Will that pot citation send judge's career up in smoke?

Michael Mayo
Sun Sentinel News Columnist
March 25, 2007

It's official. The Broward County Courthouse is the zaniest place in the state. Forget sensitivity training. These people need common-sense training. Enter at your own peril: In the past two years, judges have sent a juror, a defense lawyer and a court stenographer to jail for contempt.

Last month, we saw Chief Judge Dale Ross turn into a bad comedian on the magistrate's bench and Circuit Judge Larry Seidlin turn into a meandering, blubbering mess during the Anna Nicole Smith circus.

If February was Abbott & Costello month, with Seidlin's ramblings the probate version of "Who's on First?," March has been Cheech & Chong month.

Circuit Judge Lawrence Korda, 59, better known as the sane one during the Anna Nicole Smith madness, might have sent his career up in smoke last weekend when Hollywood police cited him for allegedly smoking a marijuana cigarette in a park.

"Would you do me a favor and reload this?" Korda asked his judicial assistant on Thursday, handing her a cup during a divorce proceeding in his chambers.

Uh, reload?

Visions of pipes, bongs and the Langerado Festival danced in my head.

"Be nice to me," Korda said during a break, when I asked about his case.

Dude, I'll hook you up. I don't know Korda, but I think I like him. He seems a flesh-and-blood human being, not an unfeeling robot. That means warts. That means mistakes. He landed in hot water last year for berating a woman who couldn't speak English, but Korda's friends say he is a nice guy and a strong advocate for children. He also has a sense of humor.

Last month, after I wrote about Ross' ill-advised comments in magistrate court, Korda sent all Broward judges an e-mail: "Who does Ross think he is? Me?"

Ross, referring to Korda's anti-Spanish remarks that led to sensitivity training sessions for courthouse employees, responded: "Larry, got your email, we both messed up and we shouldn't be making light of the fact."

Korda shot back: "Dale, I don't think you said anything wrong!! I question the loss of humor at the expense of the p.c. police whether they are writers or (public defenders). Who got hurt? Tell the bozo's to lighten up!"

Or light up, as the case may be. I don't know if a few puffs on a joint should ruin a 29-year-career, but Korda has put himself and the people around him in a tough spot. As a family court judge, he decides on custody and visitation rights. Drug use is a factor he considers in determining parental fitness.

Now people will wonder what gives him the right to judge.

"Judges are held to a very high standard, and they should be," Korda said Thursday, apparently no pun intended.

As we spoke in his chambers, a session of misdemeanor drug court was under way five floors below. The court, administered by County Judge Gisele Pollack, offers a compassionate way of dealing with our irrational drug war.

It gives first-time misdemeanor drug offenders a chance to wipe their records clean if they go through treatment and testing. It allows them to go on with their lives and not lose their driver's licenses and the chance at student loans and certain jobs.

In the latest session, participants included a barber, a nurse and a 19-year-old about to enlist in the Marines. Many were caught with marijuana or drug paraphernalia while driving, bicycling or loitering. Most were men in their 20s; the oldest was 61. There were a few women.

"I spent a night in jail, and I didn't like it," said Jerome Gifford, 22, a barber from Fort Lauderdale. "So I'm going to do the program."

He was arrested last October and is halfway through the program. He has tested drug-free. Somewhat incongruously, he wore a necklace with a photo of reggae star Bob Marley smoking a joint to his most recent court appearance. Gifford said he is Rastafarian and proud of it. Although he wonders if pot is any worse than alcohol, he said, "I have to follow the law."

It would be nice if judges did too. The Broward bench needs to straighten up. Pun intended.

Michael Mayo can be reached at mmayo@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4508.