TYLMAN CONTINUES DIGGING HER OWN GRAVE; DIAZ DE LA PORTILLA JUMPING INTO THE SAME HOLE .....

THE CAPTAIN REPORTS:

UPDATED:

We do our best to keep it light on this Blog, while regularly discussing important issues that affect our criminal justice family.

But, today, a family, and a police department mourn the loss of a brave young police detective, Cesar "Echy" Echaverry. Detective Echaverry was 29 years old when he was shot while on duty Monday night working his job as a Robbery Intervention Detail (RID) Detective. While he bravely fought for his life, his body surrendered and he passed away tonight.

All of the police officers of our community go out to work each day, kiss their loved ones, spouses, children, and then are prepared to take a bullet for us. To make our community safer. Let us never forget the sacrifices they make for us to protect our safety and security.

May God bless Detective Echaverry and may his family gather strength from the prayers of the citizens of our community.

CAP .......

EARLY VOTING CONTINUES ... 

... AND SO DOES TESS TYLMAN DIGGING HER FLORIDA BAR & JQC HOLES EVEN DEEPER .....

In her latest desperate move, Tess Tylman is sending text messages to voters phones that include a photo of Governor DeSantis. Next to the Governor's photo are the words stamped in bright red VOIE #90 (a reference to Tylman's location on the ballot).  This text violates several Judicial Canons including using Desantis' image as if he is endorsing the candidate and using the Governor's image when DeSantis is also running in the same election and on the same ballot.  If by chance Tylman somehow gets more votes than her opponent, Judge Lody Jean, The Captain predicts that it will be a short rein on the bench for Ms. Tylman when the Florida Supreme Court removes her from office.

In other news, we can't help but "like" several of the Comments that have appeared over the past few days in the Justice Building Blog (JBB).  Thanks mom and dad for the following:

Captain killing it this election year with his multiple stories on the candidates. Rumpole and Captain thank you for the public service you are providing. Thursday, August 11, 2022 10:51:00 PM

It is true. This coverage blows away the herald. They should just link to this site and call it a day.  Friday, August 12, 2022 7:09:00 AM

Cap, I'm loving all this campaign info! Great job.  Saturday, August 13, 2022 11:32:00 AM

That’s a pretty nice investigation! Sunday, August 14, 2022 8:29:00 AM

In case you have missed the coverage, we have been quoted and been provided attribution several times over the past month in the Daily Business Review, the Miami Herald, the Florida Bulldog, among other threads.  Yesterday, THE DBR did a follow up to our story called: GET OUT THE HANDCUFFS ??? HAVE THE DIAZ DE LA PORTILLA BROTHERS BROKEN THE LAW ??? that can be found here.

In the DBR story, reporter Michael Adam Mora (who contacted me directly) wrote a story called: 'This Is Gutter Politics': Ethics Question Raised in Miami-Dade Race Between Judge Fred Seraphin and Renier Diaz de la Portilla. Mora writes: 

"Ethics experts say it could become problematic if someone could prove to the Florida Supreme Court or the Judicial Qualifications Commission that Renier Diaz de la Portilla, a partner at Diaz de la Portilla Lawyers in Miami, was aware of the distribution of certain campaign materials in the judicial race from the PAC that supports his brother, Miami Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla."

Mora went on to say:

"But when the Justice Building Blog published the news Saturday of the alleged criminal implications, Renier Diaz de la Portilla claimed in an email that the blog is “conducting a nasty third-party campaign against me with what I am told is my opponent’s full knowledge and consent.”***

Our colleague Brian Tannebaum was quoted in the story saying: “This is gutter politics,” said Tannebaum, who is not involved in the Group 5 race. “This is exactly the type of conduct that causes the Florida Supreme Court to remove a judge, and in the Santino case they made that clear.” (Tannebaum was referring to one of the two Florida Supreme Court cases we cited in our story). 

