Broward judges have been taking some heat lately. Check out this article in which the Chief Judge of Broward Circuit Court, Dale Ross, blames the JAABLAW blog for the court's woes.
[Chief Judge] Ross on Friday repeatedly referred to the blog and its "undermining" effect."I am disturbed honestly and truly that there are folks that want us to fail," he said.Attorney Bill Gelin, who helped establish the Justice Advocacy Association of Broward blog, said the postings are geared toward "positive change and proactivity.""There's been a desperate need for some kind of communication medium like this," Gelin said. "Nepotism, cronyism and cynicism have set in here and we're talking about fixing the real problems."
Bill Gelin responds on the blog:
I just wanted to add to my previous statements about Judge Ross saying we are "undermining" the judiciary. I've been fielding calls and questions all day on this issue, and I've gone from bemusement to anger. The bottom line, in my mind, is that this type of judicial behavior is nothing new in Broward, and that these judges don't need my help, or this blog's help, in undermining the 17th Judiciary. They are doing a great job all by themselves.
Ouch. I think Judge Carney's letter to the Miami Herald is a much stronger argument than Ross' complaint about the blog. Here's Carney:
Re the May 3 editorial Intemperate judges tarnish judicial system: The Broward County bench is made up of 90 judges -- 58 circuit judges and 32 county judges. The editorial and recent articles unfairly lump the entire Broward bench under an umbrella based on the actions of a few judges.
This does a disservice to most of the judges who have dedicated their careers to public service. Most important, however, it does a disservice to the residents of Broward County by undermining confidence in their courts.
Judicial polls routinely show that the vast majority of Broward judges are viewed as qualified or extremely qualified to hold their positions. These ratings are independently made by the attorneys of Broward County who practice in front of them.
The problem, of course, is that in the last couple of months, we've had pot, crying, and NHI -- in high profile proceedings. Yikes...
Hat tip on the JAABLAW blog: Rumpole.
The SDFLA Blog is dedicated to providing news and notes regarding federal practice in the Southern District of Florida. The New Times calls the blog "the definitive source on South Florida's federal court system." All tips on court happenings are welcome and will remain anonymous. Please email David Markus at dmarkus@markuslaw.com
3 comments:
Mr. Markus, aparently we both wrote our blog posts about the same topic yesterday at about the same time. I would venture to say my thought process may be invading your Hahrvahd trained legal mind. If I was you I would be worried.
I did give you credit at the end of my post....
But on reflection, I am worried...
Here is yet another one and this one went to our SD Fla Court:
"Joey Burns wrote:
A COLLUSIVE JUDGE PRATT. There is a new federal action as of May 28, 2008. Here is the web link: http://www.anti-nova-nsu.org/Federal.SD.Fla/Verified.Complaint.pdf Beginning at paragraph 79, the complaint accuses Judge Pratt of collusive activity with Ray Ferrero, Jr. Apparently Ferrero went to a special luncheon at Pratt’s members only club, BWOrg on March 11, 2008. That same day Pratt entered an order in a Nova Southeastern case and the order is quite questionable. Pratt is not named as a defendant but is accused of a “favors and friends” policy in rendering final judgment. Count 3 of the complaint does well to establish that Pratt should have at least recused herself from the state case. No word yet on any jqc action, but the plaintiff in that case appears to have set up a complaint that will force Ferrero to a jury trial on a nasty count of RICO conspiracy. Those kinds of conspiracies can be proved by circumstantial evidence and usually survive summary judgment, leaving a jury to beckon. I would not be surprised if the plaintiff deposed Judge Pratt. Hands on head and all."
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