The FPD's office has started off the year H-O-T.
We reported earlier on the NG verdict in Judge Altonaga's courtroom this week. Today, AFPDs Helaine Batoff and Sabrina Puglisi get to start their weekend off with a bang -- not guilty on a Friday afternoon, again before Judge Altonaga.
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, January 30, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Guest Blogger Extraordinaire
I am excited to announce that Julie Kay has agreed to guest-blog for a while here at the Southern District of Florida Blog. Please join me in welcoming Julie.
''If you shoot a child in Liberty City . . . you may have killed the next president of the United States.''
That was Al Sharpton today in Liberty City. The recap is here.
Anyone watching the new season of Lost? I'm digging it. Here's a recap of last night's episode in case you missed it.
South Florida Lawyer has a new look at the top of his blog... Rumpole has music playing in the background of his blog... I guess we need to step it up.....
Anyone watching the new season of Lost? I'm digging it. Here's a recap of last night's episode in case you missed it.
South Florida Lawyer has a new look at the top of his blog... Rumpole has music playing in the background of his blog... I guess we need to step it up.....
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
"A mistrial was declared Monday when a home-invasion robbery suspect smeared human feces on his attorney's face then threw more at the jury."
No, that didn't happen in our courtrooms. It happened in San Diego. But it's hard not to post this story....
In Judge Altonaga's courtroom today, the jury acquitted Brian Stekloff's and Vince Farina's client. I trust that the defendant in that case didn't throw anything at the jury...
In other news, here is the the update on the Coleman prison riot. A snippet:
As for the latest violence, the seven inmates airlifted in separate helicopters to Orlando Regional Medical Center continued to receive treatment Monday under the eyes of armed correctional officers. An eighth with less-serious injuries was being treated at Leesburg Regional Medical Center. For security reasons, the prisoners were listed under fictitious names at the hospitals.The incident started about 2:20 p.m. Sunday, when several inmates began fighting in one of the prison yards for high-security inmates, according to the Bureau of Prisons.When the inmates ignored correctional officers' orders to stop, prison staffers fired several shots.By 3 p.m., emergency medical workers swarmed the facility with nine ambulances, including seven from Lake-Sumter Emergency Medical Services, and one each from Hernando and Marion counties.
In Judge Altonaga's courtroom today, the jury acquitted Brian Stekloff's and Vince Farina's client. I trust that the defendant in that case didn't throw anything at the jury...
In other news, here is the the update on the Coleman prison riot. A snippet:
As for the latest violence, the seven inmates airlifted in separate helicopters to Orlando Regional Medical Center continued to receive treatment Monday under the eyes of armed correctional officers. An eighth with less-serious injuries was being treated at Leesburg Regional Medical Center. For security reasons, the prisoners were listed under fictitious names at the hospitals.The incident started about 2:20 p.m. Sunday, when several inmates began fighting in one of the prison yards for high-security inmates, according to the Bureau of Prisons.When the inmates ignored correctional officers' orders to stop, prison staffers fired several shots.By 3 p.m., emergency medical workers swarmed the facility with nine ambulances, including seven from Lake-Sumter Emergency Medical Services, and one each from Hernando and Marion counties.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Former SDFLA clerk goes to Supreme Court
Congrats to 30-year old Lindsay Harrison, a fifth year associate at Jenner & Block, for arguing before the Supreme Court last week -- her first appellate argument. A bunch of blogs have been covering the argument and Ms. Harrison, who clerked for Judge Gold and Judge Barkett. Here's a bit of an interview from AboveTheLaw:
ATL: First things first. What did you wear? There has been some controversy over how women oral advocates should dress when appearing before the Court.
LCH: I wore a black pantsuit. I was not about to wear a skirt, since they dispensed with that requirement and permitted women to wear pants a few years ago. If women don't take advantage of that opportunity, it sets a bad precedent. And I wore pearls -- my concession to formality.
ATL: You must be one of the youngest people ever to argue before the Court. Have you done any research to figure out where you fall?
LCH: I'm definitely not the youngest. The woman who argued Roe v. Wade, Sarah Weddington, was 26 at the time. Tom Goldstein was 29 when he argued his first case. I turned 30 on January 5.
