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
So 5 of the last 7 magistrates appointed have been federal prosecutors? There was no member of the private bar qualified to be named to the short list?
ReplyDeletetoo bad the facts don't match 11:00 a.m.'s complaint - among the last Magistrate Judges selected were Judges Torres, McAliley, and the late Judge Klein, all of whom came from private practice. Last time I looked, 7 minus 5 was 2. The fact that dedicated career prosecutors are seen by the judges (rightly) as good magistrates simply speaks to the professionalism and dedication of those career prosecutors.
ReplyDeletec'mon, career prosecutors aren't given these positions because they are any more professional or dedicated than a defense lawyer or civil practitioner. Three words:
ReplyDeleteLet's be honest
The DBR article is incorrect. The last field of 5 consisted of 4 AUSA's and Patrick Hunt, an experienced Federal Public Defender. Stewart Abrams, also a federal defender, was not one of the 5 finalists. Four prosecutors. One defender. Prosecutor chosen. Business as usual.
ReplyDeletethe selection is made by the District Judges, who preside over the trials and review the pleadings filed. Maybe they simply think the quality of the work (along with their professionalism and integrity and commitment to justice) done by the AUSAs they ultimately select shows that they are the best candidate, without some sort of nefariousness, as others are implying in their posts. Anyone who knows Robin Rosenbaum, as well as the other AUSAs selected, knows they are outstanding magistrates and selectees.
ReplyDeleteNefariousness? Nobody suggested that. The point being made is that the judges in the Southern District of Florida would rather have a former AUSA as a magistrate judge. It is a conservative view, but then again, they conservative jurists. It is their choice and they have spoken quite clearly for the last few decades what that choice is. Nothing nefarious implied, it just is what it is. But to somehow suggets that the prosecutors in the Southern District of FLorida have a monopoly on quality work, professionalism, integrity and a commitment to justice is an outright insult to the private bar, panel attorneys and federal public defenders that toil before the district on a daily basis.
ReplyDelete