JAABWATCH (24 Empty Courtrooms)
I wanted to check to see how many courtrooms were in use. I want to make it clear that I wasn't checking on judges or their work habits, as I know judges work just as hard in chambers as they do in court. I simply wanted to see if our courtrooms are being managed efficiently, in light of the recent claims by Judge Gardiner and others before the County Commission that we need a new courthouse because there are no courtrooms available.
Here are the results:
1040: EMPTY (locked) 7750: IN USE
1050: IN USE 7780: EMPTY (locked)
1070: IN USE 7810: IN USE
1060: EMPTY (locked) 7840: IN USE
995: LOCKED TO PUBLIC (In Use for Non-Public function) 7870: IN USE
990: EMPTY (locked) 7900: JUDGE LEFT BENCH 3:00
985: EMPTY (locked) 6900: EMPTY (locked)
940: IN USE 6870: IN USE
950: JUDGE LEAVING BENCH AT 2:45 6840: IN USE
970: IN USE 6810: IN USE
960: IN USE 6780: EMPTY (locked)
850: EMPTY (locked) 6750: IN USE
840: EMPTY (locked) 5750: IN USE
860: EMPTY (locked) 5780: EMPTY (locked)
870: IN USE 5810: IN USE
775: EMPTY (locked) 5840: EMPTY (locked)
770: IN USE 5870: IN USE
562: (SAO COURTROOM): EMPTY 5900: IN USE
500: IN USE 4900: EMPTY (locked)
510: EMPTY (locked) 4870: IN USE
518: EMPTY (locked) 4840: IN USE
519: EMPTY (locked) 4810: IN USE
540: JUDGE LEFT BENCH 3:00 4780: IN USE
417: EMPTY (locked) 4750: EMPTY (locked)
415: IN USE
418: EMPTY (locked)
416: EMPTY (locked)
400: EMPTY (unlocked)
465: EMPTY (locked)
353: IN USE
347: EMPTY (locked)
345: IN USE
336: IN USE
344: IN USE
343: IN USE
354: IN USE
59 Public Courtrooms (The SAO Courtroom not included):
31 IN USE BETWEEN 2:45 and 3:17
4 CONCLUDED BUSINESS BETWEEN 2:45 AND 3:17
24 EMPTY COURTROOMS
By my admittedly poor math, nearly half the courtrooms were empty on a Thursday afternoon. I'm sure that the 3 Satellite Courthouses also boast empty courtrooms on the average afternoon as well.
Here's what Judge Gardiner told the County Commission yesterday (according to both local newspapers):
"We have run out of courtrooms," said Circuit Judge Ana Gardiner, who heads the criminal division. "There is not one spare courtroom. We don't even have closets." (Sentinel)
''We do not have one spare courtroom,'' said Circuit Judge Ana Gardiner, the chief judge of the criminal division. ``We don't even have closets.'' (Herald)
So what gives? Is politics at play, or is the system so broken that even the Chief Administrative Judge for Criminal can't have empty courtrooms put at her disposal to move cases? Can't our judges pull together and work together, or is there an ongoing judicial turf war at play behind the scenes?
I just hope the taxpayers don't get soaked due to Iraq style flawed intelligence, when the money can be used for badly needed rehabilitation, diversion, and mental health services that would preclude the need for more jails, police, and judges.
Bill Gelin
P.S.: If parking is the real problem, why not just build a new parking structure?
If you don't think we need a new courthouse, can you at least agree that the civil side needs a MAJOR facelift? And the elevators....they're so old that replacement parts need to be made to specially fit the ancient mechanics that allow them to operate.
since most of the jails are up in Pompano area, why not build a cthouse for criminal cases up there?
No longer the transportation of inmates to downtown (+ the high insurance costs and risks of putting these people on I-95!). The North wing could be used for civil.
Ignore the dozen or so judges who complain and just do it!
