only interested in justice, then it pays to consider some of Bach's changes. They arguably will improve the Court's quest to serve the interests of the public.
Generally, delay is the friend of the criminal defendant. Its amazing how much delay is tolerated. Protocol is lax. It's relatively easy to drag a case through the years. It's tough for a judge to maintain a tight ship, but he is the captain, and losing control is far worse. People should work to close cases as soon as it is reasonably just to do so. As things are at present most County courts fall short on this standard. Maybe Bach is right to try and fix this.
Al Milian is a good judge. Maybe ur just soft ? Zoom has no place in criminal court. Public defenders try a case a year. Mostly social workers these days. That’s not a way to make money in the future. Be aggressive try cases and good things will happen. If Bach is the son of Judge Bach I like him without meeting him. His mom was amazing especially on desk duty.
?!
He should have a plea blitz
The public defenders hardly try cases in this era. mitigation does not get clients good deals. Trials do.
I’ve never seen so many people crying about a judge. You people need to grow a pair. You really can’t adapt to your environment. My idol Alex Micheals would thrive in that court room.
I could not agree more.
Is this a joke ? I hope so.
Prove it
Everything about the comment above is what’s wrong about post covid society. Liberals are so weak minded.
Most lawyers are liberal pansies
No, Mr./Ms. 10:11:45 am, Al Milian is a bully and so is Bach. They thrive by being mean and pushing people around. Both are unfit to be judges. Do we really want our old high school bully to have the power to do that as an adult?
Milian is not a bully he's a military guy he has a certain order and hierarchy he expects and enforces. Every time I see him do a calendar he treats everyone with respect up until they don't deserve it. Very often he goes out of his way to help some ordinary person who does deserve it. And he is good at recognizing what those situations are. He has his blind spots, particularly cases where cops are alleged to have done something wrong, but he's among the most intellectually honest judges on our criminal bench.
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