DOUBLE STANDARD
Fort Lauderdale police chief's wife got special treatment after arrest, critics say
"The wife of Fort Lauderdale's police chief waited only 12 hours after being booked on charges of shooting at her husband to see a judge and get permission to go home.
While she went home, at least four people booked about the same time on lesser charges had to spend the night in a jail cell.
A special hearing for Eleanor Adderley that allowed her to leave the Broward County Jail on $25,000 bond sparked complaints Thursday that she was given preferential treatment. Broward's public defender said the charges against her should have been harsher and most defendants don't get such special hearings...
Police arrested Eleanor Adderley on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and shooting in a dwelling. But Broward Public Defender Howard Finklestein said most people would have been charged with attempted murder.
"The only way that was not an attempt to murder him would be if Mrs. Adderley were a CIA-trained marksman and was able to comfortably discharge the weapon knowing it would only land inches from his body," Finklestein said...
Eleanor Adderley was booked into the Broward County jail just before 5 a.m. Wednesday. Typically, suspects arrested after 3 a.m. have to wait until the following day to see a judge who will set their bond. Four people booked around the same time as Eleanor Adderley had to wait until Thursday morning to see a judge. Their bonds ranged from $200 for misdemeanors to $4,000 in a drug case.
Exactly how she got the special hearing in front of Judge Geoffrey Cohen Wednesday is unclear.
Buschel said he didn't request the hearing but was told, "The judge is setting a hearing at 5 p.m., please be there."..
Several posters on a courthouse gossip blog frequented by attorneys, jaablog.jaablaw.com, questioned the speed with which Eleanor Adderley was given a hearing. Finklestein doubted his clients, who can't afford private attorneys, would get the same treatment.
"This situation indicates that there are two sets of rules and they do not apply equally," Finklestein said."
MIAMI HERALD
Critics: Fort Lauderdale police chief's wife coddled in shooting
"Howard Finkelstein, Broward's public defender, insisted that Eleanor Adderley is getting preferential treatment from prosecutors and Plantation police, who opted not to charge her with attempted murder after she opened fire on her husband in their home...
Defense attorney John P. Contini, a friend of the Adderleys, was just as adamant that she did not receive favorable treatment -- and that the two felonies could ultimately end up as misdemeanors.
In the middle: State attorney Sarahnell Murphy, the woman charged with prosecuting the case...
The rhetoric ramped up Thursday when Broward County prosecutors announced they have no plans to recuse themselves in the state's case against Eleanor Adderley.
That stand drew sharp and immediate criticism from Finkelstein, who said the chief's wife has benefited from favoritism.
''I question whether or not a state attorney who depends upon the police to prosecute a lion's share of their cases can handle a case like this without it having some kind of effect,'' said Finkelstein, who has no ties to the case. ``You can't serve two masters.''
The two charges are ''very light,'' Finkelstein said, considering she came within inches of shooting her husband while he was in bed and then fired at least two more shots in his direction.
''I can tell you that my clients sitting in jail for the same type of offense are wondering why they are charged with attempted murder,'' Finkelstein said...
Is anyone surprised?
If they were white you would be screaming even louder at least for once an African America(at least one who isn't a football player) is getting the better deal. Of course people in power get better treatment. It’s the way of the world. I’m so sick of people on this site acting righteous. Grow up.
Satz can handle this case? Right-O. He'll handle it like he handles every other corruption case. Free pass time everybody.
10:03 is right. At least there is one African American in Broward who won't be railroaded into prison.
Sounds like the old professional courtesy. Like when a cop gets pulled over for DUI yet is allowed to go home without charges. Still, it's scary to think Satz and company will let a violent criminal back out on the street for the sake of politics as usual. She's not the usual scuzzy dishonest politician raping the coffers but rather someone who could kill someone and someone who may have done violent crimes in the past that were covered up.
I wonder if Lori Parrish had anything to do with the special hearing? She's Geoffrey Cohen's wife. Maybe she's friends with Adderly and told Cohen to do it?
Geez - can just picture myself trying to get a late afternoon bond hrg. w/ ANY judge (I do think Judge Cohen is an excellent jurist)immediately after arrest, & then later explaining to the filing prosecutor she didn't really aim "at" him so lets kind of let it go.
