NOT DRUG COURT !!! HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE BEFORE SHE WINDS UP LIKE THIS ?
SHE’LL BE JUST AS CLUELESS THERE
3
0
Alspector has always been 1) Grossly unjust to defendants 2) grossly disrespectful and 3) grossly stupid and incompetent. She shouldn’t be on the bench much less handling criminal cases.
21
0
OMG why?!
She was a family law attorney her entire career. Why not put her in family???
They already tried to put her in criminal once and that was an unmitigated disaster. She was in so far over her head that it was scary. She literally never caught on. I remember MULTIPLE occasions during the IC zoom dockets where entire jail facilities had to be reset because she couldn’t get thru an entire docket in the 4 hours that was allotted to her!
My question is, did she ASK to be put in drug court? Or is this where Tuter is placing her thinking she can do the least amount of harm???
15
0
She’s over her head in any division ! She’s can’t even roll with it like some of the other incompetent judges.
10
1
She’s perfect for drug court. It’s where all the morons end up. Lol
6
0
No. This Blog is where morons end up. And it takes one to know one!
4
0
for the same reasons they our Gardiner in ciminal—to fuck it up by fucking her way up.
10
0
Alspecter is a nice lady but its obvious she’s not cut out to be a judge
2
0
She is NOT nice!
2
0
Because of her my Grandson was murdered. She could have prevented it. She’s incompetent.
Should be removed from courts.
24
0
Hoping Coleman, Scherer, and McCarthy get rotated out of criminal soon.
0
14
McCarthy isn’t going anywhere. Deal with it suckas
11
3
MOVE COLEMAN TO JANITORIAL STAFF
3
2
You’re obviously an incompetent bufoon
17
2
Coleman has anger issues that need to addressed. He definitely should not be in Criminal by any stretch of the imagination.
7
4
Obviously one of those attorneys who doesn’t do his job. If you’re prepared for court you never have a problem in there.
5
6
I love Coleman. He makes sound rulings and doesn’t favor one side over another. If you don’t like him it’s because he’s not doing you special favors, (as you must be accustomed to). His JA is also the best JA in circuit. As for McCarthy and Scherer. Yes please rotate them out of criminal.
11
0
Mccarthy was already kicked out of Civil. She’s like Holmes was kicked out. They put those type of jurists in Criminal and keep them there. Civil lawyers don’t have to put up with that stuff. Scherer isn’t going anywhere either. Unless she wants. Chief Tuter worked for her Pops.
3
7
Alspector is perfect there. Tuter deserves credit.
11
1
No matter where she’s moved she’ll screw up. … just saying
BROWARD COUNTY NEWS
LOCAL NEWS
ACLU challenges Broward jails on COVID protection
By RAFAEL OLMEDA
SOUTH FLORIDA SUN SENTINEL |
SEP 22, 2021 AT 5:58 PM
3
10
Judge Alspector would be excellent in Drug court. She is compassionate, believes in the effectiveness of drug and alcohol counseling, 12 step etc. Has a sincere interest in seeing people improve their lives by handling addictions in a healthy way.
9
0
BROWARD JUDICIAL DRUG AND ALCOHOL TESTING SHOULD BECOME MANDATORY
HOW MANY EXAMPLES ARE NEEDED BEFORE THIS IS RECOGNIZED
Still crying your boy got fired, aren’t ya?
Too bad, so sad.
7
2
Not to be forgotten in 2024
6
8
When you try to paint your savior as a hero, everyone (but you) knows better.
5
3
Get with the program …
4
0
FACE THE FACT THAT ITS IN THE HANDS OF IDIOTS
8
0
Who in their right mind would have removed the military before the civilians? We left aircraft, military vehicles, and tons of weapons and the ammo to go with them thus making the Taliban one of the strongest military’s in the world. All Feeble Biden did was open the door to another 9/11 attack.
3
0
CUP OF JOE
0
0
Shut the F-ck up….
MICKEY MOUSE will be a better Leader than TRAMP the TRUMP.
If dems are doing it right why are you not bragging about it? Because Biden has no good qualities as he has shown.
Doubt you will be calling the right losers in next presidential election.
The left has a very big problem. They will probably not chose Biden to run again, too old.
Harris they know no one will vote for.
From the get go they have to admit they made a mistake running those two losers in the first place.
Biden was going to unite the two parties?
He has succeeded in dividing the left though.
TRUMP IS THE STUPID IDIOT AND SO ARE YOU IF YOU BELIEVE IN HIM. #IS HE SMARTER THAN A 5th GRADER #DUMMEST PRESIDENT TO EVER!!! LOL
0
0
No he is not.
