What is the role of the judge?

[debgeisler]

According to the Judicial Ethics Handbook (quoting an older document) a judge has a four-fold responsibility: "A judge should (1) hear courteously (2) answer wisely (3) consider soberly (4) decide impartially."

The courtroom is about the people there to resolve disputes, and about coming to justice. It is not about providing a venue for a jurist's self-aggrandizement.

Well, at least that's the case most places in the U.S. It is not evident, however, from national coverage of one Broward County courthouse. As CNN's coverage notes,

CNN's senior legal analyst, Jeffrey Toobin sharply criticized Seidlin for allowing lawyers to squabble for days followed by dramatic but marginally relevant testimony.

"This may be the most ridiculous legal proceeding I have ever watched," Toobin said. "This judge is one of the least competent judges I have ever seen. He is letting this thing meander all over creation, mostly because he seems to enjoy being on television."

Court TV anchor Lisa Bloom says it's all "wearing a little thin."

Closer to home, Seidlin also has critics. According to the Miami Herald, 22 percent of the lawyers responding to the 2004 Broward County Bar poll found Seidlin unqualified.

A blog of the Justice Advocacy Association of Broward concludes that Seidlin is, among other things, a victim of "his inner comedian."

Rarely have I seen such public vilification of a jurist. And it seems so well deserved...

Comments

[cakmpls.livejournal.com]

According to the Miami Herald, 22 percent of the lawyers responding to the 2004 Broward County Bar poll found Seidlin unqualified.

I think it's far more remarkable that they got 78 percent of any group of lawyers to agree that any one person is "qualified"!