I'm surprised this hasn't been posted yet

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/loc...tory?track=rss

I'm still picking pieces of this judge out of my ass. He screwed me Oh
so royally!!!

Anyone have any thoughts about the possability of going back to court
for another hearing?

Here's the story:

I love this!

Longtime Broward judge accused of smoking pot in Hollywood park

By Paula McMahon & Marlene Naanes
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Posted March 20 2007


HOLLYWOOD -- Broward Circuit Judge Lawrence Korda is facing a
misdemeanor charge of marijuana possession after city police officers
said they busted him for smoking pot in a Hollywood park Sunday
afternoon.

The judge played a role in the Anna Nicole Smith case when he briefly
handled a small part of the paternity battle over the former Playboy
centerfold's infant daughter. Korda, 59, was not arrested but was
issued a notice to appear on April 26 in the satellite courthouse in
Hollywood.


Court and state law enforcement records show no prior legal problems
for the judge so he could qualify for a first-time offender pre-trial
drug diversion program. But the allegation he used an illegal drug
could result in a complaint to the Judicial Qualification Commission
and possible discipline, several legal experts said. If the judicial
watchdog agency found his conduct violated judicial rules, he could
face a reprimand or removal from the bench. Anyone can file a
complaint with the commission. Korda could not be reached for comment
despite messages left with his judicial assistant and at his chambers
Monday. It was not clear if he had hired an attorney. His assistant
said he was on the bench Monday presiding over a trial.

Also unclear was whether Korda, a Family Court judge, would remain on
the bench while the charge is pending. The Judicial Qualification
Commission said Monday that no complaint has been filed with the
agency so far and, at this point, it is up to Broward's Chief Judge
Dale Ross to decide if Korda should continue to work until the case is
resolved.

Through a spokesman, Ross said he had not yet decided what to do.

At about 2 p.m. Sunday, three officers who were in Stanley Goldman
Memorial Park noticed Korda smoking a joint while sitting on the
ground next to a tree in the park, Hollywood police spokesman Capt.
Tony Rode said.

"They said they smelled a very strong odor of what they found to be
marijuana," Rode said. "They followed the smell to a gentleman sitting
under a tree. He was actively smoking the marijuana cigarette as they
approached him."

The officers, who were in plain clothes and exercising while on-duty
as permitted by department policy, said the joint tested positive for
marijuana, Rode said. Most people accused of smoking pot are issued a
ticket instead of being arrested, he said.

"The overwhelming majority of people who are detained for a marijuana
cigarette are given a notice to appear," Rode said.

The judge, who lives in Hollywood, was cited for misdemeanor marijuana
possession. Police records said Korda had one marijuana cigarette.

The officers did not know who Korda was until they asked his
profession.

"He at no time asked for preferential treatment," he said.

Korda comes from a respected legal family and his sister, Miette
Burnstein, was a circuit judge until her recent retirement. Korda was
elected to the bench in 1978 and has worked in the Family Court
division for more than a decade. He also served on the juvenile bench.
He attended The Citadel military college in South Carolina before
getting his law degree.

A longtime child advocate, Korda has served for many years on the
board of the Children's Services Council of Broward County.

Korda has been accused of insensitivity. All of Broward's judges had
to attend sensitivity training last year after a series of events
involving several judges. The final straw, said leaders of local
minority bar associations, was a December 2005 incident when Korda
berated a woman seeking a restraining order for speaking her native
Spanish instead of English. Korda eventually apologized.

Lisa Metellus-Hood, former president of the Haitian Lawyers
Association, and a critic of Korda's, said she thought clients
appearing before Korda might be disturbed by the marijuana allegation.

"Probably the public would be more taken aback because as judges,
their job is to chastise people and tell them what to do," she said.

Larry S. Davis, a prominent Hollywood attorney, said he has known the
judge since Korda worked as a public defender at the state psychiatric
hospital.

"His whole career has been working with children and disadvantaged
people," Davis said. "He fought for the underdog always."

Paula McMahon can be reached at or
954-356-4533.

On Apr 11, 11:21?am, "R" wrote:
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/loc...ge20mar20,0,14...

I'm still picking pieces of this judge out of my ass. He screwed me Oh
so royally!!!

Anyone have any thoughts about the possability of going back to court
for another hearing?

Here's the story:

I love this!

