"FRIENDLY EARS" CHARLIE
Major Rockstar
(sold out concerts guaranteed for at least 4 years)
Governor Crist was at the Riverside Hotel today, as the featured guest in the Sun-Sentinel's Dueling Columnists luncheon forum series. JAABLOG was there, thanks to the largesse of attorney Fred Goldstein, brother of Sentinel columnist Stephen Goldstein.
The packed room included local politicos Nan Rich, George LeMieux, Ellen Bogdanoff, Sheldon Schlesinger, Beverly Kennedy, Paul Eichner, Bernie Bober, and editors from the Sun Sentinel. Many others went unrecognized.
JAABLOG managed a little interaction with Governor Crist. Our hastily scribbled question during
the Q & A:
"We have only three African-American judges in Broward County out of 90 total, although
African-Americans make up 25% of the population. You haven't appointed a single
African-American yet, although qualified names have been submitted to you.
Can you commit to rectifying this gross disparity and can you start to do it quickly?"
The Governor's response was that he wants to fix the problem, but he's not getting enough African-American applicants. He has reached out to the NAACP and others, he said, to try and get more qualified minority lawyers to pick from. He also ran through a short list of African-American appointees he has made to other positions.
The Governor's answer was smart and predictable, yet incorrect in one crucial regard. He clearly stated that he has not yet had an African-American candidate's name put to him for consideration from Broward. Whoa. Did he really say that? Yes, others at the table confirmed. Governor Crist believes he has not yet been afforded any Black applicants for consideration from our Judicial Nominating Commission.
Those of you who follow this kind of thing know that General Magistrate Ken Gillespie's name was submitted along with Phoebee Francois and Michael Hursey, comprising three of the six names he had to choose from for the County seat which ultimately went to Jay Hurley. So what's up? Was the Governor not telling the truth? Did his staff completely fail him? Did he even see the applications, complete with pictures, before he made his choice, or did someone else choose for him? Was he simply forgetting due to the large number of judicial appointments he has made?
Your trusty JAABLOG correspondent was taken aback until realizing something the Governor said earlier, in response to a question regarding the recent appointment of Supreme Court Justice Canady: Governor Crist personally interviews every candidate for Circuit judge and above. He does not, apparently, meet with County applicants. That could explain his forgetfulness, although everyone knows the applications have a photograph attached. Oh well.
Whatever happened, the Governor believes he does not have African-American candidates to choose from. He wants minority lawyers to come forward, so he can fix the problem. Without applicants, he says, he is powerless.
What does he look for in judges in general? "Fairness, integrity, kindness, compassion, and intellectual ability." He does not consider party affiliation (yes, he really said that), looking for those with "good hearts, a willingness to listen, and the ability to serve with a servant's heart." Regarding Justice Canady, he said he did not have any philosophical considerations in making the appointment, pointing out the fact that Canady's father was heavily involved in Florida Democratic politics. He also added he thought Democrat Bob Butterworth would be high on a list for Supreme Court consideration.
After the luncheon, JAABLOG made a point of confronting the Governor on the 3 of 90 issue again. Governor Crist was presented a copy of "Blacks Need Not Apply?", and agreed it was a serious matter. We took the elevator ride with him, and were able to explain that he had been given three names for the Hurley seat, before he was safely ensconced in his shiny new black Tahoe. In response to our statements regarding the political climate and problems in Broward's broken court system, he said "your words are falling on friendly ears, get me the applicants."
It was an enjoyable afternoon. Hopefully the Governor will remember the issues when the next applicants go up. Or maybe not. What is apparent is that the Broward Bar, the Broward Judiciary, Messrs. Satz and Finkelstein, and our local African-American organizations should strongly encourage minority lawyers and rally behind them. The Governor should never again be allowed to "forget" the minority applicants before him when he is choosing who will judge our minority/majority community. Ever.
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Sentinel Broward Politics Blog: Crist says he'll appoint...if they apply
I think it should be "minority" applicants. After the last attack on hispanics I think that there should be an effort to end the racism period. Not just against blacks but against hispanics as well.
Let me get this straight...
You go to an event claiming to be an actual member of the media. You ask questions of Govoner Crist as a member of the media. You publish the "interview" on the blog. Yet in the end you will not write your name as the "reporter"?
How do you expect yourself or this blog to be taken seriously?
I dont disagree with your questions and the problems that exist for which to ask them, but I dont understand why you will not write your name as the reporter?
And after all this: Maybe you'll refrain from your criticism of Mr. Ian Richards for bucking a corrupt political judicial system and going right for the target of filing against a sitting judge amidst all the hoopla about black judges getting appointed.
