The Miami-Dade Bar Association has unveiled the results of its 2024 Judicial Poll, which provides attorney feedback on the performance of judges within the county.
Three judges, in particular, received “exceptionally outstanding” reviews from the lawyers who have appeared before them.
Lisa S. Walsh got the most accolades, with 255 “exceptional” votes in praise of the civil court judge, making her the No. 1 most-liked judge among the 49 on the ballot.
And with only a five-point gap, Circuit Criminal Court Judge Miguel M. de la O, with 250 votes, was in a close second.
In third place, and the only other judge to be scored in the 200-point range, was Mindy S. Glazer with 201 votes for being exceptionally qualified.
Glazer has been permanently assigned to Felony Circuit Court first appearances, as opposed to citizens having rotating judges. She often appears in news broadcasts remotely when those charged with crimes in the county come before the court.
Overall, the votes revealed more than 90% of the judges on the survey received favorable ratings.
Judges viewed as qualified or exceptionally qualified earned 94% of the vote.
The bar noted that 6% of judges were deemed unqualified by at least 40% or more of the attorneys who participated in the poll.
Judges with lower exceptional rating scores, according to the data, often had a much lower percentage of respondents.
For example, attorneys voting for de la O topped out at 58% of the respondents voting. while some judges only had 2% of respondents voting for them.
The poll, released Wednesday but conducted from June 26 through July 12, was accessible to all practicing lawyers in Miami-Dade County, regardless of their membership status with the voluntary bar association.
Twenty-six Circuit Court judges and 23 County Court judges in Miami-Dade County were on the survey, which included jurists up for reelection in this cycle, as well as candidates running for the bench, the bar said.
The poll allowed participants to rate judges on a scale of “exceptionally qualified,” “qualified,” or “unqualified.” Lawyers could also choose “no opinion” for any judge.
Stuart J. Weissman, a partner at Ratzan, Weissman & Boldt, is the Miami-Dade Bar president-elect.
He said these polls are the bar’s way of giving back and providing information.
“We in no way support one candidate over another or one judge over another,” Weissman said. “It’s just accumulating information amongst the lawyers in Miami-Dade County and providing this information not only back to the lawyers who are practicing in front of these judges but also to the judges themselves … through the Miami-Dade Bar Association.”
The Miami-Dade Bar poll has only been sent out in election years. But that could change soon, according to Weissman.
“As I go into my year as president, there’s been at least some consideration and thought given in the organization as to whether we do want to do this in off-election years, which would be next year,” Weissman said. “And I think that could be an interesting opportunity because it gives everyone advanced notice going into an election cycle the following year.”
The survey is open to all practicing lawyers, irrespective of their membership status with the voluntary bar association.
‘Disappointing Trend’
Jorge Piedra has long been associated with the Cuban American Bar Association, where he served on the board of directors for nine years and recently served as president.
Piedra is the managing partner of Kozyak Tropin & Throckmorton and thinks these types of polls are very valuable to attorneys.
“The Miami-Dade County Judicial Poll and the CABA Judicial Poll are invaluable tools, providing access to the attorneys’ opinions of the judges handling their cases as well as their qualifications,” Piedra said. “This important information enables the public to better evaluate the judges, and also enables the judges to better evaluate themselves.”
This year, ballots were emailed to 17,627 practicing attorneys, with 486 attorneys participating, marking a 2.8% response rate. “Every attorney’s feedback is valuable, and we look forward to increasing the visibility of this essential poll so that more attorneys participate next year,” Miami-Dade Bar Executive Director Bret Berlin said.
Jason B. Giller of Miami firm Giller was surprised at the low response rate, citing how easy it was to vote online.
“In my opinion, this reflects a disappointing trend of low social and professional participation throughout American society,” Giller said. “While the poll is not controlling, its concept and results are important so that the various judges can understand the perception of practicing attorneys.”
Giller said honest and unbiased feedback is generally a good thing and can help create an even better judicial system.
“As informed decision-making, or vote casting, is a critical ingredient of any healthy democracy, these types of polls should be performed more frequently, and I would even suggest made mandatory for members of the Florida or local bar associations,” Giller said.
83 Years of Tradition
As the oldest voluntary bar association in Florida, the Miami-Dade Bar has conducted this poll since 1941.
Highlighting its long-standing importance, Reginald Williams, then-president of the Dade County Bar Association, stated in 1956, “It is the duty of the organized bar to the public to weigh judicial fitness of candidates for judicial office.”
Echoing this sentiment, current Miami-Dade Bar President Charise A. Morgan said, “Our goal is to ensure that every attorney has access to the poll and has an opportunity to have their voice heard.”
Bar secretary and Personal Injury Committee chair Adam Finkel added: “While the MDB does not endorse candidates, we are dedicated to gathering data, educating voters, and fostering opportunities for the judiciary and the Miami-Dade County community to engage outside the courtroom. We welcome continued feedback and suggestions on ensuring all community members have access to the courts and can vote more confidently during elections.”
The bar’s executive director is also looking for additional insight. “Every attorney’s feedback is valuable,” Berlin said. “And we look forward to increasing the visibility of this essential poll so that more attorneys participate next year.”
Read the Full Results of the Survey Here
