JUSTICE BUILDING BLOG

WELCOME TO THE OFFICIAL RICHARD E GERSTEIN JUSTICE BUILDING BLOG. THIS BLOG IS DEDICATED TO JUSTICE BUILDING RUMOR, HUMOR, AND A DISCUSSION ABOUT AND BETWEEN THE JUDGES, LAWYERS AND THE DEDICATED SUPPORT STAFF, CLERKS, COURT REPORTERS, AND CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS WHO LABOR IN THE WORLD OF MIAMI'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE. POST YOUR COMMENTS, OR SEND RUMPOLE A PRIVATE EMAIL AT HOWARDROARK21@GMAIL.COM. Winner of the prestigious Cushing Left Anterior Descending Artery Award.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

A ROSE BY ANY OTHER NAME

It seems that Broward Judicial Candidate Mardi Anne Levey a/k/a Mardi Levet Cohen has found much to her chagrin "tis but thy name that is my enemy."
The title links to Judge Dijols's  response to Levey/Cohen's request for an injunction. The response was filed with the 4th DCA and it is a powerful blast against Levey/Cohen's name games. It appears that by virtue of any indicator- driver's license; bar card; w-2 forms from her employment as a prosecutor; her firm's web site;  the candidate was known as "Mardi Levey Cohen." But having run under than name for Judge and having been soundly beaten, once burned-twice shy. 
Thus, despite all the evidence to the contrary, Mardi Levey Cohen became "Mardi Anne Levey" for the purposes of the ballot in Broward.

It's a powerful argument advanced by Judge Dijols and his counsel (Bruce Rogow and William Scherer) and one which makes any reader cringe with the sad knowledge that Judicial campaigns are "name games" and Cohen/Levey  (or is it  Levey/Cohen) was playing this one to win at any price. 

One nice tidbit is that apparently at the hearing before Judge Feder Levey/Cohen admitted she had not decided on what name she would use if she was elected Judge. 

The matter is now in the hands of the 4th DCA, where any good election north of the border belongs.  We provide them with words from our beloved Bard...."Three judicial candidates, all alike in their undignity in fair Broward where we lay our scene. From ancient grudge brings new mutiny, where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. From forth the fatal loins of these three foes, a trio of star-crossed candidates do damage their professional life. Whole misadventured piteous overthrows doth with their election suits bury the public's choice."


Tis but thy name that is my enemy;
      Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.
      What's Montague? it is nor hand, nor foot,
      Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part
      Belonging to a man. O, be some other name!
      What's in a name? that which we call a rose
      By any other name would smell as sweet;
      So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd,
      Retain that dear perfection which he owes
      Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name,
      And for that name which is no part of thee
      Take all myself.


4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Rumpus, i understand that you have a point of view regarding the Dijols dispute, but don't you think you are being a little unfair in your rhetoric, and more importantly, in your failure to include a link to the Petitioner's submission to the Fourth?

Mardi Levey Cohen may have used some bad judgment in her decision to drop her married name, but dropping a last name with out changing the ethnic or gender characteristics of the name seems a lot less insidious than what others have done here in Miami.

Whatever mistakes Levey Cohen made, the voters of Broward declined to vote for Judge Dijols, and his efforts to undue their will seem like serious sour grapes.

Anonymous said...

Kudos to Uncle Miltie Hirsch yesterday for his FACDL lecture on DNA- otherwise known as "Story time with Uncle Miltie."

Also great job to Rick Freedman who is using his year as president to cram in as many lectures and cle credits as possible. Send a check for 15 bucks. SHow up and get your check back and a free lunch. The Sandwiches were good, the cookies and brownies were great!!!!

Anonymous said...

11:50, the broward voters didnt "decline to vote for Judge Dijols," nor did they vote for Mardi Levey Cohen, they voted for a liar who used a jewish name she's never used alone to charm the hundreds of bussed in nice old people from century village.

Bad judgment from someone running for judge is a perfect reason to remove her from the ballot

She should not only be kicked off the ballot, she should be reprimanded by the Bar.

Anonymous said...

9:20, are you serious? Since when is Levey more "Jewish" than Cohen? Old Jews would be charmed either way, only racists and losers would be offended. It looks like the 4th DCA agrees.