Biden takes that honor hands down!
Biden is also a racist. Remember, if your not for Joe, You ain’t Black!
0
0
Trump….Hell No
He’s the reason this country is a MESS now
6
0
Broward Judicial Hall of Shame –
And the list continues to grow …
9
0
Captain T : A refresher course on the definition of “best interests of the child” is way overdue for ALL Judges in FAM division when a Dad kills his kid
“Local 10 News also reached out to the 17th Judicial Circuit in Broward County and they sent the following statement:
“The 17th Judicial Circuit is aware of the tragic situation reported in the news over the weekend. Judges are prohibited from commenting on pending proceedings and cannot discuss the specifics of any orders. It cannot be stressed enough that if someone has reason to believe a child or any other person is in danger, they should call law enforcement — in all instances. We extend to the family and mother of this horrific event our deepest condolences.”
Ah? call the police who will tell u to get a court order? 😮🧐
1
0
Criminal justice reform to the State: I’ll keep drug court.
6
0
DID SOMEBODY LEAVE THE TAP RUNNING ?
5
0
TOOTY IS AN EMBARRASSMENT TO BROWARD COUNTY
2
0
Why aren’t there citizens review boards for Judges to make sure all are following the laws.
0
0
WSJ “Judges offered a variety of explanations for the violations,” the newspaper reported. “Some blamed court clerks. Some said their recusal lists had misspellings that foiled the conflict-screening software. Some pointed to trades that resulted in losses. Others said they had only nominal roles, such as confirming settlements or transferring cases to other courts, though there is no legal exemption for such work.”
Some judges also said they had thought—wrongly, it turns out—that they didn’t have to recuse because stocks were held in accounts run by a money manager.”
2
0
Because there is a JQC to protect them and a bunch of lawyers in the legisature and lawyer lobbyists that will not enact any laws that will create it–and nobody’s gonna make them–nana nana naaaaaan na.
10
0
Criminal Justice reform. You hear that Pryor. Reform. We see no reform. You campaigned against Death Penalty. More now than before. Juvi reform. You charged a 15 year old kid as an adult. DUI diversion. Still waiting. Months went by until ASA’s got discretion. How they doing with that by the way? Things better now?
9
0
I BELIEVE ONLY IN MUTUAL SELF-INTEREST
4
0
Tooty does as he’s told because daddy always knows whats best
4
0
Brace for it Tuter. Judge Scherer on TV doing…..gasp…..a trial……
0
0
6.5/ 10 new jersey hot
0
1
Hottest by far in the courthouse, but still a 6-7/10 we agree.
4
0
TUTER IS THE FAITHFUL HANDMAIDEN OF SCHERER
A MOLE BY ANY OTHER NAME
1
0
CHEESE EATERS
2
0
BROWARD COURTS
THE PLANE THAT CRASHES EVERY DAY
3
0
SPENDS AFTERNOONS BUMMING MONEY FROM SUCCESSFUL RELATIVES
6
0
WHEN I’M A JUDGE SOMEDAY REMEMBER TO TELL EVERYONE I GAVE YOU A RECEIPT
3
0
I remember the days when the Judges took tips for marriage ceremonies.
In some cases, the newlyweds said they were quietly solicited by members of the judges’ staffs to leave gratuities. The judges and their staffs deny that claim.
Larry Seidlin, the administrative judge for Broward’s 18 County Court judges, and Judge J. Bart Budetti concede they have accepted money for an undetermined number of ceremonies performed at the Broward County Courthouse.
Judges should not take compensation for performing weddings at public facilities, a 1983 opinion of the state’s Committee on Standards of Conduct Governing Judges says, but the opinion is not binding.
A survey of marriage records, judges and newlyweds revealed:
(BU) In the last two years, the two judges handled 2,461 of the 3,990 marriages performed by Broward judges.
(BU) Since 1983, the two judges have increased their control over courthouse weddings to the extent that in the first eight months of 1985, they presided at 80 percent of the 1,600 weddings conducted by judges in the courthouse. Seidlin performed 758 of those weddings.
(BU) At least five judges say 30 to 50 percent of the couples they have married left tips averaging $10 to $15. Seidlin and Budetti would give no specific dollar amounts of the tips they received.
(BU) Workers in the marriage license bureau, who are under the jurisdiction of the County Clerk of Courts Office, have been directed by Seidlin to send couples to him unless told otherwise. This practice will be reviewed by Broward Chief Judge Miette Burnstein, who says there should be no such referrals.
Even though Budetti and Seidlin have performed four times as many weddings as all the other county judges combined, they said they have earned only a few hundred dollars each for their services. Both said they reported the money on their income tax returns.
