DBR ON GARDINER DEMOTION
Posted by JAABLOG at 6/7/2008 11:20 AM 
Categories: Goldstein,Bidwell,Gardiner,Andrews,TowbinSinger,Destry,ARTICLES,KaplanStanton,Tutor,KaplanMichael,Moe,Holmes,Tobin
Categories: Goldstein,Bidwell,Gardiner,Andrews,TowbinSinger,Destry,ARTICLES,KaplanStanton,Tutor,KaplanMichael,Moe,Holmes,Tobin
DAILY BUSINESS REVIEW
Criminal division to get new administrative judge
Broward Circuit Judge Ilona Holmes will take over as administrative judge in the next month, replacing Judge Ana Gardiner, who asked to move to the civil side, Chief Judge Victor Tobin said.
The change is part of a shift precipitated by the departure of two judges, Tobin said after issuing the orders today.
“They’re all voluntary moves,” he said. “The minute you move one person it creates openings, and it creates a domino effect, so it is difficult to structure the movement of the building.”
It’s the second change of top judges since Tobin took over as chief judge last September following a disputed election to replace Judge Dale Ross after 16 years.
In the new round, Holmes will replace Gardiner effective July 14. Tobin appointed a criminal chair for the first time by naming Judge Martin Bidwill to serve as Holmes’ deputy.
Holmes said she is concerned about the jail capacity cap and speedy trial issues that may come into play under the shrunken budget year starting July 1.
“These are going to be some very trying times with the budget cuts, a lot of changes going on because of the budget,” she said. “We’re going to have to put our heads together and come up with the best solution to make sure defendants get fair and speedy trials.”
Gardiner takes over for retiring Judge Barry Goldstein in civil court.
In other moves, Judge Michael Kaplan is moving to family from criminal court, where Judge Michele Towbin-Singer will take over after handling criminal mental health and drug court.
Judge Matthew Destry, who has been assigned to domestic violence cases, takes Gardiner’s criminal court opening. Judge Jack Tuter, administrative head of family court, volunteered to handle domestic violence court.
Newly appointed Judge William Haury will take Towbin-Singer’s old slot.
“There are more people that want to move but I haven’t been able to move, but they will be moving at the first opportune moment,” Tobin said.
He cited planned retirements by Judges Stanton Kaplan, Leroy Moe and Robert Andrews by early next year.
What is truly disturbing is that many members of the SAO knew all the rumors as much as any defense lawyer. Probably more so since it involved their own and since they are in court everyday.
Why didn't they ever speak out? Are they not charged with enforcing justice at any cost?
The rumored closeness of Mike Satz's relationship to the Gardiner family is one possible issue. Is it true he has (or had) an extremely close relationship to her, her ex, and her children that should have precluded his office from appearing before her in the first place?
The fact that the she was notoriously state oriented is another disturbing factor. Her appalling record with the 4th DCA (almost always reversing decisions that favored the state or hurt a defendant), and her willingness to always meet or exceed State wishes, particularly in sentencing, is another disturbing issue.
Did Mike Satz or his agents know about the problems? Did they investigate? Why wasn't she scrutinized before the New Times weighed in on behalf of the community at large? (by the way, they have not been sued, have not printed a retraction, and she has not denied the relationships publicly while continuing to serve as a criminal judge).
Did the SAO do anything at all? Everyone else seemed to know about the rumors yet not a peep from the SAO, who keep prosecuting before her.
We all know it is a State friendly courtroom. Is this why they seemingly didn't do anything? Because they liked the type of treatment defendants received in there? Or were they possibly protecting their prosecutors who were alleged to have been involved with Judge Gardiner? Were they trying to avoid a possible scandal while continuing to appear before her where defendants may have been improperly treated because of the alleged relationships? Was she left alone because of the rumored closeness of Mike Satz and the Gardiners?
If any of the above are the reason why the SAO may have never investigated her or continued to prosecute before her in the face of the years of never ending talk of her inappropraite behavior then the Governor or the FBI should investigate the SAO.
I bet she asked to move. Wouldn't you move if it was your neck on the tracks with a huge train rounding the corner?
What do you expect Gardiner to say? Do you expect that she'll spill the beans? Don't hold your breath. She just thinks she's out of the spotlight, for now.
This was a long time coming...and i can bet my last dollar that this move was not voluntary. puh-lease. that woman relished in that position--pontificating in her long-winded speeches before giving a 20 year-old kid 3 consecutive life sentences despite the fact that there may have been something funny going on with the judge and the prosecutor. oh well, let the appeals court decide.
and, now she's been banished to civil where she knows she will disappear into the abyss. where no one will care about her or her nonsense. she'll be stuck in one of those crappy, dark, asbetos filled offices just wondering how she can come back to her beloved position in the spotlight. maybe fred horowitz can tell her how to get through this tough time.
too bad...
She thought she was such hot-s**t! Teflon Anna. Guess not. No more whacking everybody for no good reason (except she probably thought it would help her career - hello - Jimmy Cohn anyone?) Every dog has its day!!!!
