Larry Seidlin

Larry Seidlin (born May 24, 1950 in The Bronx, New York) was a State Court judge for the Circuit Court of the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of the State of Florida in and for Broward County. He was the presiding judge during the infamous Anna Nicole Smith body custody hearing after her death. Seidlin is married with one young daughter. Among other institutions Seidlin received his education at Hunter College.

Anna Nicole Smith trial

As judge during the Anna Nicole Smith body custody hearing, Judge Seidlin made one-liners and other attempts at humor which some who know him said was normal for him, but led to speculation that his actions and comments were for the cameras in the courtroom and were made as an attempt to secure a courtroom television show similar to Judge Judy's.[1] The judgment was given in what some have viewed as an overly theatrical style, with the Judge weeping and fumbling his words, though others close to him have said that his courtroom conduct was genuine.[2][3]

However, South Florida lawyers advise that Seidlin has always been a bit of a comical judge. His courtroom antics serve to relax the participants in the process. Known locally as "lightning Larry," Seidlin is known to get through a morning docket in under 15 minutes. A trial takes 5 minutes or less. In juvenile cases, he has been known to give "stern warnings" where appropriate. Seidlin has come under fire for giving his friends all public appointments for which they get several hundred dollars apiece.[4] However, this is commonplace among Broward County attorneys. Currently the law has changed and there is a wheel system wherein judges have no discretion to appoint attorneys of their choice.

Seidlin came under criticism in the legal community for his handling of the Smith case,[5] and more recently came under fire for other behavior. In February 2007, WSVN-TV Channel 7 reported Seidlin took three-hour lunch breaks on the four days in April that he was tailed by the station's investigative team. WSVN also showed that he was at a tennis club by 4 p.m. on three of the four days he was watched. He declined to comment for the TV report.[6]

Seidlin was dubbed the "crybaby Judge" and "Larry the Cable Judge" because of his courtroom tears, jokes and unsolicited commentary.

Resignation and rumored television show ambitions

Seidlin retired from the bench in summer 2007. His alleged intentions to star in a courtroom TV show were reported by the celebrity gossip website TMZ.com, citing "unidentified sources" as early as February 20, 2007.[7] In a letter to Florida Governor Charlie Crist in June 2007, Seidlin wrote:

"It is now time for me to devote more of my daily life to my own young family and to pursue the many opportunities that have been offered to me outside the judicial system and I have disregarded until now...While these opportunities are varied, they all share in common a further commitment to helping my fellow citizens through roles in the educational system, the media and nonprofit organizations."[8]

Seidlin has not given specifics on his plans after his resignation,[9] but according to Broadcasting & Cable magazine, Seidlin had allegedly cut a deal with CBS Television Distribution (CTD) to develop a court show in fall 2008, but no official confirmation has been made from either party.[10] CBS Paramount will allegedly produce Seidlin's pilot for CTD; they also handle Judy Sheindlin's Judge Judy show.[11]

On Saturday Night Live sketches during the Smith case, Larry Seidlin was portrayed by Fred Armisen.

Corruption controversy

Seidlin was criminally investigated for "allegedly asking a lawyer for gifts and financially exploiting an elderly woman".[12] In February 2007, former Florida attorney Jack Thompson of Coral Gables filed a formal complaint against Seidlin to Judicial Qualifications Commission for "violating almost every judicial canon".[13] The complaint was based on an investigative report in a local weekly newspaper that reported that the judge had received questionable gifts and large sums of money from Barbara Kasler, an elderly neighbor in his Fort Lauderdale condo building. After an investigation by the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office, Seidlin was cleared of any wrongdoing in January 2009. [14]

