Posted on 09/08/2001 7:09:45 AM PDT by Donald Stone
Florida lawyers look to Bush for jobs
By Kathryn Quigley / Cox News Service
06-18-01
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- George W. Bush needed the help of dozens of Florida lawyers to win the president's job.
Now dozens of Florida lawyers need Bush's help to win jobs as federal judges or U.S. attorneys.
Thirty-five lawyers and judges, including a half dozen from Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast, are applying for one of two federal judge openings in South Florida.
A former Palm Beach County state attorney is vying to become U.S. attorney in North Florida, the top federal law enforcement job between Pensacola and Gainesville.
Seeking the U.S. Attorney's position in South Florida -- a job that involves a good deal of international crime by dint of Miami's global connections -- is Miami lawyer Mark Wallace, one of Bush's key point men during the South Florida recount.
The applicants are screened by the state's judicial nominating commission, which is headed by former U.S. Attorney Roberto Martinez of Miami.
While the jobs are non-partisan, the finalists will be selected by Gov. Jeb Bush and U.S. Reps. Clay Shaw of Fort Lauderdale and Bill Young of Indian Rocks Beach -- all Republicans. President Bush will nominate one of the finalists for each open job, subject to Senate confirmation.
The 93 U.S. attorneys across the country serve at the pleasure of the president and often get shuffled out of their jobs when a new chief executive takes office. But even though the jobs last as little as four years, they can be tickets to higher office or lucrative private jobs.
Guy Lewis, the current U.S. Attorney in South Florida, is one of eight applicants for the job he holds now. Other candidates include Wallace and Marcia Cooke, Gov. Bush's chief inspector general. The South Florida district extends from Key West to Vero Beach. U.S. attorneys are paid $125,700 per year.
David Bludworth, the state attorney in Palm Beach County from 1972 to 1993, has applied for the U.S. attorney's job in the North Florida district. Bludworth, a Republican, ran for Florida attorney general in 1998, but lost to incumbent Bob Butterworth. He also ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate in 1982 and the Florida Senate in 1994.
Coincidentally, two federal judgeships are open in South Florida because one judge retired last year and Congress added a new bench position this year. Each job pays $145,100 per year and is a lifetime appointment.
Palm Beach County Circuit Judge Kenneth Marra and Treasure Coast Circuit Judge William Roby are among the 35 people seeking a judgeship. Also applying are lawyers Kenneth Lipman of Boca Raton, Glen Torcivia of West Palm Beach, Jack Cox of Palm Beach Gardens and Diana Lewis of West Palm Beach. Roby, who presides over family court in Vero Beach, said he was thrilled when Gov. Bush appointed him to his current job last year. "I live being a judge," he said. "It's invigorating." Roby, who lives in Stuart, is a former civil lawyer who specialized in commercial litigation. He is a former member of the Martin County Republican Executive Committee and, before he became a judge, contributed to Republican candidates like Frank T. Brogan and Gov. Bush.
Marra, whose voter registration shows no party affiliation, would not comment about his application. He has been a circuit judge since 1996, when he was appointed by then-Gov. Lawton Chiles. Before becoming a judge, Marra was a partner in the firm of Nason, Gildan, Yeager, Gerson & White, where he specialized in commercial law.
Torcivia, a registered Democrat, applied for the state's 4th District Court of Appeals in 1998 and said he would make a good federal judge because he is a good listener and decision maker.
Torcivia, of West Palm Beach, said 70 percent of his civil law practice is in federal court. He handles a lot of civil rights cases and also represents businesses and local governments. As an assistant county attorney from 1984 to 1989, he helped set up the Health Care District of Palm Beach County and the Children's Services Council.
Lewis, of West Palm Beach, is a shareholder in the law firm of Carlton, Fields. She specializes in medical malpractice, products liability and health law. She is a registered Democrat.
She has been practicing law for 20 years and said being a federal judge would allow her to learn new areas of law. "I think it's the next level for me -- to face a new challenge," she said.
Lipman, of Boca Raton, tried twice before to become a federal judge. In 1991, he was one of three finalists for a federal judge spot in South Florida and he re-applied in 1993 after President Clinton came into office.
Lipman, a registered Republican, was an assistant U.S. attorney in West Palm Beach from 1980 to 1984, and has practiced a mixture of civil and criminal law since. "It's been a lifelong dream to be a U.S. judge," he said.
Cox, of Hobe Sound, echoed that sentiment. Last fall, he unsuccessfully ran for Treasure Coast circuit judge against incumbent Bob Hawley. Cox has also applied to be a 4th District Court of Appeal judge. But the federal spot is his goal. "It's a very important honor," said Cox, a Republican.
Some of the candidates regularly donate money to political campaigns, according to state and federal campaign finance records. The most active contributor among local candidates was Lipman, who gave $500 to George W. Bush's campaign, $500 to Jeb Bush's 1998 campaign, and $5,250 to former Sen. Connie Mack before the Republican decided not to run again last year. Mack's campaign returned $1,000 to Lipman, according to federal election records.
Lipman's wife, Dr. Madelyn Lipman, also gave money to George W. Bush and Mack.
Both also gave money to some Democratic candidates: Kenneth Lipman to Florida Attorney General Bob Butterworth and former state Rep. Curt Levine of Boca Raton, and Madelyn Lipman to Congressman Robert Wexler of Boca Raton. "I support whomever I think is the best person," Kenneth Lipman said.
What a non-story. It is like this whenever there is an opening, regardless of who is President.
This article provides some insight into that process as Bush replaces Clinton appointed U.S. Attorneys.
Inquiring minds want to know, Don.
You know what it is I seek, too.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.