But that's where the big hitters come in, they can get it done & that's why they're hitters. It used to work like that pretty routinely 10-20+ years ago without much notice from anyone - that was (& is) why you contributed to the campaign. Duh. And other than "yeah it's not fair" in this day of ultra-scrutiny, I don't really see an actionable foul. But the light arrest charges, the couple hrs. in jail, the immediate bond hrg., & the Broward SA's office remaining on the case just doesn't, well, taste right. I agree w/ Rosenbaum that some domestic cases ought to be more creatively handled & that from what is known this appears to be one. We'll see ...
I've seen poor clients, charged by Satz under the 10-20-Life statute, get 20 years mandatory in prison, for less.
I've seen poor clients charged by Satz, with attempted murder, for less. Here, as her attorney said, "the two felonies could ultimately end up as misdemeanors."
Equal justice only means the connected are treated equally.
Go thank Mancini or Melnick or all the big talkers on here who want Satz out but wont step up to run against him. You think Satz would be handling this case the way he is if he had a primary at the end of august?
A referndum against SATZ mike work. Why won't anybody take on that punk? SATZ is a worthless state attorney.
because its easier to whine and blog about duh
at least Howard has the guys to stand up and shout about the insanity that is going on in Broward.
The preferential treatment didn't surprise me, what did was a mere $25,000 bond for attempting to shoot somebody. Recent bonds for victimless white collar crime arrests in the county were more than 250 times that. How can that make sense? Oh yeah, that was preferential treatment too.
Get over it. It is, what it is.
Buschel should have said "no comment" when asked if he set the quick bond hearing. He said "no" and looks silly instead of like a lawyer with heavy juice.
Wow...what a bunch of whiners. JAABers constantly complain about how African-Americans get the shaft in the criminal justice system. Now one gets the Four-star treatment and you still are whining........Got something to say about that JAAB? Didn't think so.
Getting her out of jail expeditiously makes sense. Once the other inmates found out who she was, which would not take long, her safely would be in jeopardy. Additional, taxpayer dollars would have been spent protecting her. The only person she is a danger to is her husband. If he feels comfortable with her out, sobeit. If she comes after him, he can shoot her, throw down a gun, and no one will doubt his story.
please, the only reason these african americans got special treatment is because of their status in the community. he's the ft laud police chief. the ft laud police are responsible for alot of the arrests that the st attys office prosecutes. of course the st atty is going to give preferential treatment to the police, especially the chief of police and his wife. she could have stayed over night in the jail in protective custody. give me a break!
the fact that she got an emergency hearing and a reasonable bond on charges that are way nicer that the facts suggests, just shows that the st attys and the judges take into consideration who you are in the local community. but if you are black and poor, you are out of luck. i just don't understand how she escaped being charged under the 10-20-life law! she had a gun: 10, she shot it: 20, with the intent to kill her husband: life. she should be charged with attempted murder. she didn't intend to just scare him, she's just fortunate she's a bad shot as to why he's not dead or injured.
there are tons of public defender clients in misdemeanor domestic violence court who have 25K bonds!!!! there are tons of victims on these cases who wish to file waivers of prosecution which the st atty then tells them they will not honor, and bullies the victims into court to testify. yet here, the st atty's office will actually take into consideration the fact that the police chief doesn't want his own wife prosecuted? wow!
i think we, as defense attys, should start flooding the court with bond motions on our lesser privileged clients, saying something like this: but judge, my client only brandished a knife at the victim, and his bond is 50K. i want a bond reduction because my client's behavior is not as egregious as the police chief's wife, where she shot a gun at her husband and got 25K and an elmo! maybe we can shame the court and the st atty's office into using common sense instead of preferential treatment!!!!!!!
Seidman used to give 100K bonds on MM Battery cases. The only thing consistent about our world is the inconsistency.
Why hasn't Satz done anything about Finkelstein and Michaelson? seems like there is a double standard there also. How can Finkelstein really say or do anything about anyone else when he has so much junk in the trunk?