Mora went on to say: "Tannebaum said that whether the release of the phone number could lead to Renier Diaz de la Portilla or his brother facing a first-degree misdemeanor, as the anonymous blogger claimed (in the Justice Building Blog), is an academic argument, since one could argue the PAC—a non-governmental entity—disclosed the number in the mailer. Regardless, “If you go down the list,” there are allegedly multiple violations of bar rules and judicial canons."

***In response to Diaz de la Portilla's allegations that his opponent (Judge Seraphin) has full knowledge and provided consent for our posts, we just had to laugh out loud (LOL). Judge Seraphin may read the Blog and would therefore have knowledge as to what we have written. We can assure you that we have not contacted Judge Seraphin and asked for his permission or blessing to post what we have written.

ELECTION OR APPOINTMENT OF JUDGES, THAT IS THE QUESTION .....

A debate broke out in the Comments section of the Blog last week about whether we should continue with the election of judges, or turn to the appointment system (the one used for open seats, and appointments to the appellate courts and Florida Supreme Court).

One Commenter stated:

"651 what bad or extreme appointments has Desantis made in our trial courts? None."  Thursday, August 11, 2022 8:39:00 AM

Let me respond to 8:39 AM by answering his question with a question. Governor DeSantis claims that diversity is of his highest priority when it comes to the appointment of judges. My question is - is he being honest with the citizens of the State of Florida when he makes that statement; is he being honest with himself?

Between January of 2019 when DeSantis was sworn into office and August of 2022, DeSantis has made a total of 191 judicial appointments. Of those 191 appointments, here are the "diverse" numbers he speaks of:

A total of 123 of those judicial appointments were from a group whose resumes included the previous jobs of ASA’s, AUSA’s, and/or AAG’s. Of the 123, a total of 72 of those appointments were pulled directly from one of those three offices. Can you guess how many APDs/FAPDs were appointed directly out of their offices - TWO, THAT’S RIGHT TWO, VERSUS 72. Federal Assistant PD Ayana Harris was appointed to the Miami-Dade County Court in December of 2019. Assistant PD Barry Dickson was appointed to the Escambia County Court in September of 2020.

The answer to my question, if you are being honest with yourself, is NO. DeSantis’ appointments have been anything but diverse.  

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

TERESSA TYLMAN MUST BE DEFEATED ....... VOTE FOR JUDGE LODY JEAN .......

THE CAPTAIN REPORTS:

I’M AS MAD AS HELL AND I’M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE .......

I have been writing for this Blog for nearly 17 years. My readers know that, on occasion (more than a few times actually) I have called out judicial candidates when I thought it was appropriate to do so. This BLOG has a daily readership that numbers in the thousands and it is time for our readers to pay attention and get to work. It is time for you to “get up now ... I want all of you to get up out of your chairs ... I want you to get up right now, and go to the window, open it and stick you head out and yell .....

Judge Lody Jean is a really good judge. She has paid her dues, worked her way up through her entire legal career and impressed two different Governors (Scott in 2018 & DeSantis in 2020) who have appointed her to the County Court, and then the Circuit Court bench.

Her opponent, Teressa Tylman, on the other hand, does not deserve to be on the ballot - nay, she barely deserves to be called a lawyer.  She has brought nothing but shame and embarrassment to the idea of getting elected to the bench.

We first highlighted Ms. Tylman’s making a joke of the entire judicial election process when we wrote a column about her candidacy on April 27, 2022 entitled A ROSE IS A ROSE IS A ROSE, EXCEPT WHEN YOUR NAME IS TERESSA MARIA TYLMAN, that can be found here

Since qualifying to run against Incumbent Judge Lody Jean, Ms. Tylman has done just about everything she can to prove to the voters of Miami-Dade County that she does not belong on the bench.

1. Tylman has avoided showing up to nearly every single judicial forum (nearly a dozen at last count) that have been held over the past three months including FACDL-Miami, League of Prosecutors, AFL-CIO, Fraternal Order of Police, Miami-Dade County Bar Association, and numerous other organization sponsored forums.