The whole interview is a fun read.
UPDATE -- Ms. Harrison writes in:
There are actually a bunch of SDFL connections to the argument. An amicus brief was written by Adam Raviv (Marcus clerk) on behalf of FIAC, where my Barkett co-clerk Tania Galloni works. Cecily Baskir, another Barkett clerk, participated in one of my moots. And the argument was attended by both Adam Raviv and Deb Raviv, a King clerk from 03-04. All in all, a great showing for the SDFL.
I've also received a lot of really nice emails from folks in Miami, and it's been great to hear from the community, which I still feel very strongly a part of.
ATL: First things first. What did you wear? There has been some controversy over how women oral advocates should dress when appearing before the Court.
LCH: I wore a black pantsuit. I was not about to wear a skirt, since they dispensed with that requirement and permitted women to wear pants a few years ago. If women don't take advantage of that opportunity, it sets a bad precedent. And I wore pearls -- my concession to formality.
ATL: You must be one of the youngest people ever to argue before the Court. Have you done any research to figure out where you fall?
LCH: I'm definitely not the youngest. The woman who argued Roe v. Wade, Sarah Weddington, was 26 at the time. Tom Goldstein was 29 when he argued his first case. I turned 30 on January 5.
The whole interview is a fun read.
UPDATE -- Ms. Harrison writes in:
There are actually a bunch of SDFL connections to the argument. An amicus brief was written by Adam Raviv (Marcus clerk) on behalf of FIAC, where my Barkett co-clerk Tania Galloni works. Cecily Baskir, another Barkett clerk, participated in one of my moots. And the argument was attended by both Adam Raviv and Deb Raviv, a King clerk from 03-04. All in all, a great showing for the SDFL.
I've also received a lot of really nice emails from folks in Miami, and it's been great to hear from the community, which I still feel very strongly a part of.
News and Notes
1. Liberty City 6, part 3, starts today. (via Herald)
3. John Pacenti at the DBR covers the Mutual Benefits lawyers who were indicted.
2. The Cuban Spies are petitioning for cert and have brought in super Supreme Court lawyer, Tom Goldstein (of ScotusBlog fame). They are also trying to work out a political resolution to the case. (via Herald)
3. John Pacenti at the DBR covers the Mutual Benefits lawyers who were indicted.
4. The Congressional delegation from South Florida is being sworn in at the new courthouse this morning. Here's a picture of Ileana Ros-Lehtinen from the proceedings.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Prison riot at Coleman High
Here's the article from CNN. Apparently, 8 inmates were injured, one by gunfire. More info as soon as it's available.
In other news, Vanessa Blum explains that the new U.S. Attorney will likely have different law enforcement priorities:
In the coming months, President Barack Obama will put his own stamp on crime-fighting efforts in South Florida by naming a new U.S. attorney to direct federal investigations and prosecutions.The new president's pick will head an elite office of lawyers and be responsible for translating the priorities of the Obama White House and the Department of Justice into local cases and convictions.The office, now supervised by Republican attorney Alex Acosta, operates largely out of public view, but wields great influence over law enforcement priorities and leads federal, state and local agencies in joint crime-fighting initiatives."A new U.S. attorney could set a different prosecutorial agenda," said attorney Justin Sayfie, who took part in recommending Acosta for the job. "It's an enormous, enormous power."
What do you think the feds should prioritize?
In other news, Vanessa Blum explains that the new U.S. Attorney will likely have different law enforcement priorities:
In the coming months, President Barack Obama will put his own stamp on crime-fighting efforts in South Florida by naming a new U.S. attorney to direct federal investigations and prosecutions.The new president's pick will head an elite office of lawyers and be responsible for translating the priorities of the Obama White House and the Department of Justice into local cases and convictions.The office, now supervised by Republican attorney Alex Acosta, operates largely out of public view, but wields great influence over law enforcement priorities and leads federal, state and local agencies in joint crime-fighting initiatives."A new U.S. attorney could set a different prosecutorial agenda," said attorney Justin Sayfie, who took part in recommending Acosta for the job. "It's an enormous, enormous power."
What do you think the feds should prioritize?
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