Volunteer on Election Day!

Justices Quince, Pariente, and Lewis need your help on election day, according to the DCBA:

As you know, Justice R. Fred Lewis, Justice Barbara Pariente and Justice Peggy Quince are asking Floridians to vote "yes" in this election to retain them on the Florida Supreme Court. While the DCBA does not take any position on ballot issues, many of our members have asked us how they can support the three Justices in this crucial election.

The campaigns are looking for at least two volunteers per shift to pass out literature at early voting locations and on election day. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the following coordinators today:

Nadean Stone (305) 374-6366 nadean@ratzanlawgroup.com  

Anna Quintana (305) 371-3666 aquinta@fdlaw.net

Ana Gomez (305) 371-3111 agomez@goldfarbpa.com

In other news, Palm Beach County Judge Barry M. Cohen is in trouble for speaking his mind about our drug laws:

The Judicial Qualifications Commission panel filed formal charges with the Florida Supreme Court on Wednesday, alleging that Judge Barry M. Cohen has abused his position by using it as a "bully pulpit" and undermined his impartiality through his comments. The panel cited Cohen's comments from the bench, in written orders and at public forums.

Cohen has been accused of saying, among other things, that minorities are disproportionally arrested and jailed for drug trafficking, law enforcement officers may be motivated by the race or status of suspects and blacks do not feel free to exercise their constitutional rights in the county.

The judge's lawyers linked the allegations against Cohen to recent attacks on the judiciary they say are threatening its independence.

"Judge Cohen will vigorously defend himself against allegations which infringe on the ability of judges to perform their duties in an independent manner," wrote attorneys Scott Richardson and Donnie Murrell.

They added that Cohen is confident a full airing of the allegations "will demonstrate he has performed his duties ethically and honorably."

Ok, what the Judge said seems pretty accurate to me -- is truth a defense?

Finally, in more election-related news, I see Gerry Richman is going after the Palm Beach County GOP chair for what he calls a "frivolous" lawsuit against commission candidate David Levy:

Attorney Gerald F. Richman, who represented Levy in the case, called the suit “frivolous,” and said that Levy has asked a judge to force Dinerstein to pay his attorney’s fees. He pointed to a state law that allows defendants to recoup their fees if a judge finds that a lawsuit is not “supported by the material facts.”

Richman had argued that Levy was not required to get his financial disclosure form notarized.

“The point of all of this is, this is absolute evidence that the lawsuit was frivolous,” Richman said. “It basically shows to me that this was a political ploy to cause David Levy to undergo expenses. I would call it an act of desperation on the part of the party.”

Circuit Judge Catherine Brunson last week denied Dinerstein’s request for an injunction to block Levy from the ballot. Dinerstein sued Levy and Supervisor of Elections Susan Bucher last month, alleging that the disclosure form, filed in June, was not stamped by a notary. Notary Marilyn Jacobs signed and dated the form but did not put her seal on it.

Dodger Arp, Dinerstein’s attorney, said the suit was legitimate.

“We don’t have a frivolous lawsuit,” Arp said. “My clients decided that they have had their day in court, we decided to drop it. The court has spoken and we respect that.”

Dodger Arp -- is that a real name?

Ok I checked, yes it is, a former Marine to boot.