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.

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

MAGISTRATE PETER PALERMO HAS PASSED AWAY

Judge Palermo has passed away. 



Both of our  Brethren South Florida Blogs covered the death of Federal Magistrate Peter Palermo at 97, but the nod goes to DOM who has the newspaper article  announcing Palermo's appointment to the newly created position as federal magistrate. Judge Palermo was one of the two first federal magistrates in the Southern District. We didn't know that.  And as both blogs point out, he was a gentleman, a wise judge, a WWII hero, and a wonderful and caring man and a pillar of our community. He was truly one of the greatest generation. 


YOU'RE IN...YOU'RE OUT.
Well, here's a big problem that we're happy the legislature is working on. 

Florida House Bill 9 will make it a 1st degree felony, punishable up to 30 years in prison and $10,000 in fines, to “knowingly be” in the state of Florida after being issued an order of deportation.  

Rumpole wonders, why just a 1st degree felony? Why not a 1st degree PBL?Or even better, a 1st PBL with a 25 year minimum mandatory. Sure, if we catch em here when they don't belong here, lets pay for their upkeep for the next half a century. That will show them. Or even better- why not a capital felony? Execute em all and let the good lord sort em out. 

This is an example of the typical election year "yokel-tough-on-crime" crap that legislators introduce to help with their re-elections or their further political careers. The problem is that some of this stuff gets enacted and the next thing you know Florida taxpayers are paying to warehouse a generation of people because Billy-Bob wanted to make the leap from State House to State Senate and campaign that he was tough on illegal immigrants. 

See You In Court. 






21 comments:

Anonymous said...

Peter was a real nice guy.

Anonymous said...

What a character he was ! Had a great sense of humor

CAPTAIN JUSTICE said...


Judge Palermo was a member of The Greatest Generation.

Anonymous said...

rumpole, the florida supreme court missed the boat on this one. they are advertising office of conflict counsel for 3 years because they forgot to have applicants reapply after 4 which is what the forming statutes specified.
Will Gene Zenobi run for 3 years or retire? you know all, what do you think? this post in no way is to disrepect magistrate palermo.

Anonymous said...

Judge Palermo was definitely a character! He will be missed.

As to the legislation - should simply propose an amendment that the courts order them on a one-way bus trip to a sanctuary city. #winning

Anonymous said...

this blog is always mourning expiring judges and lawyers. could rump be among those soon to expire? i always get the impression that rump and the captain grew up around the second world war. they sound like old geezers

Secret Judge said...

Judge Palermo was very kind to me. Truly a distinguished life. On another note, presidential candidate and huckster extraordinaire Donald J. Trump today asked this question, referring to President Obama's plan to bring 10,000 Syrian refugees to the United States. "Is he insane?" Seems like a logical question to ask.

Anonymous said...

Why is accepting Syrian refugees insane? They're victims in a civil war.

Scott Saul said...

A very amusing aspect of criminal law are the federal misdemeanor and traffic cases held before these federal magistrates. The "defendants" don't seem to quite understand that they are in front of prominent tribunals. Palermo had such a great sense of humor and toleration when presiding over those "people court" type of cases.

With so much unnecessary pomp and circumstance in federal court, Palermo was a real down-to-earth guy with a great sense of self deprecating humor.

He'll be missed.

Anonymous said...

Zenobi gets it again hands down.

Anonymous said...

10,000 Syrian refugees? We will be seeing Judge Palermo soon.

RIP everybody

the trialmaster said...

Had a mediation with Peter on a small civil case about a year or so ago. He held it in his large chambers in the old post office building. He entertained me and o/c for several hours in the morning about his war days, his son adventures, the vast building going on in pinecrest. He lived at the intersection of Kendall Drive and Ludlum in a pale green house on an acre of more. When he bought it Ludlum did not even exist as it does now going to US 1. Finally we realized that Peter was never going to truly mediate our case and we would be there all day. So o/c and I went to lunch together and settled the case over a ham sandwich. Peter was a truly unique man and a true pleasure to be around. I will miss him as I am sure many others. He always put out a large lite sign for the holidays which said'The Palermos wish all a Merry Christmas". I wonder if it will be put out this year.

Anonymous said...

5 days after a Syrian refugee took part in the murder of 129 people in Paris, I think it is quite okay to question the logic of bringing 10,000 of them to the U.S. at this time.

Anonymous said...

I think the fed FPD is also open for applications.

Anonymous said...

how about letting all these refugees go to europe since we have been defending them since 1945 at a cost of over 100 billion, nato is the us. they don't spend money on defense so they have healthcare for all (england). if we have them here stick them all in az and nmexico.

Anonymous said...

2:59 : One (possibly) Syrian refugee and 7-8 other French and Belgian nationals. I think it's okay to question the logic of allowing the French to come into our country.
Let's start turning away all AirFrance flights? And the attack in Beirut? May have been a Lebanese national. Perhaps we shouldn't allow them?
Call the hotels on the Beach and tell them their French tourists aren't coming this year because some of them are terrorists.

Anonymous said...

Shumie time. Long couple of days.

CAPTAIN JUSTICE said...


The Captain Reports:

Gov. Scott Proposes $8.5 Million for FDLE to Enhance State Crime Laboratories;
Funding will help Florida law enforcement process more rape kits.



TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott announced that he will propose $8.5 million for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to fund a variety of enhancements for Florida’s crime laboratories. This includes funding for lab equipment, DNA database upgrades, and crime scene vehicles, which will reduce the turnaround time for processing evidence, including rape kits.

Governor Scott said, “The $8.5 million investment we are announcing today is critical to giving innocent victims the answers they rightfully deserve, including the thousands of women who have been victims to absolutely horrific, violent crimes. I look forward to working with the Legislature and Attorney General Pam Bondi this upcoming legislative session as we continue to make our state safe for all families.”

Cap Out .....
Captain4Justice@gmail.com


Anonymous said...

We can allow some widows and orphans at least. We are trying to show the world how a great "christian" country acts right?

Wesettle.com said...

So sad.

Wesettle.com said...

So sad to hear it.