2. Tylman recently hired Antonio Verdugo as her new Campaign Manager. Verdugo runs a company called Winning Strategies. That is the same Antonio Verdugo who is the President of the ultra right wing Christian Family Coalition. In fact, the CFC is the only endorsement (instead of using the word endorsement, the CFC calls it their list of Highly Qualified candidates) that Tylman has received in her campaign to unseat Judge Jean.

3. Shocker Alert - Tylman finally showed up to a judicial forum last week, a Breakfast Club, hosted by Michael Gongora (former Miami Beach Commissioner and current candidate for Mayor of Miami Beach). Gongora just happens to be an attorney and he works at the Becker Law Firm. Guess who else works at the Becker Law Firm - Teresa Tylman’s husband.

To give you some idea of just how much of a nightmare it would be to the citizens of Miami-Dade County if Tylman somehow got elected on August 23rd, take a look at the video from 20:55 to 31:10 and compare the candidates, Judge Jean and Teressa Tylman. The word embarrassment comes to mind. The link is to a Facebook page that can be found here, scroll down to the Miami Beach Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club, date of July 19, and then run the video forward until 20:55.

4. Tylman told the Miami Herald Editorial Board that she has taken part in “10 to 12” bench trials and “hundreds of hours” of evidentiary hearings, “which is the equivalent of a trial.” When asked to highlight a case she’s worked, Cervera asked, “Can I get back to you on that?”

In their endorsement of Judge Jean, the Herald did provide our Blog with the recognition it deserves when they said: “Unfortunately, Cervera’s campaign has been clouded with accusations, first aired in the Judicial Blog, that she has gone professionally by another name, Teressa Tylman, until she decided to run.” The Herald went on to say: “We think Cervera’s legal resume is thin, especially when compared to that of incumbent Jean. In legal circles, Jean is known as an impartial, qualified and well-prepared jurist who keeps a tight calendar. Voters should return this smart judge to the bench. The Miami Herald recommends LODY JEAN for Miami-Dade Circuit Court, Group 3.”

5. The Daily Business Review has also written a couple of stories about the Jean v Tylman race. In providing attribution to our BLOG, the DBR stated that: “The Justice Building Blog first broke the news about the “name game“ Cervera is allegedly playing”. They went on to point out that: “In 2014, Cervera married Adam Cervera, a shareholder at Becker & Poliakoff. But Cervera has not changed her last name with the Florida Bar, on her driver’s license, her voter registration, the Miami-Dade County Property Appraiser and the Florida Division of Corporations, for instance, until recently.”

6. Political Cortadito has also run a story on the contest between Judge Jean and Ms. Tylman. In citing to the Justice Building Blog, they wrote “The Justice Building blog that broke this story said her driver’s license and voter’s registration were in the name Tylman until recently.” They went on to quote Professor Scott Fingerhut, in saying: “While no judicial seat is guaranteed,” Professor Fingerhut concluded, “in light of Ms. Tylman’s seeming lack of qualifications to serve as judge, her decision to run against an experienced, respected incumbent — Judge Lody Jean —  based on name-recognition alone is foul play and must cause our community to question why.”

7. What kind of support does Tylman have? To date, Tylman has raised a total of $14,625 from 60 contributors (with 12 of them being family members). In comparison, Judge Lody Jean has attracted 785 contributors who have donated $308,476. Tylman’s fundraising numbers are by far the lowest of the 14 judicial candidates in this election cycle; Jean’s numbers, on the other hand, are by far the largest.

8. The Miami-Dade Bar 2022 Judicial Poll Results were released last night. MDB members spoke loudly when they said that by a vote of 87% to 13% that Judge Lody Jean was by far the more qualified candidate; in fact Judge Jean scored as the most qualified of all 14 candidates for judicial office in this cycle.

Each of our readers knows ten voters. Each of our readers gets that same phone call from their mother, or father, or another family member who always asks the same question at this time of year “Hey Captain, I don’t know any of these names - who should I vote for”.  It’s your job to tell ten voters and then ask them to each tell ten voters - to vote for LODY JEAN.

