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
Monday, April 04, 2011
Sunday, April 03, 2011
"I didn’t sense a hostility about being Cuban-American...
...but I sensed a distrust from the committee about being a young mother who wanted to be a judge.”
That was Judge Altonaga responding to a question from a student at her former school. The Herald has the nice story about her return to the school here:
The first Cuban-American woman ever appointed to a U.S. federal court bench said studying at Notre Dame Academy in Miami taught her the meaning of tolerance. It was the end of 1970s, one of the most tumultuous periods of racial discontent in Miami’s history. Her all-girls high school was one of the most racially integrated in the city. “I remember in my last year, coming back from a graduation night,” said Cecilia María Altonaga, who graduated in 1980.
“Our parents had to pick us up from the school, and the riots were going on at the same time. The school was closed. It was dangerous.” There were no final exams that year, due to the violence. But inside the school, a different story about race was unfolding. “This was a place that exhibited all these different racial/ethnic groups coexisting, working together, overcoming differences,” said Altonaga. “There is this perception that all Catholic girls schools are elitist or homogenous or they exclude people. This was quite the opposite, one of the most diverse groups of young women working together.”
She returned to her alma mater — which soon after she graduated merged with Archbishop Curley High School — on Saturday to talk about her career in the law to about two dozen current students. The forum followed a special Mass at the Archbiship Curley-Notre Dame High School, which each year honors an alum who now serves the community as an attorney or judge.
That was Judge Altonaga responding to a question from a student at her former school. The Herald has the nice story about her return to the school here:
The first Cuban-American woman ever appointed to a U.S. federal court bench said studying at Notre Dame Academy in Miami taught her the meaning of tolerance. It was the end of 1970s, one of the most tumultuous periods of racial discontent in Miami’s history. Her all-girls high school was one of the most racially integrated in the city. “I remember in my last year, coming back from a graduation night,” said Cecilia María Altonaga, who graduated in 1980.
“Our parents had to pick us up from the school, and the riots were going on at the same time. The school was closed. It was dangerous.” There were no final exams that year, due to the violence. But inside the school, a different story about race was unfolding. “This was a place that exhibited all these different racial/ethnic groups coexisting, working together, overcoming differences,” said Altonaga. “There is this perception that all Catholic girls schools are elitist or homogenous or they exclude people. This was quite the opposite, one of the most diverse groups of young women working together.”
She returned to her alma mater — which soon after she graduated merged with Archbishop Curley High School — on Saturday to talk about her career in the law to about two dozen current students. The forum followed a special Mass at the Archbiship Curley-Notre Dame High School, which each year honors an alum who now serves the community as an attorney or judge.
Saturday, April 02, 2011
How much does it cost to retrofit a courtroom?
Judge Jordan is in a long securities fraud trial right now. But that's nothing compared to what he has coming up with the Mutual Benefits case, which is expected to last 8 months. Now, the government has asked to retrofit a courtroom to allow for two juries to preside at the same time because of severance issues. I feel for Judge Jordan on this case.
Friday, April 01, 2011
Reading Administrative Orders on Friday Afternoon
Yes, the exciting life of a federal blogger. (Rumpole, on the other hand, is posting April Fools jokes).
Well, I'm sure you've been waiting on the edge of your seats to find out about the new magistrate pairings. Here they are!
And Judge Torres is up for re-appointment.
Need to have more .... Click here.
Well, I'm sure you've been waiting on the edge of your seats to find out about the new magistrate pairings. Here they are!
And Judge Torres is up for re-appointment.
Need to have more .... Click here.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Quick hits
1. SFL covers Minkow. So does Curt Anderson.
2. The border search exception applies to laptops, even if they take it to a facility 170 miles away.
3. No 11th Circuit en banc review for the health care case.
4. The Bronx Zoo Cobra was caught.
5. Well, if Dr. Drew thinks the airport scans are fine, then I'm sure they are.
2. The border search exception applies to laptops, even if they take it to a facility 170 miles away.
3. No 11th Circuit en banc review for the health care case.
4. The Bronx Zoo Cobra was caught.
5. Well, if Dr. Drew thinks the airport scans are fine, then I'm sure they are.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)