JUSTICE BUILDING BLOG

WELCOME TO THE OFFICIAL RICHARD E GERSTEIN JUSTICE BUILDING BLOG. THIS BLOG IS DEDICATED TO JUSTICE BUILDING RUMOR, HUMOR, AND A DISCUSSION ABOUT AND BETWEEN THE JUDGES, LAWYERS AND THE DEDICATED SUPPORT STAFF, CLERKS, COURT REPORTERS, AND CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS WHO LABOR IN THE WORLD OF MIAMI'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE. POST YOUR COMMENTS, OR SEND RUMPOLE A PRIVATE EMAIL AT HOWARDROARK21@GMAIL.COM. Winner of the prestigious Cushing Left Anterior Descending Artery Award.

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

NEWS

Several sources confirm that John Thornton is now Judge John Thornton.

Congratulations!



Explosions in NYC this evening on 34th and Lexington appear to be a steam pipe explosion and "not terrorist related." What a shame that we live in a time where that has to be said.

BROWARD DIVERSITY COMMISSION NO LONGER DIVERSIFIEDJudge Elijah Williams resigns from the commission: "I will not be carrying the white man's water..."

The Herald REPORTS

Judge Elijah H. Williams -- the first black judge to be appointed to the Broward bench in 20 years -- resigned Tuesday as the chair of the court's recently created diversity board, accusing the county's chief judge of interfering with the board's mission.
The resignation comes one day after a new chief judge was elected in an effort to restore a sense of dignity to the bench, whose judges have come under scrutiny for a series of insensitive remarks.
In a hand-delivered letter to acting Chief Judge Mel Grossman, Williams angrily denounced Grossman for a meeting he had with diversity board lawyers without his knowledge.
...

Chief Judge Dale Ross created a diversity board, a four-member committee charged with raising cultural sensitivity on the bench. Ross is recovering from hip surgery, with Grossman serving in his stead during his recovery.

In a strongly-worded response, Williams said he should have been included in the meeting and that Ross had given the board ``carte blanche authority to field diversity complaints, etc.''
'. . . I made it clear to Chief Judge Ross that I would not be `carrying the white man's water,' '' Williams wrote in the letter to Grossman. ``More importantly, I told the chief judge that I would look at these issues from a different perspective and he agreed not to control, hinder or influence me in any manner.''
Rumpole says: not a very promising start for the administration of new chief Judge Tobin. Say what you want, but give Judge Williams credit for speaking his mind.
Do we have a diversity commission in Dade?
Do we need one?
Does anybody carry anyone else's water in Dade?
I thought I saw one Judge carrying a Cafe Con Leche to another Judge's chambers the other day, but does that count?
See you in Court. Plus a substantial reward to any attorney who gives Judge Williams a silver bucket to commemorate his brave remarks.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

im no fan of ross or his minions, but its like an atomic knee-jerk reaction for williams to play the race card.

what did having a meeting without williams have to do with race? how did that make him feel he was the house-n*****?

i dont know what happened there but there's more to this story, as always, in broward.

Rumpole said...

EXPLOSION IN NYC- BUSH ANNOUNCES INVASION OF PARIS- "This will not stand! I'm a wartime type president and we will rout al queda from the french if we have to bomb all of Paris to do it."

Traffic jam in LA- Bush announces invasion of Japan! "They build all those damn cars and sell em here...now let them face american justice."


Democrats hold all night hearings on War in Iraq- Bush invades Germany. "It worked before" huffs angry President.

Geez...this could be fun if I really spent some time thinking about it.

Rumpole said...

YOU MUST GO TO THE BROWARD BLOG AND READ JUDGE WILLIAM'S FULL LETTER. IT IS A BARN BURNER. THE LINK TO THE BROWARD BLOG IS ON THIS BLOG'S FRONT PAGE.

YOWZA!

Anonymous said...

Rumpole you O.K. drinking a bit this evening?

Anonymous said...

For Williams to do what he did is brave no matter what his agenda. Although some idiot will file a JQC complaint against him for slamming another member of the court.

Anonymous said...

Judge Thornton well deserved. However, he could have and should have done more pro bono work over his career.

Another well connected lawyer getting gavor returned. When is the last time any lawyer who is a bottom feeder been appointed by a Gov. to the bench?

Judge John Thornton.
Congratulations!

Rumpole said...

8:43- no but, I have this new bottle of "Gentleman Jack" that a client gave me just sitting on the kitchen counter next to a bottle of coke (coca cola for all you wiseguys). So now that you mention it, it seems like a very good time to give it a try. Cheers!

Anonymous said...

My very best to John Thornton. He has always been a true gentleman, even in the midst of battle. It is a trait that he will need in his new surroundings. Well deserved!!

Hope that Dave Rothman can cope - think that they were legally joined at the hip.

Anonymous said...

A call to the Q's office today was answered with the information "he was not available" and "would be in Atlanta for the next few days." Hmmm...a new big client named Vick??

Anonymous said...

To David [Rothman]:

Since you're the last lawyer out, please turn off the lights.

Fred
Kevin
John

Anonymous said...

John Thornton should have done more pro bono work?

Thank god you can post anonymous, because that has got to be the dumbest statement ever made on this blog. John has done more probono work in this career than most, you complete idiot.

Anonymous said...

Let me add my voice to the well-deserved chorus of congratulations to Judge Thornton who is another excellent and surprising decision from Gov. Crist. It has been years since a man of his high intellect and character has been appointed. I would dare opine that his former colleagues Kevin Emas and Fred Moreno are perhaps the best Circuit and Federal Judges presently sitting. Judge Thornton will no doubt both follow and honor their tradition. Only Judge Rothman remains off the bench now.

Anonymous said...

Like Water for Williams - did you read the letters from Judge Grossman and Judge Williams first before you made your comments on the blog regarding the issues? Or is it your practice to pop off at the mouth without first familiarizing yourself with the facts? I guess we can see why you won't use your name.
Christian Dunham

Rumpole said...

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Anonymous said...

IF THE NYC STEAM PIPE WAS NONTERRORIST THAN WHY HAVE A PRESS CONFERENCE WITH THE CHIEF OF POLICE, FIRE ETC. BEHIND YOU LIKE THEY DO FOR ALL THE TERRORISM STORIES. IF IT WAS JUST A STEAM PIPE EXPLOSION THE MAYOR SHOULD HANDLE IT HIMSELF AND ONLY HAVE CONED THERE.PEOPLE-THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS ATTACKS ON US SOIL SINCE 9/11 BUT WE ARE CHILDREN AND CANNOT BE TOLD OF THEM. DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY TRAIN DERAILMENTS AND EXPLOSIONS AT CHEMICAL PLANTS THERE HAVE BEEN SINCE 9/11-SEVERAL DOZEN, THE PLANE THAT CRASHED IN QUEENS 2 WEEKS AFTER 9/11 ETC. WE ARE NOT SHEEP.