MEDIA 6/27
Categories: BSO,Backman,Fl Sup Ct,Dade,CohenDale,FlaBar,ARTICLES,Jenne,CohenJeri,Satz,Cops,COLLIER,Carr
"Let the Jury Decide": Satz plays politics with a man's freedom
"In a 30-minute decision Thursday, Broward County jurors rejected felony vehicular homicide and instead convicted a Parkland man of misdemeanor reckless driving for running a red light and killing a community stalwart.
Blair Mrachek, 25, is now looking at a maximum 90-day jail sentence rather than 15 years in prison.
Mrachek was not injured in the March 2005 afternoon crash that killed Douglas Endsley, 69, of Boca Raton, who headed Broward County's United Way for nearly two decades.
Endsley, entrenched in the Broward philanthropic community, was United Way's executive director from 1976 to 1994 and previously headed up the state Division of Family Services.
"I'm just so upset that the state pushed this," Mrachek's father, Steve, said. "But I believe who Mr. Endsley was and the pressure put on by Mrs. Endsley pushed this."
Not true, says prosecutor Spencer Multack.
"The case wouldn't have gotten filed if our office didn't believe there was a reasonable likelihood of conviction," Multack said.
That said, Multack classified the verdict as "a classic jury pardon."...
Defense attorney Raag Singhal argued that his client may have driven aggressively and carelessly, but he did not drive with an intentional disregard for humanity.
He termed the jury's decision "a compromise verdict."
"I think they felt bad, but at the same time they thought that it was an accident," Singhal said."
Alleged puppy killer convicted by Satz set free by the 4th DCA
"When Broward prosecutors dismissed the case Tuesday, Sanon was halfway through his three-year prison sentence."
Bogenschutz and Bar cut deal for Jenne's license (how much you want to bet he keeps the pension?)
Million dollar bond for BSO deputies accused of trafficking
Mayo on the Side: Pembroke Pines shooting raid: Trash yields probable cause
"An anonymous complaint, surveillance of high-turnover visitors and two searches of Hodgkiss’ trash, which yielded scraps of paper with numbers and trace amounts of “green, leafy substance” that tested positive for marijuana.
Police conducted the raid with its Special Response Team (similar to SWAT) after getting a search warrant from Broward Circuit Judge Dale Cohen. Cohen's June 10 order allowed the search to be conducted at any time, and nobody was required to be home.
Is this what America really wants from its War on Drugs?
Thanks to this investigation, a 46-year-old father ended up dead and police recovered about an ounce-and-a-half of pot."
Florida Supreme Court to review lawyer's right to criticize Broward judge
"It reassures my faith in the system to know that the Supreme Court would take time out of its busy schedule to protect the First Amendment when The Florida Bar doesn't appear to find it as important," Conway said Tuesday...
Conway's civil rights attorney, Mike Wrubel, said he'll do just the opposite.
"The statements which Mr. Conway made are in the nature of being statements of opinion and not statements of fact that are readily verifiable," Wrubel said. "There is a wealth of case law from the Supreme Court of the Unites States that only statements of facts, which can be proved to have been false are sanctionable."
Dutko does it again; Fort Lauderdale officer cleared after hitting two with car months apart
"Under no circumstances is it any indication that he is an unsafe driver or an inattentive driver," Dutko said. "I guess this would fall under the category if were it not for bad luck, he'd have no luck at all."
Judith Levine replaces Kim Kisslan as BSO's General Counsel
Lori Parrish: 'I accept responsibility for my decisions and I wasn't going to be tricky'
HERALD
Rant causes postponement of rape trial
"At one point court bailiffs -- hands on Tasers -- had to stand between (Defendant) Kelly and his two attorneys, who argued a DNA expert did not fit in with their defense.
''This is my life on the line, not theirs,'' Kelly shouted. ``Why wouldn't I want to exhaust every avenue of defense?''
Backman threatened to force Kelly to represent himself -- including interviewing prospective jurors -- and called the move a ''manipulative ploy'' to get out of standing trial.
