Jewish American Heritage Month (and more)

 Last week the Southern District of Florida held an amazing event celebrating Jewish American Heritage Month.  Judge Beth Bloom moderated a panel that included: Judge Luck, Judge Scola, and Judge Altman.  The event had almost 400 attendees and the support of the community.  It was lovely to see.  Here's a picture of the committee:

Judge Altman is making other news -- this NY Times article covers his ruling this week "block[ing] part of a Florida law that criminalized transporting into the state anyone who lacked lawful immigration status, raising new legal questions for other states pursuing similar measures."

More:

The Florida law was intended to discourage unauthorized immigrants from living and working in the state, and organizations that work with immigrants say many undocumented workers have left the state in recent months.

The injunction puts on hold a key enforcement component of the legislation while the lawsuit against it proceeds. The law, which into effect last July, was championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis as he ran for the Republican nomination for president.

The Farmworker Association of Florida sued the state in July, claiming that the component of the law related to transportation into the state was unconstitutional and that its 12,000 members would “suffer irreparable harm.”

They could, the group said, be separated from their families, unable to attend lifesaving medical appointments and prevented from driving to immigration agencies overseeing their cases because of the risk of jail time.

Judge Altman on Thursday ordered further briefing on the scope of the injunction. That decision was wrongly reported by the Herald as “revers[ing] his own ruling.”  That’s not right.

NIL Goes to Federal Court

By John R. Byrne

A few years ago, star high school quarterback Jaden Rashada was set to play football for the Miami Hurricanes. Then the Florida Gators opened their wallets, allegedly luring him to de-commit from UM with the promise a $13.85M deal (UM had only come up with an endorsement package worth $9.5M). But the money never materialized, with Rashada ultimately heading to Arizona State with no NIL deal in place. Now he's suing the Gators in federal court, including head coach Billy Napier. Case landed before Judge Casey Rodgers. Have to think there'll be more of these in the coming years. Complaint below.

 Rashada Complaint by John Byrne on Scribd

Clerk of Court Angela Noble breaks up with Brightline

 Her breakup letter to the Palm Beach Post starts this way:

Dear Brightline,

How did we get here? When I moved to Florida, I swore off public transportation forever. For years, I enjoyed a short commute, and life was good. Then you came along. You appealed to my sensibilities, manipulated my emotions, and lured me away with false promises of a “carefree, car free ride.” You were starting a new business and I was considering a new opportunity of my own. You exploited my proclivity for public service and pushed me toward a professional opportunity far from home. Of course, the choice was mine, but you bear some responsibility. I relied on your support.

Blame your wife!

 Oooof, both Justice Alito and Sen. Menendez are blaming their wives.

Alito says his wife is to blame for the upside flag flying outside his house.

And Menendez says his wife is to blame for all of the gifts.

From the NY Times:

It is a tale as old as Adam and Eve: A husband, faced with accusations of misconduct, blames the wife.

It is also a time-honored, bipartisan political strategy. This week, Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. and Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey pointed ringed fingers at their wives for episodes that have landed each man in political or legal trouble.

“It was briefly placed by Mrs. Alito,” Justice Alito, one of the Supreme Court’s most conservative members, told The New York Times in explaining an upside-down American flag — a “Stop the Steal” symbol of protest by Donald J. Trump’s supporters — flying on a pole in the family’s front lawn in the days before President Biden’s 2021 inauguration. The justice’s wife, Martha-Ann Alito, was in a feud with neighbors at the time over an anti-Trump sign, The Times reported.

In the case of Mr. Menendez, a Democrat, it was his lawyer who did the finger pointing. On Wednesday, in a federal courtroom in Manhattan, the lawyer, Avi Weitzman, blamed the senator’s wife and her financial troubles for what prosecutors have described as a bribery scheme involving foreign governments and hundreds of thousands of dollars in gifts.

 So what do you think about the blame-the-wife strategy? Will it work?

