NEAL CONTINUES TO CORRUPT THE LOCAL 12TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT AS NEAL CONTINUES TO STUFF LOCAL JUDGES IN HIS POCKETS
LOCAL JUDGES RESIGN TO HAVE “PAY TO PLAY” DEVELOPER APPOINT THEIR REPLACEMENTS
LOCAL LEGAL COMMUNITY SAYS NOT A WORD AS NEAL STUFFS LOCAL JUDGES IN HIS POCKETS
Local "Pay to Play" developer Pat Neal for years has made a mockery of the local 12th Judicial District, as the underbelly of a totally corrupt local political system continues to be buried by mullet wrappers like the Sarasota Herald Tribune.
It is disgusting to witness how the SHT hires young naive reporters to write puff pieces covering up the political and moral corruption that has taken root in the once jewel on the Westcoast of Florida, as Neal stuffs local politicians in his pockets and makes local instituations like the 12th Judicial District Nominating Committee his private club.
NEAL HAS MADE THE 12TH JUDICIAL NOMINATING COMMITTEE HIS PRIVATE CLUB
The 12th Judicial Nominating Committee is a private club chaired by Neal, and the citizens and taxpayers who fund the judiciary are not in Neal's club. The rules are set by the Florida Bar, a nonprofit corporation that dictates the judicial process and Neal supervises the process.
NEAL CONTINUING TO STUFF LOCAL JUDGES IN HIS POCKETS
On August 24 and 25, at the Sarasota County Judicial Center, located at 2002 Ringling Blvd, Sarasota, Florida, Pat Neal will be again stuffing local judges in his pockets, as he chairs the 12th District Judicial Nominating Committee that will stuff two more local judges in his pockets.
Neal will be once again chairing the nine-member 12th Judicial Nominating Committee, who will be choosing the applicants that Governor Ron DeSantis will appoint judges that will be replacing judges, who are retiring before their term is up.
Those judges selected by Neal and his nine-member 12th DJNC and appoined by DeSantis will then be elected in a bogus election process.
NEAL SENDS OUT MESAGE FOR JUDGE APPLICANTS TO COME KISS HIS RING
Neal, who has been on this private club called the 12TH Judicial Nominating Committee since 1998 making sure that judges selected will not be making decisions not favorable to Neal and his gangster cronies, has recently sent out the following announcement to those interested in replacing two retiring judges before their terms are up:
All people interested in applying must deliver the following separately for each vacancy:
1)A complete paper version of the application along with current photograph must be sent to:
Pat Neal, chair, 12th Circuit JNC Neal Communities 5800 Lakewood Ranch Blvd Sarasota, FL 34240 pneal@nealcommunities.com
2)A .pdf version of the complete application with a color photograph to pneal@nealcommunities.com.
3)A redacted version of the application excluding all exempt information under Chapter 119, F.S., or other applicable public records law to pneal@nealcommunities.com
NEAL BEING A NON ATTORNEY AND BEING ON COMMITTEE SINCE 1998
It is totally scandalous that Neal is not only not an attorney, but has been on the Board since 1998 corrupting the local legal process of selecting judges without public approval and promoting a bogus election process.
Neal has been essentially appointing local judges since 1998 being appointed by former Governor Lawton Chiles and been reappointed by former Governor's Jeb Bush, Charlie Crist, Rick Scott and now Governor Ron DeSantis in 2018.ure?
Neal is not on the committee to promote the best interests of the public. Neal is on the committee only to make sure he and the other members of his JUNTA continue to grease the local political machine.
A Neal crooked political machine, which stuff local politicians including judges in their pockets. Take a look at land use issues decisons over the years that have come before judges in Neal's pockets and observe how those decison have favored Neal and his cronies.
NO PUBLIC IMPUT IN NEAL SELECTION PROCESS
What makes Neal's appointing process, which will be taking placing once again so corrupt and unacceptable is that the public is left out of the selection process and have no involvement in the appointment of the judges in the 12th Judicial District.
For example, the public is not involved in the complete vetting process, including public forums concerning the selection of local judicial candidates to be selected by a Florida Governor. Lack of transparency and fairness of public input in the selection process is TOTALLY IGNORED.
