Hi, I'm Fred Karlinsky ...2014 update - Jonathan Kasen's filing against Ian Richards has stirred the pot. There's talk of others jumping into the race, including former candidate Alan Bernstein, and at least one female. Mike Dutko is reportedly making calls on Kasen's behalf, while Glenn Roderman has committed his support to a Donnie Goodwin campaign, even if it's for the circuit seat currently occupied by John Bowman. Evan Hoffman is also mulling his options, and word on the street is his race will be very well funded.
Of course, most of the intrigue centers on why the establishment's Dutko has been pushing Kasen against a sitting judge in the first place, and whether/why his partner David Bogenschutz may also be motivated to see the end of the Judge Richards era. As far as the expected outcry concerning the targeting of one of Broward's few Black judges, it's been muted, at best. Chalk it up to Richards' unpopularity with the rank and file, after he reportedly authored an eventually dismissed anonymous bar complaint against a much beloved APD, who also worked for the SAO once upon a time.
Still, something does stink about the feeding frenzy that's been kicked off by the perception that one of Broward's few Black judges is low hanging fruit, and that it's A-OK to go after him. Accordingly, all eyes are once again on Howard Finkelstein, to see if he'll come to the rescue like he did in 2010. Others are hopeful Black leaders Perry Thurston, Chris Smith, Marsha Ellison, and Eugene Pettis will come through, since it's really not fair to always expect Finkelstein to do the heavy lifting. People are also anxious to see whether Satz is committed to keeping Black judges on the bench, since everyone agrees the State Attorney could make a huge difference in the Save Judge Richards campaign. Definitely a wait and see ...
But wait - there's hope yet. After two successive in-your-face political hook-ups, the JNC and Rick Scott have a chance to redeem themselves. The county seat once occupied by Stacy Ross has been opened up, and a Black lawyer could be appointed if we all work together. While the JNC has absolutely no credibility left, there is still a chance they could do the right thing this time around. If Richards is to be sacrificed, at least the JNC can make sure the number of Black judges will stay at their already pathetically (and institutionally racist) low levels. Tell everybody you know to apply before the September 5th deadline, and to call JNC Chair Fred Karlinsky to tell him Broward deserves better.
"Paul Backman calling... " - Howard Finkelstein takes us back to the year 2009, when everyone was wondering whether the transcripts of Gardiner& Scheinberg's depositions, taken during the appeal of the first Loureiro trial, would become public record. The general feeling was the transcripts could only hurt Gardiner, since it was believed she may have already been cleared by the JQC. No one can say for sure, of course, since all that JQC stuff is top secret, but once the transcripts did become public record, things certainly went south for Gardiner, who was still being called "Judge" at the time of her testimony in Palm Beach.
In any event, imagine our surprise when Finkelstein recently told us he had once received a call from Paul Backman, under the mistaken belief that the Public Defender was ordering the transcripts. That's right, a sitting JQC member had called Howard back in '09, ostensibly to help Gardiner. Shocked, the following text was sent to Backman earlier today:
Howard Finkelstein said you called him when you were still on the JQC a few years ago and asked him why he was ordering transcripts of Gardiner's testimony taken by Carey Haughwout and Rogow before Satz agreed to a second trial in Loureiro .. he said he told you he wasn't ordering them and felt you were trying to discourage him from doing so as he felt it was implied doing so would hurt Gardiner ... it's going on blog so I wanted to offer you a chance to respond. Did it happen? If so, why? Was the Gardiner matter already before the JQC? And did the JQC investigate you because of Howard's claim? Please call me at 954 605 6413 or text back if you would like to make a statement or clarify any issues ...
Backman replied as follows:
I suggest you direct your inquiry to the JQC as that would be the appropriate place to make your inquiry. As you well know any matters that may or may not involve the JQC are by constitution strictly confidential and any further comment would be inappropriate and in violation of the judicial canons.
So there you have it. Another odd detail in the Gardiner fiasco. We'll be addressing this one further, as well as all kinds of questions concerning how the JQC and Bar handle matters when one of their own stands accused ...
Coming Soon - Why does the Bar allow judges to complain anonymously?;Scheinberg'sthree, count 'em, three Grievance Committees;An open email to Eugene Pettis; Who wants to be the new Chief Judge?
Remember when you were young?
APD'sLarry Davis, Lynn Sharon, Bobby Diaz,
Rob Jakovich,and Barry Butin ...
(circa 1984)