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Wednesday, July 13, 2016

BREAKING NEWS ... JUDGE JACQUELINE SCHWARTZ RESIGNS ....

UPDATE: THE BEST FU EVER



Everything in life comes down to the Odd Couple. 
THE CAPTAIN REPORTS:

BREAKING NEWS ..... JUDGE JACQUELINE SCHWARTZ HAS RESIGNED* .....

In a surprising move, Miami-Dade County Court Judge Jacqueline Schwartz informed Governor Scott that she is resigning from the bench.  Rather than face continued scrutiny by the Florida Supreme Court, and an ongoing investigation by the JQC, which is in the midst of its inquiry into her most recent actions while on, and off, the bench, Schwartz chose to end the case, and her judicial career.

Judge Schwartz had a colorful history while serving on the bench in Miami-Dade County.

Schwartz became an attorney in 1992 and joined Yale Galanter's law firm as an associate.  After spending two years there, she broke out on her own for the next eight years.

In 2002 she announced for Group 19 of the County Court.  Her opponent, Eric Hendon.  In the September 2002 primary, she defeated Hendon 121,453 - 115,568.  She then ran, unopposed, for reelection in 2008.

In 2014, Schwartz drew two opponents: Frank Bocanegra and Rachel Dooley.  Schwartz garnered over 49% of the vote in the primary but Bocanegra forced her into a runoff.  In the runoff, Schwartz retained her seat by a 58% - 42% margin.

It was on election night 2014, November 4th, that the proverbial sh-t began to hit the fan.  On that night, her campaign manager  provided a statement to a Herald reporter, on behalf of Judge Schwartz, which stated:

 ..... that the voters seemed to have "gone past the days when any nondescript Hispanic could go on the ballot and defeat any Anglo sitting judge" .....

The statement was not well received.

Schwartz began her apology tour by issuing the following statement:

"I fully understand my comments could readily been seen as offensive to the community, something I never intended and that pains me greatly... I should have never issued the post-election statement that has, understandably, caused so much concern. I retract the statement completely"

Schwartz also appeared before the CABA Board of Directors to personally apologize for her comments.

Her problems didn't end there.  They actually began several months earlier in June of 2014.  You see, it was during that hotly contested 2014 campaign against Bocanegra and Dooley that Schwartz noticed a oversized campaign sign outside a Kwik Stop store in Miami.  Schwartz, not particularly caring for the fact that the Kwik Stop decided to support her opponent, went inside the store and confronted the store's owner.   Schwartz got into an argument with the owner, Firas Hussain, and eventually told him to "Go F--k yourself" and then threatened to sue him.

After the election, in February of 2015, the JQC filed formal charges against Schwartz for her conduct at the Kwik Stop store.  Schwartz and her attorney reached an agreement with the JQC whereby she would issue a written apology and be publicly reprimanded before the Florida Supreme Court.

But, the Florida Supreme Court rejected that resolution.  Finally, in April of 2015, Schwartz agreed to not only issuing the formal letter of apology, and the public reprimand, but also to a 30 day suspension and a fine of $10,000.  The public reprimand took place on December 9, 2015.  It didn't take long for Schwartz to step out of line yet again.

On March 18, 2016, at the Ergon Greek Restaurant, Schwartz was “acting in an irrational and disorderly manner,” slurring and spilling wine, according to a report. Miami paramedics and police were called to the scene and she told them they “couldn’t do anything” to her because she is a judge.  She continued her tirade:  “You are a f---ing idiot, you don’t know who I am,” she yelled at a waiter after she was refused more alcohol, according to a state investigative report.  The report also quoted the judge calling police officers “pigs” when they were summoned to the restaurant to investigate.

Ten days later, on March 28th, while sitting on the bench, according to a JQC Report on the matter:

“Court personnel, litigants and police officers waiting to testify observed that you were unsteady on your feet, slurring your words and unable to concentrate,”.  Chief Judge Bertila Soto ordered she go home. Schwartz insisted she could drive herself, but her bailiff ultimately took her. The investigation revealed that she could not remember her own address.