NEAL AND LOCAL JUDGES MANIPULATING LOCAL JUDICIAL SYSTEM
Neal and local judges are manipulating the system by resigning before an election and making their resignations effective near the end of their terms. These resignations do not create a meaningful vacancy and are simply aimed at giving the governor and his political allies the power to select a judge’s replacement.
That Neal nine-member 12th Judicial District Nominating Committee and local judges whose terms are expiring can unilaterally decide that his or her successor will be chosen by an appointment rather than an election is totally unacceptable and corrupt.
DeSantis and Scott
THE DEVIOUS MANIPULATIVE PROCESS OF SELECTING JUDGES IN THE 12TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT SINCE SCOTT AND DeSANTIS HAVE BEEN GOVERNOR
The following describes the underhanded, disreputable process revealed in the Sarasota Phoenix over two years ago how Neal manipulates a corrupt nominating process, while the legal community and the Sarasota Herald Tribune continues to ignore how totally corrupt the local judicial process has become.
1: One by one, fifteen local judges have announced their retirement shortly before his or her term was officially to end since Florida Governor Rick Scott and Ron DeSantis have become Governor.
2: After each judge announced his or her retirement, Governor Scott and DeSantis were required to appoint another judge to serve out the remaining part of the retiring judge's term. Scott and DeSantis will make appointments on the recommendation of the 12th Judicial Nominating Committee, whose chairman is Neal.
3: Neal, as chairman of the committee sends out an invitation in the press and legal community to those interested in being appointed to replace the retiring judges. This invitation announces that the committee will interview applicants to serve out the last months of the retiring judge’s term.
4: Applicants then meet with Neal's nine-member committee with no public input.
5: Neal's committee sends their recommendation to Scott, without the public involved in the vetting process.
6: Scott and DeSantis appoint the judges on the recommendation of Neal's 12th Judicial Committee Nomination. All fifteen of the judges appointed by Scott received the recommendation of Neal's nine-member Nominating Committee again without any public input.
7: Once appointed by Scott, the Scott/Neal appointed choices proceed to the judge’s chambers, don a black judicial robe, sit on the judges” bench” and have a picture taken announcing that he or she will run for the judgeship---to which he or she has just been appointed!
8: All Neal recommended judges appointed by Governors Scott and DeSantis then become official's candidates with the Sarasota County Supervisor of Election with the $6,250 filing requirement. They then proceed to run UNOPPOSED to become a judge stuffed in Neal and his cronies' pockets.
It doesn’t take anyone involved in the local political process to understand that very few are going to run against a Neal/Scott/DeSantis appointed judge, who has the endorsement of the Neal handpicked Sarasota County Sheriff, the State Attorney and over a hundred local lawyers.
NEAL AND LOCAL JUDGES ARE CORRUPTING THE JUDICIAL BY THEIR MANIPULATION
Neal and local judges are corrupting by manipulating the system by the judges resigning before an election and making their resignations effective near the end of their terms. These resignations do not create a meaningful vacancy and are simply aimed at giving the governor and his political allies the power to select a judge’s replacement and subverting the election process.
Padovano
PADOVANO:"THE PROCESS IS A SUBERVISION OF THE LAW"
“It’s a subversion of the law of the worst kind in my opinion; I just think it’s gross,” said Philip Padovano, a former circuit and appeals court judge, who now works at a Tallahassee law firm."
Padovano continues, “In my view, it is most consistent with the intent of our Constitution and our citizens that favor election of circuit and county judges over the appointment process that “it is truly a sad day for Floridians when their trial court judges may manipulate the electoral process and prioritize their personal preferences over those espoused in the very Constitution they swore to defend.”
Williams
12TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT PRESIDING JUDGE WILIAMS DEFENDS THIS ILLICIT PROCESS
Former 12th Judicial District presiding Judge Charles Williams upheld the Neal process, when on September 12, 2018 he wrote an editorial defending how judges are selected in the 12th Judicial Circuit.
Culverhouse
CULVERHOUSE: AGREES WITH PADOVANO AND STATES:
"THIS TOWN NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND WE ARE RUN BY A CONSTITUTION"
Hugh Culverhouse Jr., a local developer, former federal attorney and a major supporter of the elected Circuit Judge Maria Ruhl, who took on and defeated incumbent APPOINTED Judge Brian Iten by Neal and Scott, replied to the Williams comments in the Sarasota Herald Tribune (SHT) concerning Williams editorial:
"Thank you for your comments and explanations. Florida's constitution requires judges be elected. The interest by myself and others is not the election of judges, but the unconstitutional appointment of state judges by Governor Scott. Interim appointments are to be used sparingly and in extreme cases, such as death, incapacitating injury to the elected judge or if the judge was convicted of a crime. Validly elected judges are to be admired. Scott's 'appointees' are not."