“The vast majority leave nothing,” Seidlin said. “We’re seeing more immigrants, Haitians, Jamaicans, people without a lot of money. They don’t leave anything.”
Seidlin said he earned a “few hundred” dollars from the 714 weddings he performed in 1984 and about the same from 758 weddings he performed in the first eight months of this year.
However, a telephone survey of only 32 couples married between July and October found that 21 of them gave tips totaling $255 to Seidlin and $95 to Budetti. Another man said he left a tip for Seidlin but could not remember the exact amount.
“That figure is misleading because the people who have telephones are the ones who have community roots and can afford to leave a tip,” said Seidlin, who is among 26 candidates applying for two vacancies on the Circuit Court bench. “Most don’t leave anything. The large majority of people left nothing.”
“Gratuity? I couldn’t estimate a percentage. Weeks will go by and nobody will leave anything,” said Budetti, who conducted 532 weddings in 1985. “Then you might get two in a row. You have to understand, many of these people can’t even affort to buy rings.”
A review of financial records and interviews with other judges indicates that the wedding income can add up quickly.
Judge William Herring said he earned $800 in tips from the 198 weddings he performed over the last three years. He said he split the money with his secretary.
“The tips average $10. Some leave $25, some $5 and others leave nothing,” Herring said. “I’d like to do more weddings.”
Judge John Luzzo estimated his wedding earnings at about $300 for the 125 marriages he officiated during 1984.
Judge Alfred Skaf reported $750 in wedding earnings on his 1981 income tax return. Skaf would not comment on the number of weddings he performed that year.
Under the state Code of Judicial Conduct, judges are prohibited from having an established fee for conducting weddings.
Although the code stipulates that a tip may be accepted, the state’s Committee on Standards of Conduct Governing Judges recommends against accepting money for courthouse weddings.
In a 1983 opinion, a majority of committee members said they thought it was improper to accept compensation for performing marriages during normal working hours at the courthouse because the judge would then be using the facilities and authority provided him by his office for private gain.
“The state ought to own you between 8:30 (a.m.) and 5 (p.m.),” said Judge Gavin K. Letts of the 4th District Court of Appeal in West Palm Beach, who serves as vice chairman of the judicial conduct committee.
“A judge’s time in normal working hours should not be occupied in making private income, as it were,” he said.
While judges are bound by the rules contained in the Code of Conduct, the committee’s recommendation is not binding.
Budetti and Seidlin said they did not think they were violating the committee’s opinion because the tips they received were used to purchase court-related items such as coffee and candy for visitors and for law books.
The 32 couples contacted said they were not given a choice of judges but were referred to a specific judge by clerks in the marriage license bureau.
Some couples said that they were informed by the clerk’s office that the ceremony would be free but that they could leave the judge a gratuity. Ten couples said that Seidlin’s and Budetti’s staff members sought tips for the judges.
Clifford Daire of Fort Lauderdale, who was married by Seidlin, said the judge’s bailiff told him after the wedding, “You can give the judge whatever you have on you.”
Daire said he had $30 in his pocket and gave it to the bailiff.
“It was like I didn’t have any choice. I didn’t know what the rules were,” he said.
Marshall Osborne, who also was married by Seidlin, had a similar experience.
“After the service, we were taken into a small room and the judge’s secretary told us if we wanted to tip the judge, now was the time do it,” said Osborne, of Fort Lauderdale. “At that point I felt obligated, so I gave $20. That’s what I had on me. I would have felt like a jerk if I didn’t leave anything.”
“When we finished the ceremony, we were passed into a second room where there was this old guy sitting, and he openly suggested that we give some money for the judge,” said Gloria Marie Paris of Sunrise, married before Seidlin on Aug. 26.
“He made us sit for nothing just to say, ‘How did it go?’ . . . just to say, ‘Do you want to give anything to the judge?’ ”
“But that’s inappropriate,” she said. “If there was a rate, anybody would be glad to pay for it.”
William Rudolph Nairn of Pompano Beach, married to Donna Lynn Cote on Sept. 5, said he left a $20 tip for Budetti at the suggestion of a man who appeared to be a deputy.
“He more or less dropped the suggestion that if you want to leave a tip . . . we could leave it with him.”
But the judges and their staff members deny soliciting tips.
“I don’t know what is said out of my presence,” Seidlin said. “I have given them instructions. If a couple wishes to leave something, it’s up to them.”
Budetti said he had given similar instructions to his staff.
“I’m not in the room with them so I don’t know what’s being said. They go into another room because many couples ask if they can leave something and the staff helps them out,” Budetti said. “It’s the kind of thing that shouldn’t be discussed in an open room with other people around. It could be embarrassing for them.”
