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
Friday, February 17, 2006
Padilla to remain detained
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Issues involving Cuba
2. AUSA Dexter Lee is asking Judge Moreno to dismiss the case filed by the 15 Cubans who landed on the wrong bridge (which was not considered U.S. soil by the U.S.). See here.
Padilla Challenges Detention
The case is presently set for trial in September before U.S. District Judge Judge Marcia Cooke. Hard to argue that this case should not be added to the list of one of the most high profile cases ever in the Southern District of Florida. Thoughts?
Monday, February 13, 2006
New federal courthouse
The heavily fortified and architecturally unique Wilkie D. Ferguson Federal Courthouse in Miami is scheduled to open this fall, more than a year behind schedule. Completion of the $163 million courthouse — in the works for 15 years — was slowed by change orders, contractor delays and hurricanes, according to U.S. District Judge K. Michael Moore, who has overseen the project. But the biggest reason for the setback, Moore said, is that dozens of louvers controlling air intake and exhaust had to be removed and replaced due to water infiltration from Hurricane Wilma. The issue of who bears financial responsibility for the mistake — architects Arquitectonica and HOK or contractors Dick Corp. of Pittsburgh and EllisDon Construction of Canada — is in dispute. “We have to concentrate on fixing it now and then figure out who was responsible,” Moore said.
Saturday, February 11, 2006
Lawyer jailed in state court
Judge Ungaro and red tape don't mix
Friday, February 10, 2006
Snubbed?
Thursday, February 09, 2006
Reverse Venue Issue
Now, the opposite issue has arisen in front of Judge Cohn. Here the Cuban exile defendants are claiming that the feds should not have brought the case against them in Ft. Lauderdale where there is barely any connection to the crime. Instead, they argue, the case should be transferred to Miami where the firearms were actually seized because in Miami they will receive a jury of their peers. ''[T]he government ignored the overwhelming ties of parties and witnesses to Miami-Dade and maneuvered to improve its chances of securing convictions by minimizing, if not eliminating, the participation of Cuban Americans in the petit jury and in the grand jury that returned the indictment,'' wrote their lawyers, Ben Kuehne, Dennis Kainen, Kendall Coffey and Arturo Hernandez. See the Herald article here.
I wonder how CABA will react to this. They just filed an amicus brief supporting the government in the 11th Circuit on the venue issue arguing that it was discriminatory for the panel to hold that the spies could not get a fair trial in Miami... Will they support the defense or the prosecution on this issue? I'm sure the spies are going to cite this case as an admission from the government as to jury dynamics in Miami.
Defenders of the government on this issue argue that if venue is even arguably proper in Ft. Lauderdale, the U.S. Attorney's office should not be faulted for bringing the case there if it thinks it will get a more favorable jury... Thoughts?
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
DBR covers our new Circuit Justice
On Feb. 1 Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. assigned Thomas to oversee the 11th Circuit. The move was part of a shuffle following the confirmation of Justice Samuel Alito Jr. The power to grant emergency stays is most critical in death penalty cases. But it’s also a key method of freezing judgments and judicial orders in time-sensitive legal disputes like those that arose in the end-of-life case involving Terri Schiavo and in the 2000 presidential election recount battle. If a justice denies a petition, a litigant can still ask the other eight justices, or the full court, to review the case. But experts say the chances of being granted review decrease if the justice in charge of a circuit already has denied review. Thomas’ appointment to cover the 11th Circuit makes some Florida criminal defense lawyers nervous. “I don’t perceive Justice Thomas as being particularly friendly toward death penalty defendants,” said Neal DuPree, the Fort Lauderdale-based capital collateral regional counsel for South Florida. His state agency represents death row inmates in post-conviction habeas corpus petitions.
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Elections v. Appointments?
We have it much better over here, don't we?
*Even more amazing to me is that our state PD has to run for election. How do you campaign -- "I lost more cases than anyone else?"
Unruly defendants...