I give the man nothing but credit.
And I've got news for you broken down political pundants: I think he'll be there for as long as he does a good job! Quite unlike a few sitting judges whose days are numbered.
Gosh, A-Turd, even as dumb as you are, I thought your would have figured it all out by now. You some critic. Stick to your midnight deliveries. It makes you more plausible as a judicial broker wannabe.
I guess the Governor has never looked at the app. of Michael Hursey!
It's alarming how this Blog is only concerned with African Americans and not other minorities. This sends out a very bad message, i.e. only African American minorities need apply. The good thing is that JAAB members and associates, unlike the people I know, have no pull with the Governor. Notwithstanding JAAB's slight of minorities other than African Americans, my people will work with this fine Governor to get diversity on the Broward bench. That means gender, racial, religious, ethnic and sexual orientation diversity, not just African Americans. I trust this governor's commitment to diversity and I personally know the future is bright.
In the mean time JAAB may want to take a good look at itself and it's policies of hatred and divisiveness.
With all the venomous vitriol spewed on here, JAAB may also want to consider that compassion is a virtue.
Dale Ross is going to accuse you of carrying a boom box if you're not careful.
Those who don't pay attention to history are condemned to repeat it. Ian Richards was a lazy assistant state attorney in Miami Dade. He pulled a fast one on the stupid voters of this county. Now he will make a fool of himself. In 6 years Ian Richards will be history. You can't make chicken salad out of chicken sh--
Hey, Charlie can appoint all the minorities he says he wants to and doesn't, but the fact remains that the voters of Broward have the ultimate trump card.
We know what we have too little of. Why don't we ever read about what we have too much of. A disproportional number of Jewish judges. Do you think a few of them would give up their cushy jobs in order to make things more equitable? Yeah, right.
Wow, A-Turd, you are so on the inside!! Been peeking into the Governor's thoughts now? Funny how all your people are looking for new jobs now!
This is the reason he shouldn't appoint blacks and hispanics because they are only going to lose to someone with a Jewish surname.
Like all the compassion Dijols has been showing the last couple of days? Is that what you mean you pedantic idiot? You and your people must be real saints!
5:01 sounds like Marshall Williams vitriol. Somebody hit a raw nerve.
Typical republican double talk! God, this State really is filled with the worst swarmy politicians imaginable. First appointing their personal friends and fund raisers to judicial positions in Broward and then lying about the number of qualified black judicial applicants?
Very good interview if you call call it that. What about qualified people just running for office?
Gellin, you really are shameless.
Dijols was not Governor Crist's doing.
Take it out on Scherer and Bush.
We are not saints, but we do try to do the right thing. Mike Hursey will be appt not this time, but maybe the one after. Gillespie will be appt in time. He's been practicing only 11 years, but he is qualified and will be a judge one day. Phoebe Francious (sorry about spelling) is not qualified. Other qualified African Americans - Perry Thurston, Bill Cone, Charlie Levy, in time Kathy Achille, Gordon Weekes.
Somebody somewhere will always be upset about why they were not chosen for a free ride. What about all the qualified people that should run? Shouldn't they be given some support?
Anybody there form the TJ Reddick Bar?
"I trust this Governor's commitment to Diversity"? Is that before or after Hurley was appointed?
How can you trust a man that has been engaged 2 times because he thought it would favor his position (pardon the expression) in goverment, then miraculously it didn't happen either time.
Crist is also a man who gives great lip service to get elected (Like so many others), then back-peddles because he thinks it will favor him.
Voted for him once, won't make that mistake again.....like some other judges I voted for.....
How is Hurley doing in Mag Court? I think come January Vic Tobin should put Ian Richards in there. By the way, Ian, Mag Court is the court one is taken to within 24 hours of arrest.
To 5:27 You mean like Ian Richards?
I'd vote for Ian Richards again!
We know you will Mr Richards. But very few will vote for you the next time.
Mag Court is a testing ground. Hurley should be there for at least a couple of years.
You know Ian Richards doesn't read this blog. You've said it over and over again. Make up your mind. He just gave an interview to this blog, remember?
I've asked it before and never received an answer. Although the population of Broward is 25% black, this is not the pool of attorneys who can apply for a position. You need to find out what percentage of lawyers practicing in Broward are black and this should be roughly the number of black judges on the bench.
This got bumped based on the new posting on Charlie Crist, but though it should be seen.
The phantom posted this "from a computer in a hotel lobby" per his post a few hours ago.
http://i477.photobucket.com/albums/rr135/PhantomFauxtoshopper/FunFunFuntilDaddytooktheCorvette-3.jpg