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

LIES, DAMN LIES, AND OUR BLOG

 As a Rose by any other name (would deny a bond just as sweet?) struggles with the demand of a full case load and lots of invitations to Judicial Election functions (see the PoliticalCodadito blog) we want to state a few things. 

In response to our blog post about her name change. Ms. Tylman-Tua -Cervera told PoliticalCodadito that our post was "a lie. It's twisted. Deliberately distorted." As to "twisted" we will have a more detailed response below- we're not gonna take it anymore, that's for sure. 

As to a lie, we reported she had her DL and voter registration card in the name Tylman and that her bar profile was under Tylman. If that is a lie, let us know and we will print a full retraction. It did come out in the interview that she has her passport under the name Cevera. If so, it is an important fact that should be out there for the voters' consideration. Of course, the lawyer in us would remind Ms. TC that at many the pretrial detention hearing in federal court, the prosecutors delight in telling the court that our client has a passport in a different name. Just saying, it could backfire when you need it most. 

It also came out that TC changed her name when her son saw her Zoom name as different than Cevera. Personally, we would advise to leave children out of this contretemps. 

And finally this- TC said "she has always dreamed of being a judge." 

Stop the presses Mr. Ovalle. Front page herald: Judicial candidate stuns world, revealing she always dreamed of being a judge. 

"The Miami legal community reacted in shock and amazement when a judicial candidate revealed she always dreamed of being a judge. 'It's a game changer' said one political consultant. 'We've never seen a candidate say that before.' Speaking with a Judge who asked to remain anonymous, the Judge said 'We all want to be judges. But having always dreamed of being a judge? Wow! That is something special. I hope she wins.' "

So lets play this forward at an imaginary candidate forum, assuming Ms. TC could clear her crowded schedule of cases and other judicial receptions and actually attend one. 

When asked why she is running for judge, Judge Lody gives a response about how rewarding the job is in serving Miami and how it is a continuation of her work as a prosecutor. There is polite and genuine applause. 

Then Ms. TC rises and states "Well, I've always dreamed of being a judge." A moment of shock, followed by a raucous standing ovation and loud cheers. 

A Rose by any other name- is a Dream Candidate For Judge. 

And now, rocking all the way from 1984. We are Twisted? Well, Ms. Dream Candidate- let us say....WE'RE NOT GONNA TAKE IT ANYMORE. 

AN ATTACK ON PROFESSIONAL WOMEN

 We have been called many things. Accused of bias, stupidity, and perhaps worst of all- boring writing. And that's just from our mother. 

Others in the legal community have said worse. 

And then there was this in the DBR, who did a story on the Captain's Name Game post, which hit our legal community like the bomb it was: 

But in response, Cervera called the blog post “an attack on professional women who engage in the act of assuming their husbands’ surnames.”

“It is disappointing that issues like this one are raised to distract residents from being able to learn more about me and the reasons why I am running for judge,” Cervera said in an email. “It saddens me that with all the progress women have made, we still remain susceptible to attacks about what last name we decide to use.”

 An attack? You betcha. On professional women? Surely you jest. You can do better than that Ms. Tylman-Tua-Sanchez-Wong whateverwillwork.com.

You have been married how long? Several years at least? And you were too busy to fill out the paperwork to change your name, what with the cleaning and the shopping, and such as a busy housewife? 

You have been caught Madam. Exposed for what you are- a win-at-all-costs-character who will do what it takes to play the name game in Miami Judicial elections. Period. 

The John Kennedy School of Government awards Profile in Courage Awards to public servants who have made decisions putting the welfare of the public above their own personal needs. Elected officials who voted their conscience, and then lost the next election as a consequence of their vote.  

You Madam, will never know the accomplishment of standing for something bigger than yourself. Perhaps, it is this sort of thinking that led you to change your name in advance of an election, rather than seek to tout your experiences. 

