IT'S GREAT TO BE ME! (SMILE)

Casablanca: In case you're interested, he greatest movie of all time is on tonight, PBS, 9:00 p.m. Enjoy. 

Judicial investitures tends to be happy events. But dignified. Until now. 
The Judges of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit file in, robed, distinguished, the great legal issues of the day on their minds (Joes for lunch? That new sushi place in Midtown for dinner?). 

The Chief Judge calls the proceedings to order. Friends of the new judge introduce him or her. There is a spiritual moment, when prayer is offered for the judge to find the wisdom to rule on the difficult cases ahead. 

And then the Judge speaks. 

Such was the investiture today of Judge Veronica  Diaz. Yup, she made it to the bench despite the inherent difficulties of being named " Diaz" in Miami. And here's what she wants you to know: 
Her life has been great. A great upbringing. She flew to Miami with a stuffed animal of some sort next to her on the plane. Everything has been just fantastic. No Horatio Alger story her. Unlike some of her colleagues who scraped by on scholarships and grew-up in the projects and routinely heard gunfire in their neighborhood and took the bus to their first job in law because they didn't have a car, it's been a fairly easy ride for her. 

Good for her. Nothing wrong with that. 

And then, a first. 

Some Judges follow precedent, others set it. 
Judge Diaz is already in the latter category. 

Finishing her acceptance speech,  standing on the podium, the elite and power of Dade County law before her, she, to the best of our knowledge, took the very first ever….

JUDICIAL SELFIE!

Ed Cowart is rolling over in shame. 

Beautiful weekend. Enjoy. See you in court Monday. 




"And when you smile for the Camera, you know I love you better…."