SO, YOU WANT TO BE A JUDGE - Florida Supreme Court - 3rd DCA - Circuit Court .....

THE CAPTAIN REPORTS:

SO, YOU WANT TO BE A FLORIDA SUPREME COURT JUSTICE .....?

As a result of the retirement of Justice James Perry, who has announced his retirement effective December 30, 2016, the Florida Supreme Court’s JNC interviewed 11 candidates and nominated three to Governor Rick Scott. The judge must reside within the jurisdiction of the 5^th DCA.

The three finalists are:

Wendy Berger, a 5th District Court of Appeal judge

C. Alan Lawson, chief judge of the 5th District Court of Appeal in Daytona Beach

Daniel J. Gerber, of the Orlando office of the law firm Rumberger, Kirk and Caldwell

All three candidates were heavily promoted by The Federalist Society. Promises from many of those interviewed went something like this: 'I promise to maintain my conservative principles; to not legislate from the bench; to bring to the bench a core set of conservative principles; I admire Justice Canady for his judicial philosophy and for his frequent dissenting opinions; I am an originalist', etc etc etc. All of the finalists were praised by Federalist Society's Florida Co-chair Jason Gonzalez as being "imminently qualified and hav[ing] demonstrated a textualist judicial philosophy similar to that of the late Justice Antonin Scalia".

SO, YOU WANT TO BE A 3^RD DCA JUDGE ..... ?

Also in the news, with the retirement of Judge Frank Shepherd from the 3^rd DCA, the JNC accepted applications from four sitting judges and seven lawyers who have applied for the open spot on Florida's Third District Court of Appeal.

Those that have applied include:

Miami-Dade Circuit Judges Norma Lindsey, Robert Luck and Bronwyn Miller and Broward Circuit Judge Carlos Rodriguez.

The other applicants are:

• Assistant U.S. attorney Jonathan Colan
• Michael Dono, Hamilton, Miller & Birthisel, Miami
• Miami Deputy City Attorney John Greco
• Susan Scrivani Lerner, public defender, Miami
• Former Miami-Dade County & Circuit Court Judge Fleur Lobree, now with the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office
• William McCaughan, K&L Gates, Miami
• Assistant Miami-Dade County attorney Oren Rosenthal


The Governor also will be naming a new Miami-Dade Circuit Judge before the end of December to replace Judge Stan Blake.  Finalists include: Jason E. Dimitris; Ayana N. Harris; Spencer Jet Multack; Victoria del Pino; Lourdes Simon; and Andrea Ricker Wolfson.

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

WELCOME OUR NEWEST JUDGE, ALEXANDER BOKOR

THE CAPTAIN REPORTS:

YOUR NEWEST COUNTY COURT JUDGE IS .....

ALEXANDER S. BOKOR

Congratulations to Mr. Bokor who was appointed earlier tonight to the open seat on the County Court created by the resignation of Judge Jacqueline Schwartz.

We last covered the JNC nominating process on September 1, 2016 in a post that can be read here.

Alexander Spicola Bokor is 38 years old and he is an 11 year member of The Florida Bar.  He is currently employed as an Assistant County Attorney working for the Miami Dade County Attorney's Office since 2008.  He handles litigation cases and has worked as legal counsel for the Miami Dade Department of Transportation and Public Works, the Property Appraiser's Office and the Tax Collector's Office.  He began his legal career with Jones Day in 2002 and worked for Kozyak Tropin from 2006-2008.  You can read Judge Bokor's entire bio by going here.

Mr. Bokor was chosen by Governor Scott over Ramiro C. Areces, Raul Cuervo, Elijah Levitt, Joseph Mansfield, and Julie Harris Nelson.

YOUR NEXT CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE WILL BE .....

