Pubdate: Thu, 03 May 2007 Source: Miami Herald (FL) Copyright: 2007 The Miami Herald Contact: http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/262 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. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman