JUSTICE BUILDING BLOG

WELCOME TO THE OFFICIAL RICHARD E GERSTEIN JUSTICE BUILDING BLOG. THIS BLOG IS DEDICATED TO JUSTICE BUILDING RUMOR, HUMOR, AND A DISCUSSION ABOUT AND BETWEEN THE JUDGES, LAWYERS AND THE DEDICATED SUPPORT STAFF, CLERKS, COURT REPORTERS, AND CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS WHO LABOR IN THE WORLD OF MIAMI'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE. POST YOUR COMMENTS, OR SEND RUMPOLE A PRIVATE EMAIL AT HOWARDROARK21@GMAIL.COM. Winner of the prestigious Cushing Left Anterior Descending Artery Award.

Saturday, May 31, 2025

ONE REASON WHY WE LOVE BASEBALL

 Dodger`s announcer Red Barber had a bleeding ulcer and could not serve as the lead Dodgers broadcaster.

The Dodgers still had Barber’s partner, Connie Desmond, but they needed  another announcer, so Dodgers GM Branch Rickey went out to find a suitable addition to the Dodgers broadcast team and settled on Ernie Harwell.

However, Ernie Harwell had a contract with the Atlanta Crackers and Crackers President Earl Mann was not going to let his announcer go without compensation, so the Dodgers sent catcher Cliff Dapper to Atlanta and Ernie Harwell became in 1948  the only broadcaster ever traded for a player.

Wednesday, May 28, 2025

ALUMNI IN THE NEWS

 The REGJB's very own retired Judge Jon Colby has made the news with his impassioned advocacy for the Menedez brothers. If you did not know, Judge Colby raises therapy dogs (Grace is the current one) and takes them to hospitals, nursing homes, and ...prisons, where he not only met Sirhan Sirhan (who fell on to the floor crying when allowed to pet Grace) but got to know the Menendez brothers and testified at their re-sentencing hearing. 

Hardened criminals aren't the only ones who gain perspective and grace with age. Sometimes "tough" Judges do as well. 

The NY Post article is here. 

Doing great things...and allowing a retired judge to tag along. 


From the article:

A retired tough-on-crime judge has become a surprising advocate for allowing Erik and Lyle Menendez to be released on parole after the shotgun murders of their parents more than three decades ago. And it was all because of his beloved golden retrievers.

Ex-Miami criminal court judge Jonathan T. Colby has visited the brothers numerous times in prison in the last 10 years, accompanied by his pups, as part of an outreach program that uses dogs to soften the hearts of hardened killers.

Monday, May 26, 2025

60 YEARS AGO



The most iconic sports photograph? 

May 25 1965. Neil Leifer  a 22-year-old photographer sent by Sports Illustrated to cover the fight in Lewiston, Maine captured the moment. Round one. Ali hit Liston with a short right in their rematch from when Ali won the title from Liston in Miami Beach. Because of Liston's mob-ties and Ali's speed, many didn't see the punch and called it "the phantom punch" and opined that Liston took a dive. He did not. Ali put him down. 

The photo didn’t even make the cover. 

Look closely between Ali’s legs. Senior Sports Illustrated photographer Herb Scharfman can be seen holding his camera. In a recent interview Lefier said his colleague had his choice of seats ringside and took the wrong one. 

If you watch the video of the knockdown you can barely see this moment. Ali kept moving and swinging his arms. Leifer caught the moment with milliseconds to spare. 

Remarkable. 

Happy Memorial Day. 

Friday, May 23, 2025

PAUL DONNELLY HAS UNEXPECTEDLY PASSED AWAY

 

 



We did not know Paul well, but he has been described to us as universally well-liked and respected. A former Dade PD, he had a great sense of humor and was a devoted lawyer to his clients. He passed away un-expectedly Friday morning. It has been reported his medical emergency was either before, during or after a sentencing proceeding before Judge Becerra. 

This is not our normal, upbeat Labor Day -Holiday Weekend post. 

Instead, the loss of a beloved colleague once again reminds us of the fragility and preciousness of life.  We take so much for granted, and yet our time on this earth is unknown to all but our maker. It may sound corny and gratuitous but take this holiday weekend and spend time with friends and loved ones. Put down the depo notes or the brief and do something you have been putting off. A walk with your life partner; brunch with your parents; a movie with your kids; a friends night out. 