The judges’ secretaries and bailiffs steadfastly denied making any suggestions about tips.
“We certainly do not solicit gratuities for the judge,” said Shirley Petreye, Budetti’s secretary.
Budetti’s bailiff, Hal Karrmann, said he will accept the tips when offered but never brings up the subject of money.
“We’re very discreet about it,” he said.
Jackie Rohan, Seidlin’s secretary, said few couples leave money.
“I never mention anything one way or another. . . . The judge does this as a service to the public.”
Tom Winters, who said he has served as Seidlin’s bailiff since January or February, said he has nothing to do with weddings.
A review of county marriage licenses showed that during 1983 couples seeking to be married were usually sent to the “duty judge,” who is assigned emergency cases, bond hearings and each morning’s magistrate’s court for that particular day. The result was that eight county judges performed more than 100 weddings each that year.
But the next year, a dramatic change took place.
Nearly half the couples were sent to either Budetti’s or Seidlin’s office to be married.
Seidlin said that as administrative judge of the County Court, he has diverted couples to his office.
“I’m here in my office most of the time, and I felt I was lessening the burden on the other judges to allow them to perform more important tasks,” Seidlin said. “I view weddings as a labor of love.”
Budetti, whose office is adjacent to Seidlin’s, said he acts as Seidlin’s “unofficial” assistant.
Chief Judge Burnstein said she was unaware of allegations that judical staff members were soliciting tips and that the clerk’s office was steering the weddings to the two judges.
“This is very surprising to me. It was assured to me by all county judges they did not engage in that practice,” she said. “I also will not draw conclusions from hearsay and unsubstantiated evidence. We are talking about two very fine judges who have served with merit.”
The issue will be discussed at the next meeting of county judges in November, Burnstein said.
“I think in addressing this problem we should start with the clerk’s office,” said Burnstein. “I had just learned this week that the practice of clerks referring couples to certain judges was taking place. That should not be the practice. The clerk’s office should not be a conduit to a particular few judges.”
Jane Moore, the former supervisor of the marriage license bureau, said her clerks had been instructed by Seidlin’s office as to which judge would be performing weddings on a particular day.
“It used to be always whoever was acting as duty judge,” Moore said. “But gradually that changed to where we were instructed to send them to Judge Seidlin and Budetti.”
8
0
Wasn’t Seidlin implicated in trying to swindle that old woman that lived in his condo complex too ?
Broward judges have been caught doing worse I suppose.
6
0
HOW DID MY CHEST EXRAYS SHOW UP IN UNCLE LARRY’S CONDO DUMPSTER ?
4
0
The JNC needs resources. To scrutinize the tax returns of applicants. And their businesses should be audited. There’s too much at stake if a tax cheat gets through.
You must have been away the last 4+ years; missed thee Liar-In-Chief!!
0
0
Yep,that be the Dems.
You must have been tripping.
First big LIE:
Al Gore.
Election was sole from me! I demand a recount but only in states I think I won!
Dems will crash and burn over Biden.
4
0
Career Politicians can’t help but lie to keep their jobs
WHEN??? How soon? I hope this is true.
NOT DRUG COURT !!! HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE BEFORE SHE WINDS UP LIKE THIS ?
SHE’LL BE JUST AS CLUELESS THERE
Alspector has always been 1) Grossly unjust to defendants 2) grossly disrespectful and 3) grossly stupid and incompetent. She shouldn’t be on the bench much less handling criminal cases.
OMG why?!
She was a family law attorney her entire career. Why not put her in family???
They already tried to put her in criminal once and that was an unmitigated disaster. She was in so far over her head that it was scary. She literally never caught on. I remember MULTIPLE occasions during the IC zoom dockets where entire jail facilities had to be reset because she couldn’t get thru an entire docket in the 4 hours that was allotted to her!
My question is, did she ASK to be put in drug court? Or is this where Tuter is placing her thinking she can do the least amount of harm???
She’s over her head in any division ! She’s can’t even roll with it like some of the other incompetent judges.
She’s perfect for drug court. It’s where all the morons end up. Lol
No. This Blog is where morons end up. And it takes one to know one!
for the same reasons they our Gardiner in ciminal—to fuck it up by fucking her way up.
Alspecter is a nice lady but its obvious she’s not cut out to be a judge
She is NOT nice!
Because of her my Grandson was murdered. She could have prevented it. She’s incompetent.
Should be removed from courts.
Hoping Coleman, Scherer, and McCarthy get rotated out of criminal soon.
