YOU MAKE THE CALL! (ZOOM 2023 EDITION)

*UPDATE* – January 2, 2023 – picture posting restored, after a three day blog outage …

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YOU MAKE THE CALL! (ZOOM 2023 EDITION):

It’s sure getting confusing out there, at least where Zoom is concerned. Every judge seems to have their own idea about how, when, and whether to use videoconferencing. The Florida Supreme Court has set out rules allowing when a judge “may” use Zoom, aka “communication technology,” but beyond that, it’s a crapshoot in Broward criminal courts as to when and how remote appearances may be available.

Some county criminal judges run entire dockets on Zoom, as do juvenile court judges. In felony courtrooms, some have it running on their personal computers during normal court operations, while others have it on the big screens, available for all to see in our very public courtrooms. It’s a bonus for busy lawyers, staff, defendants, and witnesses on non-essential hearings, saving time, money, and docket space, not to mention keeping people off the roads and civilians gainfully employed in their day jobs who would otherwise have to take time off for a quick hearing or reset.

The problem, of course, is the complete lack of uniformity amongst the various criminal divisions, and the often confounding instructions and actions from judicial officers and their secretaries.

For instance, take Ernie Kollra’s assigned courtroom. The normally affable Ernie, previously known to blog readers only through a spat with former APD Gus Martinez and from a JQC Public Reprimand, has his profile picture on the 17th Circuit’s website above the following express information:

________________________________________

ERNEST A. KOLLRA JR.
Judicial Assistant: Teresa Sugar
Phone Number: (954) 831-3575
Zoom Meeting ID: 992-561-398
Chamber: NW5760
Courtroom: NW5750
Division: FF
Division Procedures


Biography
Zoom Meeting Link

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Take notice of the fourth line: Zoom Meeting ID: 992-561-398. And the actual Zoom link that’s provided, right under the “Biography” link. Lastly, the “Division Procedures” link, which once clicked, shows a variety of information, including the following:

JUDGE KOLLRA HAS STOPPED LOGGING ONTO ZOOM

Fair enough. Division instructions are meant to be read, and followed by practitioners, even if the double Zoom information should have been deleted from the front of the 17th Circuit’s official webpage when the division instructions were updated. The problem, however, is that Ernie is still doing Zoom hearings, making for one big, confusing mess, with access to Zoom privileges more akin to hitting a moving target than a steady ship that all courtrooms should mirror.

In fact, just today, we were told via judicial email that “JUDGE KOLLRA NO LONGER CONDUCTS ZOOM HEARINGS,” (sic) dashing hopes of appearing remotely tomorrow, despite having witnessed an Assistant State Attorney being allowed to appear on Zoom just yesterday.**

(** An email to Ernie earlier today requesting clarification of his Zoom policies and procedures was not returned as of posting time.)

So there you have it. Merely one recent example of one Broward judge’s confusing Zoom practices. It must be stressed that Kollra’s courtroom is one of many,*** begging the question for 2023:

SHOULD JACK TUTER REQUIRE UNIFORMITY IN BROWARD JUDGES’ ZOOM PROCEDURES FOR THE SAKE OF EFFICIENCY, FAIRNESS, AND ELIMINATING CONFUSION IN THE PUBLIC EYE?

YOU MAKE THE CALL!

(*** Please post a comment with other examples you may have , especially from the civil domain, where things seem to run smoothly from a remote standpoint)

75 thoughts on “YOU MAKE THE CALL! (ZOOM 2023 EDITION)”

      1. 7

        0

        The judges here in Broward can’t seem to get their chit together no matter what because there is no judicial leadership, just a free for all where they can disappear whenever they want to and there’s no supervision to stop them.

      2. 2

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        Because lawyers like getting paid $350+/hr to drive, park and sit around waiting. He won’t take that away from them.

      1. 0

        1

        Judge Fein doesn’t seem the type to look away. I hope he cracks some heads if Judges try disappearing acts. Or try to hand all their work off to other Judges. The status quo stuff. Zoom is an issue sure but aren’t there bigger fish to fry? Judge Fein could make a big difference. Unless he’s trying to be in charge as Chief Judge one day and plays the political games. That’ll stink if it’s more of the same old same old.