Enjoy this life we have been given and most importantly take good care of yourself. If you haven't been to your doctor for an annual physical, go schedule one. At almost any age you should be able to run a mile without stopping, absent physical limitations. Try some pushups and sit-ups every morning.  Have a big bowl of fruit for breakfast. If the stress of our life is getting to you try learning mediation.  TM is a great program and something that has worked for us for well over two decades. 

Take care of yourself and cherish others in your life.  Do good. Feel good. Be good to yourself and others. Life isn't that hard when you boil it down to the simple things that are the essence of living in grace and gratitude. 

We hope the grief of the loss of Paul by his loved ones will be eased by the comments and memories that our readers will contribute this weekend. 

BTW DOM and I agreed to both do posts in memory of Paul. 

Wednesday, May 21, 2025

EVERY DAY

 Every day for the next ten days is going to be the same backwards. 

5/20/25

5/21/25

5/22/25

5/23/25

5/24/25

5/25/25

5/26/25

5/27/25

5/28/25

5/29/25

Seems like a good reason for a continuance. 

Of course, if you think about the things going on, every day since last  November has seemed backwards. 

Take for example our brilliant Homeland Security Director - Kristi Noem  She was asked during senate testimony by Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) what Habeas Corpus is. The genius scholar who is entrusted with securing the safety of our country responded  "Habeas corpus is a constitutional right that the president has to be able to remove people from this country….duh” 

(We added the duh) 

In other words she pretty much got it backwards.  

Meanwhile in the comments of the last post, lots of chatter about a new judge inviting a disgraced lawyer/prosecutor to her investiture. 

Wednesday, May 14, 2025

14 UP FOR REVIEW

 The Supreme Court will take up the issue of whether your favorite federal judge can issue a nationwide injunction. So just speaking hypothetically, if the Government decided to round up Japanese Americans and place them in internment camps, could a Judge in Miami stop the Feds from doing it in California? Or would the judge’s order just extend to Hialeah? 

The backdrop to this issue is even juicier: on day one of his reign of terror, the current president signed an executive order ending birthright citizenship. Lawyers filed motions arguing that the plain language of the amendment clearly conferred citizenship to anyone born in the United States. Plus, they argued, a long line of cases held the same thing and since the cases were not about abortion, they were accorded precedential value. District Court Judges who had no illusions about being elevated to their circuit court with this president, who were assigned the case issued nationwide injunctions.  

But now there is serious consideration being given to the argument that the 14th Amendment was about slavery and applied to granting slaves citizenship in the state they were born in. Congress did not intend to extend the right of citizenship to the children of foreign nationals who just happened to be born while passing through Kennedy International Airport. 

So before we weigh in, what say you? 

Here is the relevant portion of the 14th Amendment for you robed readers who don’t do your own legal research: 

All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside

Thursday, May 08, 2025

WE HAVE A POPE

UPDATE: BEST LINES OF THE DAY: 

Chicago  produced a Pope before it produced a quarterback who threw for 4,000 yards.

And this 

Pope Leo was picked in two days. Shedeur Sanders was picked in three.  

 We have a Pope AND ....... drumroll please....

HE'S AN AMERICAN

WE HAVE AN AMERICAN POPE 

USA  ALL THE WAY 

CARDINAL ROBERT FRANCIS PREVOST IS OUR NEW POPE 



Tuesday, May 06, 2025

MAILBAG

Wednesday update: The Conclave will begin today.  There will be at least one vote. The rules require four votes a day but the Conclave doesn’t start until 4:30 pm Rome time. And Uber Eats - the Vatican/Conclave division-  will be standing by- Pepe’s Mexican and Sakura Sushi are rumored to be favorites amongst the Cardinals.  133 Cardinals are voting - the most in Papal history. Keep an eye on the Italian Cardinal and the Cardinal from the Philippines as early favorites.  But it’s all a mystery shrouded in secrecy and tradition and who doesn’t love that? 

Our favorite Conclave witticism? It is said a Pope walks into a Conclave and leaves a Cardinal. Think about it. 


 Time for our mailbag. 

A reader asks 


You sometimes write, Rump, that you have "robed readers". I have a question for any judge who cares to respond, or anyone who knows: What on earth causes judges to arrive late to their calendar? It is the rule, rather than the exception. Taxpayers are funding correction staff, clerks, calendar clerks, ASAs and PDs to sit and wait. Civilians sit and wait. Its an ungodly waste of time and money. I cannot imagine the judges routinely have pressing business at 9AM. How is this anything other than an abuse of power? On campaigns for their jobs, they should be confronted with how frequently they start their job on time.

