BLACKS NEED NOT APPLY?
Diversity MattersAccording to the 2006 Census, African-Americans make up 25.3% of the population of Broward County. Hispanics make up 22.8% of the population, and Asians 3%. Whites make up 48.7% of the population.
We are a minority-majority.
We have 90 judges in Broward County. Roughly 10 claim some Hispanic origin, and few, if any, claim any Asian background. There are only 3 African-American judges, less than 3% of the total.
Minorities are grossly over-represented in the criminal and dependency courts. Minorities are often judged by individuals who do not share or understand their cultural or socio-economic backgrounds. People are often needlessly caught up in the system. We all pay the tremendous social and economic costs driven by the lack of diversity.
The Governor had 6 names to choose from to fill the county seat that went to Jay Hurley. Three of the highly qualified applicants were African-American. A highly qualified white male won the appointment, despite the lack of African-American judges currently serving in our judiciary. This sends a strong message to our minority community members, and to the people who work within the justice system.
The Governor has yet to appoint a single African-American in Broward. He has seemingly failed to make an effort to correct a glaring inequity in our community. It is beginning to appear that he is ignorant of the problems here, or he simply does not care.
DIVERSIFY THE BROWARD JUDICIARY TO REFLECT THE MAKEUP OF THE COMMUNITY
Are you saying the Governor should have selected one of those Black Candidates because they were Black in front of the "Highly Qualified" White Candidate?
Give me a break. This "affirmative action" crap is nonsense. You consider three main things in making these appointments. The application/qualifications, the interview, and the politics. The three criteria are NOT weighted equally. You do not give someone a seat simply because they are a minority, although that's exactly what happened in several recent appointments. Frankly, I think we have had enough of that in Broward given that 50% of Jeb's appointments and 25% of Crist's have been Hispanic.
There are no Asian Judges in Florida at any level.
Hursey is as good as Hurley. What would have been the harm to appoint him? The numbers are whacky.
"There are no Asian Judges in Florida at any level."
There are no good Chinese restaurants in Florida either.
Aren't there any black Pikes?
Yeah, what's up with this "affirmative action" crap? Is treating someone preferentially because of their race any way to remedy 300 years of America's systematic de jure and de facto marginalization (and "marginalization" is among the least of the injustices) of an entire class of people solely on the basis of . . . their race? Pure nonsense.
And, damn skippy, you couldn't find a decent egg roll in all of Florida if your life depended on it.
To JDKJ:
You are wrong sir. Christine Lee's Chinese Restaurant in Gulfstream Park is fantastic and has a spectacular bar to boot.
"We are a minority-majority."
huh? Who is we?
@Eggroll:
Perhaps by your standards, Christine Lee's is fantastic. I, however, as a frequent habituant of the finer restaurants of both New York's and San Francisco's Chinatown have developed pretty lofty standards by which to judge Chinese food. Sweet and sour sauce composed mostly of FDC Red No.5 and without the slightest suggestion of either pineapple or ginger just don't cut it for me. Sorry.
There is, however, excellent Thai fare in Fort Luaderdale. By the by, Francois was not qualified, but Hursey and Gillespie would have been excellent additions.
Why not more Jewish judges?
As there is in decent Thai food to be had in Miami. And there's even some good Vietnamese joints (e.g., Hy Vong on 8th Street) to be found. But if you're looking for good Chinese food in Florida, you may as well look for a decent slice of pizza while you're at it. The odds on success are about the same.
maybe its because the blacks are not able to come together as a solid voting block during campaign season so that they can be heard. The hispanic vote was nothing before Reagan they came together as a cohesive unit and played a major part in the election process and hence that is why their own get on the bench.
To borrow a line from Carville
its about the votes, stupid.
As a Hispanic, I find this entry very offensive. We should get the best qualified judges, not matter what race they are.
Affirmative Action or Set Aside Programs, are an insult to qualified minority candidates.
Why is it that liberals think that minorities need affirmative action to get ahead???
Don't be so naive JG. The Hispanic Bar in Broward, CABA in Miami are forces to be reckoned with. Without them you would have 3 Hispanic judges in Broward, just like the blacks. It's not about qualifications or affirmative action, it's about political clout.
If I was a member of the class of people in town with not only numerical superiority but also the majority of the political clout, I would also be offended by the notion of affirmative action and set-asides.
Funny how times change. I can remember when the first rash of children born to Cuban immigrant parents in America began attending Dade County public schools. Man, them redneck kids couldn't taunt them enough with "No spic Ingleesh." Nowadays, you can't hardly get a job in Miami if you no spic Spanish.
this is so wrong. frat bro. joke.
Hurley is the worst appointment to date...arrogant and rude...treats clerks like trash and will treat citizens coming before him the same way. He's not more qualified, just a Crist buddy. And what's the point of Crist pushing diversity training for judges when he doesn't bring diversity to the bench?
It's not the percentage of a certain minority in the general population that is relevant, but the percentage within the legal community. What percentage of lawyers are black or hispanic? I bet the percentage of judges are in line with those figures.
CoCo's on 17th is a great Taiwanese Restaurant.
Check it out - you will see John Howes stuffing his face from there from time to time. John is qualified but will probably lose to Eichner.
Back to the trenches Johnny Boy!
It's not the we need affirmative action, we need diversity. If two people are equally qualified, then the one with the most experience wins... unless they are truly euqally qualified, then if appropriate, a minority should get the seat if it will bring diversity to the bench.
It's easy folks... just be fair.
hey,
you guys behind JAAB, Gelin, Marshall, Conway, etc. you're always bringing up something bad.
The Illuminati are dancing naked eating carob pleasure berries from your loved ones' private parts.
@Anonymous11:15:
The flaw in your theory is that Blacks, after being subject to more than 150 years of exclusion by force of law and 50 years of post-Brown v. Board of Ed. exclusion by socio-economic forces from equal access to the same educational opportunities as non-Blacks, can and should suddenly present themselves with qualifications equal to their non-Black counteparts and compete solely on the basis of qualifications. For centuries, the playing field has been deliberately unleveled in disfavor of Blacks. Which may explain the underepresentation of Blacks in the bar and bench. And suggests the need for affirmative action (which is nothing more than deliberately unleveling the playing field in favor of Blacks and other minorities).
I remember the sham of the Judicial Diversity Committee? This town has allot of growing to do. Judge Williams let us all down and all to cover Judge Green's crap. That's the kind of judges they want here.
black,, white or latino....... THE BAR and the JQC will not tolerate honesty or patriotism....... only corrupt lawyers may become arbitrators or judges.
We have a statue in the courthouse that stands for racism and inequality. We have judges here in Broward who lock anyone of color away while looking the other way when it involves the arrest of white politically connected people for worse crimes committed. What more would you expect from a justice system that's full of the most corrupt politicians in the State. Nothing.
Wrong! Hursey is far more qualified than Hurley. (Hursey is a class guy way overqualified for County Court....Hurley is a no class guy barely qualified for traffic court)
I can't believe any of you are surprised. Hurley is Crist's buddy and was seen having lunch with Maureen Jaeger the day before the interviews. It was probably to tell him to act surprised....
the governor is a politician, that says it all --no integrity. America becoming a socialist, i don't give a sh-- about anyone. lets all join the united nations and let the gov tell us all what to do.
we better change this system or we are doomed. do u really want the gov --(judges) running ur life.
people who create laws that protect them but gives them absolute power over u.
He also dated Ileana Almeida who is on the JNC that sent him up. Maybe Hurley will hire a black JA or clerk so it's not a total loss.