INTEMPERATE JUDGES TARNISH JUSTICE SYSTEM

Broward Bench's 'Rough Patch' Needs Effective Reforms

Maybe Gerald Kogan, a former Florida chief justice, is right. Maybe
Broward County's judicial bench is just going through "a rough
patch." Or maybe the serial missteps by Broward judges is part of an
endemic problem -- say a lack of diversity in Broward courts, or
insularity in a county where judges rarely face reelection challenges.

In The Eyes Of The Law

Whatever the cause, the buck stops with Chief Judge Dale Ross. He
must take steps to repair Broward courts' tarnished image caused by
errant judges or make room for a leader who can. The latest gaffe
comes from Criminal Administrative Judge Charles Greene. After a jury
delivered a not-guilty verdict in an attempted first-degree murder
case in April, the judge made a remark that court insiders link to
minorities and others considered less than equal in the eyes of the
law. The case, which involved a black defendant, black victims and a
black witness, is an "N.H.I.," Judge Greene told lawyers.

"N.H.I." is shorthand for "No human involved," a phrase from the
1970s used to describe why some crimes against prostitutes and gay
and black victims were not pursued as vigorously as those against
white victims. On Monday Judge Greene lamely explained that he was
describing how the jury regarded a witness' testimony. That doesn't
wash, coming from a seasoned criminal-trial judge in a justice system
known to have its biases on occasion. Later, seeing the harm this
insensitive comment could do to criminal courts' credibility, Judge
Greene asked to be reassigned.

Before this incident, there was Circuit Judge Lawrence Korda's
request to be reassigned after he was arrested in a public park for
allegedly smoking pot. Also, there was Circuit Judge Larry Seidlin's
media- inspired melt-down while presiding over proceedings to decide
where Anna Nicole Smith's body would be buried. Circuit Judge Cheryl
Aleman is fighting misconduct charges for alleged mistreatment of
attorneys and defendants. And Judge Ross did himself no favor when he
pleaded ignorance last year to the practice of some Broward judges to
conceal court cases on secret dockets. The Florida Supreme Court
subsequently barred use of secret dockets.

Sarcastic Comments

After several Broward judges were accused of making racially and
ethnically offensive remarks, Judge Ross last June ordered all judges
and magistrates to attend sensitivity training. Some balked, which
doesn't reflect well on his authority. Judge Ross took the course,
but still made sarcastic comments about Hispanics and rap music at a
March hearing. Hello, Broward judges: This is the 21st century in
diverse South Florida. If you can't handle these realities with
respect and dignity for all, get another job.