Criminal Law

PD 1, RAFT & BOGENSCHUTZ 0

Posted on October 25, 2010
Geoff Cohen ruled today against the SAO and one of Michael Brannon's counselors, David Bogenschutz. The five page Order sustaining the Public Defender's objection to the appointment of Brannon is found here. We're also currently trying to find a copy of the Public Defender's reply in the federal lawsuit filed by William Amlong on behalf of Brannon...

CHOOSE MCLAWRENCE!

Posted on October 23, 2010
SUN SENTINEL ENDORSES JAHRA MCLAWRENCE Pick McLawrence for Broward County Court judge, Group 26 SUN SENTINEL ENDORSES JOHN HOWES Choose Howes for Broward County judge, Group 1

JAABCAM: LOPANE ROBING EDITION

Posted on October 22, 2010
1.) Not all judges are created equal.  Nick Lopane was robed at PBA Headquarters on State Road 84 today by none other than Charlie Crist, while standing beside a framed portrait of his grandfather, Amadeo "Trinchi" Trinchitella; 2.) The man of the hour with Crist; 3...

MESSAGE FROM OLGA

Posted on October 22, 2010
Hello Everyone:   As many are aware, Owen McNamee's beloved wife recently passed away.  We will be hosting a reception to celebrate Karen's life on Sunday, October 24th, 2010 at 2:00 pm at my home located at:                                               5840 Palm Tree Rd...

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PD TO TOBIN "MOVE SEIDMAN NOW!"

Posted on October 20, 2010
The Public Defender has had enough of soon to be former judge Lee Seidman.  A slew of Motions To Disqualify are being filed, citing a number of grievances (click here for a sample motion).  Additionally, a letter has been sent to Chief Judge Victor Tobin, asking for Seidman's immediate transfer out of the criminal division...

TRUE COLORS

Posted on October 14, 2010
The above is a portion of a recent mailer sent out by Team Levey Cohen.  Despite blog formatting problems, the message is clear: Jahra McLawrence is Black. Let's get one thing perfectly straight.  This kind of tactic has no place in a judicial election...

JAABCAM

Posted on October 12, 2010
The soundtrack for this morning's rally was pulsating reggae, courtesy of a boombox.  A good time was had by all, thanks to the Jim Lewis For Attorney General Campaign ... here's 1.) Mobile Mike, from Paul & Young Ron, sporting bud duds and holding Twinkies; 2...

RALLY!

Posted on October 11, 2010
WHEN: TOMORROW MORNING - TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12TH, FROM 8:30 -9:30 AM. WHERE: THE LIBERTY BELL, MAIN ENTRANCE OF THE BROWARD COUNTY COURTHOUSE. WHAT: PAUL & YOUNG RON and ATTORNEY GENERAL CANDIDATE JIM LEWIS'                                        SENSIBLE POT POLICY RALLY...

MONDAY NOTES

Posted on October 11, 2010
Can't see the forest for the trees - we're told some judges came up with a plan to thwart Carlos Rodriguez's lightning fast transfer out of criminal last week.  There was even an agreement in place that another criminal judge would simply swap divisions with Rodriguez, gutting the SAO...

MCCARTHY TO CRIMINAL

Posted on October 08, 2010
Barbara McCarthy has been tapped to replace Carlos Rodriguez, starting next week. Congratulations to Rodriguez, who bravely brought a modern perspective to Broward criminal courts since being appointed by a Republican governor.  As one lawyer put it earlier today, his only crime was his honesty...

REVENGE OF THE JUDGES?

Posted on October 07, 2010
There's a juicy rumor going around that Susan Lebow may be replacing Carlos Rodriguez ...

CARLOS RODRIGUEZ OUT

Posted on October 07, 2010
That's the word, starting Monday in the Family Division.  No word yet on a replacement. Rodriguez canceled his docket today, continuing all cases to November 4th, shortly after taking the bench.  Victor Tobin was spotted in the North Wing shortly thereafter...

WEDNESDAY BONUS

Posted on October 06, 2010
Congrats! - BACDL has awarded this year's Harry Gulkin prize to Richard Rosenbaum & Mike Tenzer.  We weren't privy to the deliberations, but it must be assumed that the dynamic duo's slavish devotion to their oaths and client Omar Loureiro this year played a role in their selection...

JAABCAM

Posted on October 06, 2010
1.) "Please, whatever you do, don't come up with some lame excuse, some mealy mouth, whiney, sniveling reason."  An immortal quote from Leroy Moe (seen in #2 staffing foreclosure court earlier today, sans parrot), on display in Carlos Rodriguez's courtroom; 3...

455 (AND COUNTING)

Posted on October 05, 2010
The SAO has thus far filed 455 Motions to Disqualify against Carlos Rodriguez.  More are coming.  The Motion is found here.  The main allegations focus around Rodriguez's treatment of ASA Jennifer Hilal, who handles third degree felonies.  The Fourth DCA has already issued a Stay, which means all the cases will linger in purgatory until the appeals court issues a decision...