After several shouting matches between Backman and Kelly, the judge eventually sided with Kelly and ruled it was best for the attorneys to grant Kelly's request and postpone the start of trial."
Man jailed for drinking tea is free -- after 2 months
"Klein, 50, was released from Broward County jail Friday after a judge ruled a Bolivian tea he drank was the reason he failed a drug test and violated the terms of his bond...
In May, state prosecutors said Klein's urine contained too high a concentration of cocaine to be caused by drinking tea.
But Friday, Theodore Mastos, a former Miami-Dade County judge, convinced Circuit Judge John Murphy III that Klein was the unknowing victim of the herbal brew.
''His mom loaded the guy with the tea. It's full of cocaine,'' Mastos said. ``This was an aberration. He's not a junkie.''"
Cities struggle to assist ex-cons
"As more inmates come out of prisons each year, communities around the country struggle with how to integrate them into society.
A Saturday panel at the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Miami will give city leaders a chance to vent but also to show what they're doing right."
Public defender challenges Dade's sex offender laws
"The Public Defender's Office is challenging the constitutionality of Miami-Dade's sex-offender residency ordinance, arguing it essentially banishes poor sex offenders from the county and, in some cases, leaves them homeless."
Sunrise OK's attorney deal
"Before a packed and sometimes loudly skeptical audience, the Sunrise City Commission voted Tuesday to award a no-bid legal contract worth at least $432,000 to the husband and law associate of Broward Commissioner Ilene Lieberman.
The contract puts Stuart Michelson at or near the top of the highest paid city and county attorneys in the state."
OPINION: SUNRISE DOESN'T NEED A $432,000-A-YEAR CITY ATTORNEY
DAILY BUSINESS REVIEW
Miami-Dade prosecutors stop PD from refusing cases (for now)
"The Miami-Dade state attorney’s office will get more time than the public defender’s office wanted to prepare for a constitutional showdown on the right to effective counsel in a time of budget cuts. 
Miami-Dade Public Defender Bennett Brummer’s attempt to turn aside cases due to budget cuts was set today for a hearing July 17 before Circuit Judge Stanford Blake.
The state attorney’s office is fighting Brummer’s effort to opt out of defending indigent clients in criminal cases...
Holland & Knight partner Rodolfo Sorondo, who is representing the state attorney’s office pro bono, asked the judge for more time because of procedural complexities of the complex questions raised in the case...
(T)he state attorney’s office argues the public defender cannot refuse new cases.
From a prosecutor’s perspective, there is a fear that judges will dismiss cases on constitutional grounds for lack of public defenders when speedy trial issues arise."
Showdown on right of Miami PD to refuse cases
Miami Judge Jeri Beth Cohen violates canon in campaign appearance
"Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Jeri Beth Cohen, who is facing an election challenge, committed an “unintentional violation” of a judicial canon by speaking at a Coral Gables Area Democratic Club meeting without her election opponent present, the Dade County Bar Association concluded."
Julie Kay on Jonathan Schwartz's jail stay
The lawyer, Jonathan S. Schwartz of Schwartz and Associates, claims he
is the victim of an overzealous Collier County judge with a bias toward
"East Coast" lawyers from South Florida. He is planning to appeal his
10-day contempt sentence.
"I think this is going to backfire on the judge," said Schwartz in an
interview. "Ninety-five percent of contempt cases are overturned on
appeal." Judge Mike Carr of Naples, who issued the contempt order, did
not return calls for comment.
NORTH COUNTRY GAZETTE (NY)
Florida Attorney Under Fire For Criticizing A Judge
"In Ohio, lawyers are not only disbarred for criticizing a judge but they are imprisoned.
In Florida, even though a lawyer has make an agreement with The Florida Bar after they brought disciplinary proceedings against him for calling a judge a witch on his blog, the Florida Supreme Court who must okay the deal has instead intervened and is considering whether or not the speech was protected under the First Amendment."
SOUTH FLORIDA TIMES
Ex-deputy sues sheriff’s office
"In the latest development, Broward Circuit Judge Barry E. Goldstein has removed himself from the case, acknowledging a possible conflict.
