John Pacenti covers Judge Moreno here
From the intro:
When socialite Paris Hilton came to town for a civil trial, she was upstaged by none other than Chief U.S. District Judge Federico Moreno.
Pragmatic, smart and funny, the Miami jurist stopped seasoned attorneys who were litigating the question of whether Hilton adequately promoted her film box office bomb "Pledge This!," to ask incisive questions. Since it was a bench trial, Moreno was serving as a jury of one and had no need for rote legal arguments.
Despite his good humor, Moreno is a stickler for proper courtroom decorum. He gently chastised an out-of-town attorney representing Hilton repeatedly for failing to stand up when addressing him. He prompted an out-of-town attorney in another case to borrow a tie before speaking at the courtroom lectern. Given the judge's jocularity and ready smile, the attorney asked if he was kidding.
The judge wasn't.
Moreno said his insistence on decorum is based on respect for the institution.
"I think a federal courthouse, or any courthouse for that matter, is a secular temple," he said. "We dress in robes because it's a secular temple. People dress in suits, and I think people behave better when they are dressed better."
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
7 comments:
I often saw him tell an attorney to get a tie before speaking in court when he was in State court.
He has a great sense of humor, and controls the courtroom, but I am 100% certain I was the first lawyer to ever make him so angry he stormed off the bench. JR was there. But I seriously doubt they will remember the incident.
What kind of (male, presumably) lawyer comes to court without a tie? Especially when he's from out of town? You might as well come to court with no pants on. Sheesh.
state court is more like a bathroom, than a temple, and rumpole is the janitor
Oh yeah? Sez who?
What is wrong with balls in court?
MEEEEEEESTER Markus!
Watch your step here. You're taking a walk down a path to which you do not know where it leads mi amigo.
FYI:
Federal judges cannot use a greater likelihood of rehabilitation to justify a longer prison sentence for a criminal defendant, a divided panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled today. The court recognized a split among circuit courts on the issue
Cap Out ....
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