Saturday, May 03, 2025

FACDL AWARDS BANQUET

 The FACDL awards banquet is Saturday night. Of course we were neither invited, nor will we attend. We do not join organizations that would have us. 

There is a very deserving list of honorees and we post them in the spirit of pro bono publico




Judge Wolfson won the Kogie- our favourite award. Well deserved.  Justice Kogan was a gem- a true one of a kind man and jurist. And Judge Wolfson is truly deserving of an award named after a man of intelligence, honor, integrity, and devotion to justice. 

Daisy Serrano should be so proud to win the Marcia Cooke award.  A great award named after a great woman - and Daisy is so deserving of this recognition. 

And Michele Borchew has been everywhere the last couple of years kicking the ass of the Dade SAO ASAs. Her award is well deserved. 

And it is nice to see Regional Counsel lawyers win the Rodney Thaxton Against All Odds Award. Rodney was someone we practiced with. He was committed to Indigent Defense and the RC3 lawyers did a great job in a case with truly awful facts.  

Rothman has been doing it as good as anyone and many times better for a long long time. 

Did we miss anyone?  Once again no one wins The Rumpole award for misanthropic behavior while winning cases. Maybe someday. 

Well done everyone. 
Well done indeed. 


Friday, May 02, 2025

IF IT IS FRIDAY

If it is Friday in America 2025 

Then the president is seeking to defund NPR and PBS. 

Why does he hate big bird and the Cookie Monster ?  


Wednesday, April 30, 2025

SAD

  By now word has spread through the Miami legal community that a longtime and well known law professor at FIU has been relieved of his position pending a review by FIU of allegations by a law student that he inappropriately displayed a picture or pictures of an animal with its genitalia exposed. The Herald ran an article and we allowed comments about it in the prior post. 

We do not need to pile on - especially since there has been no determination of guilt- only an allegation. Someone’s reputation is at stake and we take that seriously. We will be especially strict with the comments  so kindly act accordingly. We get it is an issue. We just have to thread a needle here. 

Oy. Or as we say in Miami - ay dios mio. 

Meanwhile DOM has all the news about the state of Florida giving Judge Williams the middle finger and not enforcing or respecting her injunction to stop State law enforcement officers from arresting immigrants.  We wouldn’t mess with Judge Williams  if we were you. 

Check it out here  

https://sdfla.blogspot.com/


Tuesday, April 29, 2025

A STANDING OVATION

 A standing O is not newsworthy unless it occurs in the Supreme Court and all 9 justices join in. 

That was the scene on Monday as assistant solicitor general Edwin S Kneedler presented his 160th argument on behalf of the United States.  After he finished CJ Roberts called him back to the podium to recognize his achievement and note that it was Kneedler’s last argument. From The NY Times: 

You have just presented your 160th argument before this court, and I understand it is intended to be your last,” the chief justice told the lawyer, Edwin S. Kneedler, who is retiring as a deputy solicitor general. “That is the record for modern times.

Kannon Shanmugam, a veteran Supreme Court lawyer, said it was “one of the most electric moments I’ve ever seen in the courtroom.”

The tribute to Mr. Kneedler’s candor and integrity came against the backdrop of a different kind of courtroom behavior. In the early months of the second Trump administration, its lawyers have been accused of gamesmanship, dishonesty and defiance, and have been fired for providing frank answers to judges.Mr. Kneedler presented a different model, former colleagues said.“Ed is the embodiment of the government lawyer ideal — one whose duty of candor to the court and interest in doing justice, not just winning a case, always carried the day,” said Gregory G. Garre, who served as solicitor general under President George W. Bush

We won’t see a lawyer like him representing the United States again for several years sadly. In other news over 100 lawyers in the DOJ civil rights division have resigned rather than represent the division’s new mandate of making sure men don’t compete in women’s sports. Yes we are not making that up. The sections that enforce anti-discrimination laws and prosecute police brutality have been eviscerated.  But the anti trans section is fully staffed and working hard. 

Don’t believe us? Check this out 

https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/28/politics/justice-department-civil-rights-division-resignations/index.html


And from the Washington Post: 

In one of her first acts, Dhillon changed the mission statements for many of division offices to align with Trump executive orders with titles such as “Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling,” “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” and “Eradicating Anti-Christian Bias.