The preferential treatment is bothersome but not as much as the fact that this person is out of jail on a low bond without court-ordered supervision. She almost killed a human being; she has a child; she may have psychological problems and has access to guns. I am glad I don't live in her neighborhood. Her child was almost fatherless. I am sorry for her but more afraid of her than sorry.
Help ME Howard the hypocrit is not afraid to take on Ft Laud Chief of Police Frank Adderly and State Attorney Mike Satz. Why haven't you taken on Judge Ana Gardiner and her outrageous behavior that should get her removed from the bench? You're not dumb Howard. Taking on Ana right now is not the politically wise thing for you to do. Ana's got some juice. You'll take on Mike Satz and Frank Adderly any time. Take on Ana and you got war on your hands. Help me Howie the weasel.
Little bitty howie never takes anyone with power on, you are correct he is a weasel, he pretends like he is better than the people he goes after, but he is worse than any of them, probably the drug menatality.
Shut up you losers. Fink has done more to fight corruption than you ever have. Who you work for anyway? Judges? You a pig.
Alex Arreaza really loves Howard F. They are working together. Arreaza's campaign is only a way for Fink to spread his message of ending corruption in Broward courts. Bravo Arreaza. Huzzah.
FWIW, I'm an ASA and I find this absolutely outrageous and disgraceful. She should've been charged with attempted murder and held no bond; if not, she should at least be looking at 10-20-Life and a bond in (at least) the multiple 100's of thousands. It doesn't even pretend to be anything other than special treatment, both from the SAO and Judge Cohen.
Why is HMH crying that a defendant is being treated well, isn't he usually belly aching about how the big bad judges are unfair to all the defendants? Give me a break. He goes whichever way the wind is blowing so he he can get exposure. Vote Areazza!!!
Have you people been hiding under rocks all your lives? Rank has its privileges.
Gordon Weekes handed Arreaza his butt last night.
Arreaza, quit now. You are losing all credibility (not that there was much to begin with).
To Howie Finkelstein:
We all know you will kick Arreaza's and if necessary Ostrow's butt. I'm voting for you. Here's my problem:
You act holier than though and take on Mike Satz and Frank Adderly, both of whom you know you can f--k with all you want. Why haven't you taken on Judge Ana Gardiner. You and everyone in your office know that you have evidence to take her down. Why are you giving Ana a free pass? Something's fishy. Does Ana have the goods on you?
Now theres a good question from an ardent MHF supporter who is objective and honest enough to call HF out!you either have integrity or you don't! This guy? When then appearance of a remote semblance of honour serves the assassin, he's all that! He's too busy covering his baby butt right now to have the leisure to remove his arrows from his pouch, fire up, aim and sharpshoot!! Its beyond sad and pathetic that his character, or lack thereof, his defined, not by good judgment, class, integrity or honour, but by what his homicidal schedule permits! This is the strategy employed by many of the judges in their holy war against the anti-christ. If you find yourself, even for a moment, thinking theres even a remote connection between the lull of attacks and HF taking the high road, think again. He's got opposition, multiple investigations, a house divided, and a long road to hoe for the next 6 months......he lacks the time to fart with any regularity!! You really think he's gonna have the strength, time or opportunity to return to his true modus operandi when he's bent over, trying his damdest to cover his tiny ass from the celestial arrows e around!" I think not!! So, why is it you vote for such cowardice?
doesn't make it right
I don't do much criminal anymore but I remember MANY cases where someone just points a gun and the defendant winds up with (at that time) 3 years min. mandatory. There was a case Fleet handled where an older lady with no record has a dispute with an auto mechanic (did not fire the weapon) and had to take a plea to 3 years. It would be pretty wild if this defendant skates.
Hey, a nuthern anonymass defense atty--ever heard of equal protection of law. Doesn't this give you a legal foundation for the same treatment for your clients under the constitution?
Howard's office has always pandered to Gardiner, ever since she took the bench. It's like an unwritten policy not to fight a legitimate fight in her court because Scott Raft rules the judge. That's why even chief appellate PD Dianne Cuddihy blows cases on postconviction and refuses to put fort the clientw whole case--to sabotage it. He voice rises several pitches to a squeak of fear in front of Raft and Raft covers up[ for Gardiner and Satz covers up for all three.
Does Ana do Satz, too?