Maybe I need to rethink this appointment thing...

...after this.

"People the world over have always been more impressed by the power of our example than by the example of our power."

What an awesome line by Bill Clinton at the DNC tonight.

Live blogging the fire alarm

So we were in a hearing with Judge Seitz when the fire alarm went off. And we only had 60 seconds until the hearing was over. Ahh, the new courthouse gremlins at work.

"Two words, your honor,Not guilty."

That was Charles Kuck said in his opening statement to Immigration Judge Kenneth Hurewitz for his client Lyglenson Lemorin. You remember Lemorin -- he was the one defendant who was acquitted from the Liberty City 7 trial (Joel DeFabio was his lawyer). The others have had two hung juries. But no matter for the government -- it is seeking to deport Lemorin saying he was actually guilty.

I'm sorry, but this is outrageous. Why have a jury system if the government can just say it doesn't matter? While the other defendants from the case are out on bond, Lemorin has been in an immigration cell waiting to yet again prove his innocence.

Here's Vanessa Blum's article on the case. It's time for Lemorin, a 20-year resident with no prior convictions, to go home to his family.

Election Day

Tuesday is election day for state judges in Miami. As I look through the information available about most of the candidates, I become more convinced that the federal appointment system is superior.