The JQC opened their newest investigation into Judge Schwartz' latest antics on April 18th, issuing new formal charges.  The following day, on April 19th, the Florida Supreme Court issued an emergency Order that stated, in part: 

"Judge Jacqueline Schwartz is hereby immediately suspended from office with pay pending disposition of this proceeding. The parties shall file simultaneous responses as to why Judge Schwartz should not be suspended without pay pending disposition of this proceeding"

On June 30, 2016, the Florida Supreme Court issued a new ruling, stating:

"Having considered the parties' responses and the applicable law, the suspension of Judge Schwartz shall remain with pay pending disposition of this proceeding".

Surprisingly, Schwartz chose to resign rather than continue her battle to retain her job.  She was represented throughout the JQC proceedings by attorney Jeffrey Feiler.

So, now, the JNC will begin the process of accepting applications, interviewing attorneys, and sending names up to Governor Scott who will eventually name her replacement.

*The resignation is effective as of July 31, 2016.

CAPTAIN OUT .....
Captain4Justice@gmail.com





Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article72521987.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article72521987.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article72521987.html#storylink=cpy

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

A mediocre judge steps down. Big deal. Had Mediocre competition. With judges salaries being "relatively" low for govt work compared to accomplished private lawyers, who will fill her shoes? I understand the big name guys/gals don't want a pay cut, but someone esteeme needs to throw their hat In to fill the position. Six years of easy Peasy work w a resptable pension isn't bad

Anonymous said...

Interesting quote from Rudy Giuliani. Read the entire story in the paper today

"I believe I saved a lot more black lives than Black Lives Matter. I don’t see what Black Lives Matter is doing for blacks other than isolating them. All it cares about is the police shooting of blacks. It doesn’t care about the 90 percent of blacks that are killed by the blacks. That is a simple fact."

By the way, no one cares about wacky jacky

Anonymous said...

Can ypu say Judge Bocanegra ?

Anonymous said...

Good riddance

Anonymous said...

"Dear Governor Scott.
It's been an f'ing honor to be an f'ing judge for this f'ing state. But now I've had enough f'ing trouble to last a life time. I f'ing quit. FU.

Jackie S

Anonymous said...

Tel Judge Bloch that a nondescript Hispanic can't beat an Anglo Judge. He is taking 6 weeks off ( July 15- Sept 1 ) to campaign to try and save his job.

Anonymous said...

She should move outta town. Talk about having baggage.

Anonymous said...

With such "great ethics " that she surely learned from Galenter I am shocked about her actions.

Anonymous said...

Interesting how if you go to the bar's website, under "10-year discipline history," nothing appears. Wasn't she reprimanded in 2015 and/or 2016? Why hasn't this information been published?

Anonymous said...

10:45...seriously? That's an outrage

Anonymous said...

Good f'img bye. And FU while Im at it

Anonymous said...

To 1.46 pm: The bar's website only shows "lawyer discipline." J. Schwartz was previously disciplined as a judge, not as a lawyer. But who knows if, despite the resignation, she faces Bar discipline as well? Former Judge Laura Watson now faces Bar discipline, despite having been removed from the bench. That does not always happen, but I suspect that Jackie Schwartz's behavior will lead to at least probation with a requirement that she attend abstinence meetings (AA, NA or others), and FLA (Florida Lawyers' Assistance, a separate entity which helps lawyers with drug/alcohol problems, which she certainly has).

Anonymous said...

Rumpole. This story is not in the Miami Herald and no mention in the Daily Business Review. Curious as to how you got the jump on this before either of those reputable newspapers?
Do you Have confirmation of this?

CAPTAIN JUSTICE said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

She had no credentials, no class , no sense, no honor and no business being on the bench.

Anonymous said...

Bloch is done. He could take 56 weeks off to campaign. I dont care how many hands he shakes in Hialeah. Del Rey has campaign materials plastered all over the place. Pretty face, good last name and TONS of money. The war chest looks like one for a mayoral candidate, not a judicial candidate. Bloch may have support of the local bar, but this isn't a bar poll. I do family work, but have never met her, so I dont know what kind of judge she would be.

Im no fan of Lombana's, but I dont think he is influencing this election beyond what group she picked.

Anonymous said...

In a statement her own campaign Tweeted out as her marquee comment, Clinton declared: “Let’s be clear: Islam is not our adversary. Muslims are peaceful and tolerant people and have nothing whatsoever to do with terrorism.”

This POS is actually projected to lead our country. Stop drinking the kool aid kids, don't let her into the White House

Anonymous said...

