The jail cap is hovering around 80%, with 54 confirmed positives for COVID-19 as of today …

From an email sent last night to the SAO’s PIO:

(W)ill Mr. Pryor be prosecuting cannabis and drug paraphernalia cases?

The response, sent earlier this morning:

Harold will announce policy changes that are in line with his campaign stance soon when the details have been finalized. He is reaching out to local law enforcement agencies and wants to “dot the i’s and cross the t’s” before finalizing any policy change.

THANK YOU, MR. PRYOR!

Emails sent today on the new SAO FTU procedures, and two more years of chief judge Jack Tuter:

SAO Leads:

Tuter elected unopposed:

We know you just took over, but please be advised. Your prosecutors are still filing and prosecuting misdemeanor cannabis cases, despite your promises.

The ASA’s we’ve spoken to tell us they haven’t received any direction to decline or nolle prosse under twenty gram cases, and they’re filing Informations as we speak. Defense attorneys are frustrated, not to mention the scared clients facing incarceration and future-wrecking criminal charges …

As far as Harold’s cash bail promises, a comprehensive and safe plan for the community will obviously take time to create and implement. But cannabis? When the officers could have written an infraction in the first place? Come on!

In other SAO news, FloridaBulldog.org has the dollars and cents on Pryor’s deal to keep Satz and Marcus on the Parkland case:

Will Satz and Marcus be working pro bono if the monthly caps are met? Wait and see …

YOUTUBE INTERVIEW – HAROLD PRYOR NOT PROSECUTING UNDER 20 GRAMS

Courthouse closures and jail quarantining are taking a major toll.

FTU’s new policy gives Lead ASA’s discretion to help resolve their division matters, instead of Line ASA’s having to chase down a Supervisor on nearly every case.

Will the new policy help alleviate the mounting criminal justice crisis in Broward County?

WAIT AND SEE …

Congratulations to Charles Hall upon his retirement from the Broward County Clerk’s Office after more than thirty-four years. For those who don’t know, Charles served honorably in management capacity.

According to this recently posted Facebook video, the highly respected and beloved Mr. Hall elected to take retirement a little unexpectedly, after what he characterizes as unpleasant clerk’s office politics arose. You can click the link to see what he’s talking about for yourself, but be warned. Strong language is used, and he’s none too happy with the always controversial Brenda.

CONGRATULATIONS CHARLES!

“Real Change For Our Marginalized Community” – Harold Pryor

Cheryl Caracuzzo, January 4th, 2021 …

Should judges be required to wear masks while court is in session?

Should the 15th Circuit Administrative Judge for Criminal be setting an example by handling pleas and other matters without a mask?

Is strong pandemic safety messaging even more imperative in Palm Beach given both the Chief Judge and her husband, also a judge, have contracted Covid-19?

YOU MAKE THE CALL!

PB Post – Coronavirus: Jury trials delayed in 2021; Palm Beach County’s chief judge cites rise in cases (12/18)

Email sent at 5:42 PM:

Good Evening All,

Incoming State Attorney Harold Pryor is excited to be joining all of us, and he is ready to get to work. Congratulations to the Pryor Administration’s Unit Chiefs, Directors, and Supervisors:

APU: Joel Silvershein
ARC: Hanzi Clarke
CCU: Paul Valcore
DEU: Kalpesh Chotai
DTU: Denise Neuner
DVU: Stefanie Newman
ECU: Kathryn Heaven
FCF: Staci Direnzo
FTU: Michael Horowitz
Grant Writer: Angela Rodriguez
HTU: Shari Tate
INV: Michael O’Connor
ITU: Co-Directors George Borges and Mitch Zymros
JUV: Gloria Moschella
MTC: Margaret Carpenter
PLU: Liliana Ludenas
Public Information Officer: Paula McMahon
RCU: Scott Gebert
SAP: Carolyn McCann
SBU/Human Trafficking/EAU: Neva Rainford-Smith
SPU: Christopher Killoran
THU: Ross Weiner
TRU: Tania Williams
VAU: Nancy Tanner
WLU: Andrea Griffiths
Deputy Chief Assistant State Attorney: Neva Rainford-Smith
Executive Director: Sarahnell Murphy
Deputy Executive Director: Renata Annati
Senior Advisor: Sean Phillippi

The following people will not be retained. We thank them for their service.

Kathleen Abrahamsen
Arthur T. Daus
Timothy Donnelly
Michael S. Julian
W. Anthony Loe
Andrew Newman
Andrew A. Schafer
David Stewart
Alex J. Urruela

Regards,

Gina Faulk
Chief Assistant State Attorney

Harold Pryor, to be sworn in tomorrow, has reportedly decided on the following current prosecutors to head the various units at the SAO. It will be up to these folks to implement the criminal justice reforms Harold has promised. Keep in mind, the list has not been confirmed, but the changes have been rumored for some time:

Gina Faulk – #2;

Neva Smith – #3, retains head of SBU;

Mike Horowitz – head of FTU;

Catherine Maus, Sr. Supervisor FTU;

Gloria Moschella – head of Juvenile;

Chris Killoran – head of SPU;

Margaret Carpenter – head of County;

Paul Valcore – head of CCU;

Staci Direnzo – head of Felony Case Filing;

The following current chiefs of units are believed to retain their positions:

Shari Tate – head of HTU;

Denise Neuner – head of DTU;

Stefanie Newman – head of DVU;

Kathy Heaven – head of ECU.

In other news, some senior ASA’s are being terminated as this post is being written …

SS- Broward has a new top prosecutor today, bringing a shake-up for ‘prudent reform’ (1/5)