Trials and Rita

Last time we underreacted. Now we may be overreacting... At least we can still blog from home...

A bunch of trials were delayed this week due to Rita. I was supposed to start trial on Wednesday; now I'll start on Thursday. In a more publicized case, The Herald reported that: "Jury selection is scheduled to begin later this week in the case against Evintz Brillant, the only one of four former senior Haitian police officials who has not pleaded guilty in the investigation of drug trafficking inside the Aristide government. . . . The trial's scheduled Monday start before U.S. District Judge Marcia Cooke was delayed a few days by the approach of Tropical Storm Rita."

Good luck with the storm today everyone.

Rita

Here is the latest update from the Chief:

Federal District Court Operations and Tropical Storm Rita

Chief United States District Judge William J. Zloch directed that United States District Court operations in all divisions be closed at 3:00 P.M. today and remain closed on Tuesday, September 20, 2005 due to wind and rain conditions anticipated to develop with the approach of Tropical Storm Rita. These closures affect the District Court’s operations in Key West, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Fort Pierce. Federal courthouses in these locations will
be closed to the public, and jurors have been or soon will be instructed to call in for further reporting instructions. The United States Bankruptcy Court is also closed. Court staff are free to leave at 3:00 P.M. today and are instructed not to report for work on Tuesday. Federal court operations will resume at the regular time in all Divisions on Wednesday, September 21 . All staff should report for work at that time. Please check the Court’s website at www.flsd.uscourts.gov for changes to these instructions.

News and notes

1. Sam Burstyn pleaded guilty today. According to the Miami Herald, he faces five years in federal prison, he must forfeit about $200,000 and is expected to lose his law license. ''This is the right thing to do,'' Burstyn, 52, told Judge Zloch during the plea hearing. "Im really sorry . . . I'm just sorry.''

2. Judge Cooke denied a motion to move two accused terrorists out of the special housing unit of the federal detention center today because prosecutors said they could continue spreading Muslim extremism if allowed into the regular jail population. The Herald article is here.

Samuel I. Burstyn to plead guilty

Jay Weaver reports that prominent lawyer Sam Burstyn is scheduled to plead guilty today in front of Judge Zloch.

Another crash

Weird. The day after I posted about the van that crashed traveling between FDC Miami and the JLK Building next door, there was another crash involving marshals and nine inmates. This time it occurred on I95. I was actually sitting on I95 backed up for over an hour because of this accident today. Apparently it was a hit-and-run, which caused the marshal's van to flip at least three times. No one tried to escape and all were transported to the hospital. Some were seriously injured. Hopefully everyone will be okay.

Southern District Crash

Some SDFLA gossip -- As Judge Moreno is waiting to start a trial on Monday morning, the Marshals tell him that the defendant has been in a car accident and won't make it. Where did this accident occur? The Marshals were driving him from FDC Miami to the James L. King building next door! Apparently the tunnel that is typically used to transport prisoners was closed for construction and a marshal had to drive -- about 50 yards. As he was leaving FDC he hit a barricade and the defendant and two other inmates in the car were injured. From what I hear they were shackled and the marshal did not have them secured with seatbelts. The marshal was not harmed. The trial was continued.

Union officials indicted

The Sun Sentinel reports here about the indictment of various maritime union officials. The Indictment alleges that among offenses the defendants embezzled money from union benefit plans for hockey tickets, cigars and personal boat repairs.

I wonder if the timing of the indictment is related to the resumption of the National Hockey League's schedule next month.

Internationalism

During his Senate confirmation hearing, Judge Roberts has been asked about the role of international law in the Court's decision-making process. Judge Roberts has said that he does not believe that the Court should rely on foreign law. The foremost internationalist presently on the Court is Justice Kennedy. This profile of Justice Kennedy recently appeared in the New Yorker. The article focuses on Kennedy's international leanings.

Should the Supreme Court survey or take into account international law when deciding an issue as Justice Kennedy believes? Or should the Court disregard international law as Judge Roberts apparently believes?