MONDAY NOTES

Posted on October 04, 2010
Your tax dollars at work - there was a guy in court last week on a violation of probation, transported from California.  After eleven days on a cross-country government sponsored bus trip, he answered to a Broward judge for a positive cannabis test.  His probation had originally been transferred from Florida to the basically legal cannabis state, where he obtained a diagnosis and medical marijuana prescription, and dutifully took his meds...

JAABCAM

Posted on October 01, 2010
1.) That's Danny Pryor earlier today.  A near victim of the State, he started up MIKESATZ.COM, as first reported by Buddy Nevins (seen in #2 with his son Nate Nevins last summer).  Help Danny collect cases he calls "Sad Satz Stories" and other stuff, as Satz campaigns for reelection; 3...

LAWSUIT!

Posted on September 30, 2010
*UPDATE*: Click here for the complaint, filed by Attorney William Amlong. Brannon v. The PD - the rumored federal lawsuit filed by Doc Brannon against the Public Defender's Office is apparently real.  Details are still sketchy, and will remain so until someone who knows how to work PACER posts a comment and fills everybody in...

PD/OCCCRC 1, REBOLLO/SUN-SENTINEL 0

Posted on September 29, 2010
4TH DCA: Jail Calls Not Public Records

JAABLOG MOVEMENT*

Posted on September 28, 2010
Mindy Solomon in for Lee Seidman. Ken Gottlieb in for Fred Berman. Fred Berman in for Steven Shutter. Ken Gillespie in for Lisa Porter. Lisa Porter in for Ken Gillespie. Jack Luzzo in for Jeff Levenson. Jeff Levenson in for Susan Lebow (Lebow replaces John Frusciante)...

TUESDAY NOTES

Posted on September 28, 2010
SBU gets its man - a former deputy, in fact.  ASAs Jodi Gress and Adriana Alcalde convicted a BSO corrections officer, who broke up the monotony of routine prisoner transport with at least one rape.  There were reportedly some pretty disgusted LEO faces in the audience when the verdict was read, and now Joel Lazarus is on the spot to decide a minimum seventeen years to life sentence...

THE GHOST WEIGHS IN

Posted on September 27, 2010
Judge Susan Lebow has been officially transferred out of her Criminal Trial Division. Why? I see the betrayal from her former friend, cruise to no-where mate, and criminal division colleague. (you fill in the blank)   The lawyer who appeared before her once upon a time (Vic Tobin) signed off on the deal because other judges and the state (lower case letters on purpose) seem concerned about a case where the guy who set her up for the bad press and opposition, gregg rossman, did not want to appear in front of her...

THURSDAY BONUS

Posted on September 23, 2010
Administrative Order Number 2010-68-Gen - click here for yesterday's AO assigning judges, effective November 1st.  For some reason it's not posted on the 17th Circuit Website, which might mean it's not official yet.  In any event, there are some gaps...

JAABCAM

Posted on September 23, 2010
1.) Judges meeting last week.  Luckily there were friendly faces by the door when this one was snapped; 2.) Mike Mayo and Tom Lynch at Nova summer event; 3.) Terry Moons and Lisa Porter; 4.) The gripping drama of a PSCC Meeting.  One of the few known photos of a meeting in progress; 5...

WEDNESDAY NOTES

Posted on September 22, 2010
The more you know - things keep getting worse for the SAO in State v. Celveccius Delaney.  It turns out a very similar case had been nolle prossed by different prosecutors prior to this week's five minute not guilty, also brought by Delaney's wife.  Even though her constant story changing wasn't credible the first time, Satz still brought the flimsy second case...

TUESDAY NOTES

Posted on September 21, 2010
 Celveccius Delaney & Matt Glassman post verdict The Brian Greenwald Report - "Some pretty amazing things have been going on in Courtroom 4900 the past couple of days.  No, the ASA's were not handing out nolle prosses in celebration of my transfer to Levenson...

MONDAY NOTES

Posted on September 20, 2010
PD v. Brannon - State v. Palcu has taken an interesting turn.  The trial rebooted today before Tom Lynch, minus a witness.  Dr. David Martindale, the defense expert on bias, has indeed been stricken by APD George Reres.  No one can say for sure what's happening, but things are reportedly smoking hot behind the scenes...

THURSDAY NOTES

Posted on September 16, 2010
Jury Duty report - Wednesday was jury duty day.  The morning started off with Fred Horowitz giving a somber "this is serious stuff" civic duty speech.  He had a nice bit in there about a bird suspended in flight in the middle of a flying airplane's belly, and whether or not the plane was heavier because of the bird (or something like that)...

JAABCAM

Posted on September 15, 2010
1.) Look who's practicing law?  Keith Wasserstrom's name signed in at the Felony Clerk's Office "Attorneys Only" window this afternoon.  It can't be confirmed whether or not it's the same Wasserstrom listed as Not Eligible by The Florida Bar, or just a clever jokester; 2...

OPENING IN JUVENILE DIVISION

Posted on September 08, 2010
Steven Feren disqualified by the 4th DCA when a juvenile offender has multiple cases: R.V. v. STATE OF FLORIDA "getting pretty weighty" PUBLIC DEFENDER 1, FEREN 0

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