Richard Kaplan for Clerk of Courts!Laura Watson 1, Miles McGrane 0 - Laura Watson is rattling the JQC's cage. The normally staid proceedings have been turned upside down by her refusal to simply go along to get along, and by her invitations to media and the public to attend hearings which normally pass unnoticed. Watson wants a "fair, complete open public trial", and isn't afraid to ruffle some feathers to get it.
On Tuesday, her office doors were thrown open for all who cared to observe a telephonic status conference concerning various motions she's filed relating to JQC jurisdiction and transparency regarding relationships amongst panel members, witnesses, and special prosecutor Miles McGrane. Others attended by phone, including Adolfo Pesquera, who has an article running tomorrow in the DBR which clearly lays out the procedural history of the case and presiding judge Kerry Evander's rulings.
The hearing was a hoot. Watson, representing herself, tenaciously laid out her arguments. "Prosecutorial misconduct" was mentioned, with Watson stating at one point the proceedings were "an attempt by Mr. McGrane to serve his buddies", namely JQC witnesses looking to recoup a settlement previously ordered against Laura Watson, PA. Watson even wondered aloud whether Evander himself was "fair and impartial", with McGrane categorizing Watson's demands regarding disclosure of relationships "purely a fishing expedition". As to procedural issues, Watson stated at one point "I have no idea what they're claiming I did", as the prosecution went on to seemingly contradict itself as to whether or not the Rules of Civil Procedure apply to JQC proceedings.
Expect a lot more fun on this one. Evander, to his credit, acknowledged the uniqueness of some of the issues presented, and is keeping an open mind. In the meantime, Watson is anticipated to dig deep into the degrees of separation between panel members, many of whom held important posts at the Florida Bar in the past, so there should be plenty of bad blood brewing. If there is a trial, Watson believes it should take six weeks, with McGrane estimating only three or four days in total. In the end, let's hope everything is done properly and thoroughly, since due process is something that should be afforded everyone, including accused judges ...
Fun with lawyer websites - "All this shit in the car man" - click the link for a slick video over at Richard Bellis, Esq., and click here to see Jose Izquierdo's site, who bills himself as "the go-to lawyer for local news channels ABC, NBC, CBS, and Telemundo". Sorry Howard Finkelstein and Roy Black, but your services will no longer be required ...
Wednesday Reversals:
Jeff Colbath - Reversed and Remanded in Part; Merrilee Ehrlich - Reversed and Remanded; Bob Pegg - Reversed and Remanded; Ken Gillespie - Reversed and Remanded; Don Hafele - Reversed and Remanded; Merrilee Ehrlich - Reversed and Remanded; Sandy McSorley - Reversed and Remanded; Barry Cohen - Petition Granted; Charlie Burton - Petition Granted.
Coming Soon - Referral Madness - Just how lucrative can being on the Florida Bar's Board of Governors be?
A typical Florida Bar investigation (see what sticks) ...