Two new state judges

Congrats to two colleagues -- Reemberto Diaz and Barbara Lagoa. Jeb Bush appointed Reemberto to serve as a state trial judge and Barbara to serve as a state appellate judge. I have tried cases with Reemberto Diaz and have had cases with Barbara Lagoa and believe they will make fantastic judges. Below is the Miami Herald squib with the background on both. I wish both of them well. The criminal defense bar will miss Reemberto and the U.S. Attorney's office will miss Barbara Lagoa. Congratulations again to both.

BUSH APPOINTS LAGOA, DIAZ TO BENCH

Gov. Jeb Bush appointed Assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara Lagoa to the Third District Court of Appeal and Miami attorney Reemberto Diaz to the Circuit Court on Friday.

Lagoa, 38, of Coral Gables, will be the first Cuban-American woman to serve on the 11-member appellate court for Miami-Dade and Monroe counties. She fills a vacancy created by the resignation of Judge David Levy.

Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney's Office in 2003, Lagoa was in private practice at the law firm of Greenberg Traurig. She is a graduate of Florida International University with a law degree from Columbia University.

Diaz, 49, of Coral Gables, is filling a vacancy created by the death of Circuit Judge Henry Leyte-Vidal. Diaz is in private practice. He is a graduate of the University of Miami, with a law degree from Nova Southeastern University.