 

Breaking- we have two new Magistrate Judges

 The judges of the Southern District of Florida met today and voted for our two newest magistrate judges. Congrats to Ellen D'Angelo and Enjolique Lett!! 

Man Detained in Alleged Kidnapping Plot

 By John R. Byrne

This case feels like it's destined for Dateline. The defendant, David Knezevich, is accused of a bizarre international kidnapping plot involving his estranged wife that may have ended up in her murder. Judge Torres ordered him detained pre-trial, though he apparently struggled with that decision, noting the case against Knezevich was based on circumstantial evidence. Expect a lot of media coverage on this one. Herald covers it here.

“Use your voice… unapologetically.”

 Guest Post by Vanessa Johannes

That was the message conveyed by the Honorable Nancy G. Abudu, who was appointed to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals in 2023, at the Wilkie D. Ferguson Gala on May 11, 2024 at the Intercontinental Hotel.  For those who haven’t attended this gala before, it is a MUST DO affair in South Florida!  The who’s who of the community are in attendance, and dressed to the nines with their dancing shoes on (this year, there was a live Calypso band and Bahamian drummers).  Politicians, such as Mayor Suarez, lawyers, and business leaders attend this star-studded affair, which awards several law school students with scholarships and then honors outstanding lawyers and companies who are committed to justice, diversity and leadership in our community.   

This year’s honorees were Congresswoman Frederica Wilson (in her signature large, glittery cowgirl hat), UPPAC, the Lotus House Women’s Shelter, and Judge Abudu, who gave the keynote speech.  Judge Abudu’s speech was a candid one – she spoke about the hardships of being “a first” in a particular space (she is the first Black woman on the Eleventh Circuit).  “How do you conform to an institution not designed for you … an institution that historically has not reflected or served you … how do you maintain your own identity, while balancing assimilation to this role and institution … how do you lead with joy when pain is inevitable for so many who look like you but are not afforded the same opportunities?”   

These were some of the questions posed by a deeply intellectual and reflective judge that has the weight of much on her shoulders.  Ironically, in answering some of these questions for herself, she was inspired by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, a jurist who, as Judge Abudu concedes, usually does not share her legal philosophy and positions.  

 Despite their opposite views, though, both have had to navigate being lone standers in their respective spaces and Justice Thomas reminds Judge Abudu of “what it looks like to be unapologetic.” Even when the masses are not with him, “his voice is still his voice.”  He is not afraid to share his philosophical views on interpreting the law and that teaches her to do the same.  Judge Abudu’s words hit home for so many who are navigating truth to power as “firsts” or “outsiders,” balancing inclusion, respect, imposter syndrome, and, candidly, where they fit in.  Importantly, her perspective and alignment with Justice Thomas reminded the room that even during these deeply polarizing times, we must all sometimes take a step back and see things from another’s perspective – even if that person is someone we don’t care to trade shoes with.   

Maybe especially if that is a person we don’t want to trade shoes with.  It was a timely message for a group galvanized to continue moving the arch towards justice and working for a more inclusive and diverse world.

11th Circuit Conference and FACDL-Gala

1. It was my first time attending the 11th Circuit conference, and it did not disappoint.  This year it was in Point Clear, Alabama.  It was nice to see the judges without their robes and courtrooms.  Chief Judge Pryor put on an entertaining set of speakers, including Judge Kevin Newsom interviewing Sarah Isgur.  Justice Thomas headlined the event, and his speech got some news.

The flight back on Friday night was delayed 3 hours, and half of the federal bench and bar was on the flight, and still in good spirits! (That's me at the way back of the picture).

 2. The previous weekend was the big FACDL-Gala.  I'm so proud of my partner Lauren Krasnoff for being sworn in as President of the organization and of Michael Caruso for being honored (that's him with a bunch of former defenders, including Judge Kathy Williams, who introduced Michael).

 

3.  This weekend I posted the candidates for the two open magistrate judge slots.  See the post below.  I didn't want it to get lost as it is important.