So what should the judge do? This guy shouldn't be permitted to make a mockery of the system. But there is no easy solution... Someone mentioned to me that they should muzzle him, but imagine that spectacle in Court.
Interesting contrast with Moussaoui and the Padilla defendants here in the Southern District of Florida, who have been described as courteous, respectful, and polite during court appearances. The judge in the Padilla case ordered that the defendants' shackles be removed during court.
Friday, February 03, 2006
News and notes
1. Judge Marcia Cooke ordered that Jose Padilla not be shackled in Court.
2. Judge William Zloch sentenced attorney Sam Burstyn to 42 months (18 months less than the 60 month statutory cap the government was asking for and 35 months more than the credit time served sentence the defense was asking for). Burstyn scored out much higher than the 60 month cap (for a 371 conspiracy) under the guidelines.
Thursday, February 02, 2006
New FBI Chief in Miami
Score!
Disclosure -- Mona is my lovely wife.
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Our new Circuit Justice is...
Still no comment
Judge Federico A. Moreno lashed out at a federal prosecutor and deputy prison warden Tuesday, calling rules at the Federal Detention Center in Miami barring inmates from being able to meet with their lawyers in conference rooms “asinine” and “stupid.” After threatening to bring accused Cali cartel drug lords Gilberto and Miguel Rodriguez-Orejuela to his courtroom to meet with their lawyers, prosecutors agreed to alter restrictive regulations at the Special Housing Unit of the Federal Detention Center in Miami so that lawyers can meet with their clients under better conditions. “I think this is absolutely stupid, it is asinine,” Moreno yelled. “To not use a conference room when it’s empty anyway — that makes no sense. If I have to run the SHU myself, it will take the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals to stop me.” The outburst came during a hearing on whether the Rodriguez-Orejuelas should be released from the SHU unit and whether the government has knowledge about whether the brothers’ legal fees to their new attorney, David Markus of Miami, are clean. The judge exploded in anger after Markus and his co-counsel Roy Kahn of Miami argued that they are not permitted to use a conference room in the unit to meet with their clients — even though the room is usually empty — due to a prison rule that the room can only be used if four attorneys are present. Instead, they told Moreno, they have to meet them in a tiny room with no bathroom, air conditioning or water and share documents through a tiny slot in the glass.
***
Finally, Moreno threatened to make his courtroom available for meetings between the Rodriguez-Orejuelas and their lawyers if the prison did not accommodate them. “I don’t want to do that,” he said. “But we have bathrooms here. I can be very innovative at resolving conflicts. I have to give people access to their lawyers.”
***
Under assault, Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Axelrod, after a quick private consultation with Wombacher, agreed to change the regulations and allow the conference room to be used by any attorneys. “The policy will change,” he said. Axelrod had argued that the prison has reasons for its rules regulating the use of the conference room. He said contraband had been found in the bathroom when lawyers were allowed to use it. He also said that the policy of only allowing groups of four lawyers to use the conference room was instituted because other inmates complained that the Rodriguez-Orejuelas were meeting with their lawyers daily and monopolizing the room.
***
Moreno also sought to resolve the issue of whether legal fees Miguel Rodriguez-Orejuela paid Markus are clean. Markus has asked the government to review his files and inform him if they have knowledge that the fees are derived from illegal gains, but prosecutors have refused. Rodriguez-Orejuela’s previous attorney, Jose Quiñon of Miami, said he could not satisfy himself that the fees were untainted and withdrew from the case. The issue is being closely watched by other local defense attorneys.