Monday, April 28, 2025

ELECTION DAY EH?

 Tuesday  update  we were right - Carney won and will continue to be Canada's PM. 

In other news We seem to have lost all our Miami Heat fans  as the Cleveland Cavs who were up by as much as 60 nipped out a win at the end and CRUSHED your Miami Heat by ( wait for it ) 55 points- 138-83. Where are all the front running Miami Heat fans? Busy with other things we guess.  We had the Cavs minus 50 so we won our bet  hahahahaha.  ( with apologies to Judge Colodny who is a true Heat fan through good times and bad). 

It’s elections day…in 🇨🇦 Canada - our fearless neighbor to the north who refuses to back down to a bully. The last bastion of democracy in North America. 

Who do you want to win? PM Mark Carney- proudly Canada Strong and anti- he who must not be named; vs challenger Pierre Poilievre. 

Rumple predicts a resounding victory for the PM. 

Thoughts on Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders dropping to the fifth round? Good scouting or racism or just fear of the whole Sanders circus coming to town?

You got about two months to try cases before judges and prosecutors take their summer sabbatical. 

Problems at the SAO are not going away. We see the office openly mocked in court - comments about how they cannot be trusted just go unchallenged.  As we have always said: it takes a lifetime to build a reputation and about one minute to lose it. 

And speaking of Elections the Cardinals in Rome will conclave starting May 7 and will be under lock and key with no electronics until the leader says HABEMUS PAPAM  We have a pope. Every Cardinal under 80 may vote. And t includesCavs c Tony LaRussa and Albert Pujols (bad baseball joke). No truth to the rumors that even without electronics the Cardinals will have access to the finals of the Bachelor and be able to stream and catch up on White Lotus. 

US Secretary of  Defense Pete Hegseth  has a highly classified chat group about the conclave. Jesenia Gonzalez who sells hot dogs from a cart  outside the pentagon and is on the chat group says the Cardinals will take more than the two days they took in 2005 and 2013 as Pope Francis appointed a lot of cardinals in places that never had one - like Rwanda, Haiti and Myanmar 🇲🇲 so many Cardinals don’t know each other.  That Vatican happy hour this Thursday is a can’t miss event. 

Conclaves fascinate us  

Happy Monday. 

Thursday, April 24, 2025

WITH THE FIRST PICK IN THE 2025 DRAFT...

 It's draft day. While the NY Mets are riding a 7-game wining streak (substantially enhancing our Draft Kings Account), and having swept two series at home this week, and starting the season 12-1 at home for the best start in Mets history, we turn our attention briefly to the NFL for draft weekend starting tonight. 

1 Titans - The consensus pick is Miami QB Cam Ward. 

2 Browns- Here is our first critique. The Browns- perhaps the worst drafting team in all of professional sports- and going to blow it again. They are going to pick Travis Hunter- the Heisman Award winning two-way CB/WR from Colorado. The Browns GM called Hunter the "Ohtani of Football" and Hunter will be a good-great player, but follow us on this.  The Browns just re-signed  Myles Garrett to an enormous contract. Penn State OLB Abdul Carter is perhaps the best pure football player in the draft. If the Browns were able to line up  Carter opposite Garrett, they would automatically have the best pass rush in the league for the next five years, and prevent teams from double-teaming Garrett. Drafting Carter would give the Browns the best player in the draft and exponentially expand the value of Garrett. But they will draft Hunter. 

3 Giants - They race to the podium and grab Carter. 

4 Cheaters - The consensus pick is OT Will Campbell from LSU. Having got their QB last year, now they need to protect him. But why not Ashton Jeanty, RB from Boise State? Nothing opens up the passing game then a generational talent at RB. Jeanty would be our pick- there's plenty of O linemen in rounds 2-7. 

5. Jax Jags-  Hard to see Jeanty falling past the Jags for the reasons above. If the Cheaters grab him, then Jax takes Campbell. 

6 Raiders- No one is sadder about losing Jeanty then new Raiders coach Pete Carrol. He loves building a team with a RB. Don't discount Vegas trading up with the Cheaters. If not, then consensus pick is OT Armand Membou...but Rumpole says Arizona WR Tetairoa McMillan is a Raiders type of player- and new QB Geno Smith would love to be throwing to him. Interesting fact- McMillan is going to be the first player in the NFL named Tetairoa. How about that nugget? 

