Criminal Law

FROM 417

Posted on January 18, 2011
Catalano's opening ... Says Melnick is "not the most sophisticated lawyer in the world" ... Says Melnick filed a Motion Disq looks like it was written by a "high school freshman" ... Says it's all about forum shopping ... Says has tapes from jail where Defendant says Melnick can get rid of Judge Cohen ...

STANDOFF!

Posted on January 14, 2011
Major drama going on as we speak.  A man, reportedly a lawyer, got in through the out door at the main courthouse entrance.  An eyewitnesses said he pointed a gun at his chest over by the misdemeanor Clerk's Office, threatening to end it all...

THURSDAY NOTES

Posted on January 13, 2011
Solid reviews - it's only been a week, but the fresh faces have been well received.  In County Court, John Fry and Ed Merrigan had jury trials already.  Is it any surprise both were not guiltys?  Mardi Cohen and Mindy Solomon have also come on strong, checking to make sure pleas on probation cases were counseled, and issuing ROR Capiases to compel attendance and save tax dollars, respectively...

ANOTHER INTERESTING ONE FROM THE 4TH

Posted on January 12, 2011
Even though they felt they had to affirm the trial judge's denial of a Motion To Suppress, the 4th DCA issued a strongly worded opinion today regarding situations "where ?consent? to a search is found under objectively questionable circumstances ...

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JQC V. COHEN DOCS

Posted on January 12, 2011
For some reason the star studded witness lists for next Tuesday's JQC trial haven't been posted on the Florida Supreme Court's Public Information section.  So here they are, including Michael Catalano's Trial Brief in defense of Cohen, together with the old links:JQC Witness ListDale Cohen Witness ListJQC v...

JAABCAM

Posted on January 11, 2011
1.) John Fry Monday, moments before his first ever official business; 2.) Mindy Solomon, today; 3.) Cancer cluster? The evacuated offices of Susan Greenhawt, Cheryl Aleman, and Mily Rodriguez-Powell are the talk of the town.  Here's the Sun Sentinel on the developments, and what we were told in December...

SUNDAY NOTES

Posted on January 09, 2011
 The ends justify the means in Satzland ..."Raider of the Year" - pictured above is a trophy naming notorious former FLPD Officer Jason Maldonado "Raider of the Year".  It resides in a trophy shop on Route 441, never picked up or awarded, after Maldonado's troubles began to mount...

THURSDAY NOTES

Posted on January 06, 2011
Oyez, Oyez, Oyez - Broward State and Federal judges were surprised when recently retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens strolled out to speak at Thursday's ABOTA luncheon.  Stevens made the trip to the Tower Club from his retirement abode in Coral Ridge ...

PUT UP OR SHUT UP

Posted on January 05, 2011
But Seriously, Folks - the War on Drugs can be won.  If drugs are really so bad, then we need to start thinking World War II, instead of Vietnam.  Give it everything we've got, or call it a day.The key is to broaden and apply police enforcement across the board...

WHO WANTS TO BE AN ETHICS TZAR?

Posted on January 04, 2011
Howard Finkelstein has decided to appoint someone to the Ethics Commission after all.  It seems he has to, after the County Commission came begging last month.  They don't have a quorum, and without Finkelstein's participation, it could cost the taxpayers a fortune...

TUESDAY BONUS

Posted on January 04, 2011
TRIAL! - JQC v. Dale Cohen goes to trial on January 18th, at 9:00 AM , in Room 417.  Fun stuff, not on display since the Cheryl Aleman debacle a few years back.  Book your reservations early, as this one is likely to be SRO ..."Provisional Public Defender Appointments" - the Clerk's Office is cracking down on non-indigents using the services of the Public Defender...

COURTHOUSE FENG SHUI

Posted on January 03, 2011
There will be a quiz afterwards, so pay attention:1.) Ken Gottlieb takes over Fred Berman's division, and Lee Seidman's courtroom (540); 2.) Mindy Solomon takes over Lee Seidman's division, and Joe Murphy's courtroom (500).  Murphy takes over 418, Fred Berman's old courtroom; 3...

MONDAY NOTES

Posted on January 03, 2011
"Another year of this sh*t" - the best response to a "Happy New Year's" greeting, overheard in the Courthouse this morning ..."No Blind Open Pleas" - apparently some readers are so used to us criticizing judges, they can't tell when we're throwing one a bone...

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE 4TH!

Posted on December 23, 2010
APD Jason Blank hit one out of the park today.  After oral arguments a little while back, the Fourth DCA has affirmed Michele Towbin-Singer's dismissal of Trafficking charges in conjunction with valid multiple prescriptions ("Doctor Shopping").Here's the link: Knipp v...

TUESDAY BONUS

Posted on December 21, 2010
 DCF's Charles HarperThe Courthouse is winding down for the Holiday weekend, but a few things are going on ...Just in time for Christmas - John Bowman might have gotten more than he bargained for when he agreed to take in a foster child not so long ago...

SCANDAL OR S.O.P.?