***
Moreno pressured the government to state whether it had knowledge whether the fees Markus accepted were dirty and if he could be charged with money laundering. After much questioning, Axelrod said he had no such knowledge. Moreno said neither the government nor he want to get involved in the issue because it would set policy and a precedent for future cases. “If they did it for you they’d have to do it for everyone,” he said. “You go to Washington or the appellate court to set policy. I don’t think I should meddle in the attorney-client relationship.” But he gave the government a subtle message when he told Markus, “If you were ever charged with anything, you’d have a perfect defense. You should feel good about this, confident and relaxed. You think the government would want to be the recipient of the government’s wrath? This is not a blessing, but almost.” He also said he did not think taxpayers should be footing the bill for the Rodriguez-Orejuelas’ defense. After the hearing, Markus said that he is more comfortable with his fee and will continue representing Miguel Rodriguez-Orejuela. “I’m pleased that Judge Moreno required the government to say that no crime has been committed and that no conflict exists,” he said. “It’s now on the record.”
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Welcome Justice (sc)Alito
We have a new Associate Justice, Sam Alito. This means we still don't have a Justice from Florida -- EVER. I still think it's time we get one.
My favorite picture from all the coverage is the one at the upper left, with his family in front of the Clinton potrait.
BTW, lots of comments lately. Although we're not debating who the better PD is or whether a lawyer has ever slept with a juror, the debate is interesting. Check it out.
UPDATE -- someone doctored the Clinton picture. See here.
Saturday, January 28, 2006
New Abramoff Prosecutor...
A couple questions:
1. What's the story on Lourie?
2. Why isn't the local media covering the Abramoff story more closely? Is it me or does it seem like no one down here really cares about this stuff? Abramoff is front page news around the country...
Friday, January 27, 2006
Ambulance Chasers?
Representatives of a Chicago law firm posed as American Red Cross grief counselors to gain access to relatives of the victims of a Chalk’s Ocean Airways crash in Miami, according to complaints filed with the Florida and Illinois bars.As a result of the complaints, The Florida Bar is also investigating a West Palm Beach-based law firm for possible violations of Bar rules in its solicitation of the Bahamian relatives of passengers who were killed in the Chalk’s seaplane crash.The alleged misconduct also could violate a federal law intended to protect the families of plane crash victims from being approached by lawyers immediately after the death of their relatives.The Bar complaints were filed on Jan. 3 by Miami lawyer John Ruiz, who represents relatives of one of the crash victims. He contends that lawyers for the Rose Law Firm of West Palm Beach and the Chicago-based Nolan Law Group used improper client solicitation tactics. According to the complaint, lawyers from the firms posed as psychiatrists and Red Cross volunteers, and knocked on the doors of the grieving families in Bimini as early as the day of the crash.
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
The role of judge
The question is an interesting one. If, as Chief Justice Roberts has suggested, judges are merely umpires who are supposed to call balls and strikes, then why should the umpire call what the parties have deemed a strike as a ball. In other words, it is the government (who represents the people) and defense (who represents the defendant) who know the case the best and who have fought -- under our adversary system -- to reach a result that both sides could live with. Why shouldn't the judge enforce that agreement? Thoughts? Here's the AP story on it.
UPDATE -- The first comment lays out the case for the judge taking such action. Interestingly, according to Jay Weaver, AUSA Dana Washington explained to the judge that the sentence was reasonable and that the sentencing guidelines took into account the death. He cited to a previous case in which Judge King was reversed for departing upward to life. If the prosecutor, who represents the people, believes the sentence is enough, should the judge (umpire) take a different position?
(Disclosure -- I represented a co-defendant in that King case in which we also secured a reversal in the 11th Circuit on another issue. My client ended up with about 4 year sentence because the 11th Circuit concluded that the events on the boat were not foreseeable to my client)...
Monday, January 23, 2006
"Help wanted"
Sunday, January 22, 2006
More Jack Abramoff
Thursday, January 19, 2006
FIU prof/wife plead NG and Herald writer pleads guilty
In other news, Herald writer Ana Veciana-Suarez pleaded guilty to a contempt of court charge for not disclosing her father's criminal history during jury selection in a 2003 civil trial .
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
2 votes for dumping peremptory challenges
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
What is the future of federal sentencing?
Friday, January 13, 2006
State of the blog and Poll update
An update on the funniest Southern District of Florida judge -- Judge Moreno is leading in the polls by a lot. He currently has better than a 2-1 advantage over Judge Ungaro. A close third is Judge Palermo.