So once again, we offer you the pages of this blog. Unedited. Speak your piece. Rise in your defense. Tell all of us why you deserve to be elected. How your experiences and abilities make you uniquely qualified to sit in judgment of others. And if you wish, address your name change- and how at this particular moment in your life- you needed to take your husband's name like the good wife you are. 

Should you doubt our sincerity, email us and we will send you the private emails of respected judges and attorneys who will vouch for our sincerity and, if it makes you feel better, in to their hands we will place the blog and the ability to publish a post, so you feel secure. 

The floor is yours. 

Do you have the courage to accept? 

Oh, one last thing. Check out the post of the Captain on August 9, 2010, in which he reports on the name change of one Peter Adrian, who, like you, desperate to win a judicial race, reached into his long lost past and found the sur name "Camacho". Adrian went on to win one term, before being roundly and deservedly beaten, earning the reputation of one of the worst judges to disgrace the bench of Miami-Dade County. 

An attack on women? How dare you. 

An attack on liars and lack of character is more like it. 

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

A ROSE IS A ROSE IS A ROSE, EXCEPT WHEN YOUR NAME IS TERESSA MARIA TYLMAN .....

BREAKING NEWS: In Circuit Court Group 52, Incumbent Judge Oscar Rodriguez-Fonts now has an opponent. Jason Bloch has filed paperwork today to run in that Group. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS RACE IS IN THE COMMENTS SECTION INCLUDING A FEW NUGGETS YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS READING.

UPDATE: Rumpole Says: The Japanese have a saying: "When a man walks into a room, he brings his whole life with him." 

We have a saying here in Miami: "When an Anglo woman married to a Hispanic man decides to run for judge, she brings her newly adopted name to the ballot."

Well done Captain. And we hope Ms. TMTC (hijklmnop-LSMFT) decides to email us and respond to this post. She is invited to do so without any edits (unless she curses at us). 

THE CAPTAIN REPORTS:

A ROSE IS A ROSE IS A ROSE, EXCEPT WHEN YOUR NAME IS TERESSA MARIA TYLMAN.

We have been writing for this BLOG (thank you Rumpole) since late 2005. We got into this business to report on the JNC process, newly appointed judges named by our Governor, and judicial elections. If you are an avid reader, then you know that we have, on several occasions, called out judicial candidates for playing the Name Game. In order to enhance their appeal to a certain segment of the voting population, a candidate who went by one name for years and years overnight becomes a totally different person.

Well, in 2022, that honor (but will she eventually be called Her Honor) goes to attorney Teressa Maria Tylman.

THE FLORIDA BAR

According to The Florida Bar, Ms. Tylman was listed as an active member of the Bar under the name Tylman from her admission in September of 2010 until February of 2022. She also used the email address for Bar purposes of tessatylman@gmail.com

On February 23, 2022, according to The Florida Bar, she changed her last name to Cervera and her email address to teressamcervera@gmail.com and she became:

Teressa Maria Cervera, The Florida Bar, Admitted: 9/23/10

6800 Bird Rd # 444
Miami, FL 33155-3708

So, with the help of an anonymous tipster, we did some checking.

FLORIDA DIVISION OF CORPORATIONS

According to SUNBIZ, Ms. Tylman is currently and since inception has always (for ten years) been incorporated under the name:

Entity Name: TERESSA MARIA TYLMAN, P.A.

Current Principal Place of Business

2030 SW 60TH AVE
MIAMI, FL 33155

SIGNATURE:  TERESSA TYLMAN PRESIDENT 06/03/2021

MIAMI-DADE PROPERTY APPRAISER

According to the MIAMI-DADE PROPERTY APPRAISER, (we ran her office address used on Sunbiz), she and her husband own a home at that location, under the name, you guessed it, Tylman:

ADDRESS: 2030 SW 60TH AVENUE

Owners:

ADAM CERVERA*
TERESSA MARIA TYLMAN
WARRANTY DEED: Signed June 7, 2017

*Adam Cervera is Teressa Tylman’s husband. He is an attorney employed by the law firm of Becker & Poliakoff.