Chosen from among the 15 finalists that are being interviewed next week by the JNC to replace Judge Blake.  On Friday, October 28, 2016, the following attorneys and County Court Judges are scheduled to be interviewed, (we have it on good word that the number has been reduced to 14):

9:30 a.m. Raul A. Cuervo

9:50 a.m. Andrea Ricker Wolfson

10:10 a.m. Spencer Jet Multack

10:30 a.m. Alexander Spicola Bokor

11:10 a.m. Jason Emilios Dimitris

11:30 a.m. Pamela M. Gordon

11:50 a.m. Joseph J. Mansfield

12:10 p.m. Lourdes Simon

1:30 p.m. Elijah A. Levitt

1:50 p.m. Victoria del Pino

2:10 p.m. Jason E. Bloch

2:30 p.m. Wendell Mitchell Graham

3:10 p.m. Milena Abreu

3:30 p.m. Ayana N. Harris

3:50 p.m. Carlos Alberto Lopez, Jr.

The JNC will send between 4-6 names to Governor Scott and he will have 60 days to make the appointment.  Therefore, we should have a new Circuit Court Judge by no later than New Year's Eve.

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

LACTATION ROOM GRAND OPENING .......

THE CAPTAIN REPORTS:

WELL, APPARENTLY IT'S A SLOW NEWS WEEK, SO .......

This and That:

ENQUIRING MINDS WANT TO KNOW? WHERE IS OUR LACTATING ROOM?***

According to a Press Release issued by the 11th Judicial Circuit, there is a big shin dig happening at the Dade County Courthouse on Thursday, September 8th.  Ribbon cutting, dignitaries, food and drink to be served.  The occasion is the opening of a Lactation Room at the courthouse. (We wonder whether Judge Seraphin will be a guest speaker?).

So, paraphrasing Rodney Dangerfield:  "Hey, we get no respect, at the GJB". 

***We received an updated Press Release, which states in part:

 

This project, a joint effort by the County, Miami-Dade FAWL, and the Eleventh Circuit, will be the first lactation room in the Miami-Dade Courts, to be followed in the very near future by the opening of lactation rooms at our other court facilities.

 

“We are very proud to offer this safe, comfortable space for nursing mothers. This room will be especially useful for attorneys and other court participants who often spend many hours here and could really use a quiet space for lactation,” said the Honorable Bertila Soto, Chief Judge of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit.

SO, YOU WANT TO BE A CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE .....

The JNC announces that due to the retirement of Judge Stanford Blake there is an opening on the Circuit Court bench.  Applications to replace Judge Blake are due on September 26, 2016.  Submit your application along with ten copies to:

Daniel Fridman
White & Case LLP
Southeast Financial Center
200 South Biscayne Blvd., Suite 4900
Miami, Florida 33131

SOMEONE WHO IS GETTING RESPECT .......

North of the Border, 33 year old, career prosecutor (8 years to be exact) ASA Jennifer Hilal has been appointed by Governor Scott to an open seat on the Broward County Court bench.  The Sun Sentinel story can be read here.

That's all for your this and that for today.

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

GET WELL SOON

This email went out today. 

 Friends & colleagues, many of you have been inquiring about our good friend Stan.  Stan underwent a very lengthy robotic surgery at UM for oral throat cancer, the surgery went very well, and in about 6 weeks he will undergo intense radiation therapy. Stan is still in ICU, and will be at UM for the balance of the week. Obviously he has taken a leave of absence from the Family Bench.  I spoke to him this morning, and he is upbeat and positive, and sends thanks to all of his well wishers for their prayers and support.  Feel free to email him gatorjudge13@gmail.com, since talking is difficult for now. Best, Bruce

BLAKE BOFFO IN BEANTOWN

The title of the post links to a Boston Globe article praising Judge Stan Blake for his courtroom humor and how he is running the trial of former FBI agent John Connolly. 

Why doesn't Judge Blake have his own TV show?

We hope he stays right here.

Anyone have updates on the trial?

Meanwhile, here is Bob Norman's Broward  New Times Article on newly elected Judge Ian Richards.  Richards ran against a Mike Satz  sponsored incumbent Judge-Catalina Avalos- appointed by  Jeb Bush. . She had all the right endorsements, all the money, and all the powerful Broward Boyz behind her. And She lost.  Broward being Broward, Richards can look forward to a wonderful assignment doing traffic arraignments in some far flung branch court all day. 

