The Miami Herald recommends
FOR BROWARD COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER
Broward County Public Defender Howard Finkelstein breezed into office unopposed in 2004, when he took over the post long held by Alan Schreiber. Mr. Schreiber was an effective but controversial public defender who spent thousands of dollars on consultants, nutrition seminars, fancy furniture and happy-hour daiquiris in his office. After taking over, Mr. Finkelstein tossed the daiquiri machine and made equal legal representation for all indigent defendants his mantra.
He is opposed by Alex Arreaza and Gary Ostrow, both criminal-defense attorneys. Mr. Arreaza is running a credible campaign while Mr. Ostrow has run into trouble: He was arrested in Tallahassee in May for cocaine possession and is being sued by a former client's family.
In any case, Mr. Finkelstein, 55, has earned a second term. He has transformed the office from a political base where staff were pressured to contribute to selected candidates into what Mr. Finkelstein calls ``a place for the people.''
For Mr. Finkelstein that means having enough well-trained lawyers to give poor defendants a robust defense. This includes ensuring that all defendants are treated fairly in court by judges, Mr. Finkelstein says.
He has been known to take on worthy crusades. Public defenders often work with society's lowliest and least likable. In the 1990s, Mr. Finkelstein used the case of a brain-injured defendant to push for changes in how Broward treats mentally ill people accused of crimes.
For Broward County public defender, The Miami Herald recommends HOWARD FINKELSTEIN.
I assume that the Miami Herald is basing their recommendation on the fact that he has a tv show. I have heard that his leadership has brought the morale of the pd's office to an all time low. I am now more convinced to never Ever take any credence to the Miami Herald.
If elected, Alex will bring back the Daiquiri machine and force his employees to contribute to his campaign.
This is payback for all the stories he gives to the media. Finkelstein breezed into office because of Schreiber, let's not forget finkelstein is part of that good ole boys' club and always will be. Finkelstein got what he felt great political figures should have opposition, looks like he may have had to work a little bit for this one.
Your analogy couldn't be further from the truth. Howard and the top people of the PD's office have done a good job. Your constant maligning of him personally belies the personal problem you seem to have with him and not the issues that really matter.
WELL EARNED AND DESERVED
Arreaza is running a "credible campaign"? That's a good one. I think the Miami Herald went out on a limb on that one. It's anything but credible.
Hey, Dead Wrong, I agree with you. BUT, we must admit to ourselves that he is running a credible campaign and making valid arguments which, unfortunately, Finkelstein is not answering. The failure of the PD to answer Arreaza's allegations are disturbing and causes one to pause.
FYI
For those of you who are not aware our Human Right Commissioner Shak Danji is running for Sheriff. Many around the Courthouse will remember Shak as the one who stood up to Dale Ross and Jay Spechler about how people were treated around here. It is obvious that Shak is the most feared candidate in this race because Barbra Miller, Rick Lemack's campaign manager as well as Mike Staz campaign manager is spreading rumors in the press about Shak's wife and other lies. What Barbra Miller wont tell you is that disgraced fired Judge Spechler is a major fundraiser and advisor to the Lemack campaign. There can be no doubt Spechler will get all BSO mediation work if Lemack is elected. If you want diversity and new leadership, free of Hollywood corruption, vote Shak for sheriff.
NOTHING THAT HAS ANY CONNECTION TO SPECHLER WILL DO. FREE US FROM HOLLYWOOD CORRUPTION PERPETRATORS.
What about the mentally ill judges we have here in Broward? What's he gonna do about them?
mentally ill you must be talking about broward's public defender?
It’s a shame that the Herald is endorsing Howard since any Asst. Public Defender who works in the office knows he needs to do more for his employees. It is not a place for people. It’s shameful really when you compare him to the other Public Defenders. Let us have a look at Miami. The PD in Miami is currently seeking to stop accepting non capital felony cases. That is because the assistant public defenders are so bogged down with cases, they may not be able to provide effective assistance of counsel. Has Howard done anything about it here in Broward? Is that a problem only in Miami? Howard, has taken a wait and see attitude. As in he will wait to see what happens in Miami.
And in Palm Beach the Public Defender Carey Haughwout actually has a caseload. Does Howard have any cases? No. Imagine a Public Defender not just talking a big game, but one that is actually a criminal defense attorney and in court regularly. I keep reading Jaabers post that Howard was a great trial lawyer back in the day. What day? In the 80’s? How about the other chiefs? How many years has it been since they went to trial? They should get a caseload and get to work!
It seems to me Howard speaks for Howard. This “wait and see attitude” is old. This let the supervisors eat cake attitude is unbelievable. Instead I wonder if our lives as Asst. PD’s might not be less stressful if we had a leader in the trenches. If Howard and the others chiefs spent some time handling cases in court then our case count might be more manageable. At least they would see what goes on in court these days. Each PD has too many cases. Perhaps if chiefs had cases they might not be so out of touch. Finally, if they (the chiefs) were not so out of touch they would get it together and give us a much deserved raise from the money saved from the people that quit (and that have not been replaced) in the recent months.
Again…who knows? In closing, we attorneys may want to have a look at the other candidate. At least he has been to court this year.
The Herald's endorsement of Finkelstien hammers home the last nail in Alex's coffin. The game was over almost before it was started, but now it's time to put Ross & Co's candidate to bed for good. So long and farewell.