RIP, BIG AL

The beloved Bossman, Big Al Schreiber, has died.

The stories and memories are boundless, as are the unprecedented number of successful attorneys in both public and private practice who got their starts because of Al’s generosity and encouragement.

Thoughts and prayers to the Schreiber family.

109 thoughts on “RIP, BIG AL”

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    Tremendous influence on my life. I tell stories about him all the time. He was one of the last of the big politicos in town that any politician had to go through to get anywhere. He knew how to make friends and keep them. He knew who the scumbags were too. He was never my close friend, but he gave me my first job, and gave me a file cabinet full of “contract” files when I went out on my own. He even came to my wedding. He put together quite a great group of talented attorneys that could have worked anywhere else for a lot more $$ and eventually did in droves after he left. I remember he would invite all of us back to his house after a campaign “lit drop” or some other political event. There are many of us in this community who feel not only a sense of loss, but of being a lot older too. God Bless.

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    Mr. Schreiber was my first boss other than my Dad since we had a family business. He used to insist I call him Big Al or the Boss man. I just couldn’t call him either since he was like a father figure to me and it was a respect thing. I worked as his budget director for 17 years. He would come into my office each morning and sit on my couch and ask if I heard any good gossip. Schreiber used to love to hear the courthouse gossip. Schreiber used to share with me the outrageous stories he heard and we would laugh about it.

    I don’t know if everyone knows or not but he had a very kind and generous heart with a very rough exterior. I saw him throughout the years do acts of kindness where he chose to remain anonymous. There was never a time where I went to him and shared one of our employees lost a family member that he didn’t pitch in. He would always pull out his wallet and hand me whatever he had to contribute.

    I remember when he told me that he was retiring. He said he was going to leave with his golden parachute! I planned his retirement dinner and he told me afterwards that it made him really happy and he was proud of me and my contributions to the office. That meant the world to me.

    I was fortunately able to record a video for him before he passed away telling him that I was retiring but not with a golden parachute. I will miss this powerful man who at times was like a father to me. R.I.P. Big Al and I will sincerely miss you. Sending condolences and love to the entire Schreiber family.

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    Al was the best of the best. He was always behind you when crooked judges went on a rampage thinking they were untouchable. Broward is known for such judicial hucksters. But Al was a firewall against such judicial overreach and consistently kept them in their place unlike his successor Finkelstein who just played one liners for attention without any follow up.
    He will be remembered for the generosity and kindness shown to countless practitioners of law and the endless support of Justice and the fair application of law. The memories of his generosity will undoubtedly survive his passing for many years to come: A Giant among minions of mediocrity.

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    The only job application I ever made, and the only job interview I ever had as I was finishing law school, was with the P.D. My hair was long, my jacket sleeves were pushed back to my elbows, and I had this habit of constantly chewing on a thin straw used to stir my coffee. That’s how I walked into Al’s office. He gave me a job anyway.
    Thanks Al. Thanks for the opportunity. Thanks for the memories.
    R.I.P.

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      I only know of three bosses worthy of that title, springsteen, steinbrenner, and my boss al schreiber, i spent a great 9 years there in a great office

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          Plenty of people left after Al took off. Nobody wanted to stick around under Howard. He ruined the office all for the sake of his little man complex and insatiable desire to gain attention. He and his little bitch Kuthan couldnt have tried a case if their lives depended on it. Howard was never the person he wanted people to believe he was. Just an opportunist looking to ride it out. The way he treated Big Al after what Al did for him after Howard was busted for drugs doomed Lit’l Howie’s rep from the get go.

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            Finkelstein is a scumbag. He got rid of everybody that worked under Al because he wanted to remold the office in his own image. Unfortunately for him, that image was fake, phoney and imagined and everybody knew it. Especially the old guard and that marked them for removal.
            Schreiber was worth a thousand Poison Dwarfs ☠️ Al was a lawyer that Finkelstein could only dream of being.

  5. 11

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    The Bossman was one of a kind. He did have a big heart; especially when someone got knocked down and was trying to get back up. Though he could be really tough if he didn’t think it was warranted; that was a rough spot that could have used some polishing, if not outright sanding. Through the largess of the office he seems to have seeded half the criminal defense attorneys in town. That office had an esprit de corps I haven’t seen before or since in large office or small. People really loved working there and spent time together off campus as well as in the office. It absolutely was a political machine; it came with all the attendant strengths and weaknesses of such an enterprise.

