Criminal Law

JAABCAM

Posted on April 07, 2009
1.) Grady ducks the camera Friday, while speaking to his attorneys Grossman & Milian (DUI cop defended by DUI charged lawyer - another "only in Broward" first!); 2.) Guiness Book World Record Holder Steve Plant (87 continuances in one day); 3.) Tobin & Seiler at Friday's Courthouse Task Force meeting; 4...

ANOTHER DUBIOUS HONOR FOR SATZ VAN WINKLE

Posted on April 05, 2009
                                                                                  "Zzzzzzzzzzzz"Min/mans for junkies policy a miserable failure; Recent statements to Grand Jury obviously in reaction to mounting outside pressure; Will Satz follow-through and prosecute powerful businessmen/doctors, and stop preying on the poor and sick?  Will he stop wasting our resources on senseless, expensive and ineffective prosecutions?HERALDBroward County has become the painkiller capital of the United States ''We are source-supplying many other states...

NOT SO FAST...

Posted on April 04, 2009
 Fly me to the moon...THE SUPREME COURT HAS RELINQUISHED JURISDICTION IN OMAR LOUREIRO vs. STATE OF FLORIDA .AN EVIDENTIARY HEARING WILL BE HELD BEFORE JUDGE BACKMAN, TO DETERMINE IF THERE WAS PROSECUTORIAL AND JUDICIAL MISCONDUCT DURING LOUREIRO'S DEATH PENALTY TRIAL...

CARMEL ON THE CASE TONIGHT

Posted on April 03, 2009
            CHANNEL SEVEN NEWS, FRIDAY AT 6 & 10                        Get your Tivos Runnin'                                and...

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TWO COUNTS MM BATTERY FOR GRADY

Posted on April 02, 2009
Deputy Charles Grady charged by Information in 09-007521-MM10A.              (No police report in the file - both alleged victims are female)                SHADES OF ADDERLEY OR THE PROPER CHARGES?                                            STAY TUNED...

JAABCAM

Posted on April 02, 2009
1) Berkowitz, Kulik, and Lewis picking a jury for the third time in the same DP case today; 2) Lou Toman,witness to history, strikes a pensive pose (how about our mood lighting Lou?); 3) George Allen behind the wheel of his trademark Rolls Silver Spur, without his trademark hat; 4) BrowardBeat...

A HIGHLY CYNICAL PLOY

Posted on April 01, 2009
 A lawyer since 2003After years of rumors and comments on our humble little blog, and a press release yesterday by Buddy Nevins, the Backman family has made it official.Newbie lawyer Jeffrey Backman has signed up to run for County Court...

4TH DCA 17TH CIRCUIT OPINIONS

Posted on April 01, 2009
OPINIONS RELEASED APRIL 1ST, 2009M. Kaplan - Affirmed        Phillips - Reversed and RemandedON MOTION TO ENFORCE MANDATE - State Fails To Act In Timely Fashion (Backman)Bidwill - Reversed and Remanded    Gates - Petition Granted "Petitioner Chay Alexander challenges his bond totaling $1,251,100...

BACDL HARRY GULKIN AWARD DINNER

Posted on March 30, 2009
            The Broward Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers                    Cordially requests your presence at the                             Harry Gulkin Award Dinner    Honoring the late Honorable Howard Zeidwig and the late                             Honorable Charles Kaplan                  Wednesday, April 22, 2009 at 5:30 PM                                at the Tower Club    One Financial Plaza, 28th Floor, Fort Lauderdale, Florida        $100 per person                 Business Attire        $50 gov't employees        Complimentary Valet                                Seating is limited                            RSVP by April 8, 2009 If you wish to attend please print out the attachment and mail the response card and your check to: Teresa Williams, 633 S...

BELINDA FIGHTS BACK

Posted on March 27, 2009
TMZCrying Anna Nicole Judge Accused of Abuse"Larry's wife, Belinda, tells us the caretaker is really a housekeeper -- not a nurse. Belinda says she and Larry don't live with the old lady, have nothing to do with her care, but did recommend to the agency which supplies nurses for Barbara's care that the caretaker wasn't up to the job and that she return to housekeeping duties...

