Sarasota judge says he did nothing wrong in handling Smith case

Miami Herald ^ | 2-6-04 | VICKIE CHACHERE

[cherry]

the first case he was convicted on was when he bashed in a woman's head with a helmet....he got something like 60 days for that...

the second case was a slam dunk case with a witness and even the prosecutors were stunned by the not guilty verdict of the jury...

In between he has had several drug arrests...

you have to know that one arrest for a crime probably means that the perp has done several crimes that he got away with completely.

[Cubs Fan]

Nonsense? This type of person wanders our streets every day. If we lock them all up we would need another planet to hold them.

Oh palllease. the guy was a career criminal in every sense of the word, and he violated probation, so duh, he should have been re-jailed (if probation isn't to be enforced then what the hell is it for?). This judge should do the right thing and kill himself. He's the reason this little girl no longer exists just as much as Smith is.

[jimbo123]

Barbs fly over why suspect wasn't jailed (Liberal judge enabled Carlie's killer)

[Cubs Fan]

Unless this guy was known to be violent or predatory, I don't think non-payment and other probation violations would be any kind of indication that he would do what he did.

He WAS predatory, violent, and a career criminal. And this judge had every duty to rejail him for violating his probation (if not then what the heck is probation for?). If he had done his job as he was supposed to this girl would still be alive. He is every bit as culpable as Smith is.

[Mamzelle]

Harry Rapkin, Harry Rapkin. So, they named him.

[Mamzelle]

Oh, yes, from a standpoint of reason, it is blatantly unfair to blame this judge/lawyer.

That's probably why I'm enjoying watching him get blamed--lawyers profit from this very unfairness every day. One is running for president right now. They drag the innocent into court, blame them for not possessing magic wands and crystal balls, and wind up a rich and grinning candidate with a woman's hairdo.

Could be this is one of those decent lawyers that come along now and then and doesn't deserve it...

Nah.

[Truth29]

Word association game: Judge, lamp post, rope.

[Godfollow]

Make it a class action lawsuit... I'll sign my name to it as an aggrieved parent.

[Dante3]

The previous kidnapping case went to the jury. The defense lawyer argued (even though the victim testified against him and there were two witnesses to support her) that he was trying to prevent her from jumping into the traffic. The jury found him not guilty. That victim was on MSNBC yesterday.

[Dante3]

Of course Judge Rapkin did wrong. And this wasn't the first time. He has now at least three strikes against him that we know -- there was an arsonist and a child molester that he gave a mere slap on the wrist.

Judge Rapkin should at the very least be impeached. He is either corrupt or totally incompetent. And yes, he does bear part of the blame for Carlie's death.

[sandydipper]

Bureaucrats - it's the oldest pony in town - deny you are at fault and blame someone else.

[Dante3]

Or his lawyer will go shopping for an OJ/Durst jury or the jury that acquitted him in a case that shocked the prosecutor and many others.

[NonValueAdded]

Judge Harry Rapkin, J.D. Seton Hall University - 1968, 12th Judicial Circuit, Appointed to Circuit Court - May 1992

I was going to post his picture but then thought better of it. I couldn't quickly find out when this judge is up for his next retention hearing but I hope our Sarasota FReepers don't lose track. Let's help those exceedingly slow wheels of justice grind this guy out. Also, in looking at the supervisor of elections page, I was reminded that this is Katherine Harris' district. As a U.S. Rep, her power to do something at the Circuit Court is limited but I have to assume she is not without influence here.

Finally, while rage will be vented at Rapkin and deservedly so, let's not forget the judges that let this guy be on probation in the first case. Lte's make sure ALL the actors in this tragedy get their rewards, not just the supporting cast.

[NonValueAdded]

From another thread on the same subject, this "judge" is up for a retention vote in 2004. FReep on!