Posted on 03/28/2007 10:43:26 AM PDT by george76
The two judges who oversaw the Anna Nicole Smith cases in Florida's Broward Circuit Court are swapping jobs -- at least temporarily.
Chief Judge Dale Ross ordered the moves Tuesday in the wake of complaints and a newspaper editorial that Circuit Judge Lawrence Korda should be moved out of family court until his misdemeanor drug charge is resolved.
Korda, who briefly oversaw the paternity dispute involving Smith's baby daughter, was cited on March 18 for possession of one marijuana cigarette weighing less than 0.1 gram. Police said they caught him smoking pot in a Hollywood, Fla., park.
Circuit Judge Larry Seidlin, who gained national fame for his courtroom theatrics during the Anna Nicole Smith body custody case, will move from the probate to the family division to make way for Korda.
Chief Judge Ross said in an interview that he hopes the swap is temporary, and the judges can return to their respective divisions when Judge Korda's marijuana case is resolved.
As a family division judge, Korda made decisions concerning the welfare of children, often ruling if parents under the influence of drugs or alcohol are fit to retain custody.
Ross said the move was necessary to maintain the public's trust and confidence in the judiciary.
Ross declined to comment on why Judge Seidlin was the one to give up his spot.
This is the second major shuffle of the Broward judiciary in the past six months. In November, Ross reassigned several judges to different divisions, including moving Broward Circuit Judge Cheryl Aleman from the criminal division to the civil division.
That move was cheered by members of the Broward criminal defense bar.
(Excerpt) Read more at biz.yahoo.com ...
Thank goodness she wasn't taking anything illegal.
I believe that it was Judge Larry Seidlin who was crying and trying to get a TV job.
Man Gets Probation for Dead Deer Sex
1010wins | 21 March 2007 6:15 PM EDT
Posted on 03/21/2007 11:45:17 PM EDT by Calpernia
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/1804739/posts
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