Posted on December 19, 2010
Attorney Andy Coffey sent in the following last week:I wanted to let you all know about a situation that occurred the other day in county court.  I bring this situation to everyone?s attention because I don?t know if it is an isolated incident or if it happens more often than we think...

SUNDAY NOTES

Posted on December 19, 2010
"Don't ask, don't tell" has been repealed in Broward courts as well.  From now on judges and lawyers are free to ask why the vast majority of everyone in custody or out on felony bond is Black, and to tell Satz to do something about it.  To ask why Broward incarcerates non-violent minorities at twice the rate of neighboring counties, and to tell Satz you don't want to be part of it any longer...

LEAVE IT AT HOME

Posted on December 16, 2010
Attorney Stewart Valencia is the latest in a long line of attorneys (including prosecutors) to forget to leave his gun in the car.  He just got popped at the metal detector on the third floor courthouse entrance, for allegedly having a 9MM in his briefcase...

THURSDAY NOTES

Posted on December 16, 2010
You snooze, you lose (formerly Great Balls of Fire!) - we mentioned this one yesterday, but didn't figure it would get picked up.  Oh well, enjoy the PC Affidavit, which neither The Herald or The Sentinel posted.Coffee Talk: DEPOTEK - here are the letters from the SAO's Chuck Morton, and the Public Defender's response by Diane Cuddihy...

BAD DAY FOR BSO

Posted on December 16, 2010
All hell is breaking loose down at First Appearances Court.  We're told a bunch of BSO jail deputies are about to be magistrated on charges involving illegal pill distribution to inmates.  It's supposedly a pretty big deal.  The mainstream media should be all over it, so stay tuned to learn about the latest egregious hypocrisy involving Satz's ridiculously failed War on Drugs...

WEDNESDAY NOTES

Posted on December 15, 2010
Florida Bar calling - rumor has it Bar investigators have been meeting with witnesses regarding Gardiner & Scheinberg.  The timing is suspect, following reports of major Bar inactivity on this blog, but the witnesses we've heard about aren't the usual suspects, which means the Bar may be zeroing in ...

WEDNESDAY BONUS

Posted on December 15, 2010
Holiday Vacation Schedules - BACKMAN, PAUL L.  Monday, December 20 through Friday, December 31st; BEACH, MARCIA  12/23/10-12/31/10; BIDWILL, MARTIN J. TBA; BOBER, BERNARD I.  Monday, December 20 through Friday, December 31st; DESTRY, MATTHEW I...

TUESDAY NOTES

Posted on December 13, 2010
SAO Treasure Hunt - ever wonder why the SAO makes it so damn hard for an alleged victim to sign a waiver of prosecution?  They seemingly do everything they can to deter victims from dropping the charges, even though their wishes are typically ignored anyway...

MONDAY NOTES

Posted on December 12, 2010
Chief Judge Carlos Rodriguez? - that's right, someone from the Rodriguez group has confirmed he's close to announcing his candidacy for Chief Judge.  Will the Crist contingent support Rodriguez, and do they have the votes to win?  Stay tuned ...

GM APPLICANTS

Posted on December 09, 2010
The following have applied to be the next General Magistrate/Master:1.) Jeremy Apisdorf; 2.) Olga Baken; 3.) Karen Black-Barron; 4.) Pamela Burdick; 5.) Christopher Buttermore; 6.) Jayme Cassidy; 7.) Woody Clermont; 8.) Jean Costa; 9.) Elizabeth Daugherty; 10...

JAABWALK (CHIP! EDITION)

Posted on December 09, 2010
Started: 1:32 PMEnded: 1:51 PMIn Use: 18Empty: 18Of the thirty-six courtrooms checked in the old courthouse scheduled for demolition, eighteen were locked down for the day.  Courtrooms set for 2:00 PM dockets were included as "in use".  Most of the emptys belong to the civil division judges, not surprisingly the same judges who seem to have all the time in the world for new courthouse politicking...

COURTHOUSE LOSS

Posted on December 09, 2010
Joseph A. Varon passed away on December 7th.  The "Silver Fox" was in his nineties.Old timers and history buffs will tell you Joe was the finest criminal defense attorney of his time in South Florida.  His exploits and client list, including Meyer Lansky and all the highest profile homicide cases, were legendary...

THURSDAY NOTES

Posted on December 02, 2010
DO IT AGAIN! - Stephen Olenchak, former Davie cop, was cleared of the most serious count of sexual battery by a jury today, after six hours of deliberations.  They came back guilty on the second count (digital penetration), carrying a max of fifteen years...

COURTHOUSE LOSS

Posted on December 02, 2010
Ian Richards announced Cheryl Aleman's passing in open court around 11:30 AM.  She apparently died last night, surrounded by family.Funeral details to follow. Howard Finkelstein writes:"While I disagreed with Judge Aleman on most every legal issue, I always had great respect for her personally...

THOUGHTS & PRAYERS

Posted on December 02, 2010
Please take a moment to reflect and pray for Cheryl Aleman and her family.  She's in hospice, bravely struggling with the last stages of lung cancer.Judge Aleman was always a controversial figure.  One thing everyone will agree on, however, is that she's no quitter...

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