Broward Politics: Former Judge’s Grudge Bleeds Into Courthouse Campaign?

 

BY BUDDY NEVINS

 

 

Former Broward County Judge Jay Spechler’s beef with former Broward County Judge Tom Lynch already has gotten him suspended from practicing law. 

It looks to me like those bad feelings are now bleeding into the race for Broward Public Defender. 

It wasn’t always brickbats between the two former judges. They were once buds. They even socialized outside of the Courthouse.

 

Jay Spechler

 

Then Spechler went off the rails. The roots of his problem with Lynch lie in the arcane roots of Courthouse politics, so obscure that only ones caring are a handful of folks like Spechler. 

But the Florida Bar cared.

The Bar was especially interested when Spechler began posting on a courthouse blog what Bar investigators called “highly offensive anonymous” comments containing “language that could be viewed as menacing” about Lynch’s son Michael Lynch, who also is a Broward judge.

The posts got Spechler suspended from the practice of law for 45 days earlier this year. 

The suspension is now over. Spechler still isn’t ready to cozy up to Lynch. 

Ten days ago, Spechler gave $250 to the campaign of Ruby Green, Lynch’s opponent for Broward Public Defender. 

Does Spechler’s feud with Lynch continue even after the just-completed suspension?

That’s what it looks like to me. 

After all, Spechler could have stayed out of the Public Defenders race. He could have kept his checkbook closed in the one race connected with his suspension. 

He didn’t. 

If the contribution is designed to hurt Lynch, it is largely symbolic. Green has raised $15,280 to Lynch’s $143,920 and an additional $25,000 of his own money.

Spechler, who was on the County Court from 1989 to 2009, is now a mediator, according to his online site. 

Lynch, Green and Gordon Weeks are seeking to replace retiring Howard Finkelstein as the chief of the office which represents the poor accused of crimes.  



4 Responses to “Broward Politics: Former Judge’s Grudge Bleeds Into Courthouse Campaign?”

  1. A mediator no more says:

    Spechler gave up his mediators license in December probably due to his Bar issues.

  2. Pervert? says:

    Spechler is the former Judge who (the blog Red Broward says) took a portrait with his topless daughter.

    https://www.google.com/amp/s/redbroward.com/2017/04/24/ddpalaw2/amp/

  3. corruption fighter says:

    Spechler is the former Judge who is willing to fight corruption.

  4. lol says:

    He may want to investigate himself, what kind of father (is alleged to have taken) …a portrait with his topless daughter.