    As I write this I am reminded of the convocation at Kathy’s by the new administration headed by Howard where all were gathered between Al’s retirement and Howard’s start. There was a lot of gnashing of teeth and revelations of misdeeds of years past. I remember saying he was the Josef Stalin and George Washington of the office. Now twenty years later, that really does seem about right.

    He had qualities that allowed that office to grow to legitimate, professional PD office with a solid group of lawyers, secretaries, investigators, and other riff-raff like myself from a small acorn which only had gone to a full time office the previous term before he was first elected in ’76. Though he had his demons too and could bring them out in others.

    It wasn’t my first job; it wasn’t my last job. But in looking back it was my favorite (most of the time at least).

    RIP Boss man. There can be no denying you affected so many peoples lives.

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        Inscrutable was a good word for it. People would sit before him. His eyes darting around looking at boats. Or looking for the next glass of wine. Like he wasn’t paying attention. Or was out of it. But he never was. And then he would just gut the person if they were being silly. Like out of nowhere. Dead on. It’s what made him a great trial lawyer too.

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      Everything you said is true and that is the tragedy of his succesor Howard. BossMan pulled Howard out of the ashes and made him a Chief Assistant. What was the payback? I believe the word Howard used to describe BossMan when he took over was “cancer” and Howard did everything possible to erase his benefactor’s memory and impugn his reputation. Before, it was really hard to be fired under BossMan – he was a larger than life figure that did not give a darn about public perception when it came to doing the right thing. However, once Howard took over, talent, independence, critical thinking, and a personality, belief and pride that the PD was the best defense office in town were destroyed. Moral and talent level have never been the same since. All that mattered to Howard were his stupid self-centered “projects” like mental health. None of the attorneys were forced to be social workers under the BossMan. Hey Howard, you are so eloquent: where are your glowing words for the man that put you back on the map? I suspect he has nothing to say – not even a shadow of his predecessor – tragic

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    Work hard, play hard. Sadly this ethic no longer seems to exist. The warrior lawyer template of old died today too.

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      It died when Finkelstein turned the office into a bunch of social workers instead of zealous advocates for their clients. Sad but true.

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    God bless you and your family big Al, may you rest in peace. I met Al way back, i was an assistant pd and he was an assistant sa. Never had a case with him but we were friendly. Those were the days when lawyersw could be friends. I remember he had a falling ouy with the boss over the judge Lee incident, and decided to run for PD>Herring had the endorsment of th democratic party and most of the pols but somehow Al won/ Both of us than sitched sides and i only saw him from afar and marveled at his total grasp of the political power process, money andmanpower, they all ligned up to curry his favor. After retirement i somehow reconnected with him and we became buddies, lunch at the cafe, marlin games etc. he was no longer the boss and he didnt seem to care. Than it was off to texas where he established a vibrantt criminal practice. I only spoke with him a few times since he left but he was his old self. Good traveling BIG AL , your dues are paid, you owe us nothing wee only owe you for your wit and presence.

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    May he rest in peace. He always fought for his clients, his employees and his causes. He often taunted me as an overzealous prosecutor but he often showed me respect and offered words of encouragement. I respected him tremendously.-
    Judge Alberto Milian

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          Get a room you two!

          Oh, and hey, next time: no need to use your name when honoring someone who passed (it’s not about YOU)

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            BS to Fake Maury ,,,, the real Maury described himself
            (his hair, his sleeves and his thin straw)
            more than he described Big Al. Ha

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    Big Al was missed as soon as he decided to retire and I only wish he hadn’t done so. The reasons are too numerous to mention. He was the best boss anyone could ask for. He took the Public Defender’s Office to new heights of excellence. It hasn’t been matched since.
    My thoughts go out to his family and friends at this time. He’s one guy I’ll remember with great fondness and admiration forever.

  10. 2

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    My prayers and thoughts are with the Schreiber family in their time of grief. Al was an awesome boss with great legal instincts. He will be missed by all that ever worked for him as the best Public Defender that ever was.

  11. 17

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    I worked with Al Schreiber.
    Al Schreiber was a friend of mine.

    Gordon, you’re no Al Schreiber

  12. 11

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    I loved working for the Bossman. His mantra was go to trial. You will win and we did. I loved the battle. He cared about his people and the people we represented. I’ve had many great jobs and Bosses, but he was the best par none. The trial lawyers he had were fantastic and there was a Camaraderie that unless you were there there you won’t appreciate. Of all my jobs from Medical Examiner, Public Defender to Lab Manager. that was the best of times.

