Scott J. Silverman

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9+12 years in prison after he was convicted of driving under the influence, causing serious bodily injury to a state trooper on I95. [9] [10]

On May 1, 2001, Silverman sentenced Roberto Suarez to life imprisonment plus 35 years fatally burning TV psychic Addy Tejeiro and blowing up her shop. [11]

On June 15, 2001, Silverman vacated Jerry Frank Townsend's two Dade County, Florida murder convictions and a rape conviction. Townsend, who had served 22 years in prison for those convictions and four other murder convictions emanating from Broward County, Florida, was ordered released by the judge after DNA evidence demonstrated Townsend had not committed the crimes to which he had confessed and was found guilty. [12] [13]

In November 2001, Silverman sentenced a former Miami-Dade patrol officer to state prison after the officer was convicted of unlawful compensation and official misconduct for purportedly pressuring a 19-year-old motorist into having sex instead of ticketing her. [14]

In November 2001, Silverman presided over a case in which two Hialeah police officers, both sons of the Chief of the Hialeah Police Department, were charged with battery and official misconduct. Both defendants were acquitted by the jury. [15]

In April 2003, Florida Marlins pitcher Liván Hernández entered a plea before Silverman. The 1997 World Series MVP accepted a plea agreement after Hernandez allegedly swung golf clubs at a 65-year-old man in Miami. [16]

In February 2004, as part of negotiated plea with prosecutors, Silverman sentenced Stephen "The Rifleman" Flemmi of Boston's Winter Hill Gang to concurrent terms of life without parole, plus 30 years for the 1982 slaying of John B. Callahan, a Boston accountant and former World Jai Alai president. [17] [18] Also, as part of a negotiated plea with prosecutors, John Martorano pleaded guilty before Silverman to second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder for the 1982 slaying of Callahan. [19]

In November 2008, Silverman ruled that the members of the American Legion could continue in their Alhambra Circuit clubhouse. The City of Coral Gables wanted the structure back so it could possibly develop the property into offices. [20]

In 2009, Silverman declared a mistrial and dismissed a case. During a momentary sidebar, the plaintiff texted information to its testifying witness on matters relating to the case. [21]

Notable litigants whose cases have appeared before Silverman include Lil' Wayne, [22] former Green Bay Packers fullback Najeh Davenport, [23] and Robin Givens. [24]

Awards and honors

He received the Judge Harvey Ford Leadership Award, presented by the Conference of County Court Judges of Florida, in 1998. [25] [26]

He received the Herbert Harley Award, presented by the American Judicature Society, in 2000. [2] [27]

He received the 2007 Silverman Award, presented by the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Historical Society. [28]

Silverman was inducted into the Miami Beach Senior High School Hall of Fame in 2010. [29] He was a 2010 recipient of the Public Service Award from the Attorneys' Division of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation. [30] [31]

Silverman received the Justice Award, presented by the League of Prosecutors of Florida, in 2011. [32] He was the 2011 recipient of the David C. Brotemarkle Award, presented by the Florida Historical Society. [33]

Videos

Silverman, wrote, directed, produced and narrated, The Dade County Courthouse: A History in Progress, in 2003. The 43 minute video premiered before the Dade County Bar Association. The video is shown during orientation to all prospective jurors in Miami-Dade County. [34]

Silverman, wrote, directed, produced and narrated, Groundbreaking. The 8 minute video was shown to all attendees at the groundbreaking for the restoration of courtroom 6-1 of the Dade County Courthouse on May 15, 2007. [35] [36]

Bar polls

Scott J. Silverman
Circuit Court Judge, 11th Judicial Circuit of Florida
Assumed office
1999
Bar Poll Results (rounded off)
OrganizationCombined Exceptionally Qualified & QualifiedUnqualified
2010 Dade County Bar Association [37] 95%5%
2010 Cuban American Bar AssociationCell BCell C
2005 Dade County Bar Association [38] 91%9%
2004 Dade County Bar Association [39] 90%10%
2004 Cuban American Bar Association95%5%
2002 Cuban American Bar Association95%5%

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