ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES .......

THE CAPTAIN REPORTS:

FACDL-Miami is hosting a JUDICIAL CANDIDATES TOWN HALL on Tuesday, May 3rd, from 5:30 - 7:30 PM. The event can be seen on Zoom at the following link: Click this link on May 3 to join the forum (Meeting ID: 943 189 3869 Passcode 378486). The event is co-sponsored by several voluntary bar associations).

ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES (on both the United States Supreme Court and on the Florida Supreme Court) .....

DESANTIS GETS ANOTHER  .......

Justice Alan Lawson announced his retirement from the Florida Supreme Court on Friday. This gives Gov. DeSantis yet another appointment to our highest court. Lawson has served on the high court since his appointment by Gov. Rick Scott in 2016. He previously served 11 years on the 5th DCA and four years as a circuit court judge in the 9th Circuit. His retirement is effective August 31. 

Since taking office in January of 2019, DeSantis has made six appointments to the Florida Supreme Court. Two, Judge Robert Luck and Judge Barbara Lagoa have since moved on to the federal bench. Three other justices are currently serving on Florida’s highest court including: Justices Carlos Muniz, John Couriel, and Jamie Grosshans.

The current makeup of the court does not include a black justice. You may recall that Gov. DeSantis attempted to solve that issue by placing Judge Renatha Francis on the Court in 2020 (his sixth appointment).  Only problem with that appointment was that Francis was not qualified as she had only been a member of the Bar for nine years. The Florida Supreme Court told DeSantis he needed to pick someone else. (He picked Grosshans).

So, will DeSantis pull a Joe Biden and announce that his next appointment will be black. While we doubt that, we are willing to wager you a bet that his first qualification for all of the candidates will be that they must be a member of The Federalist Society.

COUNTY COURT .....

We were not able to include the information for candidate Renier Diaz de la Portilla on last week’s County Court races post as he did not file his financial paperwork until Friday.

Here is that information:

Attorney Diaz de la Portilla paid his Qualifying Fee in the amount of $6,255.08.

Attorney Diaz de la Portilla has a Net Worth of NEGATIVE $91,667.

Attorney Diaz de la Portilla stated that his salary is $100,000 annually from his law firm.

Maybe candidate Jason Bloch (who has a Net Worth of more than $72 million dollars) can loan Renier a few bucks.

REALLY NORTH OF THE BORDER .....

But related to Miami-Dade County .....

You rarely see Incumbents challenged in judicial races in Palm Beach County

Judge John Kastrenakes, longtime Circuit Court Judge, and former ASA in Miami-Dade County for 13 years (as well as former AUSA for 14 years), got not one but two challengers: Caryn Siperstein and Alcolya St. Juste. Kastrenakes was appointed to the bench is 2009 by Gov. Charlie Crist. He was unopposed in both 2010 and 2016. This is his first contested election.

You may recall that Judge K made the news back in 2019:

Judge Kastrenakes held a man in contempt of court, giving him a 10-day jail sentence and a year on probation after he slept in and missed his jury duty. Following his jail time, Deandre Somerville appeared at a hearing on October 4, 2019, during which Judge Kastrenakes reduced his probation sentence to three months and his community service hours from 150 to 30 after Somerville's lawyer appealed. The judge also removed the contempt from Somerville's record following the hearing.

“I firmly believe that Deandre Somerville is the type of person who can achieve anything he wants in this world. I know he now understands and respects our system of justice and the critical role jurors play in that system. In conclusion, I do not want even a finding of contempt to be gleaned from a perusal of his background or record,” wrote Kastrenakes.

CAPTAIN OUT .......
Captain4Justice@gmail.com

THE NAME GAME ... PART TWO ... BRENDA GITCHEV GUERRERO ...

BREAKING NEWS BY RUMPOLE: THE SUPREME COURT IS CIRCULATING A MAJORITY OPINION BY JUSTICE ALITO REVERSING ROE: "ROE WAS EGERGIOUSLY WRONG FROM THE START." 

More to follow on this important issue. 

