Romanians turn to us to restore justice

TAMPA UNCUFFED E-mail: Amy Herdy Christopher Goffard

© St. Petersburg Times
published March 7, 2002

File this one under Things To Be Grateful For.

The Hillsborough County Courthouse -- infamous for its foul-smelling air, byzantine layout and user-hostile, public-access computers -- is also, for all its warts, a shining symbol of a world-renowned justice system.

Just ask the Romanians. Yes, that Romania: land of Dracula's historical forebear, Vlad the Impaler, and, more recently, home of a cruel communist dictatorship that left in its collapse a court system sagging with inefficiency.

There, official records are written by hand. Buildings are crumbling. Two or more people are paid for a job one can handle. Backlogs are immense. And no juries.

"Based on the descriptions I've seen, it's totally broken down," said Hillsborough court administrator Mike Bridenback, 49, who flies to Bucharest next week for a three-week mission sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Bridenback, along with others intimately familiar with the U.S. justice system, will assess the court system there in hopes of exporting a bit of local know-how.

MISSION CONTROL: To some folks, an officer in uniform is not always a welcome sight.

For somebody from another country who is perhaps here illegally, it can be downright scary.

Deputies at the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office found that out firsthand when they offered a class, in Spanish, that outlined various programs available to Hispanic refugees. About 75 people sat in the audience until the two deputies offering the class arrived in uniform. At that point, about 20 people got up and left.

So now, before they begin, the deputies assure their audience, in Spanish, of their mission.

"They tell them, we're not here to arrest you, or run your names," said spokeswoman Debbie Carter.

"We're here to help you, walk you through the different programs" that can help, Carter said.

The classes, which will be held as-needed, will outline services relating to crime prevention, law enforcement awareness, naturalization assistance and advocacy through a large network.

For information on the next class, call 247-8115.

PRO PICKER: When Bubba the Love Sponge Clem went to trial on animal cruelty charges last week, he brought along an all-star cast of pricey lawyers, some as loud as the shock jock himself.

But in finding the jury that ultimately acquitted Clem in the on-air castration and slaughter of a hog, the Destroyer Lawyers deferred to the quiet man who sat against the wall taking notes.

It was Harvey A. Moore, famous jury picker. To find the best possible jury for his client, he applies principles of sociology and gut instincts. He holds mock trials to test-drive cases. He studies body language, faces, the nuances of speech. And he seems to know who the jury will pick as foreman even before the jury does.

Of potential jurors, both sides wanted to know: Do you think of pigs as pets, or as breakfast? Moore showed up at the trial wearing the word "HAM" in capital letters. Is subliminal suggestion his latest weapon? No. They were just his monogrammed cuffs.

-- Got a tip? For courts, contact Chris Goffard at 226-3337 or Goffard@sptimes.com. For cops, contact Amy Herdy at 226-3386.

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