LINKEDIN

According to LinkedIn, at one time Ms. Tylman was employed by the Law Firm Fein & Meloni, under the name, you guessed it again, Tylman:

Teressa Tylman - Fein & Meloni - LinkedIn

FLORIDA VOTER ID CARD

According to her VOTER Registration card, Ms. Tylman is 37 years old, she is registered as a Republican, and she uses the name, you guessed it, Tylman, on her official voter’s ID card.

FLORIDA DRIVERS LICENSE

According to our investigation, the most recent Florida Drivers License issued to Ms. Tylman was issued on February 12, 2022, under T-xxx-xxx-85-552-0. The name on the license, you guessed it, Teressa Maria Tylman. Only eleven days later, Ms. Tylman was changing her name with The Florida Bar, from Tylman to Cervera.

Let me say very clearly that, Ms. Tylman, is not breaking the law. We last exposed the Name Game charade in 2018, when in Broward County, an attorney names Jason Allen (his middle name) Rosner decided to file paperwork to run for Judge under the name Jason Allen-Rosner. The reasoning for the hyphen was all to in your face clear - Rosner did not want to be listed last on the ballot of the four competitors in his race and by changing his name to Allen-Rosner he went from last to first on the ballot.  We have also reported numerous times in Miami-Dade County when a judicial candidate magically gained an Hispanic name, seemingly overnight.

But running for Judge means that one has read and is familiar with the Code of Judicial Conduct. Canon One of the Code discusses INTEGRITY and states that "An ..... honorable judiciary is indispensable to justice in our society. A judge should participate in establishing, maintaining, and enforcing high standards of conduct, and shall personally observe those standards so that the integrity ..... of the judiciary may be preserved."

INTEGRITY, for those of you keeping score at home, is defined as: "the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles".

WHAT IS THE LAW???

We previously spoke with Jesse Dyer, an attorney in the General Counsel's office with the Division of Elections, Florida Department of State, and here is what he told us about the issue of what name they permit to appear on a ballot:

First, there are no Florida Statutes nor Florida Administrative Codes that directly address this issue.

Second, there is an Advisory Opinion issued by the Division of Elections, authored 36 years ago, AO Number 86-06 that primarily addresses "nicknames" appearing on the ballot.

The AO reads, in pertinent part:

" ..... Under common law principles, not abrogated by Florida law, a name consists of one Christian or given name and one surname, patronymic or family name; therefore, the name printed on the ballot ordinarily should be the Christian or given name and surname"..... "However, it has been determined that any name by which a candidate is known is sufficient on a ballot, and a person is legally permitted to have printed on the ballot the name which the candidate has adopted and under which he or she transacts private and official business, 29 C.J.S. Elections §161."

The Advisory Opinion goes on to state that:

"Election officials, however, may be justified in refusing to print on the ballot a candidate's nickname when it is not shown that the nickname ever was used by the candidate as part of his legal name, and such officials may be equally justified in refusing to print on the ballot a candidate's choice of a name which has not been adopted by him or her and under which the candidate has not transacted private and official business. See C.J.S. Elections §161."

For 37 years, Teressa Maria Tylman held herself out as Tylman. When she married her husband, Adam Cervera in 2014, she continued to use the Tylman name for another eight years. But when she decided to run for Circuit Court Judge against Judge Lody Jean, Tess Tylman magically became Teressa Maria Cervera, overnight.

So, there you have it. Maybe it’s time for a change in the law. Or maybe, just maybe, we should expect just a bit more integrity from some of our judicial candidates.**

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

**Ms. Tylman aka Cervera is invited to email us with an explanation/understanding as to why she decided to change her name with The Florida Bar in February to Cervera. We will print her emailed response on this Blog (with her permission of course).

***The photo above is of the UPS Store located at 6800 Bird Road.  Ms. Tylman aka Cervera has her law office address listed with The Florida Bar, as #444, at that location.