Veteran Broward Judge Dale Ross Retires
BY BUDDY NEVINS
Retiring Judge Dale Ross threw his memories away.
Pictures of him with notables that hung on his office wall for years are shredded.
Plaques awarded during 35 years on the Broward bench – half of them as chief judge — are in the dumpster. Knickknacks from his desk are trashed.
“These past 35 years have been a heck of a ride,” Ross, 69, wrote in his resignation letter to the governor.
Dale Ross
Under almost constant attack for years from members of the Criminal Defense Bar, Ross was criticized for his alleged bellicose demeanor. Public Defender Howard Finkelstein was particularly harsh, branding Ross as insensitive to the poor.
Yet it was Ross who approved many of the innovative programs in today’s Broward Courthouse.
He can be credited for the Drug Court, which offered offenders treatment as an alternative to jail. The Mental Health and Domestic Violence Courts were formed under Ross’s Administration.
“He was an innovator,” criminal defense attorney Michael Ahearn said.
Ahearn ran Ross’ last campaign in 2012 when the judge was under intense opposition from Finkelstein. Ross faced a former assistant public defender as a challenger.
“Finkelstein said that Judge Ross should not be reelected because he was a racist and made rulings that hurt the minority community. In the face of this, Judge Ross took the time to call, meet with and/or address any and all minority groups in the community… The more hostile the person or room was perceived to be, Judge Ross always was willing to meet with anyone, anytime and anywhere to discuss concerns anyone had about him,” Ahearn recalled in an e-mail.
Ross was re-elected in a landslide with 71 percent of the vote.
A Long History
First appointed to the Broward County Court in 1981 by Democratic Gov. Bob Graham, he was moved up to Circuit Court in 1987 by Republican Gov. Bob Martinez.
Four years later in 1991, his fellow judges elected him Broward County Chief Judge. He served until 2007.
Chief judges get to decide what type of cases each jurist presides over. The chief judge also issues rules governing the courthouse and appoints general masters, quasi-judges who hear largely minor disputes like traffic cases.
Ross immediately impressed other judges by handling cases while acting as chief judge, a task other chiefs avoided.
Ross’s long tenure as Chief Judge – one of the longest runs as chief judge ever in state history — is testament to the support he had from fellow Broward judges. Even judges who initially got off on the wrong foot with Ross like Circuit Judge Tom Lynch ended up a friend.
“I met Dale at a County Court judges meeting that was called, on an emergency basis, because (Circuit Judge) Geoff Cohen and I publicly proposed night court for traffic tickets, the first month we were on the bench. Dale, and most of the other judges didn’t appreciate ‘the new guys’ trying to change things in the courthouse,” Lynch recalled.
Lynch went on to become one of Ross’s biggest cheerleaders.
“Since that meeting we have been close friends, even though there is a clear difference and distinction between us, philosophically and politically,” Lynch said. “He was loyal to his colleagues to a fault.”
Ross’s loyalty included the controversial practice of discouraging any lawyer from running against incumbent judges. It was perceived in Broward’s legal circles that Ross and his supporters on the bench would ostracize any lawyer who challenged an incumbent. Few lawyers would risk the ire of the judiciary and Broward judges were almost all routinely re-elected under Ross.
Perfect Election Record
He never lost an election for chief judge. In 2007, Ross decided not to run for re-election.
He decided it was time to leave as Chief Judge, just like he decided it was time to retire as of August 31.
Ross could have finished his term, which ends in two years. Florida judges are permitted to serve out the term if more than one-half has been served when they reach the retirement age of 70.
But he was certain that now was the time to firmly cut the cord. He told Browardbeat.com he dumped almost everything from his office in the garbage.
He said he would not serve as a senior judge, coming back to the courthouse as an appointed jurist to hear lengthy cases.
“I’m through,” Ross said.
In the future is travel. In the future is relaxing at home. In the future is more time with his children and grandchildren.
Ross told Browardbeat.com that he was closing the door on his courthouse career with only one message:
“I leave only with thanks for the people who gave me an opportunity to serve.”
Good luck, Dale.
September 6th, 2016 at 10:34 am
Frankly Judge Ross’ creation of the Drug Courts alone did more for humane treatment of defendants than all the craziness of Howard Finkelstein.
September 6th, 2016 at 3:55 pm
I was under impression It was Judge Pollack who was the architect of Drug Court based on previous articles written about her in the Sun Sentinel
September 6th, 2016 at 3:59 pm
Ross’s loyalty included the controversial practice of discouraging any lawyer from running against incumbent judges. It was perceived in Broward’s legal circles that Ross and his supporters on the bench would ostracize any lawyer who challenged an incumbent. Few lawyers would risk the ire of the judiciary and Broward judges were almost all routinely re-elected under Ross.
And this is a trait to be admired. No wonder Broward County Courthouse has the reputation it does.
September 6th, 2016 at 4:06 pm
The courts ran better and more professionally under Dale Ross than any of the chief judges that followed. Regardless of what Howard Finkelstein says, Dale was a man with a heart and a vision of making the courthouse a better place.
September 6th, 2016 at 4:10 pm
Dale Ross stood in the way of making the courthouse beholden to Howard Finkelstein. Somewhere in Finkelstein’s mind is the idea that Public Defender means King of the Courthouse lording over the judges and State Attorney. The statutes make it clear he doesn’t have that responsibility so he continuously tries to disrupt the courthouse with attacks on judges and Mike Satz in the news media. Despite his criticism, Ross stood up to Finkelstein and stayed until the end.
September 6th, 2016 at 6:17 pm
Howard is just a big ego in a little body who believes he’s more important at the Courthouse than anyone else.
September 6th, 2016 at 8:20 pm
Job well done, Judge Ross. Enjoy a well earned retirement.
September 6th, 2016 at 9:22 pm
The misdemeanor drug court started in 2006/2007. It was recommended by Gisele Pollack. The felony drug court was started more then a decade before that, under the administration of chief judge Dale Ross. Don’t even try to compare pollack to Ross. He’s a legend. She’s a “has been”.
September 7th, 2016 at 9:25 am
There were many contributors to the success of drug court. The encouragement and understanding of Judge Imperato and Judge Beach set many offenders on the path to a drug free lifestyle.
September 7th, 2016 at 12:55 pm
Can we just once not be so detestable with the commentary? Can’t we ever elevate our conversations here? Were we raised by animals?
September 7th, 2016 at 1:27 pm
Judge Ross also implemented Domestic Violence Court. I wish him all the best in his much deserved retirement.