Musical Judges

It is that time of year when the judicial system plays what I call Musical Judges in our Supreme Court part. Judges are yearly rotated in and out of the matrimonial part sometimes giving new life to old stagnant cases. New blood is sometimes a good thing and this year I have mixed feelings with regard to the comings and goings. I am thrilled that an old favorite of mine is making his way back to the matrimonial part. A controversial figure and sometimes temperamental; my all time favorite on the bench has not always done everything I would have wanted him to do. In fact I feel I lost quite a bit of money once in a decision regarding a legal fee. However, his independence of mind and desire to do the right thing though not always the politically correct thing, makes him my first choice in the stickiest cases. Always looking to the best interests of the children in the cases where no one else would stick out his neck. My favorite judge saved a house full of kids and my stay at home client from being tossed into the street literally by staying her foreclosure auction 3 days before a sale. He allowed my client 60 days to try to sell the house and retain whatever equity she could, which frankly was quite a bit. She was able to pay off the mortgage and start a new life for herself and her children in another state. Three attorneys laughed at my "naivete" when I told them I was requesting a stay of the auction and that I was requesting oral argument on the matter. The judge stunned us all by granting my petition and proceeded to listened intently giving us a speedy decision within a few hours. New blood also joins us in the matrimonial part this year. I look forward to the change and the return of a member of judiciary I sorely missed.