Culverhouse was speaking to Scott’s policy of appointing local judges who retired before their terms were up and the fact that the 12th Judicial Nominating Committee--- controlled by "Pay to Play" developer Pat Neal--- effectively electing the replacement for these judges
LOCAL LEGAL COMMUNITY AND SARASOTA HERALD TRIBUNE NOT A WORD ON NEAL CORRUPTNG LOCAL JUDICIAL SYSTEM
As the political fossil Neal continues to corrupt the 12th Judicial District and continuing to stuff local judges in his pockets, the local legal community says not a word.
Brown
As Neal corrupts the local 12th Judicial District, the leading local media Sarasota Herald Tribune Editor Roger Brown sends his legal America corp reporter Gabriela Szymanowska chasing her tail, as Neal corrupts the 12th Judicial District.
Brody giving thought to become a judge with supporters
The 12th Judicial District is so corrupt that the failed local States Attorney Hagen Brody, who became a lackey for developers as a Sarasota City Commissioner gave thought to become a local Judge.
Take a look at this item in the Sarasota Herald Tribune: "When Commissioner Hagen Brody was considering running against Judge Judy Goldman," Brody replied," Some very well-respected members of our community asked me to entertain a run and I gave it its due consideration."
Grigic and Brody
Brody, who got run out of the States Attorney's office would have had a good opportunity to become a Neal flunky judge since his live-in girlfriend Maryanne Grigic, as a former Neal political operative would set up appointments for aspiring judges to come to Neal's Lakewood Ranch office to kiss Neal's ring.
NEAL HAS MANIPULATED THE 12TH JUDICIAL APPOINTEMENT PROCESS FOR YEARS AND LEGAL COMMUNITY SAY NOT A WORD PUBLICLY
Neal for years has scrupulously manipulated the 12th Judicial system in the area to stuff judges in his pocket and members of the local legal community has said not a word in public knowing fully well Neal is corrupting the local judicial system.
LISTED BELOW ARE SOME OF JUDGES APPOINTED BY SCOTT AND DeSANTIS AS NEAL AND HIS GANGSTERS HAVE CONTROLLED THE 12TH JUDICIAL NOMINATING COMMITTEE
Judge Erica Quartermaine replaced Judge Bonner on 11/14/13.
Judge Teresa Dees replaced Judge Lee Haworth on 7/24/15.
Judge George Brown replaced byJudge Charles Sniffen on 7/28/17.
Judge Lakin replaced by Judge Don Hall on 6/24/16.
Judge Andrea McHugh replaced Judge Andy Owens on 3/31/17.
Judge Peter Dubensky replaced by Judge Brian Iten on 10/13/15.
Judge James Parker replaced by Judge Hunter Carroll on 10/13/15.
Judge Don Hall replaced by Judge Danielle Brewer on 10/20/16.
Judge Scott Brownell replaced by Judge Lon Arend on 8/17/16.
Judge Debra Riva replaced by Judge Danielle Brewer on 5/27/22.
Judge Kimberly Bonner replaced by Judge Dana Moss on 11/14/22.
Judge Danielle Brewer replaced by Judge Guy Flowers on 11/14/22.
NEAL "PAY TO PLAY"JUDGES COME THROUGH FOR NEAL AND OTHER "PAY TO PLAY" DEVELOPERS
The following are just a FEW examples of decisions made by local judges appointed in the Florida 12th Judicial Circuit (through Neal's committee recommendation) which has
financially benefitted Neal and other "Pay to Play" players and allowed local public officials to escape criminal prosecution:
Judge Frederick Mercurio
Opponents of a Neal Community's development called Grand Lakes have failed in an attempt to stop a Neal project. This was their final effort to try to halt construction of up to 1,097 homes on 533 acres south of Clark Road and east of Interstate 75.
