After Ruvin’s death, chief judge names interim clerk for Miami-Dade courts

Luis Montaldo was named interim clerk of the courts for Miami-Dade County on Monday, filling a vacancy created by the death of longtime clerk Harvey Ruvin two days earlier.

Montaldo, 49, served as the clerk office’s general counsel under Ruvin and filled in for him at county events when Ruvin, 85, became ill in recent months. Ruvin died Saturday. Nushin Sayfie, chief judge for the Circuirt Court circuit that covers Miami-Dade, made the interim appointment.

READ MORE: ‘Legend’ Harvey Ruvin, Miami-Dade’s longest-serving elected official, dies at 85

While Florida law gives the chief judge the authority to name an interim clerk, Sayfie’s release noted Gov. Ron DeSantis has the power to make his own appointment to the former Ruvin seat until the 2024 elections. DeSantis could appoint someone new or keep Montaldo in place.

“As we all continue to mourn the loss of our longtime Clerk Harvey Ruvin, it is important that the people of Miami-Dade County continue to be well-served by the Clerk’s Office to which Mr. Ruvin devoted so many decades of tireless work and dedication,” Sayfie said in a statement.

Montaldo, a former prosecutor, takes over the 1,100-person office after Ruvin’s 30-year tenure as the county’s elected clerk. Ruvin was up for his eighth term in 2024, and the post is selected by partisan elections. A former county commissioner, Ruvin was the longest-serving official in county government and a Democrat. Montaldo has no party affiliation, according to voter records.

The clerks office manages much of the court system in Miami-Dade, processing evictions, divorces, traffic citations real estate sales, wills and other legal matters. The office also provides clerks for the Miami-Dade County Commission.

A married father of two, Montaldo graduated from the University of Miami law school and joined the clerks office as general counsel in 2005. In a statement, Montaldo said he wasn’t giving interviews until after Ruvin’s funeral later this week. He called his appointment bittersweet, given the circumstances.

“First and foremost, I mourn the loss of my friend Harvey Ruvin, who served the public with integrity, passion, and care for 54 years, including his last 30 as Clerk of the Courts,” Montaldo said in the statement. “Harvey is irreplaceable. It is our responsibility to carry on his legacy.”

This story was originally published January 2, 2023 at 7:49 PM.