    God Speed to Al.

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    “EVERY STORM RUNS OUT OF RAIN”

    HOWARD FINKELSTEIN COULD HAVE LEARNED MUCH FROM AL SCHREIBER – AVOIDANCE OF HYPOCRISY FOR ONE

    AL SCHREIBER WAS ONE OF A KIND

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    Do not dirty this with politics and your sad attempts to deflect Al. He was an amazing man, a true lawyer who stood up For his PD’s and the system. I’m so sad to see such a great man has passed. He brought more to the PD’s office than anyone could. Give Al and his family the ABSOLUTE RESPECT he soooo deserves!!! If you’re not old school, then you have no right to post negatively. Old school is what makes you lawyers, not today’s politics….. Rest In Peace Al and condolences to the family!

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    It’s so wonderful to see lawyers using their true names to pay tribute to such a great man instead of the usual horrible comments posted on this blog anonymously. Big Al you were one of a kind. I didn’t get to work with you because I wasn’t a lawyer yet but you sure were a lot of fun at political events. I am going to miss your occasional emails. Rest in peace my friend

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      Give it a rest for once Alu. Everybody knows you’ve got not nothin else to do but troll the internet for the next sucker. They make apps for that.

  16. 7

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    Right Sheila.

    You are one of the most prolific anonymous posters on this blog. Then, you like to act all courageous by signing your name to softball pitches.

    You so phoney.

    “Thank you, come again, steady customer’

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      Oh Merlino we know Alu kicked your wife’s ass get over yourself. You shouldn’t have threatened to fire her. Now go fuck off

  17. 7

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    Just stop it!!!i This is a day for a big Al! He deserves the respect!!

  18. 7

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    Al called me Redneck Ross but I was lucky compared to what he called Lenny Feiner

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    I want Alan buried with his daiquiri machine in the Bahamas. I want them to be together

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    If Al doesn’t stop telling that story about me driving the wrong way on 95 I may start drinking again

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      Mr. Schreiber didn’t know any better. Unlike NSU Law School. They have knowingly allowed a JQC Judge onto the Board of Governors.

  21. 8

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    Al was a kind and generous guy who helped a lot of lawyers when they went out in private practice as well as being a great person to work for. That’s when the PD was an office to be dealt with, unlike now where its been reduced to a one man show with incompetence at the helm.
    He will be remembered by all who had dealings with him.
    My condolences to his family and friends.

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    Bye bye Sticky fingers. Word is you’re out- Yours truly- your biggest fan- Neva

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      I JUST NEEDED SOME CHEAP PUBLIX MAKEUP
      NOT BECAUSE I HAD A DATE OR ANYTHING
      THEY DON’T CALL ME STICKY FINGERS HONOWITZ FOR NOTHIN

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        The worst part is she can cake it on all she wants and it doesnt make any improvement. She’s on her way out soon.

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        Typical display of the double standard of the application of law for a State Attorney employee. This is exactly why few have any confidence in the State Attorney’s Office and its all too apparent policy.

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          Anonymous, thanks aaron
          YOU’RE A LOSER!

          Forces of evil in a bozo nightmare
          Ban all the music with a phony gas chamber
          ‘Cause one’s got a weasel and the other’s got a flag
          One’s on the pole, shove the other in a bag
          With the rerun shows and the cocaine nose-job

          The daytime crap of the folksinger slob
          He hung himself with a guitar string
          A slab of turkey-neck and it’s hanging from a pigeon wing

          You can’t write if you can’t relate
          Trade the cash for the beef for the body for the hate
          And my time is a piece of wax falling on a termite
          That’s choking on the splinters.
          (Beck)

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            You don’t even know her name so I’m sure you don’t know her record in trial. She is an amazing trial attorney. Seriously- seek help for your obsession. You will find that if you focus a little more on your life and a little less on obsessing about someone who doesn’t even know who you are your life will improve.

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    You can sticky fingers BS all you want. Neva Harold and Gina have 3 1/2 years left so laugh and joke all you want because you are the ones who will be history!! Mark these words. Pryor has pissed off the wrong people! And we promise to show you the exact same treatment you showed everyone you fired and fucked with!

