Criminal Law

JAABCAM

Posted on February 16, 2010
1.) Wrongful conviction recovery lawyer David Comras, Mr. Leroy McGee, and post-conviction relief lawyer Mike Wrubel, at today's press conference; 2.) So long, Moxie.  Judge Lerner-Wren's long time deputy is retiring at the end of the month.  Well wishers are invited to a "Bon Voyage Breakfast For Moxie" on February 26th, from 8:00 to 10:00 AM, in Room 510...

MONDAY NOTES

Posted on February 15, 2010
BACDL is mixing it up - BACDL's Board of Directors has been engaging in some spirited discussion of late, mostly tied to individual feelings as to which direction to go next regarding Bradygate (some of it even spilled over to JAABLOG).  They're still finishing their response letter to the SAO, following the meeting they had with Satz, Morton, et al, some time ago...

RODRIGUEZ v. GOLDSTEIN

Posted on February 11, 2010
Department of Homeland Security - ICE Attorney Frieda Goldstein, admitted in 2000, has filed to run for circuit court, against Judge Carlos Rodriguez.A good Hispanic judge, being targeted by a Jewish female.  It stinks.On the bright side, at least lawyers from outside the courthouse bubble are, as predicted, starting to jump in the races...

STAMP OUT ANARCHY!

Posted on February 09, 2010
"Whoever denies authority and fights against it is an anarchist," said Sébastien Faure.Well, regarding judicial elections in Florida, there is no higher authority than the Florida Constitution.  The Constitution, of course, provides for fair and open elections of county and circuit court judges...

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BERNSTEIN v. HAURY

Posted on February 08, 2010
Attorney Alan Bernstein has filed to run against Circuit Judge William Haury.  The paperwork should post on the Florida Division of Elections' website tomorrow.What can be said about this one?  Haury is a fair man, and the consummate gentleman...

LEBOW v. ROSSMAN TRANSCRIPT

Posted on February 08, 2010
The Seventeenth - click here for February's SAO Online Newsletter.  This month's highlight: the SAO is joining the PD's Office in a "wear blue jeans to work for Haiti relief" day.  No, not this Thursday, as Judge Holmes has approved, but Monday, February 15th...

JAABCAM

Posted on February 07, 2010
1.) Ari Porth, Dan Gelber, Mike Satz, Mike McAuliffe (PB SA), Dennis Ward (Keys SA), and some other guy at last Friday's press conference.  The event was sparsely attended, and mostly forced off the news by the BSO Beatdown video.  Miami SA Katherine Fernandez Rundle wasn't at the lip service fest, since she was all over TV the same day due to her office actually filing public corruption charges (in connection with a sting operation under the perfectly good existing laws)...

ROCQUE v. LUZZO

Posted on February 05, 2010
Mickey Rocque is running for Circuit Court, against Judge Luzzo.Many people have been looking forward to this one.The paperwork should hit the Division of Elections' website on Monday.As far as County Court is concerned, another veteran practitioner is set to announce shortly...

GET YOUR TIVO'S RUNNIN' TONIGHT AT TEN

Posted on February 04, 2010
WSVN Channel 7, Thursday at ten.We're told they'll be debuting a BSO sponsored beatdown, handily captured by a surveillance camera.  BSO is reportedly up in arms, so if it doesn't run, now you know why.This one's supposed to make the Hollywood Disney liars look like choir boys, and all on the eve of "Iron Mike's" big press conference/reelection campaign kickoff too (timing is everything, Mike)...

WAITING ...

Posted on February 04, 2010
You can make the call ... when the transcript arrives.  We're told our favorite newsie is waiting on the transcript from the Lebow/Rossman fiasco.  Absolutely everyone is talking about this one, but, unfortunately, no press was present for the melt down...

UPDATE: "I know where you live"

Posted on February 04, 2010
 Elizabeth Parker Judges everywhere can breath a sigh of relief, although some of them have to look for a new lawn service.Apparently, the Parkers have been up to further hijinks since our original report, resulting in a warrant violating Mrs. Parker's probation...

Fool me once, shame on you; Fool me twice, shame on me ...

Posted on February 02, 2010
Politics 101 - by now it's old news that a new courthouse will be built.  It's not surprising, but it's official.  After the sham Courthouse Task Force (refurbish? yeah, right) and Chief Judge Tobin's ham-fisted PR campaign (see here and here), the majority of the County Commissioners simply chanted their scripted "depressed land values" and "public safety" mantras, until the voters were cheated out of the right to determine how their $328 million will be spent...

SURPRISE, SURPRISE!

Posted on February 02, 2010
The County Commission is building you a new courthouse!Just a few minutes ago they approved a new $328 million structure with NON-VOTED DEBT, by a 6-3 vote.  Your property taxes are going up, ladies and gentlemen!This one appeared to be a very close vote up to the last Commissioner's speech, Commissioner Wasserman-Rubin...

JAABCAM BONUS: ROBING CEREMONY

Posted on January 29, 2010
1.) FLPD Chief Frank Adderley thinks it's Bob Norman behind the camera.  After 2.) Judy Stern told him it was only JAABLOG, he was nice enough to come over and chat for awhile.  Like everyone says, he's a very gregarious guy.  Who knows? He probably would have given us his cellphone number, if we'd asked; 3...

BUSTED!

Posted on January 28, 2010
Judge Towbin-Singer ruled today in Robert Ray Huizenga's VOP case, finding Huizenga willfully and substantially violated his probation by committing felony BUI and consuming alcohol.  He was on probation for a 2003 felony DUI, a classic SAO giveaway, since he wasn't charged with DUI Bodily Injury (which would have scored out to Florida State Prison), after nearly killing a seventy-one year old man...