McCarthy isn’t going anywhere. Deal with it suckas
MOVE COLEMAN TO JANITORIAL STAFF
You’re obviously an incompetent bufoon
Coleman has anger issues that need to addressed. He definitely should not be in Criminal by any stretch of the imagination.
Obviously one of those attorneys who doesn’t do his job. If you’re prepared for court you never have a problem in there.
I love Coleman. He makes sound rulings and doesn’t favor one side over another. If you don’t like him it’s because he’s not doing you special favors, (as you must be accustomed to). His JA is also the best JA in circuit. As for McCarthy and Scherer. Yes please rotate them out of criminal.
Mccarthy was already kicked out of Civil. She’s like Holmes was kicked out. They put those type of jurists in Criminal and keep them there. Civil lawyers don’t have to put up with that stuff. Scherer isn’t going anywhere either. Unless she wants. Chief Tuter worked for her Pops.
Alspector is perfect there. Tuter deserves credit.
No matter where she’s moved she’ll screw up. … just saying
I AM BROOKS. HEAR ME ROAR
https://youtu.be/s4Et0TaAUC0
https://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/fl-ne-covid-jail-worries-20210922-f24ojnrd55gfpgw5uomoyqh7e4-story.html
BROWARD COUNTY NEWS
LOCAL NEWS
ACLU challenges Broward jails on COVID protection
By RAFAEL OLMEDA
SOUTH FLORIDA SUN SENTINEL |
SEP 22, 2021 AT 5:58 PM
Judge Alspector would be excellent in Drug court. She is compassionate, believes in the effectiveness of drug and alcohol counseling, 12 step etc. Has a sincere interest in seeing people improve their lives by handling addictions in a healthy way.
BROWARD JUDICIAL DRUG AND ALCOHOL TESTING SHOULD BECOME MANDATORY
HOW MANY EXAMPLES ARE NEEDED BEFORE THIS IS RECOGNIZED
INTERVENTION!
HD.
https://youtu.be/HRqQ6-ANjL4
junkies
And we thought Broward was a circus?
Thanks for all the cool stuff Joe!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZVYqU02ZDM
Still crying your boy got fired, aren’t ya?
Too bad, so sad.
Not to be forgotten in 2024
When you try to paint your savior as a hero, everyone (but you) knows better.
Get with the program …
FACE THE FACT THAT ITS IN THE HANDS OF IDIOTS
Who in their right mind would have removed the military before the civilians? We left aircraft, military vehicles, and tons of weapons and the ammo to go with them thus making the Taliban one of the strongest military’s in the world. All Feeble Biden did was open the door to another 9/11 attack.
CUP OF JOE
Shut the F-ck up….
MICKEY MOUSE will be a better Leader than TRAMP the TRUMP.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjHUb7NSrNk
So sad you can only criticize the former president .
If dems are doing it right why are you not bragging about it? Because Biden has no good qualities as he has shown.
Doubt you will be calling the right losers in next presidential election.
The left has a very big problem. They will probably not chose Biden to run again, too old.
Harris they know no one will vote for.
From the get go they have to admit they made a mistake running those two losers in the first place.
Biden was going to unite the two parties?
He has succeeded in dividing the left though.
Who’s the real losers sucka.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjHUb7NSrNk
2024
TRUMP IS THE STUPID IDIOT AND SO ARE YOU IF YOU BELIEVE IN HIM. #IS HE SMARTER THAN A 5th GRADER #DUMMEST PRESIDENT TO EVER!!! LOL
No he is not.
Biden takes that honor hands down!
Biden is also a racist. Remember, if your not for Joe, You ain’t Black!
Trump….Hell No
He’s the reason this country is a MESS now
Broward Judicial Hall of Shame –
And the list continues to grow …
Captain T : A refresher course on the definition of “best interests of the child” is way overdue for ALL Judges in FAM division when a Dad kills his kid
https://www.local10.com/news/local/2021/05/24/court-documents-reveal-disturbing-behavior-threats-from-father-who-killed-himself-and-4-year-old-son/
“Local 10 News also reached out to the 17th Judicial Circuit in Broward County and they sent the following statement:
“The 17th Judicial Circuit is aware of the tragic situation reported in the news over the weekend. Judges are prohibited from commenting on pending proceedings and cannot discuss the specifics of any orders. It cannot be stressed enough that if someone has reason to believe a child or any other person is in danger, they should call law enforcement — in all instances. We extend to the family and mother of this horrific event our deepest condolences.”
Ah? call the police who will tell u to get a court order? 😮🧐
Criminal justice reform to the State: I’ll keep drug court.
DID SOMEBODY LEAVE THE TAP RUNNING ?