  24. 6

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    MIKEY PLAYING COOL NOW WITH NO SOCKS
    YOU GOTTA HAND IT TO OLE MIKEY
    FOR AN OLD SINGLE HONKEY – HE KNOWS HOW TO ADAPT TO THE NEWEST BEAT

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        Mike looks amazing. Such a great guy unlike the rest of you prejudices TURDS. We love you Mike! Get with it folks only HILLBILLIES wear socks with dress shoes.

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    Judge Michael G Kaplan of Broward County, Florida
    Corruption at it’s best!

    My first injunction from Roberta Seymour took 3 appearances in front of this crooked judge. A courtroom 240 miles away from me. He did not want to accept my attorney’s “Lack of Venue” argument. Both myself and my accuser live in Lake County…We do not live in Broward County!

    It did not matter to the Judge and he wanted me to go to trial on these false charges and did everything he could to make it happen! Finally, he had no choice but to dismiss the charges.

    I believed at this point, I would be left alone. How wrong I was and it was just a matter of time before this judge allowed Roberta Seymour to file another false injunction on me.

    Let’s skip to the final injunction.

    Roberta Seymour and Jeffrey Seymour stated 100% lies. Most of which could be proven by Assistant State Attorney Len Swadlow’s investigation. I told Judge Michael G Kaplan about the 3 month investigation.

    Judge Michael G Kaplan told me the State Attorney’s investigation had no place in his courtroom. REALLY…REALLY! How corrupt does a judge have to be before he is fired or is brought into a court of law himself for being corrupt!

    Disregarding a Judge’s former ruling in Lake County, Florida, Judge Michael G Kaplan gave me an injunction on zero evidence. More importantly, against the evidence found in a 3 month State Attorney investigation! WHY? How does that even happen?

    Of course, if you do not want to believe a Lake County Judge or your own Broward County State Attorney, how about Detective O’Hern’s police investigation on Roberta Seymour, finding her guilty of lying on every report she filed. A full police investigation finally competed. A police investigation that Broward County refused to do. Still, nothing has been done! If you would like to read it, go to the home page and down on the right you will find MOUNT DORA POLICE REPORT button. Give it a click!

    http://criminalmindsjrs.weebly.com/table-of-judge-michael-g-kaplan-and-his-corruption-against-kevin-milcheck.html?fbclid=IwAR1fdl076dsCrCxCZ8DfbDdB6gB6zPX4z2QgO_LJx27DneEwLEwocUhGp88

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    Honowitz does next to nothing anyway. How she’s been allowed to skate so long is anyone’s guess.

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      I do not understand the obsession someone has with Stacy Honowitz. I will not comment on what happened 2 years ago except to say she denied it, the charges were dismissed and her reputation for honesty supports her. In regards to her work, Stacy Honowitz has spent the past 25 years prosecuting Sex Offenders of both adults and children and also child abusers who physically have HURT children, often grossly and violently. She has spent thousands of hours talking to victims and their families. If you have never done that, you have no idea how emotionally taxing that is. Stacy has empathy for her victims and treats all of them with individual attention. She has handled cases with high profiles and earned convictions. She has helped numerous defense attys and civil attys . Where are they to defend her? they call on her when they need someone to assist in reviewing a case they think needs further review or help in a civil lawsuit, but have nothing to say to refute these horrible comments.! The SAO should be grateful to have someone with her experience and her dedication to file these cases, along with the other case filers in the division. Why so angry that Stacy continues to do her job? What a strange and weird obsession to keep wanting to cause someone distress over something had nothing to do with anyone personally. The opposite of love is apathy, so the people who keep writing about Stacy, while not IN LOVE, are certainly very interested in her, if not why write about her? Move on, what are you trying to accomplish? Sad statement about yourself really. None of us are perfect people, but I do know that if anyone in my family were unfortunate enough to be a victim of a Sex Offense, I would like to have Stacy on my side. If only you could hear from victims and their families, some who still stay in touch with her, you would reconsider your shallow and shitty attitude. And no, this is not Stacy writing, not even a close friend, just someone who worked with her, did not always agree with her, but appreciated her sincere and genuine concern for her victims.

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          If I said who I was than that would be the issue. Try disputing what I wrote, not who I am. Any comments on the content?

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          Stacey’s been sliding for years. As far as mentoring other attorneys in the office. She’s the one that needs supervision. As far as I’m concerned, her defense of shoplifting falls on deaf ears. She was caught red-handed in the commission of a crime and should have had to pay the price, just like anyone else.
          She’s already paid the price to her self-stayed reputation.
          Not facing up to what she did, doesn’t help her crawl back from the crime. It only condemns her in my view.
          Nobody is jealous of her. She’s never done anything to distinguish herself.