Sarasota County residents who live near the site filed two legal challenges, arguing the Sarasota County Commission erred in approving Grand Lakes. Judge Mercurio said that the county commission applied the correct law and regulations in its July 2018 actions.
Judge Andrea McHugh
Waechter
On August 1st, 2018 the 12th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Andrea McHugh dismissed the civil complaint that Lourdes Ramirez filed against Robert Waechter in March of 2015. A complaint that Ramirez took after one of Neal's political operatives, Waechter was convicted of political fraud in December of 2013 in using a prepaid credit card to politically defraud Ramirez.
ANOTHER BENDERSON MASSIVE URBAN SPRAWL APPROVED BY McHUGH
On 12/3/19 a eight count lawsuit challenging the legality of the Sarasota County Commission’s decision to approve a Benderson residential and retail project at U.S. 41 and Stickney Point Road intersection that will create MASSIVE URBAN SPRAWL, which was opposed by thousands, was denied by McHugh. All eight claims were denied by McHugh.
Judge Erica Quartermaine
A DRUNK MANATTE COUNTY COMMISSIONER IS SET FREE BY JUDGE QUARTERMAINE
Brodsky
In another shocking cases that exhibits why Neal stuffs judges in his pockets to protect he and his cronies their corrupt politicians is when Quartermaine threw out critical evidence in drunken driving charges against Manatee County Commissioner George Kruse. Once that evidence was thrown out it gave another Neal flunky, States Attorney Ed Brodsky the excuse to dismiss the DUI charges on Kruse.
Judge Gilbert Smith Jr.
Judge Gilbert A. Smith Jr. ruled on Dec. 21, 2018, against environmentalists in a 21-page decision, prefacing his opinion exhorting that circuit courts can’t “weigh or reweigh evidence” or it would be a “reversible error.”
Lieberman and Beruff
Smith upheld the October 3, 2017 decision of the Manatee Board of County Commissioners to approve a general development plan and rezoning for developers Long Bar Pointe LLLP and Cargor Partners VII — a Carlos Beruff and Larry Lieberman partnership — for a large-scale, mixed-use development on 529 acres southeast of Cortez and north of IMG Academy.
Judge Peter Dubensky
Sarasota County Judge, Peter Dubensky reversed a unanimous jury decision in a high-profile case wherein developer Hugh Culverhouse Jr. had accused other developers, Randy Benderson and Henry Rodriguez in concert with Sarasota County officials of defrauding Culverhouse through political machinations. The decision shrinks what was a $20 million verdict into $150,000.
Benderson with two local County Commissioners stuffed in his pockets behind him
Concerning that law suit, former Sarasota Herald Tribune political writer Jeremy Wallace described the verdict in this manner: “A pair of Southwest Florida’s most prominent developers (Randy Benderson and Henry Rodriguez) used backroom political deals with elected officials and conspired in secret meetings to double-cross their one-time partner (Hugh Culverhouse Jr.) on a major land deal, a Sarasota jury concluded."
Culverhouse's lead attorney, Steve Hutton had substantiated Culverhouse’s claim in a clear and concise fashion, namely that Benderson and Rodriguez conspired with Sarasota County officials to defraud him and subsequently awarded Culverhouse over $20 million.
Judge Kimberly Bonner
BONNER FAILED TO DISMISS A FRIVOLOUS BARFIELD LAW SUIT
Judge Kimberly Bonner in presiding over the Sunshine law violation law suit wherein Michael Barfield alleged former Sarasota City Commissioner Susan Chapman had violated the Sunshine law, ruled the law suit move forward despite an objection that the suit had no validity.
68 Convicted felon Barfield
Two years later after numerous court hearings and millions of dollars in legal fees, the 68-time convicted felon Barfield's frivolous law suit was dismissed on the same objection that Chapman's lawyers put before Bonner two years previously.
Chapman
For over three years Chapman had to fight a frivolous lawsuit that was nothing more than Barfield attempting to take out a local politician politically and financially, as he has done with other local politicians that "Pay to Play" developer's desire ousted.
BONNER AND HAWORTH DISMISSES DEFAMATION CLAIMS CONCERNING "PAY TO PLAY" DEVELOPER-- PAT NEAL
Haworth
On Friday, June 28, 2019, Neal sat in a Venice courtroom and listened while Deborah Anderson described how Neal had used a major political operative, William Jones out of Tallahassee, to hire 68 - year-old Ann Stone---a woman living in a trailer in a remote area of Alachua County---to put a PAC together to take down Anderson as a Venice City Council member.