Dear Bill - Which client should I bill your afternoon's "work" to?
great response....gellin probably got lost on the old side of the ch. its easy to say everything is great when you practice is the newest building all the time. as usual bill fails to see that there are others in the courthouse besides defendants and defense attorneys
I wish we could have a bond referendum on the ballot for the voters to decide whether to have a new courthouse or use the money for rehab, diversion and mental health services for criminals. we would have a new courthouse real quick then.
you always say palm beach is so much more evolved then here no one complained when they built a nice new courthouse and the one they tore down was newer then the old side of our ch
I wonder how many Mr, Miss, and Mrs Anonymous' will be at the Satz fundraiser with checks in hand and then hide at their computer and say how bad he is?
Courtroom 347 closed? Thats the small claims courtroom. Hmmmmm
WOW Bill very scientific. Surprised no one had such a great idea before. Your dilligent efforts have clearly established that Judge Gardiner is behind the elaborate conspiracy to keep the drug abusing residents of Broward either in jail or at least in a better courthouse. Well done.
Ha Ha!
The same reason each division is sitting on average 1,300 cases that need to be heard. No one is working full time. Vote these slackers off the bench.
amazing what people will say and do to get what they (or their masters) want.
"If you don't think we need a new courthouse, can you at least agree that the civil side needs a MAJOR facelift? And the elevators....they're so old that replacement parts need to be made to specially fit the ancient mechanics that allow them to operate."
We probably do need a new courthouse. But why would people in postions of trust and honor stoop to, uh, misstatements, to get it done?
yes let's move some criminal cases to the 10th floor old wing and let's see how fast help me howie cries that going all the way over there is too much of a burden for his pd and as such prejudicial aginst defendants
Cyberblob is BACK. i hope they're giving you something for saying these things. don't YOU have work to do?!?!?
who is the servant that says anything on behalf of a master whoever that may be?
"Hello darkness, my old friend,
Ive come to talk with you again,
Because a vision softly creeping,
Left its seeds while I was sleeping,
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence."
who is cyberblob..is that the only person you can blame when bill is made to look foolish?
cyberblob is probably at satz fundraiser paying homage to the past
he knows who he is.
Who cares about the rooms. How many closets are there??????? I have 10 new Versacci robes to hang!
The 4th seems to correct Queen Ana a lot too......
The trouble is that judges think the courtrooms are extensions of their offices. They don't want anyone messing with their stuff.
Natural feelings, but outmoded for modern Broward. They should share the rooms, and benefit the community.
Call Skip Campbell. SOS, Skip, SOS
Interesting you post this information today. I too had work on the old side of the courthouse this afternoon @ 2:30 P.M. Nothing had seemed to go right with the subpoenas so I walked the halls of only the 8th, 9th and 10th floors. The number of vacant courtrooms was indeed surprising and although I did not note the courtroom numbers, it did dawn on me that more than half were empty which gave me pause for thought. It was just by habit that I then did my late afternoon reading of what has become one of my favorite pastimes, to read this blog both for its informational and entertainment value. I thought how strange that what I had just witnessed had been witnessed as well by another attorney with business there today. I then wondered what the odds were with respect to the many others that might have noticed the same thing. Interesting as well that we have a new chief of criminal judge that is quoted saying what she did. I have been of the opinion, coming from the Northeast, that this courthouse was in fact dysfunctional in many respects, particularly reading what I've read about the judges here the past year, but is it so dysfunctional that Judge Gardiner with her new duties could be so unaware of the situation as it actually exists that she would make such a statement without first checking the schedules of the judges under her supervision? I might say additionally that I had noticed this strange phenomena before but not noted it mentally untill I read Judge Gardiner's comments in the Herald. I felt strangely compelled to share this observation with other posters on this site for what its worth.