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            You must be young and have no idea of her trial record. I also doubt you have listened to victims tell you terrible stories about crimes committed against them. YOU sound very jealous, but probably of everybody.

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        Stacey has also always taken the time to help and mentor other attorneys. The person that keeps writing about her is someone who is jealous of her and should just focus on their own sad pathetic life. I know it must be sad and pathetic if they waste their time writing about her on this blog.

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        The worst part is, she did it in front of her daughter. What kind of example does that set ?

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        I would want Stacy reviewing my case. That girl works hard! Don’t let these jealous people get to you!

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          Isn’t it bad enough that Horowitz has to carry the shame around with her of being known as Sticky Fingers Stacey, knowing she was caught attempting to snatch something out of a store?
          I wouldn’t even hire her to clean my toilets, let alone represent me in ! Lol

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        Big deal, she did her job and was paid for it.
        That does not give her the right to steal.
        Even worse she denies what the video obviously shows.
        Let’s also remember she did it in front of her child. CPS should investigate that.

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    Just published-
    Wednesday, July 14, 2021
    BROWARD TO THE RESCUE
    Just writing the headline caused us severe nausea and the need to step outside, take a few deep breaths, pop a Tums and return to the work at hand.

    As the civil war neared conclusion in April, 1865, General Lee, commander of the Army of Northern Virginia desperately sought to escape the encirclement of his forces by the Army of the Potomac. General Grant, head of the Army of the Potomac sent Lee a letter requesting his surrender, noting that any additional loss of life would be Lee’s responsibility. Lee asked for terms of peace and Grant replied that he was only authorized to accept Lee’s surrender. With his army surrounded, Lee accepted the inevitable, dressing in his best uniform for his meeting with Grant, as he expected to be taken prisoner.

    Lee was not taken prisoner. The terms of the surrender included paroling all soldiers from the Army of Northern Virginia so long as they did not again take up arms against the United States. While his army was required to surrender their arms, Lee requested that his men in the cavalry and artillery be allowed to keep their horses and mules, which they had provided from their own stock. Grant agreed, writing a separate order to that effect.

    While forced to surrender unconditionally, Lee was afforded escape from the ignominy of taking succor from his enemies.

    Not so the Court system of Miami-Dade County. In the immediate aftermath of the closing of the Civil Courthouse, none other than the Chief Judge of the Evil Empire known as Broward County contacted Judge Sayfie and offered her and our courtroom-less Miami Civil Judges the use of their courtrooms (but not the Death Star).

    This, dear readers is what is known as the Ignominy of accepting charity from your enemies.

    We would rather try a case under the burning hot sun in Lot 26 than travel north of the boarder. We would rather fight locusts from the Miami River while cross-examining a flip then accepting charity from Darth Vader.

    Will the “Broward Rules” of court apply to Miami-Dade case? Taken from actual events we have been subjected to or witnessed, will the following occur?

    1) The courtroom door being locked at 9am and no one else let in;

    2) Clients acquitted in a criminal case being taken into custody for “a records check”;

    3) Being told by BSO officers who had their hands on handcuffs that we “could not talk to our client during the trial, subject to being arrested for violating this order”;

    4) Having our 8:30 am case called last after all the 11:30 am cases were called;

    5) Having our client’s bond sua sponte revoked at arraignment because “we do things different here in Broward than in Mi-Am-Uh”;

    6) Being told by the judge that unless we could cite a specific rule or case law, we would need to ask permission to cross examine every witness called by the prosecution, AND THEN clear each issue we wished to address on cross-examination with the judge, in open court, before being allowed to conduct cross examination- we’d love to see how civil lawyers respond to that gem;

    7) Being told (threatened) that arguing for an acquittal may result in a Bar Complaint if our client was convicted because “lawyers are not allowed to argue frivolous issues”;

    Yes, these are the joys we have experienced heading North of the Boarder to represent clients. Will these rules apply to the civil cases Broward wants to host?

    Our advice to our civil brethren: avoid Broward. It has bad Juju. Nothing good ever happens there in court. Ever. Settle. Take the money or offer the money and wait for another case on another day in another place in the Universe.

    Anywhere but Broward. That’s our motto.
    http://justicebuilding.blogspot.com/2021/07/broward-to-rescue.html

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