Anderson
Anderson made the statement in her law suit against Neal for fraudulently conspiring to use Stone to defeat her re-election. Despite clearly showing Neal used Stone in a criminal conspiracy in violation of campaign finance laws, Judge Bonner and Judge Lee Haworth on two separate occassions dismissed Anderson law suits against Stone and Neal.
NEAL SENDS OUT ANNOUNCEMENTS TO THOSE DESIRING TO KISS NEAL'S RING TO BECOME A JUDGE
HOW TO GET APPOINTMENT WITH NEAL'S NOMINATING COMMITTEE
Examples of how announcements had been sent out to those seeking to become a judge in the12th Judicial District, ever since Neal has been in control of the 12th Judicial Committee and Rick Scott became Governor of Florida are listed below. It gives a clear indication to most individuals how this "Pay to Play" Gangster Neal has shamefully made the local legal system his despicable evil fiefdom under Scott and DeSantis.
This gives an indication to most individuals how Neal makes it perfectly clear that he is charge of the process and the extent to which he has corrupted the local judicial system.
Since Neal has been in control of the12th Judicial nominating committee, announcements going back to at least 2012 have been sent out to those seeking to become a judge in the ways illustrated below:
If you desire applications to be a judge in the 12th Judicial District: "Applications can be obtained at www.floridabar.org., or by contacting Pat Neal at pneal@nealcommunities.com or at 941-328-1037." April 12, 2017---Bradenton Herald.
If you desire to be nominated for a judgeship in the 12th Judicial Circuit nine application copies need to be submitted with any related attachments to Pat Neal, commission chairman. Neal can be contacted at 941-328-1037 or at pnealcommunities.com April 8, 2013, 2013---SARASOTA HERALD TRIBUNE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 23, 2017
Appointments for interviews to Twelfth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission: CONTACT: Pat Neal, Chair @ TELEPHONE: (941) 328-1037. Questions can be directed to Chairman Pat Neal of the 12th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission at (941) 328-1112 or Neal@nealcommunities.com---Questions can be directed to Chairman Pat Neal of the 12th Circuit(5/16/13---BRADENTON HERALD)
If you desire applications to be a judge in the 12th Judicial District, Judicial Nominating Commission at (941) 328-1112 or pneal@nealcommunities.com. Applications can be obtained at www.floridabar.org , or by contacting Pat Neil atpneal@nealcommunities.com or at 941--328-1037." (4/12/17--BRADENTONHERALD)
If you need to know who applied to be a judge in 12th Judicial Circuit: “Maryann Grgic, community and governmental relations director for Neal Communities, reported on May 14, 2013, the following individuals have applied with the Twelfth Circuit JudicialNominating Commission under Chairman Pat Neal to fill the vacancy created by Judge Rick DeFuria's retirement." (5/14/13---BRADENTON HERALD)
If you desire to know the deadline to submit names to be appointed a judge by Governor Scott: "The Commission has until Monday, June 3, to submit names to Gov. Rick Scott for consideration of appointment to the 12th Judicial Circuit Court. Questions should be directed to Pat Neal at (941) 328-1037 or pneal@nealcommunities.com." (5/14/13--BRADENTON HERALD.)
NEAL HAS TOTALLY CORRUPTED THE LOCAL 12TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT AS HE CONTINUES TO STUFF LOCAL JUDGES IN HIS POCKETS
As mentioned above and needs being repeated:
Neal for years has made a mockery of the local 12th Judicial District, as the underbelly of a totally corrupt local political system continues to be buried by mullet wrappers like the Sarasota Herald Tribune. It is disgusting to witness how the SHT hires young naive reporters to write puff pieces covering up the political and moral corruption that has taken root in the once jewel on the Westcoast of Florida.
It might look pretty on the outsIde but it has becoming rotten on the inside.
Jon Susce
Sarasota Phoenix team is the last guardian in Sarasota of the vital fourth estate. While the rest of local, mainstream media outlets have been overtaken by profit driven directives, the Sarasota Phoenix is the only local media outlet laying bare for all to see how Sarasota local government is operating like a Latin American Junta.
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