JAABLOG PRR to SAO PIO at 2:56 PM:

“(We’re) told there are cracked or cracking windows in the SAO, on the 8th floor and possibly other places.

Are you aware of this?” …

SAO response at 4:04 PM today, also sent office-wide:

Text of SAO email:

“Good Afternoon All,

Earlier this afternoon, we were informed by FTU staff of unusual noises near the windows in certain areas on the 8th floor. Additionally, there were two marks found on a separate window in another area of the unit. We immediately contacted the County Building Manager to evaluate both areas. As it relates to the marks, the County has preliminarily noted them as potential cracks but we are awaiting further information. As it relates to the noises, the County is sending structural engineers to the 8th floor for further evaluation.

We will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.

Please let me know if you need any additional information.”

Jared A. Brooks, Esq.– Executive Director

We’re told former judge Gina Hawkins, with JQC and Bar issues behind her, is returning to the SAO’s Sexual Battery Unit …

Congratulations!

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*UPDATE* – WSVN – Officials share images of structural concerns at Broward County Courthouse

SS – ‘Structural issues’ force partial closure of Broward courthouse

“They had discovered a crack on the 21st or 22nd floor, on or near a beam,” said Broward Chief Administrative Judge Jack Tuter. “We’re not sure how serious the issue is, but we’re taking precautions and we’ve been assured that whatever this issue is, it does not go further than the 18th floor” …

“Many courthouse employees remained unaware of the situation until the courthouse gossip website JAABlog posted about it on Friday afternoon.”

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Official email sent this evening:

And an email apparently sent yesterday, which is now being distributed to courthouse people since JAABLOG broke the news this afternoon:

Lastly, a photo of the aforementioned police/DOD joint training ops:

The Public Defender’s petitions to the Fourth DCA regarding Liz Scherer’s denials of the Motions To Disqualify based upon her comments during the Parkland case were denied today:

COMING SOON – BACDL Harry Gulkin Award for Team McNeill? …

The Florida Rules of Judicial Administration provide the following:

A chief judge may serve for successive terms but in no
event shall the total term as chief judge exceed 8 years …

In Broward, that clause is known as the Dale Ross Rule.

Accordingly, Jack Tuter sent the following letter announcing he’s running for his final term as chief judge in Broward County:

In the event anyone challenges Tuter for the throne, they have until 5:00 PM tonight to file.

Since it’s highly unlikely anyone will dare take on Tuter, who is known to wield his reassignment powers mightily, we’d like to be the first to wish Jack congratulations on his final term as CJ …

COMING SOON – Where’s Patti Englander Henning?

*UPDATE* – Channel 10 (4:53 PM): Top floors of Broward County Courthouse closed over possible structural concerns

Local 10 News has confirmed that floors 18 through 20 were not accessible because of “matters” on the 21st floor. What the “matters” are have not been confirmed but sources have told Local 10 News that the issues include cracking …

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The top floors of the Broward Central Courthouse remain closed to the public. One person described the issue as some type of “structural damage,” while another was more specific, stating it’s a large crack running through walls. At this point information is scant, and totally unconfirmed, but well worth investigating …

Toward our mission to help improve the criminal justice system, JAABLOG is providing the following recently issued circuit court order laying out the procedural steps to follow to overcome BSO’s stated “no masturbation policy“** when the need arises to photograph an inmate’s erect penis.

**(See A-25 & B-2)

From the order:

As we’re fond of saying, criminal may be a far cry from the most lucrative areas of the law, but it’s never boring …

COMING SOON – How to commit contempt of court in less than a couple of minutes; So that’s why lawyers can’t access the internet during jail visits …

SS – BROWARD MAGISTRATE WORKS TWO MONTHS WITHOUT LAW LICENSE (1/9/23)

Laventure held as many as 50 hearings during the time his law license was inactive, from last Oct. 17 through Dec. 16, when he became aware of the oversight and reported it to court administration …

Here’s an odd one, even for Broward.

Apparently, Jack Tuter has had at least one General Magistrate carrying on judicial duties while ineligible to practice law for a roughly two month period.

The eligibility issue seems to be corrected now, while those with cases that were heard and may have been impacted are receiving the following notices:

DEVELOPING …

As requested, here is the unofficial list of judges up for reelection the summer and/or November of 2024, for terms starting in January, 2025:

Circuit Court (click here for 2018 results):

CAROL LISA PHILLIPS

NICK LOPANE

DAVID HAIMES

ERNIE KOLLRA

ARI PORTH

MIKE ROTHSCHILD

FABIENNE FAHNESTOCK

JOSE IZQUIERDO

TIM BAILEY

MIKE ROBINSON

MARTY FEIN

KEATHAN FRINK

SHARI AFRICK-OLEFSON

STEFANIE MOON

SUSAN ALSPECTOR

YAEL GAMM

MIKE USAN

DAN CASEY

TOM COLEMAN

AL RIBAS

MARIYA WEEKES

MICHELE TOWBIN SINGER

MARINA GARCIA-WOOD

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County Court (click here for 2018 filings and the 2018 results):

COREY CAWTHON

BOBBY DIAZ

JACKIE POWELL

OLGA LEVINE

KATIE MCHUGH

LOU SCHIFF

MINDY BROWN

GINGER LERNER-WREN

JILL LEVY

JEN HILAL

TERI-ANN MILLER

BOB LEE**

**Rumored to be retiring/open seat

As far as the older judges on the list, it appears they can run if under 75 years of age, but must retire upon reaching their 75th birthday:

Drop a comment if we missed anyone up for reelection, as sometimes happens due to the mid-term appointment process. Also, post if you know of any upcoming retirements. Besides Bob Lee, we’re hearing John Murphy may be hanging it up in the near future, so please let us know if there are others we missed …

COMING SOON – JUDICIAL PENSION MATH: A BIG FAT LIFETIME ANNUITY AFTER JUST ONE TERM!