Nov. 6, 2009

--Legal Profession--

TOUR OF ROTHSTEIN'S OFFICE REVEALS GALLERY OF WHO'S WHO-- The Miami Herald, http://www.miamiherald.com, Nov. 6, 2009. [Also: ROTHSTEIN SURROUNDED SELF WITH SECURITY-- Sun-Sentinel, http://www.sun-sentinel.com, Nov. 6, 2009; INVESTIGATORS PROBE ROTHSTEIN'S REAL ESTATE DEALS-- Daily Business Review, http://www.dailybusinessreview.com, Nov. 6, 2009; BANKS UNDER SCRUTINY AS INVESTORS LOOK FOR CASH-- Daily Business Review, http://www.dailybusinessreview.com, Nov. 6, 2009].
From The Miami Herald: Fort Lauderdale lawyer Scott Rothstein's office was a secured inner sanctum, complete with video cameras, second entrance and hidden private elevator. It also was a shrine to himself, plastered with photos showing Rothstein embracing powerful politicians, framed thank-you letters from charities and candidates he lavished with generous donations, grown-up toys like red Ferrari model cars, and a Richard Nixon action figure. Amid a federal investigation into allegations that Rothstein was running a massive Ponzi scheme, his law partners at Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler invited the media to tour the private office Thursday [Nov. 5]. The tour came just hours after FBI and IRS agents raided the firm at 401 E. Las Olas Blvd. Wednesday night [Nov. 4]. Agents left at 3:15 a.m. Thursday with 44 boxes of documents, including financial and computer records and a key to Rothstein's Ferrari. The Florida Bar has opened a file against Rothstein following a complaint filed Tuesday [Nov. 3].

--Judiciary--

JUDGE ORDERED TO APPEAR-- Florida Today, http://www.floridatoday.com, Nov. 6, 2009.
A Brevard County judge charged with implying in campaign material last year that her opponent and his supporters were corrupt will appear before the Florida Supreme Court next month for a public reprimand. The high court ordered Michelle Baker to appear Dec. 8 before the panel of judges in Tallahassee for the reprimand. She must pay a $25,000 fine, over three years, per the court's approval Thursday [Nov. 5] of sanctions recommended by the Judicial Qualifications Commission.

JUDGE TO GET PUBLIC REPRIMAND FOR BEING FRIENDS WITH CRIMINAL-- Daytona Beach News-Journal, http://www.news-journalonline.com, Nov. 6, 2009. [Also: SUPREME COURT TO REPRIMAND TWO FLORIDA JUDGES-- WEAR Pensacola, http://www.weartv.com, Nov. 6, 2009].
From the Daytona Beach News-Journal: The Florida Supreme Court decided Thursday [Nov. 5] that a Volusia County judge will be publicly reprimanded for breaking rules of judicial conduct -- by being friends with a career criminal. It will be up to voters to decide whether Judge Mary Jane Henderson, an 18-year veteran of the court, should remain on the bench when she's up for re-election next year. Henderson, 55, of New Smyrna Beach admitted to the Judicial Qualifications Commission that she violated the state's code of Judicial Conduct. She responded to a request for comment Thursday that she was just trying to help Henry Ford Wheeler, who has more than 60 arrests, to sober up.

--Civil Justice Issues--

FLORIDA JUSTICES CONSIDER MEDIATION FOR FORECLOSURES-- The Florida Times-Union, http://www.jacksonville.com, Nov. 5, 2009.
Mediation would be a good way to expedite a flood of mortgage foreclosures, members of a foreclosure task force said Wednesday [Nov. 4], but some disagreed on the details in oral arguments before the state Supreme Court. Florida's courts are currently trying to cope with more than 290,000 foreclosure cases. A majority on the high court's Task Force on Residential Mortgage Foreclosures recommended trying mediation on owner-occupied homes before cases go to court, with lenders picking up the tab. Minority members said mediation should be offered only if ordered by a judge, and the costs — an estimated $750 per case — should be split 50-50 between lenders and borrowers. Chief 12th Circuit Judge Lee Haworth of Sarasota said borrowers who have the means to pay should have "skin in the game."

COURT RULING MAY TRY TO DEFINE FAMILY, BUT TWO BOYS ALREADY KNOW WHAT IT MEANS-- St. Petersburg Times, column, http://www.tampabay.com, Nov. 6, 2009.
The column by St. Petersburg Times columnist Sue Carlton states: "Martin Gill never meant to be here, waiting to hear from the courts any day now, at the edge of what may be a monumental decision on whether gays can adopt in Florida.  It was two little boys that did it. Authorities brought them to Gill and his partner five years ago in Miami, a 4-month-old baby and his 4-year-old half brother. The two men had been foster parents to several kids, but this time they planned to say no. They hoped to adopt one day, and to do that, they planned to move to Georgia. Yes, to more-progressive Georgia. Because here's a not-so-fun fact about the Sunshine State: We're the only state in the nation to flatly refuse to allow gay people to adopt under a 1977 Anita Bryant-era law."

TELL IT TO THE JUDGE-- Orlando Sentinel, editorial, http://www.orlandosentinel.com, Nov. 6, 2009.
The editorial states: "To end school busing 13 years ago, Orange County district officials made a passel of promises to a federal judge. Promises of a standardized plan for school construction and upkeep. Promises to steer extra money and benefits to a quartet of schools potentially devitalized by the move. And promises of accountability through yearly reports and independent reviews. What is now clear, however, is school officials might just as well have made those promises with fingers crossed."

ACLU LAWSUIT: PALM BEACH COUNTY'S WOEFUL GRADUATION RATES SHOW FAILURE OF FLORIDA'S EDUCATION POLICIES-- The Palm Beach Post, http://www.palmbeachpost.com, Nov. 6, 2009.
Incited by poor graduation rates in Palm Beach County, The American Civil Liberties Union sued the state Thursday [Nov. 5], alleging it failed to ensure that all students receive the high-quality education guaranteed under the Florida Constitution. The ACLU sued the school district directly last year, but the case was dismissed on the grounds that the district was not the right party to sue. Now the national and state arms of the ACLU are bringing a class-action suit against the state on behalf of Palm Beach County students and parents. The lawsuit, filed in Palm Beach County Circuit Court, does not seek monetary damages but asks a judge to step in and set goals for increasing the graduation rate over time. About a quarter of Palm Beach County seniors do not earn a diploma or GED after four years, according to the school district's own calculations. That number creeps up to 40 percent among black students. The lawsuit also alleges that the district is being generous with its math.

--Legislature--

LEGISLATIVE PANEL VOTES AGAINST ENDING SANSOM INVESTIGATION-- Tallahassee Democrat, http://www.tallahassee.com, Nov. 6, 2009. [Also: HOUSE PANEL TO CONTINUE PURSUING SANSOM PROBE-- Miami Herald/St. Petersburg Times Tallahassee Bureau, http://www.miamiherald.com, Nov. 6, 2009].
From the Tallahassee Democrat: A special legislative panel refused to call off its investigation of former House Speaker Ray Sansom on Thursday but agreed to proceed carefully and protect his legal rights in court. Committee Chairman Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, said the panel will hold a trial-like hearing in the week of Jan. 25 for Sansom. Attorney Stephen Dobson wrote to the panel last month, after Circuit Judge Terry Lewis dismissed most of the criminal case against Sansom. The state is trying to reinstate the charges against the Destin lawmaker, who was indicted on perjury and official misconduct charges with former Northwest Florida State College President Bob Richburg.

Nov. 5, 2009 Daily News Summary

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