Cazual Conversation
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Grammer no ordinary Joe
February 25th, 2008, 10:12 pm · 6 Comments · posted by mcazalas
Gov. Charlie Crist has in his hand the names of four candidates for a soon-to-be-open circuit court judgeship.
Crist also has in his hand a chance to put a good candidate in the position, or once again fuel the emotions of those who believe the governor is hell-bent on punishing anyone or anything involved in the Martin Lee Anderson case.
Crist made his point with his refusal to reappoint the medical examiner selected, twice, but a local search committee. Many believe that was a direct reprisal for Charles Siebert’s role in the case, including his findings in the case and testimony at trial that a jury chose to believe.
Now Crist has four names, and two of them belong to prosecutors at the State Attorney’s Office.
One of those is Joe Grammer, a long-time prosecutor, former journalist, graduate from the University of Georgia (gotta throw him a bone with that one), and one of the better-respected folks we’ve dealt with in that office.
He’s made the short list for judgeships three times, which says something about his qualifications.
I can’t speak to the other candidates, not knowing them very well. I know Basford as a top-notch prosecutor who believes in what he does and who does a good job. One wonders if his chances are skewed due to his place of employment.
The real issue here is that the best person get the job. If it’s not Grammer, and it’s because the governor finds one of the other candidates best qualified, so be it.
If it’s not Grammer because of his place of employment, Crist’s ratings drop lower here - no small feat - and it becomes more evident that he is choosing to do what he thinks is right for us, rather than what is right for us. There is a difference; we are not children.
No matter the qualifications of the other candidates, there’s no doubt here that Grammer, given the opportunity and freed to be his own boss as a judge, is the kind of person who will listen to both sides, walk into a courtroom with an open mind, have some compassion, treat the people in his court with dignity, and, as often as he can, do the right thing.
And that, really, is what being a judge should be about.
I’m a little bit in the dark…why do you think Crist has a personal agenda? I’m aware he’s made some moves that have cut cross-grain with a lot of locals, but a personal agenda? Can you tell me why you think it is personal? I’m not being argumentative, I just don’t know the answer to the question. (And if you don’t either…well maybe you should have re-phrased that portion of the article.) I mean, couldn’t it just be “more evident that he has opinions that are not shared by many in Bay County?” Alleging the possibility of a personal agenda seems to beg the question, “why?”
I’m a little bit in the dark…why do you think Gov. Crist has a personal agenda? I’m aware he’s made some moves that have cut cross-grain with a lot of locals, but a personal agenda? Can you tell me why you think it is personal? I’m not being argumentative, I just don’t know the answer to the question. (And if you don’t either…well maybe you should have re-phrased that portion of the article.) I mean, couldn’t it just be “more evident that he has opinions that are not shared by many in Bay County?” Alleging the possibility of a personal agenda seems to beg the question, “why?”
(Belaugered Taxpayer: You are right. I’ve amended it. Any thoughts on which of the four would make the best judge?)
That went better than expected. To answer your question, I don’t knowy any of the four candidates for the appointment. I did know (informally) Mr. Grammer’s father and met the younger Joe on several occasions. I was always impressed with both gentlemen.
I believe that Caz is inferring that Crist took a quick stand on the Boot Camp matter and believed it occurred as stated in the press. Crist appointed an outside prosecutor, removed the head of FDLE and supported the financial pay off to the victim’s family.
Then the trial came and the defendents were found not guilty. Crist lost some credibility. Some felt that Crist did these things for political reasons.
I think that is what Caz may have been hinting at. That Crist may not do the right thing but the political thing. Then again maybe Caz has spent to much time in his deer stand. The altitude affects his thought patterns sometimes.
About Crist: his actions, in my opinion, show both politics and spite.
I’m not sure you have the chronology correct. Gov. Bush was in office when MLA died. FDLE was removed from the lead investigative role in favor of the Hillsborough County prosecutor (Mark Ober) during the Bush administration. The FDLE commissioner was not “removed” from office, instead he resigned and it as under the Bush administration. (By the way, I didn’t agree with his decision to resign.)When Crist took office I recall him meeting with the parents and their attorney Benjamin Crump. From there he fast-tracked the settlement much the same way Frank McKeithen did. The fast-track was adopted because the state’s legal counsel (and the county’s liability insurer) advised both Crist and McKeithen that going to trial put the State of Florida and the BCSO in a vulnerable position. If you’re interested go back to Sheriff McKeithen’s statements at the original news conference after the MLA death. He was nearly ashen and all but said there had been wrongdoing on the part of the boot camp personnel. (i.e., “things were done wrong,” and “I’m not defending the actions” or similar words). The sheriff and Gov. Crist both felt the actions of the boot camp guards would subject the taxpayers to a much larger civil judgment than settling the case without a trial. Given the acquittals McKeithen seems to get a free ride locally on that decision while Crist is vilified. Enough history (and my chronology may not be letter perfect), my question was “why does Crist have a personal agenda?” Caz originally implied (not inferred) that he had one but moved away from that stance when I questioned it. Mike and I agree VERY seldom but in this case he responded in a professionally responsible manner and edited the text of his blog to remove the implication of the governor having a personal agenda. I appreciate his willingness to do that.