See You In Court. 

DISCHARGED!!!

SUICIDE POOL: IT STARTS THURSDAY WITH THE GIANTS -REDSKINS GAME. IF YOU WANT EITHER OF THOSE TEAMS EMAIL US BEFORE GAME TIME. OTHERWISE YOU HAVE UNTIL SUNDAY 12 NOON FOR THE POOL. 

Here's how it works: pick one team each week to win. No points. Straight up. However, when you use that team for that week you can no longer use that team for the rest of the year. David O Markus and Clay Kaiser have already emailed us their picks for the week. 

At stake: bragging rights. A certificate suitable for framing. A starbucks card. And extra two days to prepare for trial on any case you have before Judge Huck. The right to cut to the front of the line on any county court wednesday sounding. Hmm...and a bunch of other stuff. 

There's something about the 5 day forecasted track of Ike that we don't like. 

"One hand washes the other."

Chief Circuit Criminal Court Administrative Judge (CCCCAJ for short) Stanford Blake issued his ruling today and from what we know the PDs will no longer be assigned 3rd Degree Felonies (approximately 60% of all cases filed in Dade) as of September 15, 2008. Those cases will now be assigned to the ROC and their staff of two high school students who have expressed an interest in going to law school in the future. 

The title links to Oh Susanah's Herald story. 

The Canes are an estimated 163 point underdog in their game with the Gators on Saturday. Take the points.  

The SAO is now a 125 point favorite in all 3rd degree felonies. Give the points.  The Fins are a three point dog to the J..E...T..S and Favre on Sunday. Give the points and take gang green. More on that later this week.  

See you in court not taking third degree felonies. 

NEW BOND HEARING/ARTHUR HEARING PROCEDURES

JUDGE BLAKE DOES NOT ANSWER OUR EMAILS

HOWEVER HE DOES EMAIL THE FACDL


HERE IS WHAT HE HAD TO SAY

1) Circuit Judges will do their own Arthur Hearings.
Cancel that 3:00 PM tee time guys.

2) Two new Judges will handle bond hearings Monday through Thursday, with a special guest retired Judge for Fridays.
Who said consistency in setting bond amounts was a good idea anyway?

3) NO MENTION OF GERRY KLEIN.
DADE JUDGES SILENT ON OUSTER OF JUDGE KLEIN DAY SIX.
Fair warning here dear robed readers, we have several reporters who have been speaking with us about this story. Your silence is deafening.

Finally: What about the "dade rule" that because police make so many bogus arrests for non-bondable offenses, that you cannot get an Arthur Hearing before the arraignment? Will that now change?

Scenario: Man and wife are getting divorced. Wife locks husband out of home. Husband climbs through window, gets belongings, including his prized Buck Knife, and as he is walking out the door he is arrested for......? You guessed it- Armed Burglary. Husband can't get bond until 21 days later.

Is this going to change? Are the courts going to be more responsive to the police's blatant manipulation of the system? Or like the Gerry Klein mystery, are our Judges just going to sit there saying "see no evil"??





This really isn't our criminal judiciary, is it?

Here is Judge Blake's perky email:

Hi Everyone,
It now appears that a solution has been found for the weekday bond hearings. Senior Judge Tom Peterson and Judge Fred Seraphin will be handling bond hearings Monday-Thursday. Our Chief has been able to arrange that senior judges will cover the bond hearings on Fridays. This new procedure is scheduled to begin on Monday, June 25th. Because Judge Seraphin will now be doing bond hearings and county court back up, it will be necessary for each division to handle its own Arthur Hearings. I will be asking Fred to send out an email to us to let us know things we should be looking for and see if legal can assist us with any questions we may have. At this time, it appears that some Arthur Hearings currently set during the week of June 25th may be reset in your division. I am sending this email to the judges and JA’s so everyone is aware of the changes. As always thanks for your cooperation and call me with any questions. Stan


Rumpole says, we can only wish some of our clients were as silent as the Dade Judicial Administration on the Judge Klein issue. Well, they do get to see the stupidity of speaking to the police, so we really can't blame them for lawyering up.