Blogging from me will be slow this weekend as I'm on vacation (the last time I'll be able to get away before baby #2 is born and before I start a six week trial in Savannah Georgia). Thanks again.
Padilla's Application to Join al Qaeda?
Prosecutors made public for the first time at Padilla's detention hearing that they have located his application to join al Qaeda. The U.S. military recovered the application, with more than eighty others, when it invaded Afghanistan. The Government stated that the application by Padilla was "authenticated" by a "cooperating witness" who was also previously convicted in an unrelated criminal matter. Padilla's lawyer, Michael Caruso, argued that there was no direct evidence that Padilla filled out the form, and questioned its authenticity. Click here to see the full story. UPDATE
"As American as Apple Pie"
Thursday, January 12, 2006
Jose Padilla's bond hearing
I attended most of the bail hearing for Jose Padilla this morning in front of Magistrate Barry Garber. Although I didn't stay for the stunning conclusion, after you read my summary, I'm sure you'll be able to surmise whether Mr. Padilla will be serving the next nine months at liberty or in the special housing unit of the Detention Center.
The hearing started out with the arraignment of Padilla. Chief Assistant Federal Defender Michael Caruso said Padilla is "absolutely not guilty." Caruso was flanked by Tony Natale, Orlando do Campo, and Andy Patel.
Although the courtroom was packed, it seemed that less press attended the hearing and the security (although more than for any other defendant) was not as thick as it was for the previous two hearings. I counted around 10 marshals and court security officers. Padilla's mom and other family members were also in attendance.
Garber asked Padilla whether he pronounced his name padiYa or padiLLa and Padilla responded with the hard L -- Padilla.
AUSA Stephanie Pell was the government lawyer who handled the proffer to the Court. She went through the indictment, explaining that Padilla was recruited to travel overseas to participate in a violent Jihad. They even have what they believe to be his application to be a member of Al Queda and numerous intercepts from FISA. She also explained that they had cooperating witnesses. Her proffer lasted about an hour and is too long to reproduce here. Pell was joined by AUSA Russ Killinger and an agent.
Michael Caruso, who referred to his client as Jose, then asked the Court if he could question the agent on the case. He specifically wanted to ask about translations and the application. He also wanted to ask the agents about the "methods of interrogation" of the cooperating witnesses. He said that he needed to question the agent because "weak is not even the right word to describe the evidence against Jose."
Garber denied the request to question an agent saying that Caruso wanted to conduct a minitrial. Caruso tried again, and a funny exchange ensued with Caruso saying that they had plenty of time because Garber kept the case instead of putting it on the regular calendar and Caruso was thankful that Garber did so. Garber responded: "You're thankful even after I ruled against you?" Caruso: "I'm trying to butter you up." Garber: "Nice try. But denied."
Caruso then went into the history of confinement with Padilla -- how he was in total isolation without a lawyer, family or anything for 2 years. Then he got a lawyer, but he still was in a military prison with 10 cells and he was the only prisoner. "It is far beyond what any other American citizen has had to endure," said Caruso.
Both sides then went back and forth over the risk of flight and danger to the community and I had to leave. But based on Garber's refusal to allow the agent to be questioned, I have to assume that he will grant the government's request for pre-trial detention. More when I can confirm it.
UPDATE -- confirmed. Here's the AP article. And here's the drawing of Padilla and AUSA Pell. I'm usually a fan of Shirley Henderson's work, but I don't think this picture does Pell justice and I think it makes Padilla look older and thicker than he looked in court.
No comment
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
News and notes
1. Padilla's bond hearing is tomorrow at 10AM in front of J. Garber. I am going to try and attend if work permits.
2. Congrats to AUSA Daniel Fridman (from this District). He has accepted a special assignment to work with the Acting Deputy U.S. Attorney General Paul McNulty (the #2 guy at DOJ in DC) on shaping the administration's criminal and civil rights policy. Those that know Dan, know that he is a good and fair prosecutor and I hope he uses the time in DC to promote his even-tempered philosophy.