THE CAPTAIN REPORTS:

THE NAME GAME ..... PART TWO

BUT FIRST AN IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

FACDL-Miami is hosting a JUDICIAL CANDIDATES TOWN HALL on Tuesday, May 3rd, from 5:30 - 7:30 PM. The event can be seen on Zoom at the following link: Click this link on May 3 to join the forum (Meeting ID: 943 189 3869 Passcode 378486). The event is co-sponsored by several voluntary bar associations).

Last week we introduced you to Teressa (Tess) Tylman who transformed from Anglo to Hispanic overnight when she decided to run for Circuit Court Judge in Miami-Dade County under the name Teressa Cervera.

Last Friday we were emailed an intercepted communication between candidate Tylman (Cervera) and another candidate for Circuit Court Judge, Brenda Gitchev Guerrero.* Ms. Gitchev Guerrero filed to run in Group 20 against Incumbent Judge Robert Watson.

[Rumpole notes- the conversation which is a satire and NOT REAL is listed below. We do not have Title III powers, and do not intercept communications.]

First, a bit of a background on Ms. Gitchev Guerrero.  Unlike Ms. Tylman, she did not magically become Hispanic overnight. Brenda Liz Guerrero was born in Puerto Rico. She married Veselin Gitchev (from Bulgaria) in 1997. She then began using the name Brenda Gitchev Guerrero. Nothing wrong with that.

Ms. Gitchev Guerrero became a member of The Florida Bar in 2005. She is a former ASA where she worked in the Child Support Division. She currently owns her own practice specializing in family law. She incorporated with the Florida Department of Corporations in 2017 using the name Law Office of Brenda Gitchev Guerrero, PLLC. She is listed with The Florida Bar as attorney Brenda Gitchev Guerrero and she uses the email address of brenda@gitchevguerrerolaw.com. She has a Voter ID card under the name Brenda Gitchev.

On January 21, 2022, she filed her initial paperwork to run for Circuit Court Judge in Group 20. She filed under the name Brenda Gitchev Guerrero. She then proceeded to submit additional paperwork to the Division of Elections:

Statement of Candidate, filed 1/21/22, under the candidate name Brenda Gitchev Guerrero

Statement of Candidate for Judicial Office, filed 1/21/22, under the candidate name Brenda Gitchev Guerrero

Candidate Appointment of Campaign Treasurer, filed 1/21/22, under the candidate name Brenda Gitchev Guerrero (name used three times in this filing)

Amended Candidate Appointment of Campaign Treasurer, filed 1/24/22, under the candidate name Brenda Gitchev Guerrero (name used three times in this filing)

Financial Disclosure, filed on 4/26/22, electronically signed using the name Brenda Gitchev Guerrero

Candidate’s Checking Account opened under the name Brenda Gitchev Guerrero Campaign Account and filing fee check filed on 4/26/22 using the name Brenda Gitchev Guerrero.

Then, on 4/27/22, last Wednesday, Ms. Gitchev Guerrero, filed her Candidate Oath, where she asked that her name on the ballot read, drum roll please, Brenda Guerrero.  As we said at the top of this story. This is not Tylman becomes Cervera. Brenda Guerrero was born with that name. But, Ms. Guerrero was officially running for Judge for 115 days under the candidate name Brenda Gitchev Guerrero. She has held herself out in the legal community for 17 years as Brenda Gitchev Guerrero. Then, on day 116 of her campaign, she requested to have her name placed on the ballot as Brenda Guerrero.

Oh yeah, one more note. Last Friday, (two days after she decided to run as Brenda Guerrero), when Brenda Gitchev Guerrero renewed her Florida Corporation with Sunbiz, she electronically signed as both officer and registered agent under the name Brenda Gitchev Guerrero.

RUMPOLE NOTES: WARNING SATIRE TO FOLLOW

*Here is just part of that intercepted conversation:

Teressa Tylman Cervera (TTC): Hi, is this Brenda Gitchev Guerrero?

Brenda Gitchev Guerrero (BGG): Yes it is, who is this?