7. J..E...T..S. Jets Jets Jets.  For the second year in a row the Jets grab a great Ol in round 1, choosing Kelvin Banks JR from Texas. Having lost RT Morgan Moses in FA, the Jets have this wild idea that teams who win Super Bowls start with dominating OL and DL lines like...um....the Eagles have done. 

8. Carolina Panthers. Let us tell you who they are NOT taking. Shedeur Sanders. Instead the Panthers grab OLB Jalon Walker from Georgia. 

9. New Orleans Saints. Now Sanders is in play. Rumpole says DO NOT DO IT. He is not a first round talent. the choice is between Sanders and Mason Graham, DT Michigan. They should draft Graham (see comments about the Jets and Eagles above), but we think they just might pull the trigger on Shedeur. 

10.  Da Bears. This is easy. They grab the best TE in the draft for their new QB- Tyler Warren from Penn State. 

11. San Fran. Now things get tricky. There's a lot of choices. We think the 49ers go for Mykel Williams, DE Georgia if none of the other defensive players have fallen to them. 

12. Cowboys. Talk about teams that have lately blow the draft, the Cowboys are right up there. They wanted  Arizona WR Tetairoa McMillan, but he's gone. They are a candidate to trade with the Cheaters to grab Jeanty, which would be a great trade for them. But assuming they stand pat and ignore the urge to draft the punter from North Dakoata State, then it's either WR Luther Burden III from Missouri, or one of the two top cornerbacks -Jahdae Brown from Texas or Will Johnson from Michigan. 

13.YOUR Miami Dolphins.  If the Cowpokes don't draft a CB then the Fins grab Jahdae Brown from Texas which is the player they have targeted. If the Cowpokes take Brown, then the Fins most likely will take Johnson, but they will consider trading down or two of the Big Defensive Tackles on the board- Derrick Harmon from Oregon or Shemar Stewart from Texas A & M. Our choice- the big guy from Oregon to anchor the defensive line  for the next five years. 

We may...may...live blog the draft. Tune in and see. 

Oh, and Shedeur Sanders? He falls past the Steelers at 21 ( he is not a Mike Tomlin type of player) and out of the first Round to the NY Giants in Round Two. The Steelers trade out of the first round (they currently do not have a 2nd round pick) and grab their QB in the second round UNLESS  DT Derrick Harmon is still on the board. Then they grab him as he IS a Tomlin type player. 

Have fun and enjoy the draft. 

Tuesday, April 22, 2025

WE RESIGN

 Three more prosecutors in the SDNY chose honor over dishonor and courage over obsequiousness.  This is their letter.  This is what real lawyers with backbones do. They don’t back down to darkness and they don’t cower to bullies.  We need more lawyers like themv.

we resign by Anonymous PbHV4H on Scribd

Monday, April 21, 2025

POPE FRANCIS

 The Pope has died one day after courageously meeting the faithful for Easter. He also met with VP JD ( stands for “just dumb”?) Vance earlier this week prompting many Rumpole acolytes to ask on social media if the VP can go meet Putin? 

Longtime and careful readers of the Blog know there is nothing that fascinates us more than the ritual and tradition after a Pope goes to meet his maker. The public destruction of his Fisherman’s Ring, the Conclave (literally meaning “with key”) of  Cardinals - no less intriguing than the recent conclave of judges here in Miami to elect their next Chief Judge - and the politicking for the office - it all fascinates us. 

But not lost in this was that Francis was a good man and a very good Pope. He brought the conversation of gay and trans people into the forefront of the Church ( so he wasn’t MAGA) and made the Papacy more open and less regal.  For example his casket will  be a simple wood one lined with zinc.  Previous Popes were interred in an elaborate three casket creation.  He will be first Pope in recent memory to have his body held not in the Basilica but in a smaller Church where he often prayed. 

Keep turned as we will use our extensive contacts to get the latest on which Cardinals (you have to be under 90 to vote) are the front runners. 


Friday, April 18, 2025

THE PARABALE OF THE SAMARITAN

UPDATED Below with the Parable of the Bondi

 Good Friday is many things to many people of many religions. At its core, it is the crucifixion of Jesus and the attending chaos of the times and people around him. Suicide, denial, a call upon the lord as to why he has forsaken Jesus; many things were occurring in turbulent times. Much like some legal proceedings today, where the government obstructs the process with endless challenges to jurisdiction, there were jurisdictional questions over the sentencing of Jesus.

