Thursday, March 08, 2012

The dynamic duo strikes again

AFPDs Helaine Batoff and Sam Randall are on an incredible trial streak -- they've won 3 not guilty verdicts in a row. The most recent was yesterday in a rape on the high seas case before Judge Martinez.

The federal public defender's office in the Southern District of Florida in general is tearing it up this year. I'm trying to get the actual statistics but I believe that the office has won around 10 federal trials already this year. Many districts don't try, let alone win, 10 cases all year...

9 comments:

Rumpole said...

No retreat no surrender.


And no
Plea.

Anonymous said...

Here are some stats:

For the 12 month period ending Sept. 30, 2010.

The SD NY, (the NY Times paid homage to the vaunted PD's office there last year) had 3 acquittals and 63 convictions (4.76% acquittal rate).

SD FL had 100 jury conviction and 28 acquittals. 28% acquittal rate for jury trials.

The overall average acquittal rate nationwide (factoring out the SD FL) was 13.12%.

More or the same number of acquittals in SD FL as: DC, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th, 8th, and 10th. Only 5th and 9th circuits (combined) had more than the SD Fla.

The office really kicks ass!

Anonymous said...

yep, it really is a jury of peers in miami.

Anonymous said...

sour grapes from some bitter prosecutor.

two words:

YOU LOSE!

Anonymous said...

not sour grapes at all. are you really of the mind that juries in south florida are the brightest of the bunch? If you are, you've never tried a case in SDFL.

Anonymous said...

That is beyond offensive. What a smart jury is only one that convicts? That is the arrogance of a handful of prosecutors that have no business working as AUSAs. Find a new line of work.

Anonymous said...

Maybe they have enough real world experiance and curiosity not to believe every cop.

Anonymous said...

who is batoff?

Anonymous said...

High-seas rape case was before Middlebrooks.

Sam's winning streak was broken yesterday. AUSA Mike Thakur got a guilty verdict in another case before Middlebrooks. Felon-in-possession & more, I believe. Maybe Helaine should have tried this case with Sam, too?