TTC: Hi, you don’t know me, my name is Tess Tylman, I mean Tess Cervera and I am running for Circuit Court Judge. I am challenging an Incumbent named Lody Jean. I see you are running against Robert Watson.

BGG: Yes, that’s true. It’s nice to meet you Tess Tylman

TTC: Cervera. You mean Cervera.

BGG: Oh yes, sorry about that.

TTC: Listen, Brenda, if I may call you that. I hope you don’t mind if I extend just one word of advice to you about running for judge.

BGG: No, go right ahead. One word though?

TTC: GUERRERO.

BGG: Excuse me Tess?

TTC: GUERRERO.

BGG: I don’t quite understand.

TTC: Your name. It’s not Brenda Gitchev Guerrero, it’s Brenda Guerrero. Got it.

BGG: Ah yes, I got it Tess. Mucha suerte en la campaña. adiós

TTC: Huh, what did you say?

BGG: Mucha suerte en la campaña. adiós. It’s Spanish for Best of luck on the campaign. Goodbye.

TTC: Sorry, I don’t speak Spanish. Goodbye.**

**The preceding conversation was all in jest, all satire, and never actually took place.

Buena suerte a todos los candidatos en la campaña.

CAPTAIN OUT .......
Captain4Justice@gmail.com

THE CAPTAIN REPORTS:

CAMPAIGN UPDATE -
FACDL JUDICIAL CANDIDATES FORUM

On May 28, 2008, we wrote: "Beginning today and continuing each and every Wednesday, we will attempt to provide you with a weekly contest overview and then let you have at it and give us your opinions on why we should or should not vote for a certain candidate."

Over the course of the next 10 weeks, we wrote about each of the candidates. Well, now, you have a chance to meet all 19 of them in one location.

Local FACDL President Rick Freedman wrote to us and asked us to pass along the following information and we are happy to do so. We encourage all of our Gerstein Justice Building bloggers to show up and see who these candidates are and what they really sound like in person.

Here is the information on the FACDL Judicial Candidates Forum:

On Wednesday, August 6, 2008 at 5:30 PM, FACDL-Miami hosts a Judicial Candidates Forum beginning at 5:30 PM. The event will be held at the Miami Dade College Downtown Wolfson Campus located at 300 NE 2nd Avenue, Miami in Room 1261, (Building One, Second Floor). Free Parking is available at the MDC Garage located on 5th Street between NE 1st Avenue and NE 2nd Avenue across the street from the fire station. Walk south on NE 2nd Avenue and Building One will be on your right. Take the escalator to the second floor.

All 19 Candidates have confirmed their attendance for the event. Each candidate will be given a brief opportunity to introduce themselves and tell the audience about their background and why they believe they are the most qualified candidate for the job. There will also be a series of questions posed to the candidates. The candidates will then have time to meet and greet those in attendance and there will be light food and drinks served.

Here is the line-up for the event:

COUNTY COURT

GROUP 42

LISA LESPERANCE V. NORMA LINDSEY (I)


CIRCUIT COURT

GROUP 11

JORGE CUETO V. JOSIE PEREZ VELIS

GROUP 18

MIGNA SANCHEZ-LLORENS V. MANNY SEGARRA

GROUP 19

YVONNE COLODNY V. PATRICIA KOPCO V. STEPHEN MILLAN

GROUP 38

MARIO GARCIA V. STACY GLICK

GROUP 50

RICARDO CORONA V. ABBY CYNAMON

GROUP 51

MARCIA CABALLERO V. DOUGLAS CHUMBLEY (I)

GROUP 55

JERI BETH COHEN (I) V. ABBIE CUELLAR

GROUP 57

DENISE MARTINEZ-SCANZIANI V. BERNARD SHAPIRO (I)

Congratulations to FACDL-Miami for putting this event together. While Rumpole and I will be predisposed at a local watering hole imbibing in the finest Chateau Miami River, we look forward to hearing all about the Forum from our readers and bloggers on Thursday.

CAPTAIN OUT ......