TOOTY IS AN EMBARRASSMENT TO BROWARD COUNTY
Why aren’t there citizens review boards for Judges to make sure all are following the laws.
WSJ “Judges offered a variety of explanations for the violations,” the newspaper reported. “Some blamed court clerks. Some said their recusal lists had misspellings that foiled the conflict-screening software. Some pointed to trades that resulted in losses. Others said they had only nominal roles, such as confirming settlements or transferring cases to other courts, though there is no legal exemption for such work.”
Some judges also said they had thought—wrongly, it turns out—that they didn’t have to recuse because stocks were held in accounts run by a money manager.”
Because there is a JQC to protect them and a bunch of lawyers in the legisature and lawyer lobbyists that will not enact any laws that will create it–and nobody’s gonna make them–nana nana naaaaaan na.
Criminal Justice reform. You hear that Pryor. Reform. We see no reform. You campaigned against Death Penalty. More now than before. Juvi reform. You charged a 15 year old kid as an adult. DUI diversion. Still waiting. Months went by until ASA’s got discretion. How they doing with that by the way? Things better now?
I BELIEVE ONLY IN MUTUAL SELF-INTEREST
Tooty does as he’s told because daddy always knows whats best
Brace for it Tuter. Judge Scherer on TV doing…..gasp…..a trial……
6.5/ 10 new jersey hot
Hottest by far in the courthouse, but still a 6-7/10 we agree.
TUTER IS THE FAITHFUL HANDMAIDEN OF SCHERER
A MOLE BY ANY OTHER NAME
CHEESE EATERS
BROWARD COURTS
THE PLANE THAT CRASHES EVERY DAY
SPENDS AFTERNOONS BUMMING MONEY FROM SUCCESSFUL RELATIVES
WHEN I’M A JUDGE SOMEDAY REMEMBER TO TELL EVERYONE I GAVE YOU A RECEIPT
I remember the days when the Judges took tips for marriage ceremonies.
1985
https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1985-11-01-8502180106-story.html
Courthouse weddings, which represent thousands of dollars in potential income for judges, have been monopolized by two Broward County Court judges, who have performed 2,400 marriages during the past two years.
In some cases, the newlyweds said they were quietly solicited by members of the judges’ staffs to leave gratuities. The judges and their staffs deny that claim.
Larry Seidlin, the administrative judge for Broward’s 18 County Court judges, and Judge J. Bart Budetti concede they have accepted money for an undetermined number of ceremonies performed at the Broward County Courthouse.
Judges should not take compensation for performing weddings at public facilities, a 1983 opinion of the state’s Committee on Standards of Conduct Governing Judges says, but the opinion is not binding.
A survey of marriage records, judges and newlyweds revealed:
(BU) In the last two years, the two judges handled 2,461 of the 3,990 marriages performed by Broward judges.
(BU) Since 1983, the two judges have increased their control over courthouse weddings to the extent that in the first eight months of 1985, they presided at 80 percent of the 1,600 weddings conducted by judges in the courthouse. Seidlin performed 758 of those weddings.
(BU) At least five judges say 30 to 50 percent of the couples they have married left tips averaging $10 to $15. Seidlin and Budetti would give no specific dollar amounts of the tips they received.
(BU) Workers in the marriage license bureau, who are under the jurisdiction of the County Clerk of Courts Office, have been directed by Seidlin to send couples to him unless told otherwise. This practice will be reviewed by Broward Chief Judge Miette Burnstein, who says there should be no such referrals.
Even though Budetti and Seidlin have performed four times as many weddings as all the other county judges combined, they said they have earned only a few hundred dollars each for their services. Both said they reported the money on their income tax returns.
“The vast majority leave nothing,” Seidlin said. “We’re seeing more immigrants, Haitians, Jamaicans, people without a lot of money. They don’t leave anything.”
Seidlin said he earned a “few hundred” dollars from the 714 weddings he performed in 1984 and about the same from 758 weddings he performed in the first eight months of this year.
However, a telephone survey of only 32 couples married between July and October found that 21 of them gave tips totaling $255 to Seidlin and $95 to Budetti. Another man said he left a tip for Seidlin but could not remember the exact amount.
“That figure is misleading because the people who have telephones are the ones who have community roots and can afford to leave a tip,” said Seidlin, who is among 26 candidates applying for two vacancies on the Circuit Court bench. “Most don’t leave anything. The large majority of people left nothing.”
“Gratuity? I couldn’t estimate a percentage. Weeks will go by and nobody will leave anything,” said Budetti, who conducted 532 weddings in 1985. “Then you might get two in a row. You have to understand, many of these people can’t even affort to buy rings.”