Longtime Broward judge accused of smoking pot in Hollywood park

By Paula McMahon & Marlene Naanes
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Posted March 20 2007

HOLLYWOOD -- Broward Circuit Judge Lawrence Korda is facing a
misdemeanor charge of marijuana possession after city police officers
said they busted him for smoking pot in a Hollywood park Sunday
afternoon.

The judge played a role in the Anna Nicole Smith case when he briefly
handled a small part of the paternity battle over the former Playboy
centerfold's infant daughter. Korda, 59, was not arrested but was
issued a notice to appear on April 26 in the satellite courthouse in
Hollywood.

Court and state law enforcement records show no prior legal problems
for the judge so he could qualify for a first-time offender pre-trial
drug diversion program. But the allegation he used an illegal drug
could result in a complaint to the Judicial Qualification Commission
and possible discipline, several legal experts said. If the judicial
watchdog agency found his conduct violated judicial rules, he could
face a reprimand or removal from the bench. Anyone can file a
complaint with the commission. Korda could not be reached for comment
despite messages left with his judicial assistant and at his chambers
Monday. It was not clear if he had hired an attorney. His assistant
said he was on the bench Monday presiding over a trial.

Also unclear was whether Korda, a Family Court judge, would remain on
the bench while the charge is pending. The Judicial Qualification
Commission said Monday that no complaint has been filed with the
agency so far and, at this point, it is up to Broward's Chief Judge
Dale Ross to decide if Korda should continue to work until the case is
resolved.

Through a spokesman, Ross said he had not yet decided what to do.

At about 2 p.m. Sunday, three officers who were in Stanley Goldman
Memorial Park noticed Korda smoking a joint while sitting on the
ground next to a tree in the park, Hollywood police spokesman Capt.
Tony Rode said.

"They said they smelled a very strong odor of what they found to be
marijuana," Rode said. "They followed the smell to a gentleman sitting
under a tree. He was actively smoking the marijuana cigarette as they
approached him."

The officers, who were in plain clothes and exercising while on-duty
as permitted by department policy, said the joint tested positive for
marijuana, Rode said. Most people accused of smoking pot are issued a
ticket instead of being arrested, he said.

"The overwhelming majority of people who are detained for a marijuana
cigarette are given a notice to appear," Rode said.

The judge, who lives in Hollywood, was cited for misdemeanor marijuana
possession. Police records said Korda had one marijuana cigarette.

The officers did not know who Korda was until they asked his
profession.

"He at no time asked for preferential treatment," he said.

Korda comes from a respected legal family and his sister, Miette
Burnstein, was a circuit judge until her recent retirement. Korda was
elected to the bench in 1978 and has worked in the Family Court
division for more than a decade. He also served on the juvenile bench.
He attended The Citadel military college in South Carolina before
getting his law degree.

A longtime child advocate, Korda has served for many years on the
board of the Children's Services Council of Broward County.

Korda has been accused of insensitivity. All of Broward's judges had
to attend sensitivity training last year after a series of events
involving several judges. The final straw, said leaders of local
minority bar associations, was a December 2005 incident when Korda
berated a woman seeking a restraining order for speaking her native
Spanish instead of English. Korda eventually apologized.

Lisa Metellus-Hood, former president of the Haitian Lawyers
Association, and a critic of Korda's, said she thought clients
appearing before Korda might be disturbed by the marijuana allegation.

"Probably the public would be more taken aback because as judges,
their job is to chastise people and tell them what to do," she said.

Larry S. Davis, a prominent Hollywood attorney, said he has known the
judge since Korda worked as a public defender at the state psychiatric
hospital.

"His whole career has been working with children and disadvantaged
people," Davis said. "He fought for the underdog always."

Paula McMahon can be reached at or
954-356-4533.

You could argue his ruling was obviously done under the influence.
Probably wont fly but sure to get some press.

And he was involved with the Anna Nicole Smith case, what a surprise there!
I don't know whether you can get this idiot kicked off the bench, but
that doesn't mean you can't have some fun with it. Start passing out
munchies in front of the court. How about playing old Grateful Dead and
Phish CDs? The possibilities are endless!

On Apr 12, 8:07�am, John Meyer wrote:
And he was involved with the Anna Nicole Smith case, what a surprise there!
I don't know whether you can get this idiot kicked off the bench, but
that doesn't mean you can't have some fun with it. *Start passing out
munchies in front of the court. *How about playing old Grateful Dead and
Phish CDs? *The possibilities are endless!

It's funny..

The only thing my judge ever did was a traffic ticket...

Believe me..I checked...