Pontius Pilate questioned the sentencing of Jesus to death.  When he learned that Jesus was from Gailee, he sent the matter to King Herod who was in Jerusalem celebrating Passover.  Jesus refused to answer questions from Herod, who sent him back to Pilate, who opined that neither he nor Herod had found Jesus guilty of anything. 

Pilate had Jesus whipped and then sought to release him, but the crowd - call them the Make Rome Great Again crowd MARGA- and as MARGA and similar crowds are want to do with itinerant alien carpenters, they demanded he be crucified.   

Jesus was betrayed for 30 pieces of silver. He was mocked and jeered by Roman soldiers. And  Jesus was adored, his body was taken by Joseph of Arimathea and wrapped and buried- only to be -as Christians believe- to rise again on Easter Sunday. As the Jews would say- "it was a whole mishegoss."  

For Passover,  Jews recite in their Seder that "We were strangers in the land of Egypt". For Good Friday through Easter Sunday, Jesus was forsaken, betrayed, ridiculed, and crucified for being different and for alluding that he may well be the messiah.  When directly asked, Jesus responded  mysteriously "You have said it, and in time you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the almighty." 

One might think that within the lessons of Passover and Easter is the simple proposition that the downtrodden- be them the slaves of Egypt, or the bedraggled man who was so hated, feared and loved- should be treated with dignity and respect. That we are never so tall as when we bend down to help the lowest amongst us. That the principles of the United States are that we welcome strangers in a strange land and give them the chance for life, liberty, and happiness. 

No more. The alien carpenter is deported- no papers and no work permit. Those fleeing oppression in Central America are turned away at the border- slaves fleeing oppression are not welcome in this land of freedom. And in a final insult, the government now seeks to repudiate the 14 Amendment's grant of citizenship for those born here. 

We turn our back on the poor, the oppressed, the small and weak seeking democracy and freedom. We mock aliens and immigrants like Roman soldiers who jeered Jesus. We sell out our neighbors to ICE like Judas for a few coins of silver. Our mobs chant for the deportation of those not like us, cheer their mistreatment and even their death- better dead then receiving the charity of our country. Given the choice, we have no doubt the MAGA crowd would support the crucifixion of their enemies. They already cheer the figurative crucifixions of those who are different. No more health funding for sick children; no more funding to prevent Aids in Africa. No more funding for educational institutions that do not teach the ideas of jingoism. The revocation of access to courts for lawyers who oppose them. Enemies perceived are mocked, fired, attacked, cursed, and all but literally stoned. The power of the government is turned on those who are different.  

Do you have any doubt how Jesus would have treated a trans-teenager? And do you have any doubt how our government is treating trans-people? 

All of this hate and violence and vitriol  in the name of making this country great again? 

And we thought the MAGA crowd believed this was a Christian nation.  Only in the sense that that are doing to immigrants and MAGA enemies what Pilate, Herrod and the Romans did to Jesus. 

Today it is a crime to help an immigrant. 

Luke 10: 25-37

A man who was an expert in the law asked Jesus: “And who is my neighbor?”

Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan came where the man was; and when he saw him he bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him.  ‘Look after him,’ he said to the innkeeper, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

“Which of these do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” Jesus asked. 

The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.

But not today in MAGA America- do not do likewise they say. Have no mercy on the stranger. And yet they claim in ecstasy that this is a Christian nation. 

   Happy Easter. 

THE PARABLE OF THE BONDI

    And it came to pass that Bondi the legal expert asked Donald of Mar Galilee Lago "How can I recognize an American?" 

Donald  of Mar Galilee replied "A man was walking his daughter to kindergarten when they were beset upon by a mob who beat the man for being an alien."

"The mob were Americans" said the Bondi.  "Yes", replied Donald of Mar Galilee. 

"The mob made the little girl tear up her schoolbooks. Then a lawyer from the ACLU happened by and sheltered the man and his daughter and brought them to her school." 

"The lawyer was not an American" said the Bondi. "Right again" said Donald of Mar Gailee. 

"The teacher opened the door to give shelter to the little girl and her father, but the principal came and barred the girl from her school for being the child of an alien". 

"The teacher is not an American" said the Bondi.  "But the principal is". 

"Correct again" said Donald of Mar Galilee. 