3. Way off topic -- for those interested in a high profile exciting murder case involving allegations that you wouldn't believe if you read about them in a book, check out http://www.probodybuildingweekly.com/ and click on the replay of the telecast in which I serve as a legal analyst (I come on at around the 12 minute mark, after the break). For all the information on the case, you can check out www.titusandryan.com or www.getbig.com.
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
New SDFLA blogger
Starting the year with a bang...
Padilla, Abramoff, and now FIU professors accused of spying for Cuba... Only in the Southern District of Florida.
Here's Jay Weaver's and Noah Bierman's article about the spy proceedings yesterday.
Monday, January 09, 2006
More terror defendants in the Southern District? (UPDATED)
Please be advised that two defendants involved in a national security matter are scheduled to make their Initial Appearances in federal court today, January 9, 2006, at 1:30 p.m., before Magistrate Judge Andrea Simonton, at 300 N.E. First Avenue, Miami, Florida. A press conference will follow at the U.S. Attorney's Office, 99 N.E. 4th Street, Miami, at 2:30 p.m. The United States Attorney and representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service will be available to the media.
UPDATE -- Nope, not terror. More spies -- according to the Associated Press. Here's the intro to the article: "A college professor and his wife have been charged with being longtime illegal agents of Cuban President Fidel Castro, The Associated Press has learned.Documents filed Monday in U.S. District Court show that Carlos Alvarez, a psychology professor at Florida International University, and his wife, Elsa Alvarez, have been charged with acting as agents of Cuba without registering with the U.S. government as required."
SECOND UPDATE -- They were denied bond.
Friday, January 06, 2006
Jose Padilla, part II
Magistrate Judge Barry Garber presided over the proceedings and asked Jose Padilla if he had an attorney. Mr. Padilla responded that "Andy Patel" was his lawyer. Judge Garber then proceeded to ask Patel about whether he was going to represent Padilla in this case. Patel said that he wasn't a member of the Florida Bar and thought it would be best if the Federal Defender's Office in Miami was lead counsel. Judge Garber thought that was a great idea and asked Chief Assistant Federal Defender Michael Caruso if his office would accept appointment, to which Caruso responded that he would "gladly accept" the appointment.
Judge Garber said he was going to appoint dual counsel, with the Miami Defender's office taking the lead and Patel to serve as co-counsel because he has been in the case since June 2002.
AUSA Stephanie Pell then told the Judge that there was a potential conflict with the Miami office accepting the appointment. Caruso said that his office has reviewed everything and that he could say "without equivocation" that there was no conflict. Garber took the matter up at sidebar and after conferring, he kept the Miami Defenders as lead counsel. While at sidebar, another Public Defender Tony Natale went up to Padilla and explained what was going on. Another defender, Orlando do Campo, was also present for the defense.
Judge Garber then asked the government what its position was on bail. AUSA Pell said that the government was asking for pretrial detention based on risk of flight and danger to the community, to which Judge Garber quipped: "Why am I not surprised?"*
Michael Caruso explained that they would need a continuance to prepare for the hearing, and Judge Garber rescheduled it for January 12th at 10AM. Garber also -- at Caruso's request -- moved the arraignment to that date. Garber said that because of the amount of time he has invested in the case that he would retain it for next week's hearing instead of transferring it to the duty magistrate judge. Judge Garber concluded the hearing by commending the parties for acting in the spirit of cooperation.
*Maybe I should've included J. Garber on the funniest SDFLA judge...
FDC-Miami closed until further notice
Thursday, January 05, 2006
Miami Venue Amicus
Bond for Padilla's co-defendant
BTW, I wonder what Prof. Froomkin thinks now about Judge Cooke.
