Our post In Or Out, asking whether or not Bobby Diaz will retire or run again in 2024, sure seems to have touched a nerve. Call it a coincidence, but the anti-JAABLOG commentary is now laughably vitriolic, to levels not seen since the earliest days of blogging, when JAABLOG jump started the criminal justice and judicial accountability reform movement in Broward County.

Why it’s happening now is anyone’s guess, but one thing’s for sure: lawyers and others need to exercise their constitutional rights and run for office. Quite simply, elections, win or lose, make for better representatives and judges. There’s a reason why national office holders always have a fight on their hands, and it shouldn’t be any different at the local level, where elected officials, and judges in particular, hold even more sway over the lives of the citizenry. No one is entitled to a constitutional office, no matter how arrogant or comfortable they may have become, and if job performance isn’t up to snuff, they need a challenge. Beat them, or help them help the community they swore to serve by keeping them on their toes with a spirited campaign.

To quote Tom Petty, we won’t back down. Never have, and never will. So to all those who disagree with our position or are simply not fans of the democratic process, pour it on. In the meantime, let’s look forward to a vigorous and entertaining 2024 election season …

COMING SOON – AN FRS JUDICIAL PENSION PRIMER; WHO WANTS TO BE CLERK OF COURTS? …

Broward Congress Members’ Joint Statement on Clerk of Court’s Insensitive Social Media Post

Bobby Diaz, believed to be 69 or 70 years of age based on a Sun Sentinel article from July, 2005 (BROWARD JUDGE FINED, SUSPENDED … ), was asked minutes ago whether or not he’s retiring or running again in 2024.

The question was significantly not acknowledged, meaning County Court Judge, Group 10 may indeed be an open seat, as Diaz is rapidly approaching the State’s mandatory retirement landmark for judges, specifically his 75th birthday.

Is Diaz in or out? Will there be a coveted county court seat open in 2024? Will younger attorneys who can fulfill a full term challenge Diaz, if he runs?

Please post a comment if you have any additional information or insights. In the meantime, we’ll continue to post updates on 2024 as election season gets closer and closer …

Applications for two circuit court vacancies due March 1st, 2023:

COMING SOON – Is Patti Henning ever coming back? …

The below AO applies to in-custody individuals, when MH concerns are raised.

Our understanding is the Order is designed to expedite the evaluation process, which now can take weeks. The MH court professionals can also use their discretion to help get people out of jail when appropriate, and can obviate the need for additional evaluations in some cases, saving a lot of time and money considering the regular division ASA’s de rigeur requests for multiple evaluations in nearly every case …

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? …