COURTHOUSE LOSS

Posted on March 27, 2009
 Warner Olds (circa 1970)Olds, Warner Smith, passed away on March 24, 2009, after a long and courageous battle with brain cancer, which he endured with great strength and humor. Son of Leslie and Ruth (Mauldin), he was born on August 14, 1937, in Cordele, Georgia, a place he described as "the watermelon capital of the world...

UH OH...

Posted on March 26, 2009
     SOMETHING WRONG?

ATTICUS DEAN

Posted on March 26, 2009
 Clement Dean after the hearingAttorney Clement Dean successfully mitigated Toderick Raymond's 25 + 5 sentence this afternoon before Judge Dale Cohen.  The sentence now stands at 17 years Florida State Prison, followed by 13 years of probation...

JAABCAM

Posted on March 26, 2009
1) Retired Court Deputy Tim Sullivan pays a visit to his old kingdom; 2) The always patient Brenda;3) John Charles Reasee II led into Geoff Cohen's courtroom the day after being foiled by Batman;4) The old rooftop inmate rec area from when the Main Jail was housed on the 4th, 5th, and 6th floors of the old courthouse (view from outside Eileen O'Connor's courtroom on the 8th floor); 5) The Law Library build-outfinally opened Tuesday, featuring spacious riverfront study areas (sorry, Doc); 6) Some poor slob lost his teeth up by Conte (luckily, bologna is easily gummed).

4TH DCA 17TH CIRCUIT OPINIONS

Posted on March 25, 2009
OPINIONS RELEASED 3-25-09 Backman - Affirmed        Backman - Reversed in part and remandedGardiner - Affirmed in part, Reversed in part, and Remanded        Weinstein - Affirmed, but RemandedRodriguez-Powell - Affirmed        Weinstein & Levenson - Reversed and RemandedBowman - Reversed and remanded        (Does not include PCAs)TX: Keller shifts blame for execution blunderAttention all Broward Judges and Bruce Rogow: Yale Law School searching for a new dean (good luck)OK: Goniff ex-judge convicted of indecent exposure fights to have his pension reinstated Frank explains why he called Scalia a homophobeMeasure Aims To Divert Mentally Ill From Florida CourtsPB Post: Judge Moreno allows reporters to blog, email and text from courthouses (but not courtrooms)Florida Bar News: Senate revamps court, clerk funding bill Florida Bar News: Bill to do away with depositions for third degree felonies moves Florida Bar News: Cameras in Florida's Courts 30 years and countingAdam Liptak: Justices Seem Skeptical of Scope of Campaign Law British judges fight against introduction of sentencing guidelines

4TH LEANING TOWARD FINKELSTEIN

Posted on March 24, 2009
IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA March 24, 2009CASE NO.: 4D09-1033L.T. No. : 09-5449 CF10ATONUYA RAINEY Appellant/Petitioner(s) v. AL LAMBERTI, AS SHERIFF OF BROWARD COUNTY, ET AL          Appellee / Respondent(s)...

TUESDAY NOTES: FIGHT!

Posted on March 24, 2009
Did anyone else hear about the fight in Judge Richard's courtroom this morning?  We don't have the specifics, but Ian apparently got off the bench, physically separated the warring couple, and then resumed court without blinking an eye.  Never a dull moment in Domestic Violence, as jujitsu Geoff can also tell you...

Rainey Writ of Habeas Corpus (Finkelstein v. Hurley)

Posted on March 23, 2009
HAMZE VERDICT @ 4:25 - GUILTY VEHICULAR MANSLAUGHTER(another lousy overcharge bites the dust)Emergency Petition for Writ of Habeas CorpusAppendix (Police Reports, Transcript, etc.)

MEDIA 3/23

Posted on March 23, 2009
DAILY BUSINESS REVIEWCommentary by Howard Forman: "Clerks of court secure integrity of public records""Judges are the ultimate authority over what happens in their courtrooms and the undisputed finders of fact in the cases they hear. It is appropriate and protective that a disinterested third party, independently elected by and answerable to the public ? the clerk ? maintains and protects the court records...

STATUTE SMATUTE

Posted on March 22, 2009
 Moola, the Cash Cow"Nobody wants less cases more than me."                  -Public Defender Howard FinkelsteinCould the Juvenile Division once again become the biggest cash cow in town for criminal attorneys?  Are the days of milk and honey once again upon us?  And is it true the private bar's favorite bogeyman, Howard Finkelstein, is the bestower of the gift?A little background is in order first...