The decision came in response to an April 4 motion filed by Hicks’ attorneys asking Goldstein to step away from the case after it was discovered that Goldstein’s brother, Michael Goldstein, had been a major at BSO in charge of human resources.
According to BSO spokeswoman Veda Coleman-Wright, Maj. Michael Goldstein left the agency in June 2007.
Nevertheless, the motion cited an Aug. 26, 1999 order issued by Judge Barry Goldstein that authorized BSO detectives to place wiretaps on Hicks’ home phone in connection with the discredited drug investigation at the heart of the lawsuit.
Unrelated to his motion filed in the Hicks case, Judge Barry Goldstein announced his retirement effective June 30 after serving more than 17 years on the bench. He did not respond to phone calls seeking comment, and a recorded message at his office referred calls to a secretary, who was not available."
BROWARD NEW TIMES
The Ink-Stained Unemployed: Newspapers will shrink as veterans are forced out the door
PALM BEACH POST
Time to let clerk tackle the computer confusion
Boca woman charged with threatening judges won't stand trial
"A woman charged with leaving telephone messages and writing letters perceived as threatening to judges was ruled incompetent to stand trial on Wednesday."
Legislature makes court-related fees hurt just bit more
JCFLORIDA.COM
Federal Judge refuses to stop "guns to work" law
BRADENTON.COM
Quince taking gavel as Fla. chief justice
TAMPA BAY ONLINE
2nd Judge Bows Out Of Drug Case Involving Disputed Warrant
LAW.COM
Foul-Mouthed Harangues Put Judge in Hot Seat
Did Cohen even read that warrant before signing it?
It said police or something on the top so he knew he was supposed to sign.
Sounds like Multack has been drinking a little too much State Attorney Kool-Aid.
I bet Multak wants to be the State Atty one day. I forsee him filing against Marcus or whoever the heir apparent is and then spending a lot of heavy dough to win. Maybe I'm wrong, that's just my opinion. He would probably do a good job too. Anything but Satz clone Marcus would be ok.
It will be a free for all if Mike ever retires. There's no sure thing like Howard and the TV profile he had to follow Al Schreiber at the SAO.
Maybe Honowitz? Or Porth? They have exposure.
Who knows.
A-terd for State Attorney. He'll bring "honor" and "integrity" back to the office.
I see Multack as a judge way before SA. He is too reasonable to be the State Attorney. I'd support him for either one though.
I always thought he was reasonable too. Why didn't he tell Marcus to stick it on this one. I can imagine the trial. Get the cop to admit he recommended a traffic infraction and there you go. Not guilty. Why do so many good guys like Multak go along with the highly questionable edicts of Satz and his cronies? Do they really need the job so bad they will put their souls on the line?
Ari Porth is too afraid of his own shadow to run for State Attorney. After Lee Cohen, Ari is the most likely to be taken out by his own people.
Does Marcus have a shot? What about Tony Loe?
"He [Multack] is too reasonable to be the State Attorney."
See, that's just the kind of cynical pessimism that makes this blog far less helpful than it actually could be. It assumes that the elected State Attorney has to be a tyrant like Satz just because it's been that way as long as most people can remember.
We know Spencer reads the blog because he's actually had the balls to comment here under his own name. He wouldn't comment on a political solicitation, but I'd certainly encourage him to run. As a junior ASA, I'd back him to the hilt, as I'm sure would the majority of the office (i.e., the "expendables" rather than the lifers).
Anyone else think that Spencer has put on weight? He should spend more time at the gym.
operation tennessee waltz was an undercover sting that shows judges and lawyers are ethically challenged.
Spencer is a good guy. He needs to watch what he says though. That comment to the paper about this being a classic jury pardon comes close to denigrating a jury verdict..an ethics no no.
Heard the defense attorney saying Multack was very good in trial and great to deal with before trial. Sounds like someone else was making the call.
