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.

Friday, April 13, 2012

FALL FROM GRACE

Jury selection in USA v. John Edwards began on Thursday. The NY Times coverage is here. 

Has there been a more stunning fall from grace than that of John Edwards? He was a vice presidential nominee  for the democratic party when John Kerry beat lost to George Bush in 2004.  He was considered a leading contender in the 2008 presidential race in the democratic primaries. And then his affair was exposed. And as that sordid episode played out on the national stage, his wife Elizabeth  became sick and died.  Now John Edwards will sit in a courtroom and be prosecuted for his lies and his deceit and the campaign laws he is alleged to have violated. There is something tragic about all of this. 


Forgot- but an alert reader reminded us in the comments section: Happy Friday the 13th! 

The George Zimmerman case continues to generate a lot of interest across the country and on this humble blog. There is now a cottage industry of Florida defense attorneys vying to get on television news shows to comment on the case. Of course we have been approached but our answer was easy.  Under no circumstances will we appear on some cheap and tawdry television show and allow ourselves to be revealed in such a pedestrian manner. However a nice radio spot on the BBC would be something we would consider. 

After months of serious negotiations with DOM a deal was stuck and Mr. Markus removed the spam filter from the comments section of his popular blog. That means you can post a comment in moments, rather than the 10-20 minutes it usually took as you tried to decipher those ridiculous letters over and over again until the system kicked you off. Thanks David.  The current topic over there is a big medicare fraud trial. 



14 Days until the NFL draft!  And will we hear these words? "We have a trade. The Miami dolphins and Cleveland Browns have traded spots and Cleveland also gets Miami's second round this year and first round next year. With the 4th pick in the 2012 draft the Miami Dolphins select Ira Schmidlap...punter...West Saskatchewan College...." 



Fun non-legal facts: because you have to have something to talk about on a date other than: "I had this case and you'll never believe what the (client...judge...prosecutor....did/said).blah blah blah.....

The name emerald comes from the Greek 'smaragdos' via the Old French 'esmeralde', and really just means 'green gemstone'.  The Incas and Aztecs of South America regarded the emerald as a holy gemstone. 

Sometimes you find gems in the most unlikely of places. 

Enjoy this beautiful spring weekend. 


19 comments:

Know it - poet said...

Zimmerman needs the Q. Nothing else will do.

Anonymous said...

Thought the word of the day today would be obvious:


triscadecaphobia

Anonymous said...

Rumpole, you don't talk about emeralds, or any other gems specially diamonds, on a date until you are ready to commit and propose.

Anonymous said...

The fall from grace wasn't really that fast or far. If you scratch the surface of most politicians, you will find the same thing.

I guess the moral of this story is don't make a sex tape with anyone but yourself, and certainly do not tell anyone else about it.

CAPTAIN JUSTICE said...

The Captain Reports:

That was actually me Rump, on the fear of the number 13. I forgot to log in. Fear, what fear. I just walked under a ladder ten minutes ago as a black cat crossed my path.

I think I'll play the lottery tonight.

By the way, did you see where CABA has pulled out of their sponsorship of the Lawyers Appreciation Night at the Marlins ballpark next week. David Rothman does a great job with that event. Apparently, DCBA and FACDL and FAWL and BCBA are still maintaining their sponsorships, but CABA President Vivian de las Cuevas-Diaz said CABA "does not feel at this time that it is appropriate to remain involved as a co-sponsor" of the event. (TY Julie Kay and DBR).(And thank you to Marlins Manager Guillen for opening your mouth in the first place!)

Have a great weekend. Another day in paradise in the Magic City.

Cap Out .....

Anonymous said...

I do not blame CABA one bit.

As a gringo, I can see why they are upset and that stupid idiot manager needs to be sent to a gringo city now.

Anonymous said...

one week and counting until filing deadline--some incumbents will be in for a last minute surprise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CAPTAIN JUSTICE said...

THE CAPTAIN REPORTS:

NORTH OF THE BORDER .....

I see that attorney Michael "Mickey" Rocque made it official today and has filed to run for an open Circuit Court seat in Broward County. He will be running against ASA and State Legislative member Ari Porth.

Anyone that has appeared North of the Border knows Mickey - HELLO MICKEY. I SAID HELLO (Loudly, and with a smile on his face, and with candy in his hand as he moves from courtroom to courtroom greeting everyone in his path). Mickey has a big heart!

Good luck to Mr. Rocque.

Cap Out .....

Anonymous said...

The dade defense bar should really help Mickey Rocque for the Broward Circuit seat. Mickey is a highly competent lawyer, one heck of a nice guy, and would be a breath of fresh air on the Broward Judiciary. This is a race that he can win with the help of all of us.

Anonymous said...

Mickey has a big heart but, does not come off as very professional.

Nice guy but, rather strange the way he talks.

Anonymous said...

9:06 am, your comment sounds like "obvious" is the word of the day LOL

Anonymous said...

I hope Porth wins. He's not the steroetypical Broward ASA (not that I think the stereotype is fair since everyone should be judged on their own merits and I know plenty of good/fair Broward prosecutors. I'm just saying that he's not what some may expect based on his current place of employment).

Ari's a straight shooter who has spent the last few years trying to pass legislation that would allow offenders to swap some prison time for treatment/supervision. He's a progressive who understands that rehabilitation enhances public safety.

BTDT

Anonymous said...

A more stunning fall from grace? I could name at least a hundred. But for the category of vp's or vp candidates, no one can top Aaron Burr. Former vp was shot and killed by Alexander Hamilton in a duel. It is almost the equivalent of Hillary Clinton going Mano a Mano with Dick Cheney in an NRA sponsored shoot out.

Anonymous ASA said...

Mickey Rocque was great in The Wrestler - not so much in Iron Man 2.

Anonymous said...

10:10...It was the other way around. Aaron Burr killed Alexander Hamilton. After he killed Hamilton, Burr eventually returned to complete his term as Vice President.

Anonymous said...

Mickey's best work was in The Pope of Greenwich Village.

Anonymous said...

Tom Eagleton, McGovern's VP choice dropped off the ticket when his shock treatments came out. Oops. That's pretty bad.

DS said...

Spiro AGnew was indicted resigned and convicted
DS

Anonymous said...

Congrats to Richard Baron for winning a difficult case in a Florida Bar Disciplinary matter. a grievance committee found probable cause against his client. Later, Richard requested a re-hearing. A live hearing was conducted. Additional testimony and evidence were taken. Richard convinced the committee to find no probable cause against his client.