New magistrate short list in WPB

The cut has been made and there are 10 finalists for two spots. It's very hush-hush though, and I only have a partial list. Come on tipsters, give me more. Here's what I have so far:

Carolyn Bell (AUSA)
Dave Brannon (AFPD)
Kim Dunn-Abel (AUSA)
Bill Matthewman
Jeremy Slusher
Bob Waters (AUSA)
Wendy Zoberman

There are a bunch of magistrate positions that are open in the District, so the Chief entered an intersting order precluding applicants from lobbying District Judges. Good move.

So you want to be a Magistrate?

There are two openings in West Palm Beach. From a blast email sent from the Court yesterday:

Subject: Vacancy of U.S. Magistrate Judge (Two Positions)
U.S. DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA

The Judicial Conference of the United States has authorized the appointment of two full-time United States Magistrate Judges for the Southern District of Florida. These appointments will succeed incumbents, who will be retiring on or about January 6, 2012 and May 27, 2012 respectively, and both positions will be located in the West Palm Beach Division. The full vacancy announcement and application can be located on the Court's website, www.flsd.uscourts.gov, with applications due no later than 5:00 p.m. on May 31, 2011. For more information, contact Steven M. Larimore, Clerk of Court, U.S. District Court, 400 North Miami Avenue, Room 8N09, Miami, FL 33128, or the Chair of the Magistrate Judge Merit Selection Panel, John Mariani, Esq., 525 Okeechobee Blvd, Suite 1100, West Palm Beach, FL 33401.

So who is the new Magistrate?

The judges interviewed and then picked the new magistrate today. But the choice isn't public yet. When asked who was selected, Chief Judge Moreno said this:

"The most qualified applicant was chosen pending an FBI investigation. Consistent with the rules of the Judicial Conference it remains confidential until finalized."

But once the FBI calls start, it will be all over town.... If you all hear anything, send me an email and I will keep it confidential. Thanks!

Previous coverage here.

Who wants to be a Magistrate? (UPDATED TWICE)

Unfortunately, the applicant list and interviews for the open magistrate position were kept secret... That said, the committee acted quickly and cut the list to 5. Now the judges get to pick the next magistrate. I've heard from multiple sources about 4 of the 5 candidates:

1. Jackie Arango (AUSA)
2. Rick Del Toro (AUSA)
3. Jonathan Goodman (Akerman Senterfitt)
4. Daryl Trawick (State Circuit Judge; U.S. Attorney finalist)
5. UPDATE -- well, we got this one wrong, so I am taking it down.... Sorry! I will post it back up when I have the right info! SECOND UPDATE -- Okay, now I got the right person: Alicia M. Otazo-Reyes (Legon Ponce & Fodiman)

If you know who the 5th person is, please email me. (UPDATE -- thanks to all my tipsters!)

So who do you all want for the job?

Four of the five are current or former federal prosecutors...

Congrats to our new Magistrate

A (reliable) little birdie told me that Robin Rosenbaum is our new Ft. Lauderdale Magistrate Judge. Congratulations!

Magistrate selection panel

The panel selecting the new Magistrate in Ft. Lauderdale includes:

Chair: Walter Howard, Executive Vice-President
Equitable Bank

Ronald P. Anselmo, Esq.

Francis A. Anania, Esq.

Dr. Dan Arnold, Jr.

David M. Fee, Jr., Esq.

Elizabeth M. Hernandez, Esq.

Fred Haddad, Esq.

Marilyn Holifield, Esq.

Guy A. Lewis, Esq.

Recovery

Still trying to recover from eating so much this weekend.....

In the meantime, there's some good stuff from our local reporters:

1. Vanessa Blum had this weekend story about Jose Padilla and torture.

2. Jay Weaver covers the Charles Taylor motion to dismiss (by AFPD Miguel Caridad; response by AUSA Karen Rochlin).

3. Julie Kay has the scoop on who has put in for Magistrate Judge in Ft. Lauderdale. So far, we have Assistant federal defenders Patrick Hunt, Stewart Abrams, and Dave Brannon. From the US Attorney's office we Robin Rosenbaum and Patty Diaz. There are rumors, according to the article, that a private practitioner has also put in. Anyone know who?

Any word...

... on who has put their name in for Magistrate Judge in Ft. Lauderdale?