So you want to be a judge? – here are some of the people rumored to be running for judge next time around: Betsy Benson (for Linda Pratt’s seat), Lea Krauss, Deborah Carpenter-Toye, Brad Collins, and Jahra McLawrence. Keep an eye on the JNC applicant pool for Gary Cowart’s seat too; some of the above may be applying just in case Charlie Crist emerges victorious, while others familiar to those who follow the appointment process may finally be fed up enough to take their case to the voters after multiple failed attempts to get a fat pension the easy way. The application deadline is November 10th.
No surprise … – Iris Siple, Chief Administrator for the Clerk of Courts, is running for Clerk, and Howard Forman will be publicly supporting her. Good luck!
Thank you, BACDL – word on the street has BACDL preparing a strongly worded letter to Pete Weinstein, opposing Lynn Rosenthal’s return to the criminal division. We’ll publish the letter when it becomes available …
Is the wheel broken? – please drop a line if you’ve got any concerns regarding the various court appointment registries. Rumor has it judges are once again going off the wheel, and have been for a very long time. No one around here takes court appointments, so it’s hard for us to tell, and your help is needed. If you feel others are getting more than their fair share, let us know. The Clerk, official keeper of the wheel, has provided a list of every criminal/juvenile division court appointment over the last four years that they know about, which we’ve begun comparing to JAC payouts out of Tallahassee. So far there are major discrepancies, but we need to broaden the comparisons and double-check our methodology before calling for Bob Norman. Any guidance will be greatly appreciated …
Easy Eissey – Mark Eissey granted yet another continuance last week to Cindy Imperato, whose PB DUI was continued to December 5th, which is three days and a year from her arraignment date. Will this one have any bearing on Broward’s February chief judge election? Wait and see …
Speaking of North of the Border – PB chief judge Jeff Colbath is all over the news wearing a robe, after wrapping up John Goodman’s second DUI manslaughter trial today. By contrast , Broward’s Pete Weinsten is in the paper wearing a tuxedo, his seemingly favorite form of dress, having a grand old-time schmoozing with the political set at last weekend’s Broward Mayor’s Gala. Nice work if you can get it …
Lastly, thoughts and prayers – Eddie Kay is in hospice, but everyone knows a heavyweight champion of Eddie’s caliber can never be counted out. Sadly following on the heels of June Johnson’s passing in late September, days before her sister Joan also expired, a long time Clerk’s employee. Where does the time go?
Coming Soon – RRA SOL DOA; CJ election Update; Weinstein’s Top Secret Traffic Magistrates; Judicial reassignment mania!
Bob Norman WPLG – Finkelstein v. Hurley
Miami Herald – Finkelstein v. Hurley
The Atlantic – Technical Constraints That Made Abbey Road So Good