Elderly abuse lawsuit and settlement

In March 2009, the niece Corine Kasler and caretaker of the elderly widow Barbara M. Kasler (83), filed another complaint with the Elder Abuse Hotline in Florida, reiterating their belief that Seidlin had manipulated the woman who suffered memory lapses into giving him money and had failed to adequately care for her. Corine Kasler and the caregiver had managed to remove Seidlin's wife Belinda and their daughter from Barbara Kasler's Will. The new Will was drafted excluding the Seidlin family members. [15] They also accused Larry Seidlin and his family of doing horrible things to Mrs. Kasler - including "failing to feed and medicate her" and endangering her health with poor care. The suit also accused Seidlin's in-laws Oren and Barbara Ray of buying a condo from Mrs. Kasler at an unfair discount. Barbara Kasler died on November 27, 2010 at age 84. [16] The family of the Mrs. Barbara Kasler and the Seidlin family reached a settlement in October 2011. Seidlin, his wife and his in-laws lived in the same condo building as Kasler whose wealth was estimated a $5 million, according to the lawsuit. The confidential settlement was signed by Larry Seidlin, his wife, his in-laws and the Kasler family. Mrs. Kasler allegedly gave the Seidlin family $500,000 in gifts and cash. Elderly widow also payed $35,000 for Seidlin's daughter's private school at an exclusive Pine Crest School, Florida. [17] [18] [19]

References

  1. ↑ Donaldson-Evans, Catherine (2007-02-20). "Anna Nicole Smith Snarky 'Judge Larry': Aspiring TV Star or Regular Guy Running No-Jury Trial?". Fox News.
  2. ↑ "BBC News Player - Dramatic end to Smith hearing". 2007-02-22. Retrieved 2007-02-23.
  3. ↑ "Exclusive: Judge's Wife: People Say He Should Have His Own TV Show". 2007-02-24.
  4. ↑ "Seidlin:In The Bag". New Times BrowardPalmBeach.com, Bob Norman, June 28, 2007.
  5. ↑ 31 Nova L. Rev. 645. Phyllis Williams Kotey, "The Real Costs of Judicial Misconduct: Florida taking a set ahead in the regulation of judicial speech and conduct to ensure independence, integrity, and impartiality" "Circuit Court Judge Larry Seidlin made news across the courtry for his antics from the bench for his "witty"one liners and emotional and tearful delivery of his edicts. n28 Judge Seidlin was a presiding judge in some of the custody and legal proceedings that ensued after the death of Anna Nicole Smith. n29 His dramatic behavior led to perception that his speech and conduct were intended to attract offers for a courtroom television show."
  6. ↑ "Report:Judge in Anna Nicole Case Resigns -- and TV May Be Next".
  7. ↑ "All Rise!!! Judge Seidlin Says He's Ready for TV". TMZ. 2007-02-20.
  8. ↑ Donaldson-Evans, Catherine (2007-06-20). "Larry Seidlin, judge in the Anna Nicole Smith hearing, will leave bench July 31". Sun Sentinel.
  9. ↑ Sedensky, Matt (2007-06-29). "Wisecracking Florida Judge Larry Seidlin, who presided over Anna Nicole Smith case, to resign". Augusta Chronicle.
  10. ↑ "CTD Snags Anna Nicole Judge Seidlin". 2007-06-19.
  11. ↑ Anna Nicole’s Baby Judge - CBS puts Judge Seidlin with Judge Sheindlin lalate news - America's Fastest Growing Celebrity News Site!
  12. ↑ Jordana Mishory (August 17, 2007). Fla. Legal Elite Hope to Get Judges a Little Respect. Law.com. Accessed 2008-04-11.
  13. ↑ "Anna Nicole Smith's mother says she plans to appeal". Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved 2007-02-23.
  14. ↑ "Anna Nicole Smith's Weepy Judge Cleared . E!Online, January 7, 2009.
  15. ↑ "Judge Seidlin's Clan Removed From Widow's Will". BrowardPalmBeach.com, April 14, 2009.
  16. ↑ Crying Anna Nicole Judge Accused of Abuse TMZ, March 27, 2009
  17. ↑ "Anna Nicole Judge Accused of Exploiting Elderly Woman Settles". NBCMiami.com, November 25, 2011.
  18. ↑ "Witness: Judge Larry Seidlin Schemed for Widow's Cash". New Times BrowardPalmBeach.com, Bob Norman, March 18, 2010.
  19. ↑ "Judge Larry Seidlin Slithers Away". New Times BrowardPalmBeach.com January 6, 2009.
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