Bloch is Blah... Back to the City Attorneys Office.

CAPTAIN JUSTICE said...


The Captain Reports:

MIAMI - The Eleventh Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission has been asked to provide Governor Rick Scott with nominees for the vacancy in the Miami-Dade County Court resulting from the resignation of Judge Jacqueline Schwartz.

The Commission requests that interested candidates submit an application for consideration. Applicants must meet the qualifications for county court judges described in Article V, Section 8 of the Florida Constitution and Section 34.021 of the Florida Statutes.

Candidates must deliver a complete application and ten copies by Wednesday, August 3, 2016, at 5:00 p.m. Any application delivered after the deadline will not be considered. The application and copies should be delivered to:

Daniel Fridman
White & Case LLP
Southeast Financial Center
200 South Biscayne Blvd., Suite 4900
Miami, Florida 33131

In addition to the hard copies, please e-mail a PDF version of the application to the Chair with personal information not subject to public disclosure-such as the social security number-redacted as permitted by Section 119.071 of the Florida Statutes.

Applications may be downloaded from the Florida Bar's website at www.flabar.org and the Office of the Governor at www.flgov.com. Applicants should include a recent photograph

NOTE TO APPLICANTS: In order to assist the Judicial Nominating Commission in its review of the applications, all questions must be fully and completely answered. Applications must include current contact information, including e-mail addresses, for judges, co-counsel, opposing counsel, and references to facilitate the background investigation that will be conducted by the members of the Commission.

Members of the bench, the Bar, and the public are encouraged to contact the members of the Commission concerning applicants for judicial positions.

CAPTAIN JUSTICE said...


The Captain Reports:

ELEVENTH CIRCUIT JUDICIAL NOMINATING COMMISSION MEMBERS
Daniel Fridman (Chair)

White & Case LLP
Southeast Financial Center
200 South Biscayne Boulevard, Suite 4900
Miami, FL 33131
Tel.: 305-995-5265
daniel.fridman@whitecase.com

Christine Hernandez-Baldwin
Office of the State Attorney, 11th Judicial Circuit
1350 NW 12th Avenue
Miami, FL 33136
Tel.: 305-547-0100
Fax: 305-547-0313
ChristineHernandez-Baldwin@Miamisao.com

Daniel W. Schwartz (Vice-Chair)
Akerman LLP
Three Brickell City Centre
98 Southeast 7th Street
Miami, FL 33131
Tel.: 305-374-5600
daniel.schwartz@akerman.com

Melanie Damian
Damian & Valori, LLP
1000 Brickell Avenue, Suite 1020
Miami, FL 33131-3014
Tel.: 305-371-3960
Fax: 305-371-3965
mdamian@dvllp.com

Paul Huck, Jr.
Jones Day
600 Brickell Avenue
Brickell World Plaza, Suite 3300
Miami, FL 33131
Tel.: 305-714-9700
Fax: 305-714-9799
paulhuck@jonesday.com

Hans Ottinot
City Attorney's Office for
the City of Sunny Isles Beach
18070 Collins Avenue
Sunny Isles Beach, FL 33160
Tel.: 305-792-1765
Fax: 305-792-1562
hottinot@sibfl.net

Robert H. Fernandez
Zumpano Castro
500 So. Dixie Highway, Suite 302
Coral Gables, FL 33146
Tel.: 305-503-2990 Ext. 8003
Fax: 305-774-5908
Robert.Fernandez@ZumpanoCastro.com

Robert R. Pardo
Robert R. Pardo, P.A.
7700 N. Kendall Drive, Suite 512
Miami, FL 33156
Tel.: 305-596-7794
Fax: 305-596-5854
RPardo@Pardolaw.com

Luis E. Suarez
Boies Schiller & Flexner
100 S.E. 2nd Street
Suite 2800
Miami, FL 33131
Tel.: 305-539-8400
Fax: 305-539-1307
lsuarez@bsfllp.com


Anonymous said...

Schwartz is typical of the poor judges we have on our bench. Most of them cannot make a living in private practice and could not try a case to a jury. That's why they are on the public teet. And it is not getting any better. Garbage in garbage out. Out with Schwartz.

Anonymous said...

WORST JUDGE EVER TO TAKE THE BENCH.

SHE SHOULD BE DISBARRED!