"She just thinks she's out of the spotlight, for now"
Whatever. Even if she survives she's done. No promotion to the 4th. And the fed job she was always drooling over? NEVER GONNA HAPPEN.
See - good things do happen.
If you think moving to civil is a demotion- think again. It has always been considered the top spot.
Only since the blog has civil become Judicial Purgatory. All of the Judges would beg to go and refuse to come back to criminal: Lynch, Rothchild, Korda, MEL, Henning, Vitale, they all did their time with us and then ran to civil. Now, they go there to lay low until the JQC trial is over!!! It's a rude awakening for long term criminal judges tho; those civil lawyers won't put up with shenanigans---something far more crucial is on the line: $$$$$$. We just put poor people in jail!!! And you know what guys in your High School said about that. (Sorry, had to do it).
Top Spot? Oh, yeah. Especially for judges that have sought to stay in criminal because they like the power trip over the poor and underprivileged. What a hoke. They never sought civil before now. You sound like a boob.
Big mistake Judge Gardiner on allot of different levels.
Stupid mistake stalking the party goer and running into a car. That's what started the run for civil.
send her to civil where she can rip families apart. then there is vitale--so inept she handles only prose cases. appointed by ross--kick her ass out--one of the most ignorant judges in broward county.
anyone know or have opinions on ana's replacement.
ana--what a shame--there was potential there. sell ur soul to satz and suffer the consequences
the judge pimps at MOMBACH BOYLE HARDIN pay premiums to judges who will jail the innocent and walk the wealthy corrupt.
You can run, but you find yourself in the end. Civil will offer no haven for the problems you've created. You will face the music sooner or later. Think it's gonna be sooner than later. Good luck.
David Lindsey wrote: re: Anna Gardnier -
"ana--what a shame--there was potential there."
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!!
Please tell us great Lindsey...Enlighten us all.
You wouldn't know potential, if a bottle of lithium was strapped to it.
What a dickhead!
Had the world by the tail, and then .. reality came crashing in. First political ally Jenne folds tent, then ... crash into a car on the side of the road looking for Mr. Goodbar, then ... disclosure of ... well, no need to go there. Too many bad memories.
shame u have so much anger and hate---i've watched her wrk and as a citizen i saw some good qualities---i also saw how she catered to the prosecutor--even after catching him in a lie---but if she could have opened her eyes and had the ability to see what she could have been without people like satz helping her--she may have moved slower but went further---sorry u have so much anger. i hope they get her out of the crts and who knows maybe she will get her life together.
Judge Holmes as adminstrative Judge? Wasn't she moved to trial unit because she couldn't smoothly run a division.
GREAT RACIAL POLITICAL MOVE BY TOBIN--WHAT A MESS IF THIS IS TRUE
Judge Holmes is concerned about the jail cap?
I LOVE the JAAB honk meter (Judge Ana does the tango...). I visit it several times a day - you should too!
11:42, excellent point. Since when is Judge Holmes concerned about the jail capacity? How often would a Defendant be 5 minutes late to an Arraingment and she would put them in jail. No excuses.
by now everyone knows that ex-judge jay spechler was/is a thief......... why did brooke kennerly allow him to resign rather than go to jail...... like others who steal....... why a double standard for lawyers.
Anna was a judicial failure. She will end up arbitrating like Julian. Now.... Is Holmes chef criminal judge? Is that her new title? She is an egomaniac who think she should be on the federal bench. Ask the civil lawyers who would not put up with her. She is a mess. Ask any p.d or a.s.a. who pulled a tour with this piece of work. She is totally self absorbed. She would ask the defs. if they had "rims" or she would want to know how much their "grills" cost. A real "home-girl" my ass. I have spent more time in the hood than she has. There is one good thing about her appointment... we will have plenty to chatter about on theis blog because of this appointment. You gotta love affirmative action !!!!!!!!
The whole courthouse got screwed up when these woman started practicing law. Go home and take care of the kids.
Mr Right - you are right on!
Love the promotion for Ana Gardiner. Finkelstein wouldn't even know that this is a prestigious position, coveted by all. And thank goodness for Holmes she is tough and doesn't back down, no junk in the trunk, so she can do what needs to be done!
Broward County: Chief judge shuffles several court positions
June 8, 2008
Broward County's chief judge has announced the reshuffling of several judges, including a new chief for the court's criminal division.
Broward Chief Judge Victor Tobin on Friday named Circuit Judge Ilona Holmes to head the court's criminal division. She replaces Circuit Judge Ana Gardiner, who, in turn, will move to the court's civil division. Tobin said Gardiner will replace retiring Circuit Judge Barry Goldstein.
Tobin also created a new position at the court that he called "chair of the criminal division." Tobin named Circuit Judge Martin Bidwill to fill that position.
Those and other changes at the courthouse are effective July 14. Tobin said the reshuffling was all done voluntarily by the judges involved.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flsb3bdig06082sbjun08,0,4138188.story
DEMOTION IS WHAT IT IS. DO YOU REALLY THINK GARDINER WOULD HAVE GIVEN UP THAT POSITION VOLUNTARILY? NOT WITH THE WAY SHE LOVED POWER. GET REAL.