Jose Padilla's First Appearance
I attended Jose Padilla's first appearance today in the Southern District of Florida. Magistrate Judge Barry Garber presided. The lead Miami prosecutor on the case is Russell Killinger, a well-respected veteran in the Southern District of Florida. In court, Judge Garber told Padilla that his lawyers, Andrew Patel and Donna Newman, called chambers and said they wanted to appear, so the Judge postponed the hearing until tomorrow at 4PM. Just in case, the Miami Federal Public Defender's office was present in court.
Padilla appeared calm in court, answering the Judge politely with short yes-or-no responses. Garber explained to Padilla his rights, which was interesting as Padilla has been held for the past three years while lawyers wrangled over what sorts of rights he has.
Padilla had a short haircut. He was wearing glasses, black sneakers and an orange jumpsuit. The amount of security was amazing. Helicopters were flying over the courthouse. There were numerous marshals and court security officers in the courtroom. And there was lots of press. I'm sure they were disappointed by the three minute hearing.
Nevertheless, there was a certain electricity in the courtroom. The Southern District is a very exciting place to practice law right now, especially with Padilla and Abramoff fighting for above-the-fold coverage.
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
Jack Abramoff's hats
So everyone can see what the comment below was referring to, here are the two hats Abramoff wore for the DC plea and the Miami plea.
And the Justice Building Blog calls us too law based...
Bigger than Abramoff?
Abramoff plea and other items...
On a lighter note, a commenter points out:
Anonymous said...
What's the deal with Abramoff's hats? In D.C. he wore an old school fedora and down here he had a baseball cap on. I know his lawyers are giving him excellent legal advice, but who is giving him fashion advice?
Biggest case in the country?
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Cuban Five and Abramoff news
In other news, Julie Kay has written about the government's opposition to the amicus briefs filed in the Cuban Spy case. I previously posted about the fight here. Here's some of the article:
The latest twist in the high-profile case came last week when the U.S. attorney’s office in Miami filed a motion seeking to block the 11th Circuit’s acceptance of two amicus briefs filed by state and national legal organizations that oppose the government’s position. The motion sharply urged the 11th Circuit not to accept the briefs. Two days later, Ricardo Bascuas, a University of Miami law professor who authored one of the amicus briefs, filed a strongly worded reply opposing the government’s position and reiterating why amicus briefs should be allowed. “The important civil rights precedents discussed by amici curiae hold that the Sixth Amendment protects us all from convictions tainted by racial, ideological, religious, ethnic, or other irrational prejudice,” states the brief. “As distinguished criminal defense organizations, amici offer to assist the court by presenting the cases most pertinent to the fair treatment of unpopular defendants.” The amicus briefs were filed by the National Lawyers Guild, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the National Association of Federal Public Defenders and the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.... “Everyone plays to win, I guess,” Federal Assistant Public Defender Richard Klugh, who likely will be arguing the case before the 11th Circuit, said in an interview. “But to not allow anyone except the Cuban defendants to argue is not right. These are respected American legal organizations and they should be allowed to participate in the process.” Markus angrily called the prosecutors “crybabies.” “Only insecure bullies cry and complain like this,” he said. “I’m really surprised that the [U.S. attorney’s office] would take this position.” ... The brief by Assistant U.S.Attorney Caroline Heck Miller calls the amici “surrogates for appellants.” The purpose of such a move, she suggests, would be to allow the defense to circumvent page limitations in their own briefs. Klugh angrily denies the allegation. He and other defense lawyers argue that they see no reason why the court shouldn’t allow the two amicus briefs. All parties should be allowed to express their views in the case, Klugh said. “I have never seen the government argue this before,” Klugh said. “I can see if there were 10 briefs filed, but there were just two, from respected legal organizations.” ... Richard B. Rosenthal, a Miami appellate lawyer, said the South Florida legal community was flabbergasted by the government’s move. “We were all surprised,” he said. “Those briefs are routinely allowed and the government’s decision to challenge the amicus brief smacks either of desperation or of sheer pettiness.” ...