        1. 7

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          None of these guys made it to admin judge by being willing to crack some heads…it the complete opposite

    1. 4

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      Specifically, Neva and Gina. Went to Tutor trying to stop Odom from going to domestic. True Fact.

    2. 0

      9

      Judge Odom is an American hero. He served our nation in the Marine Corps. How many Judges can say that? Judge Odom deserves our respect. Judge Odom defeated a JQC Judge. He rid Broward of a JQC Judge. Judge Odom is a great man.

      1. 5

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        Robert Carney was also a marine–a lying, cheating scumbag lawyer/prosecutor for Satz and an equally lying cheating scumbag Satz judge–so much for that oo rah, semper fi shit.

    1. 9

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      IT’S THE BEST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN AS LONG AS TOOTY IS SHUFFLED OFF. HE’S BEEN USELESS AS FAR AS BRINGING ANY IMPROVEMENTS TO A CIRCUIT THAT IS IN DIRE CONDITION. HE’S BEEN A TOTAL EMBARRASSMENT SINCE HE TOOK OFFICE AS CHIEF JUDGE.

  1. 3

    1

    Fla const, Art 1,
    SECTION 2. Basic rights.—All natural persons, female and male alike, are equal before the law and have inalienable rights, among which are the right to enjoy and defend life and liberty, to pursue happiness, to be rewarded for industry, and to acquire, possess and protect property. No person shall be deprived of any right because of race, religion, national origin, or physical disability.

    SECTION 21. Access to courts.—The courts shall be open to every person for redress of any injury, and justice shall be administered without sale, denial or delay.

    Where is the constitutional exception provision for Broward Co. to deny equal treatment?

  2. 3

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    Exactly, it isn’t equal treatment to allow zoom v. no zoom. The inconsistency in Broward criminal is frustrating, but so is lawyers not showing up, showing up from their cars (or the pool, etc) or in t-shirts- if they bother turning the camera on at all. If the lawyers and defendants would treat it as if it were in person (which is what happens in civil), then I’m sure it wouldn’t be an issue. Maybe work on that and then try to sell it to the new criminal administrative judge.

    1. 9

      1

      If Judges are playing games about who gets on Zoom and who doesn’t then the Jqc needs to get on this.

      1. 2

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        Judge Kollra looks like a deer in the headlights in the JQC live feed. I feel bad for him.

        1. 0

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          Bailey was a arrogant blowhard without much knowledge of the law or how to treat people. He forgot if he ever knew that he was just a public servant and nothing more. He made his own bed which was a disaster.
          There are a number of other judges who should learn from his disastrous example.

        2. 0

          0

          Damn I viewed his reprimand hearing. They said about alternative remedies and assistance to concern the stresses of the Bench. Obviously he has found his alternative the face speaks of a three jigger am and probably more the night before. A good stiff one takes the edge off, Burp Giselle please pass the water canister Burp.

    1. 0

      0

      I WARNED BAILEY WHAT HE WAS GETTING INTO
      BEING A BROWARD JUDGE IS LIKE A GETTING A ONE WAY TICKET TO THE LA BREA TAR PIT

  3. 9

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    HAVE YOU TRIED MY NEW MUFFINS
    NOT BEING A JUDGE IN BROWARD AINT THAT BAD
    CAUSE THE PAY IS SQUAT

    1. 0

      1

      Judge Gundersen brought honor to the shameful 17th Circuit. She wasn’t Jqc’d. She tried to make changes. She worked harder than most.

      1. 0

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        Gundersen didn’t get it.
        Lawyers have the last word in the State system.
        Where’s she working now?

        1. 0

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          The nice overweight blonde judge passed away and the other one (gundy) got voted out. Sad

      1. 5

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        I’ll grunt and grunt and blow you’re house down … always liked a girl with a good appetite

  4. 17

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    Judges have continually used this zoom crap excuse to stay at home in their pajamas in the all too apparent dodging of their responsibilities. It’s no secret. Don’t expect Tuter to do anything about it. His main function is to provide cover for the slouches.

  5. 5

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    Judge Kollra
    Known in circles as “Ernie the Attorney”
    Never met a trailer park tenant he could resist evicting and seem proud about it.
    I guess the trailer park owners had enough political suck to get him on the bench, unfortunately it was the wrong bench.

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