A review of financial records and interviews with other judges indicates that the wedding income can add up quickly.
Judge William Herring said he earned $800 in tips from the 198 weddings he performed over the last three years. He said he split the money with his secretary.
“The tips average $10. Some leave $25, some $5 and others leave nothing,” Herring said. “I’d like to do more weddings.”
Judge John Luzzo estimated his wedding earnings at about $300 for the 125 marriages he officiated during 1984.
Judge Alfred Skaf reported $750 in wedding earnings on his 1981 income tax return. Skaf would not comment on the number of weddings he performed that year.
Under the state Code of Judicial Conduct, judges are prohibited from having an established fee for conducting weddings.
Although the code stipulates that a tip may be accepted, the state’s Committee on Standards of Conduct Governing Judges recommends against accepting money for courthouse weddings.
In a 1983 opinion, a majority of committee members said they thought it was improper to accept compensation for performing marriages during normal working hours at the courthouse because the judge would then be using the facilities and authority provided him by his office for private gain.
“The state ought to own you between 8:30 (a.m.) and 5 (p.m.),” said Judge Gavin K. Letts of the 4th District Court of Appeal in West Palm Beach, who serves as vice chairman of the judicial conduct committee.
“A judge’s time in normal working hours should not be occupied in making private income, as it were,” he said.
While judges are bound by the rules contained in the Code of Conduct, the committee’s recommendation is not binding.
Budetti and Seidlin said they did not think they were violating the committee’s opinion because the tips they received were used to purchase court-related items such as coffee and candy for visitors and for law books.
The 32 couples contacted said they were not given a choice of judges but were referred to a specific judge by clerks in the marriage license bureau.
Some couples said that they were informed by the clerk’s office that the ceremony would be free but that they could leave the judge a gratuity. Ten couples said that Seidlin’s and Budetti’s staff members sought tips for the judges.
Clifford Daire of Fort Lauderdale, who was married by Seidlin, said the judge’s bailiff told him after the wedding, “You can give the judge whatever you have on you.”
Daire said he had $30 in his pocket and gave it to the bailiff.
“It was like I didn’t have any choice. I didn’t know what the rules were,” he said.
Marshall Osborne, who also was married by Seidlin, had a similar experience.
“After the service, we were taken into a small room and the judge’s secretary told us if we wanted to tip the judge, now was the time do it,” said Osborne, of Fort Lauderdale. “At that point I felt obligated, so I gave $20. That’s what I had on me. I would have felt like a jerk if I didn’t leave anything.”
“When we finished the ceremony, we were passed into a second room where there was this old guy sitting, and he openly suggested that we give some money for the judge,” said Gloria Marie Paris of Sunrise, married before Seidlin on Aug. 26.
“He made us sit for nothing just to say, ‘How did it go?’ . . . just to say, ‘Do you want to give anything to the judge?’ ”
“But that’s inappropriate,” she said. “If there was a rate, anybody would be glad to pay for it.”
William Rudolph Nairn of Pompano Beach, married to Donna Lynn Cote on Sept. 5, said he left a $20 tip for Budetti at the suggestion of a man who appeared to be a deputy.
“He more or less dropped the suggestion that if you want to leave a tip . . . we could leave it with him.”
But the judges and their staff members deny soliciting tips.
“I don’t know what is said out of my presence,” Seidlin said. “I have given them instructions. If a couple wishes to leave something, it’s up to them.”
Budetti said he had given similar instructions to his staff.
“I’m not in the room with them so I don’t know what’s being said. They go into another room because many couples ask if they can leave something and the staff helps them out,” Budetti said. “It’s the kind of thing that shouldn’t be discussed in an open room with other people around. It could be embarrassing for them.”
The judges’ secretaries and bailiffs steadfastly denied making any suggestions about tips.
“We certainly do not solicit gratuities for the judge,” said Shirley Petreye, Budetti’s secretary.
Budetti’s bailiff, Hal Karrmann, said he will accept the tips when offered but never brings up the subject of money.
“We’re very discreet about it,” he said.
Jackie Rohan, Seidlin’s secretary, said few couples leave money.
“I never mention anything one way or another. . . . The judge does this as a service to the public.”
Tom Winters, who said he has served as Seidlin’s bailiff since January or February, said he has nothing to do with weddings.
A review of county marriage licenses showed that during 1983 couples seeking to be married were usually sent to the “duty judge,” who is assigned emergency cases, bond hearings and each morning’s magistrate’s court for that particular day. The result was that eight county judges performed more than 100 weddings each that year.
But the next year, a dramatic change took place.
Nearly half the couples were sent to either Budetti’s or Seidlin’s office to be married.