"The man picked up his little girl who was crying to protect her from the mob who screamed at them and spit on them for being from a foreign country" said Donald of Mar Galilee.

"The mob was making America great again" said the Bondi. 

"Go and do likewise and use all the powers of the lawyers at your command to do the same to the thousands of parents and children in this country who are not from here" said Donald of Galilee.  

The Parable of the Bondi. 

Proud to be an American these days are we? 

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

FDC RUMOR

UPDATE:  FDC HAS AN ICE PROBLEM. No not the ones that come in cubes and you drop into your jack and coke. It's the detainee problem based on the enforcement of the alien enemies act of 1798 (better late than never). "Hey you! Yeah, you selling the hot dogs with the little girl. Come here. Ve vant to see your papers..." and then off they go to FDC. 

So some ICE detainees at FDC overwhelmed a guard requiring an emergency team to re-take the area with flash-grenades.  The entire place is on edge. And they haven't even gotten to detaining the attorneys at law firms opposing the government and the judges who issue restraining orders against the government: "No, you can't ban someone from court because they have a Free Hunter Biden Bumper Sticker on their car" ;  and "No you cannot throw the entire  UM English Department in jail because they are teaching the Grapes of Wrath and called one transgender student by their preferred pronoun... 

But those days are coming because once they are done with Columbia and Harvard and the major law firms, they will look around and decide they are coming for you. See below. 

Here’s a good one circulating this morning from an email making the rounds:


I heard from a source there was a detainee uprising in the FDC last night due to overcrowding, that the guards were  overwhelmed, and flash grenades were deployed inside the building. Anyone have any details? Is this accurate? If it is, it’s a first in my memory.


THEY ARE COMING FOR YOU 

First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

—Martin Niemöller


Saturday, April 12, 2025

HELP WANTED

 Ready for a career change? 

Ready to join a dynamic team that wants to make a difference? 

Ready to sell your soul, ethics, and self- respect? 

Then the US Attorneys Office for the SDFL WANTS YOU!




Here's some helpful facts. 


Barbie will be your boss. 



But this guy will be telling you what to do, how to do it , what to say, what not to say, and when your self-respect is gone and you cannot tolerate it anymore, he will be the one who fires you. 



This is your client. 


Not this.


You get to terrorize children. 



But you can and will be required to admire him. 


These will have no bearing on your duties and the decisions you make. 



But, and this is big- you don't have to listen to these people or do what they tell you to do. 


So if you're a team player and ready to put your legal skills to use to destroy the republic and step on cherished constitutional principles, then the US Attorneys Office for the SDFL is looking for you! 

Because as history shows, there should be no legal limits on the power of the executive. 



Wednesday, April 09, 2025

WHAT HAPPENED WEDNESDAY IN THE MARKETS

 The bond yield saved the day, the week, and the economy. 

As of Wednesday morning the idiot was holding firm on his 1930s tariffs plan. And how well did they work back then ? Don’t get depressed (hint) if you don’t know the answer.

 But then investors began fleeing the safety of the US by not buying the 10 year treasury bond. The price fell and the yield soared over 4%. There was no more faith in the US. The Treasury and Commerce Secretaries met with the idiot in the idiot’s office and explained it to him in simple terms. When investors lose faith in treasury bonds - traditionally the safest place in the word to store money - the game is over. We go from recession to depression and the economy is wrecked. 

Lo and behold within the hour the idiot reversed course and the markers rallied over 9%. Less than half  of what they have lost. But still a record breaking rally. Which leads us to this warning. The biggest rallies occur during bear markets. So be careful.  We are not out of the woods. 

In the final analysis we are in a scenario where the markets are reacting to political news and not economic issues. Unlike the credit collapse of 2007-08 there is no fundamental weakness in the economy other than the idiot trying to lead it. The economy is strong. Our president is weak. So we are hostage to his whims. 

But what will not go away is people need iPhones. And the AI revolution is here. Apple is a great stock. And an amazing buy under 200. Nvidia is an amazing company with a five year moat around its AI leading chips. It was the buy of a lifetime under 100 and it’s still great value under 120-130 as it’s a 200 plus stock at the end of the year if the idiot can stay out of the way. Amazon is the strongest retailer in the world. It can navigate the tariff issue better than any other retailer. It’s a great buy under 200.  

So there is our take. 

Bonds saved us. 

For now.