How have criminal courts changed and adapted and how will they move forward during this pandemic? Those were some of the excellent points raised at the Criminal Law Session of the 2020 Bench Bar. Assistant State Attorney, Chrichet Mixon, and Ron Herman had the honor of moderating the following distinguished panel of speakers.
The Honorable Judges of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, Criminal Division: Judge Cheryl Caracuzzo, Judge Jeffrey Dana Gillen, and Judge Carolyn Bell. Elected Public Officials: State Attorney Dave Aronberg and Public Defender Carey Haughwout.
The panelists candidly discussed a variety of concerns about criminal practice in this new landscape. Attendees learned about the impact of COVID-19 and the constitutional right to a speedy trial, the effect on jurors and defendants if all parties are masked during trial, and discussed issues in applying CDC guidelines to jurors during deliberations. Zoom hearings may be here to stay for now but our hard working Judges and practitioners have adapted and the criminal justice system is moving forward.
Last year, the Bench Bar Conference leaders, Michael Pike and Selesia Smith-Gordon, appointed Ron as Co-Chair of the Criminal Law Session. Ron and his co-chair, Chrichet Mixon, spent the next 9 months planning the seminar, which was postponed at the last minute due to the pandemic. Usually, the Bench Bar Conference is a day long sold out event that is held at the Palm Beach County Convention Center and is attended by almost every judge and litigator in the County. Pivoting to an online format, Ron and Chrichet moderated the zoom Seminar, which turned out hugely successful. Three Palm Beach County Judges from the Criminal Division, as well as the State Attorney and the Public Defender, planned the virtual seminar with the moderators. The result was an insightful discussion of the key issues facing the various parties in the criminal justice system. “Thank you to the Bench Bar Co-Chairs for this appointment and to all the judges and elected officials who volunteered their time and participated in the seminar,” added Ron.
Over the years, Ron has held several leadership positions with the Palm Beach County Bar Association, including Chair of the Criminal Law Practice Committee. Contact Ron if you would like more information.
About Ron D. Herman
Ron is the owner of Herman Law, P.A., an established criminal law firm, where he defends complex cases, with experience representing companies and professionals fighting government investigations. Ron has extensive trial experience, has handled more than 150 jury trials, been interviewed by The New York Times, and published in The Daily Business Review. His prior experience includes working as a lead prosecutor in Palm Beach and Broward Counties, where he was tapped for the coveted Crimes Against Children Unit (Special Victims Unit or SVU). By concentrating on complex, high stakes white collar cases, the Firm provides each client concierge-level service and attention. Sign up for the Firm Newsletter to get the latest updates.