Seidlin said that as administrative judge of the County Court, he has diverted couples to his office.
“I’m here in my office most of the time, and I felt I was lessening the burden on the other judges to allow them to perform more important tasks,” Seidlin said. “I view weddings as a labor of love.”
Budetti, whose office is adjacent to Seidlin’s, said he acts as Seidlin’s “unofficial” assistant.
Chief Judge Burnstein said she was unaware of allegations that judical staff members were soliciting tips and that the clerk’s office was steering the weddings to the two judges.
“This is very surprising to me. It was assured to me by all county judges they did not engage in that practice,” she said. “I also will not draw conclusions from hearsay and unsubstantiated evidence. We are talking about two very fine judges who have served with merit.”
The issue will be discussed at the next meeting of county judges in November, Burnstein said.
“I think in addressing this problem we should start with the clerk’s office,” said Burnstein. “I had just learned this week that the practice of clerks referring couples to certain judges was taking place. That should not be the practice. The clerk’s office should not be a conduit to a particular few judges.”
Jane Moore, the former supervisor of the marriage license bureau, said her clerks had been instructed by Seidlin’s office as to which judge would be performing weddings on a particular day.
“It used to be always whoever was acting as duty judge,” Moore said. “But gradually that changed to where we were instructed to send them to Judge Seidlin and Budetti.”
Wasn’t Seidlin implicated in trying to swindle that old woman that lived in his condo complex too ?
Broward judges have been caught doing worse I suppose.
HOW DID MY CHEST EXRAYS SHOW UP IN UNCLE LARRY’S CONDO DUMPSTER ?
The JNC needs resources. To scrutinize the tax returns of applicants. And their businesses should be audited. There’s too much at stake if a tax cheat gets through.
JUDGES AREN’T LATE TO COURT
THEY’RE BUSY DOING IMPORTANT STUFF
A prominent Broward defense lawyer is asking a judge to delay his client’s upcoming hit-and-run trial until after the COVID pandemic is over, a decision that would have repercussions for dozens of other felony cases.
https://www.sun-sentinel.com/coronavirus/fl-ne-scott-roman-hit-run-covid-20210929-7mju3h4h7janth54kljacxkstu-story.html
When might that be, the rest of the world needs to know?
I thought Bogenshutz would have been relegated to weaving baskets by now. He keeps losing all his cases.
I’VE TOLD YOU TO COOL IT BEFORE DAVE
I DONT LIKE REPEATING MYSELF
DID SOMEBODY SAY HIT AND RUN ?
I GOT BUMPED BUT AT LEAST I GOT OUT WITH MY PENSION
Justice delayed is Justice denied
ITS WAS ANA’S IDEA
His case isn’t more important than George Floyd’s. Too bad Holmes isn’t his Judge. She gave him a hot flashes mistrial.
Probably a cover to explain why he wasn’t invited to his daughter’s wedding. F’ing bitch even in county court but damn impressive move.
SHE DIDN’T GET VERY FAR
BUT AT LEAST SHE MADE IT TO CIRCUIT
She wasn’t a bad judge. Just a bad person.
She is a wonderful person. I know her half my life! She was an excellent family law attorney and Judge!
She’s pretty much a dumb bimbo. ..
Self-absorbed loudmouth with a higher opinion of herself than anybody else had
Who is she?
She used to be a judge.
She dead ended as a Statie. She ruined her career with arrogance and bad choices.
SHE SURE DIDN’T LAST LOG IN CIVIL
THEY WEREN’T GOING TO PUT UP WITH HER JIVE-AZZ DRUM BEATING BS THERE
A courthouse can’t run without a lot of power trippin’ people.
They didn’t give me a second run in the bull pin
I TOLD YOU I WAS HAD
There’s the RETARD again
Tipping was customary as a cab driver in NY. Why should Broward Judges be any different ?
Broward Judges always have their hands out.
Didn’t someone buy him a shirt, once, because he admired it?
Continuance is a Fin
BLM should run against every Broward Judge every time their term ends …
End judicial double dealing in Broward
Hope she runs against BOBBIE 🌮
PROOF THIS LOSER WILL SCREW UP THEN LIE TO OUR FACES!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWXnL6zrn4U
You must have been away the last 4+ years; missed thee Liar-In-Chief!!
Yep,that be the Dems.
You must have been tripping.
First big LIE:
Al Gore.
Election was sole from me! I demand a recount but only in states I think I won!
Dems will crash and burn over Biden.
Career Politicians can’t help but lie to keep their jobs
2024
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9A2qPGN-9rQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqgcByaNyhc
Did Mexico send that check for the wall yet?