JAABCAM

Posted on January 28, 2010
1.) This is a human being Mr. Satz, not a case number.  Anthony Caravella in court Monday, still wearing an electronic monitor; 2.) Judge Debra Steinsaltz will definitely not disappoint; 3.) Judge Carlos Rodriguez, sans robe; 4.) Did you know that ASA Dave Frankel and Judge Perlman grew up together in North Miami Beach?  And is Cheryl Aleman laying low until April 30th?; 5...

BERKOWITZ MAKES IT A 3 WAY; MRS. SEIDMAN v. PORTER

Posted on January 27, 2010
Heidi Berkowitz has filed to run against John Fry and Judge Linda Pratt for county court.Laura Seidman has filed against Judge Lisa Porter for circuit court.Another APD is rumored to be making up her mind soon too ...

STEINSALTZ v. SKOLNIK

Posted on January 27, 2010
APD Debra Steinsaltz is running against Judge Peter Skolnik, for county court.  The papers were filed this afternoon.                            OUT WITH THE OLD!

TUESDAY NOTES

Posted on January 26, 2010
 No trial tax here ... Destry imposing sentenceDeeeep discounts at Macy's (for a limited time only) - ASA Martina Herretes won a guilty verdict today before Judge Destry.  Defendant Karelia Rodrigueztorres got caught sponsoring her own clearance sales at Macy's, in her former capacity as a sales clerk...

MONDAY NOTES

Posted on January 25, 2010
Is another judge's wife getting ready to run? - that's the big buzz, and we're not talking about Judge Dale Cohen's better half either, currently squared off against another judge's son.  We're also told yet another veteran defense attorney should be making an announcement any day now...

JAABCAM: COURTHOUSE TASK FORCE MEETING

Posted on January 24, 2010
1.) Broward Mayor/Big Spender Ken Keechl with Clerk of Courts Howard Forman.  The New Courthouse Task Force met Friday afternoon, to block the wheels of progress by continuing to gut social and rehabilitation projects in favor of an unnecessary seventeen story courthouse tower, to be built where the judicial parking lot currently sits (and they call themselves Democrats)...

LOW BIDDER, ESQUIRE REPORTS

Posted on January 23, 2010
  Hanging in the Levine home soon?So, spent about 5 hours today at the Scott Rothstein bankruptcy auction.  Hundreds of folks showed up and it looked like people from most walks of life.  While there were at least 300 people at the auction, I wonder how many were actually real buyers...

GOLBURGH v. MERRIGAN

Posted on January 22, 2010
Attorney Lloyd Golburgh has filed to run for County Court, Group 4, against Judge Ed Merrigan.  The Supervisor of Elections website should update Monday.This one will be interesting to watch.  Merrigan is an active duty soldier and a nice guy, but also a highly political JNC/Crist pick, since he's related to either Mayor Seiler or the JNC's Richard Zaden by marriage (we'll try to confirm which one later)...

FRIDAY NOTES

Posted on January 21, 2010
Has there ever been a bad police shooting in Broward County? - apparently not, at least as far as anyone can remember.  There are, however, concerns over the use of the top secret Grand Jury.  Take, for instance, the tragic case of seventeen year old Jonathan Fontanez ...

WEDNESDAY NOTES

Posted on January 20, 2010
Class?  Class?  Shudd Up! - Judge Richards is getting poor reviews for reportedly telling lawyers to "Shut Up!" today in class, er, court.  Apparently, the noise level in misdemeanor domestic violence court is stressing out the Judge, causing his frustration level to nearly equal that of the alleged victims who can't get the SAO to honor their wishes and stop prosecuting their loved ones...

MONDAY BRADY

Posted on January 18, 2010
Satz just don't understand - State v. Larnell Pinson has still not been dropped by the SAO.  The case of the deaf woman charged with felony Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer is set for calendar call on February 25th.  Ms. Pinson has to continue living with this horrible matter hanging over her head for at least another month, despite recent news that her accuser, Sunrise Officer Jorge Baca, is under investigation for brutality in the Ewan Rose matter...

HOWES MAKES IT A 3 WAY; HURLEY NEXT?

Posted on January 15, 2010
 John Howes filed today for Group 1, County Court.  He's running against Mardi Levey Cohen & Jeffrey Backman for the open seat.Melissa Minsk Donoho  has also apparently told people she's filed to run against Judge Jay Hurley...

FRIDAY BONUS

Posted on January 15, 2010
"I know where you live" - Judge Imperato testified this morning before Judge Holmes in the strange case of State v. Dwight Parker.  The hearing is still going on before Holmes, as this is being written.Parker was tried and convicted before Imperato, and is trying to get a new trial...

JAABWALK: NEW COURTHOUSE PLOY EDITION

Posted on January 14, 2010
 The Doctor is INToday's JAABWALK is sponsored by Broward's new, cutting edge 5th Floor Hallway Foreclosure Court and Chief Judge Tobin's recent revelations regarding shackled prisoners.  Obviously, the courtrooms are still being woefully mismanaged, even after allowing for the fact that judges don't like to share, or display any flexibility when it comes to their personal fiefdoms...

SATZ'S BIG BLUNDER/BACDL STEPS UP

Posted on January 14, 2010
Mike Satz is reeling.  Don't believe us?Just take a look at the letter he sent yesterday, in response to the Public Defender's Brady Bomb.It's ridiculous.  Insulting, really.  Still, you have to give credit where credit is due.  Satz is a master politician...

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