Spencer would make a great SA. Young enough to relate to a majority of the attorneys in the office, and in another 4 years, enough experience to step in for Satz. I heard someone was trying to convince him to run against Aleman also.
I'd support him too. The problem is the office will probably harass him now that he's been outed as a respected and well liked guy who they know could win. Follow your heart Spence. Don't let the bad guys get you down.
Finkelstink's tv profile 1minute 2 x's a week what a joke, some showbiz oh and let's talk about that big salary he makes, and the fact that he isn't even capable of doing research he states only takes one hour a week, he has to pay a state employee to do it, remember he is just a glorified prop, and not so cute, the show should really be help me michaelson. Satz didn't draw any opponents with all the hard work fink and friends tried they still couldn't get anyone to run against satz. Sounds like satz is the one intimidating not 2 opponents finkelstink.
If Spencer were to run against Satz, I'd serieouly consider supporting him after I looked into his integrity.
If Spencer has integrity, then not only will I vote for him, I would work for him in his campaign against Satz.
But, Spencer, you must stand for integrity and against public corruption, something Satz can't doesn't have.
Who knows if Satz will even run again in 4 years? When Multack was a supervisor he was always honest and a gentleman with me...thats pretty much what I heard from other attys also. He is also very good in trial. I'm sure someone has something bad to say about him but the good outweighs the bad with this one. If he's not running for something he probably should. If not then what is he still doing at the SAO?
Shadowman you are so right, why hasn't he done something about finkelstein, yet? Finkelstein paying michaelson to do the research for the help me howard segments, how hard do you think michaelson is working in that pd's office, not at all, we think he spends more time doing the research for howard's hmh than he does for the state at the pd's office. Howard tries to explain that the supervisors work obsessive hours so this might justify michaelson doing the help howard research on state time, wrong.
I'd like to see Spence distinguish himself a bit more before I'm convinced.
He's got the trial experience, etc., but he has not displayed the necessary leadership abilities.
We're still waiting for a young star to bridge the gap between the Marcus/Morton/Satz click and the sensibilities needed to run a modern SAO with a relevant and practical approach.
Could he do it? Maybe. Will he do it? Unlikely (though he can't be faulted; there have been plenty of smart and talented people before him who were also scared to death to stand up to the old man).
What's with all the Finky stuff? This guy is obsessed. Take a nap.
Do you people really know Spencer? He is quirky, moody and odd.
Quirky, moody and odd are his good points. Spencer Multack is a buffoon. I rank him right up there with Lee Cohen and Ari Porth as the most do nothing ass-kissing ASAs in the SAO.
I hear he is being moved to the Public Corruption Unit to work under another ass-wipe yes-man tim donelly. He will continue in the great tradition of that unit of not knowing a corrupt official he didn't like.
hey, cowardly lawyers from the cesspool of the Florida BAr and particularly the executive judicial prosecutorial branch of government. Isn't amazing that the first effort to develop a formula fo ineffective assistance of counsel to provide relief for those deprived of it to specifically attack their attorneys came from Florida to the modification to a simpler formula of Strickland and Cronic (yeah--that's the companion case right before Strickland in the S. Ct. Reporter for all you allegedly informed lawyers) which was in trun then adopted by fl. S. Ct. in bounds becaue an accused has taht constitutional right, to where we are now of the legislature providing specific means via budget cuts to prevent these constitutional from being fully realized?
This then becomes a deprivation and denial that invokes federal jurisdiction because Florida denying those rights then becomes an unconstitutional state in violation of its charter and creates yer another reason to have its star ripped from the flag.
It is also funny taht even the rigfht to counsel, period, started in florida with Gideon.
Kinda makes a very inertesting pattern that approaches intent to deprive by the legislature of the people, for the people and by the people of some other people. Go get 'em legislature. Florida's building prisons in preparation of the increased influx of fraudulently and unconstitutionally convicted prisoners and the private companies are drooooling to fill those profitable beds and proibably payijg real big bucks to the legislators who are voting such measures!
Great job Raag. Amazing how you get attacked on here when you put in for Judge, but not one compliment when you win a big case.