THIS IS WRONG - DO NOT LET THIS HAPPEN MR. SATZ

Posted on March 21, 2009
 Victoria RomanSENTINELHollywood woman accused of biting courtroom deputy"A Hollywood woman is accused of biting a courtroom deputy who tried to separate her from her fiance after she was sentenced to five years in prison...Roman's newest charges are battery and obstructing with violence, a first-degree misdemeanor and a third-degree felony, respectively...

ADIOS AMIGO

Posted on March 20, 2009
Mr. & Mrs. Zack with Wayne Spath; Room 400 decked out for the occasion; One road leads to another...                       FRIDAY WAS BOB ZACK'S LAST DAY - GOOD LUCK TO THE ZACK FAMILY!FRIDAY NOTES:Still no new judge to replace Judge Zack...

"ARROGANT, DISCOURTEOUS, AND IMPATIENT"

Posted on March 19, 2009
 The Girl Can't Help It...Judge Cheryl Aleman is back in the news.  Not so coincidentally, she was also recently back in the criminal division, covering weekend First Appearances last Saturday and Sunday.  Today's tale of woe involves attorney David Sale (son of former Watergate Special Prosecutor Jon A...

JAABCAM

Posted on March 19, 2009
1) Jay Hurley and retired Supreme Court Justice Raoul Cantero at the 110 Tower (Th);2) Every judges' worst nightmare - Carmel and Anthony on the Case (Tues.); 3) Fred #1 flashes the "1000 Not Guiltys" smile; 4) Fred #2 behind the wheel of his RV; 5) What's in the bag outside the SAO Investigators' office?...

SUPER LOBBYIST RON BOOK'S FAIRY PRINCESS WEDDING!

Posted on March 19, 2009
 Kristopher's family gave the couple a 1.3 million dollar houseCourtesy of  "Ron Book is a waste ":Lauren & Kristopher's damn near $1,000,000 wedding is featured on the WE Network's "Platinum Weddings" show.  If you have Comcast Cable, you can check it out On Demand (Episode 325)...

4TH DCA 17TH CIRCUIT OPINIONS: PD 1, RCC 0

Posted on March 18, 2009
OPINIONS RELEASED MARCH 18, 2009:Lynch - Reversed and remanded for consistent proceedings        Henning - AffirmedGold - Remand (can't give W/H and prison on YO sentences)       Lynch - Reverse/RemandWho shall represent the indigent defendant on his direct appeal? "For the above reasons, we grant the PD?s motion for leave to withdraw by separate order and direct that the RCC ?shall handle the appeal...

JAABCAM

Posted on March 16, 2009
1) Monday was the first day for the "Lawyers & Employees" door at the Main Entrance; 2) Pompano's world famous "Vag Plaza"; 3) Young upstart reporter Derek Hayward gives his best pouty-face during the Salesman (mis) trial; 4) Post-contested election world reality: First Appearances judges get big, TV friendly signs; 5) Larry Seidlin's former 8th floor juvenile courtroom - on a quiet day you can still hear him ask Asian parents if their kid is "good at math"; 6) The changing of the guard continues.

PSCC PRESSURE COOKER

Posted on March 16, 2009
The PSCC met last Thursday.  This was a relatively star studded event, as far as our little courthouse community goes.  It was also funner than usual, with Chief Judge Tobin letting off a lot of pent up steam toward the SAO and his old nemesis Howard Forman (who left early)...

RIGHT ON!

Posted on March 16, 2009
 Judge Paul Backman takes a courageous stand few judges would...Once in a while you get shown the light,In the strangest of places if you look at it right.                              - Garcia/HunterSENTINELWrongly imprisoned Florida man seeks state compensationBackman's Order"Leroy McGee spent three years and seven months in prison for a robbery he didn't commit...

MONDAY NOTES

Posted on March 16, 2009
                            Extraditions will never be the same; Kaplan comes through (again)The letter Howard Finkelstein sent to Chief Judge Tobin regarding the recent misfortune in Judge Feren's courtroom is found here...

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