Judge Robin Rosenbaum is FINALLY nearing a full Senate
vote. Senate Majority Harry Reid laid the groundwork today by calling for
a cloture vote on Judge Rosenbaum's nomination to occur no later than this
Thursday. The timing of the actual final vote is unclear as Republicans can
demand up to 30 hours of post-cloture delay. The
Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously approved Judge Rosenbaum’s nomination in
March and both Florida Senators are supporting her nomination. Her confirmation cannot come soon enough. Normally a court of twelve, the 11th Circuit currently only has eight full-time judges -- a fallout of the judicial confirmation gridlock.
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
Tuesday, May 06, 2014
Monday, May 05, 2014
Happy Cinco De Mayo
Happy Cinco de Mayo
(aka DUI lawyer day)! The Amigos are excited to be guest blogging this
week (and looking forward to an early margarita happy hour on DOM’s expense
card). As we commemorate the Mexican army’s unlikely victory over the
French at the Battle of Puebla in 1862 (more here), you
might be surprised to learn who (Mexican drug cartels?) is behind the rising
cost of a quality lime. From CNN.
Cartel members have demanded a certain
percentage of orchard owners' lime shipments . . . . The violence in the
region and threats from criminal organizations has made it all but impossible
for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to certify the limes that are
emerging from Mexico are being grown in a sanitary way.
The fallout has jacked up prices for U.S. and Mexican
consumers and businesses accustomed to celebrating Cinco de Mayo with limes in
their beers, margaritas and mojitos. A case of limes now goes for close
to $100, up substantially from reports of $15 to $20 last year.
Stay thirsty my friends . . .
In other news, some Scalia clerk needs a stiff drink right about now. Last week, Nino penned one of his trademark blistering dissents
denouncing regulatory overreach, only to have overreached himself by misstating the facts of a
prior unanimous Supreme Court decision -- that he himself authored. Oops. The blogosphere has been having fun with this one. The latest here.
Friday, May 02, 2014
Guest Bloggers
Please join me in welcoming Jeff Marcus, Jeff Neiman, and Dan Rashbaum as my guest bloggers next week. The three amigos just started their own law firm MNR.
Thursday, May 01, 2014
Republicans hold over vote for Judges Bloom & Gayles
Ho hum... more of the same... and for no reason. Just because:
Sen. Leahy: “Florida nominees backed by Senators Rubio and Nelson to fill judicial emergency vacancies but I understand Republicans want to hold them over, as is their right … I hope we can vote them out next week; I don’t think there is any controversy about any of them. We should be able to get them confirmed before the recess.”
People for the American Way aren't happy with Sen. Rubio on this.
I wish voters knew more about this wasteful and silly process.
Good luck to Judges Bloom and Gayles next week!
HT: Glenn Sugameli
Sen. Leahy: “Florida nominees backed by Senators Rubio and Nelson to fill judicial emergency vacancies but I understand Republicans want to hold them over, as is their right … I hope we can vote them out next week; I don’t think there is any controversy about any of them. We should be able to get them confirmed before the recess.”
People for the American Way aren't happy with Sen. Rubio on this.
I wish voters knew more about this wasteful and silly process.
Good luck to Judges Bloom and Gayles next week!
HT: Glenn Sugameli
Bethany Bandstra selected for inaugural Stuart A. Markus Award
Thank you to the many friends and readers of the blog who have donated to the scholarship that we have set up in my dad's name at the University of Miami School of Law. The Stuart A. Markus Award recognizes
an individual student each year for outstanding work in one of the School of
Law’s in-house clinics. The winner is selected by vote of the in-house, live-client clinic
directors.
Bethany
Bandstra, an outstanding member of the 2L class, is the inaugural recipient of
the Markus Award. Bethany has done superlative work in Prof. JoNel Newman's
Health Rights Clinic. On the first day of school last fall, Bethany
was assigned a difficult hearing before a federal administrative law judge that
was scheduled for early September. She immediately and without once
complaining immersed herself in the client's factual circumstances and the law
relevant to the case. She was an excellent advocate at the hearing, presenting
both her client's testimony and that of a psychiatric expert witness. She
has, throughout her tenure in the Clinic this year, been handled the most
difficult cases and clients with great alacrity. This spring she has completed
two extremely well researched and well written appellate briefs while
continuing to represent all her individual clients whose cases are in a
variety of procedural postures. She has also taken a leadership role in one of
the Clinic's three policy advocacy projects this spring, working on an
access to justice initiative. Bethany is so accomplished that she also served
as a mentor and expert to many of her classmates.
Stuart
A. Markus (BED ’54, J.D. ‘57) practiced law in Miami for over 50 years.
Throughout his career, Stuart fought hard for his clients in every area of the
law. He never turned away a person in need, and helped countless people
with practical, hands-on advice and representation that went far above and
beyond the norm. The Markus Award is given annually to a student who
shares that caring spirit, and who has made a meaningful difference in someone’s life – which is
something Stuart did every day.
Congratulations to Bethany!
Donations can also be made online at this link:
Donors should select "Other" from the drop-down menu and type "Stuart Markus Scholarship" in the field to earmark the funds.
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