FL Supreme Court should slam Zilber for sexist, arrogant behavior unbecoming to a judge | Editorial

Here’s one more achievement for Martin Zilber’s scrapbook: The Miami-Dade Circuit judge is facing a 60-day suspension and $30,000 fine for routinely skipping work, ordering his staff to run personal errands for him and, yes, having a staffer assemble a scrapbook of his achievements.

The Judicial Qualifications Commission recommended the twofold punishment after its investigation found that Zilber routinely engaged in “inappropriate” treatment of his staff. He not only berated his judicial assistant, he complained about the “inconvenient timing of her pregnancy.”

In addition to being in charge of the judge’s calendar and running his office, this beleaguered woman also was forced to work on the scrapbook. Once, according to the JQC, Zilber asked this pregnant assistant to wheel his chair up “several floors to the courtroom and then lift it onto the dais prior to hearings.”

We can only hope the judge wasn’t seated in the chair when he made her do this.

Zilber’s assistant and his bailiff also had to drive him to events. The bailiff was asked to register the judge’s car with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and pick up Art Basel tickets during working hours, the probe found.

It also was revealed that Zilber was missing from the courthouse for a total of 51 days between January 2019 and March 2020, without telling his supervisors.

And once the coronavirus pandemic hit, he hit the road — to Malibu, California, for a week. He said he was going to work remotely. Of course, it didn’t quite happen that way, especially after he rescheduled his regular hearings.

Chief Judge Bertila Soto told the Editorial Board that she was not “privy” to the complaint. She said she could not discuss the specifics of the case because the state Supreme Court has yet make the final decision on punishment.

“We don’t see the JQC complaints. That process can go forward without any involvement from the court,” she said. However, regarding the time Zilber took off, “I tell people we are expected to work 8 to 5,” she said. “The world has changed, we need to be present. We are trial judges. We are the face of the court.”

In 2014, the Editorial Board recommended Zilber for this seat on the circuit court, impressed that he had undergone the rigorous Judicial Nominating Commission process, seeking an appointment to the bench from the governor. But who knew this is how he would misuse his authority?

Though the Supreme Court will have the final say, Bruce Jacobs, the judicial assistant’s attorney, told the Editorial Board that he will call for the court to reject the JQC’s recommendation in favor of harsher punishment at a press conference Friday. He says that Zilber was “violating his oath.”

We think the JQC’s recommendation is rather lenient. Yes, Zilber took responsibility for his actions and appeared contrite. But we would hope that the Supreme Court would also factor in this judge’s arrogant, sexist words and deeds. He is an elected official from whom much more is expected. He abused not only his staff, but also the dignity and integrity of his office.

This story was originally published April 12, 2021 at 4:23 PM.