Judge Candidate Not A Lawyer; Has History Of Mental Problems
BY BUDDY NEVINS
Some candidates are accused of being wacky.
Then other candidates just appear outright crazy. Bonkers. Out of their mind.
Take Ryan Adam Lipner, who is running for judge against incumbent Circuit Judge Stacy Ross.
Stacy Ross
Lipner has a history of mental incompetency. He has a record of fraud that he told a newspaper reporter was caused by his “mental problems,” according to Broward County Court and newspaper files.
If that isn’t bad enough, Lipner isn’t even a member of the Florida Bar.
He’s not a lawyer yet he swore in a document on file with the Elections Division that he is qualified to be a judge.
Enshrined in the Florida Constitution is the following: “No person is eligible for the office of circuit judge unless the person is, and has been for the preceding five years, a member of the bar of Florida.”
Lipner had previously been held incompetent and was back in court this week, where he insisted to Circuit Judge Mark Speiser in Mental Health Court that he was legally qualified to practice law. He pleaded no contest to Grand Theft and Criminal Solicitation and was sentence to four years Mental Health probation.
A Broward lawyer already contacted the Elections Division in Tallahassee. He was told that the Division performs the ministerial job of handling election documents and can not make a judgment about their validity.
He would have to sue to get Lipner off the ballot. For now, Lipner is running and Ross has to treat him seriously.
Ross is a good judge. She has no idea why she was targeted by Lipner, Browardbeat.com was told.
Yet Ross has a responsibility to insure that this fruitcake doesn’t win by some fluke.
That means campaigning and raising money.
If Lipner happened to come up with the filing fee, it no doubt would generate a legal mess.
If somehow he won, caramba!
Who would be responsible for blocking him from taking office? Would the Governor appoint a new judge?
Sadly, nothing will happen to Lipner for lying in a sworn document. Because he is nuts and is not responsible for his actions.
Lipner’s earlier exploits were written about in the Sun-Sentinel is 2001. Then only 17-years-old, he was accused of breaking into a Pompano Beach card store, changing the locks and taking thousands of dollars in collectibles. He claimed he was a legitimate tenant, but the property owner said Lipner’s claims were “absurd.”
My pal Jenni Bergal, who went on to better things after leaving the Sun-Sentinel, wrote:
“Lipner admits that he suffers from mental problems that drive him to open card shops.
“’That’s part of my disease. It’s an addiction,” he said. “I don’t do this to make money. I do this for fun.’”
I guess running for judge is more of what he does for fun.
XXXXX
The candidate was a defendant in Broward’s Mental Health Court in December:
January 7th, 2016 at 9:24 am
Will some election lawyer confirm that the Elections Division of what I believe is the Secretary of State’s Department cannot refuse to register a candidate who is obviously NOT LEGALLY QUALIFIED to run for an office.
It is my understanding the Elections Division has a Counsel and both that office and the State Attorney General are legally authorized to rule on this issue prior to or in substitute of a court case option.
But another example like faked residencies of elected official here in south Florida where Government n Courts dont uphold the Law.
January 7th, 2016 at 11:42 am
Looks like South Florida is no better than a Third World county!!!
January 7th, 2016 at 4:35 pm
It would seem a prosecutor could file a criminal perjury count against Lipner for filing a false statement under oath. Would probably be the prosecutor in Leon County (Tallahassee) as it was filed up there, not here.
January 7th, 2016 at 4:38 pm
FYI, this nut job ran for Governor last year and didn’t make it onto the ballot …
http://www.browardpalmbeach.com/news/the-hallmark-kid-ryan-lipner-running-for-governor-taken-seriously-6441203
… and for President in 2012, with same outcome …
http://www.browardpalmbeach.com/news/27-year-old-is-trying-to-run-for-president-you-too-can-be-a-presidential-candidate-6472793
January 7th, 2016 at 8:14 pm
WORSE! Although some parts of South Anerica have tribal courts or Africa n Asia have tribal or religious Courts where Tribal Lore or Religious non-secular legal education is accepted INSANITY even amongst the New Guinea headhunters north of Australia is Disqualifying! Not in Tallahassee!
January 7th, 2016 at 8:39 pm
@Count…..
Two contacts in Tally for candidate and election queries –
gary.holland@dos.myflorida.com
and
Eddie.Phillips@DOS.MyFlorida.com
Copy both on your email query. Prompt response always.
January 8th, 2016 at 1:32 pm
Highly unlikely that his name will be on the ballot.
However, a convicted felon was highly touted and publicly endorsed by Walter and Lisa Duke for a commission seat in Dania Beach 2 years ago.
The felon’s background was exposed by a local newspaper. The Supervisor of Elections claimed it was too late to take his name off the ballot even though he was disqualified.
And, of course, some people voted for him. After all, this is South Florida, land of opportunists.
January 10th, 2016 at 10:56 am
Buddy,
Talk to a lawyer before you go through some absurd “Chicken Little “scenario about him being on the ballot or actually winning.
The law has a common law/statutory remedy is in FS 80.01 et. seq. It is called a Writ of Quo Warranto and allows any person and/or the Attorney General (That’s you Pamala) to go to court to remove a person from the ballot who is not legally entitled to hold the office.
Lipner is a tempest in a teapot