Group 10 (Diaz) has become a free for all, following Almeida’s exit …

COMING SOON – Guess who gets Diversion on a second degree felony Burglary Dwelling?

JAABLOG TRIVIA – Which judicial candidate running to replace Bobby Diaz on the county bench has an attorney father who once represented Diaz before the JQC? (answer pictured below) …

COMING SOON – The 18 Million Dollar Grudge; The Florida Bar v. Ileana Maria Almeida (Thanks to Anonymous APRIL 17, 2024 AT 8:28 AM … )

Election time is here.

Filing fees, and the always fun financial disclosures, are due by April 26th.

So far, Brenda Forman has two announced challengers, while Gordon Weekes and Harold Pryor have none:

Incumbent judges Katy McHugh, Stefanie Moon, and Carol-Lisa Phillips, believed to be Broward’s next Chief Judge, have drawn challenges:

Open seats, assuming Bobby Diaz (10) and Teri-Ann Miller (32) are joining Lou Schiff and Bob Lee in retirement, look like this:

Expect some last minute surprises, dropouts, and some jumping around before the April 26th deadline.

For all circuit judges up in 2024, click here.

For all county judges, click here.

Email from John Hager:

From: John Hager 4/9/24

Subject: (BACDL) Gulkin/Reidy Award

Members,

At our meeting today, the following attorneys were nominated for Gulkin and Reidy:

Gulkin Reidy:

Daniel Aaronson

Eric Schwartzreich

Mike Dutko

John Cotrone

Gabe Ermine

Reidy:

Eric Schwartzreich

Stephen Melnick

Andy Coffey

BACDL HARRY GULKIN AWARD

The Brian Reidy “Give Back” Award:

Brian G. Reidy was born in Ireland and adopted at a year old by a NYPD officer and detective, and a pediatric nurse. When his father retired, he moved his family to South Florida and became a bailiff at the Broward County Courthouse. That was when Brian first started wandering the halls of the courthouse and watching lawyers in action. In 1976, while attending Cardinal Gibbons High School, Brian became a “Public Defender for a day.” His father strongest wish was for his son to become an attorney. After Brian graduated law school, his father passed away, right before Brian began his career at the Broward County Courthouse in 1985. Brian spent his entire 35-year career in public service at the Public Defender’s office. He tried over 200 jury trials and trained hundreds of new attorneys in the art and skill of trial advocacy. His Voir Dire examples are still used by Judges and defense attorneys in the tri county area. He was respected by his peers, the judges he appeared before, and his adversaries at the State Attorney’s Office. His presence lit up the room. He was an honest, zealous advocate who fought for every client he ever represented.

This award is given in recognition of a lawyer who represents Brian’s spirit of hard work in the courtroom and his lifetime of “giving back” in service of the community.

In order to be eligible for the award the recipient must have an active bar license in Florida. The recipient can be a public defender or a private attorney that devotes a majority of their practice of law to public interest law.

UPDATE – SS – Brenda Fires Annette

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Annette Daniels, after roughly nineteen years with the Clerk’s Office, reports she has been terminated due to her candidacy to replace Brenda Forman as Clerk.

Developing …

UPDATE 3/26:

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Exceptional radio silence on this one still, but we’re provisionally calling the county seat for Michele Ricca …

We’re told Chris Wigand has been appointed to the circuit court.

Still awaiting word on county, where the appointee will likely replace the new misdemeanor DV judge Chris Brown in First Appearances …