Devil's advocate: Although I don't know what Judge Gardner is referring to, I still believe that getting a case to trial in Broward is not a problem. (I have complained here about many other things). If you want your case on a fast docket (civil or criminal) it will move faster than in Dade County or Palm Beach County. Your judge will find a judge and a courtroom for you if you really want to go to trial. If courtrooms are empty in the afternoons, is it because 90% of the cases have been continued or resolved (due, in part, to judges moving their cases and the certainty that you will go if the case is not resolved). Can't fault the judges for that. There are only a few judges with backloads which are their doing. Also, if you are going to count when a judge leaves the bench ... are you also counting the many who arrive before the rest of us?? Say at 7:00 or 7:30? Are you also counting those who are in chambers reading up on complex litigation issues to be heard the next day?
I still think the problem with Broward judges is demeanor and respect of the litigants. I don't think laziness is one of our major problems.
Sorry ... willing to listen to other points of view and be persuaded ... let me know.
7:00 or 7:30? Maybe one judge and I've practiced here for 22 years.
Mary
Great remarks, these jokers have no idea what it is to practice civil, espicially how long it takes and how rare it is a civil trial takes place.
Parking wouldn't be a problem and neither would this so called shortage of courtrooms if night court was instituted. What's so difficult about that?
You have forgotten to mention the rather strange practice of brown papering the windows of some courtrooms. What's that all about anyway?
Apparently, Bill has been studying at the Scotty Sherman Law Center. The only difference between the two is that Scotty doesn't report on what he sees as he spends the entire afternoon wandering aimless around the courthouse. Oh wait, and Scotty only charges $35.00 for DUI defense, $50.00 a day for trials.
Yes, we do need better parking, however,
parking wouldn't be so bad if BSO or FTLPD would enforce proper parking in the parking garages.
Visitors and employees alike take up two spaces or park in a way another car won't go next to them.
I say ticket 'em or tow 'em......but nobody will listen.
Please bill to client code Adjudicator.
We all know Gardiner, "Jump in with both Claws." Her statement is sort of stupid to say the least. Bad attempt to rehabilitate a battered judiciary. They are obviously not up to the task.
A little flowers in the attic maybe?
EMPTY COURTROOMS = EMPTY HEADS
Another talking head, that's all. What's her obsession with courthouse closets? Does she know something I don't?
Each division averages 1,300 cases. The average isn't what is concerning me. I would be more interested in some detailed reporting about the judges and their specific case counts. You could have a large number of judges with case counts in the middle-hundreds that are getting skewed by some judge with a case count in excess of 2,000.
The real concern I would think are those judges who are hearing cases they have not been elected or appointed to be involved in (e.g., county judges hearing felony trials) and letting their division case counts explode out of control.
Those are some numbers I'd like to see posted here.
levenson and imperato battle for the low case count - whose ahead this week?
"Devil's advocate: Although I don't know what Judge Gardner is referring to, I still believe that getting a case to trial in Broward is not a problem"
Thanks, you are awesome
Please don't make fun of the Sherminator.
And yes, there is a problem with parking. Blame that on the super-expensive condos and rentals next door in what used to be Smoker Park.
There was more than adequate, AFFORDABLE parking there before those monstrosities got built.
IS IT TRUE THAT DALE I AM THE CHIEF JUDGE FOR LIFE MADE DEALS WITH CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES AND CONTRACTORS FOR SPARSE PARKING?
Perhaps the judges are not on the bench because the defense attorneys for all their trials have requested continuances. Bill, spend your time pulling some court files to see continuance after continuance requested by your brethren and then tell the real reason the system is clogged. Attorneys should spend less time blogging and more time preparing their cases and then the tax payers can see the solution to jail overcrowding.
3:00 today:
I walked into every men's room in the courthouse.
Out of 97 stalls, only 8 were taken.
Why do we have more toilers than are needed?
I say we patrol stalls daily. Judges could hold hearings in the stalls since they are not being used.
::::Bowing Repeatedly::::
I'm not worthy....I'm not worthy....
I can't stop laughing. Brilliant, Brilliant, Brilliant.
To Fake Comparison Shopper:
Why the unprovoked attack on Scott Sherman?
I don't care who you are, that's funny right there.
He thinks he's being funny.
Wahhhh....I'm being attacked and made fun of on a blog whose sole apparent purpose is to attack and make fun of people.....Wahhh.