Spechler loses in spat against chief judge

Former Broward County Judge Jay Spechler’s nearly yearlong legal fight against the circuit’s chief judge for banishing him from the main courthouse has ended.

On Thursday, a three-judge appellate panel affirmed a federal judge’s decision to dismiss Spechler’s wrongful termination and false light suit against Broward Chief Judge Victor Tobin.

Spechler sued Tobin in Broward Circuit Court last July, claiming that his reassignment from the main courthouse in Fort Lauderdale to a satellite courthouse was "bogus" and forced him to quit. He contended that Tobin’s lack of comment to the press about the incident cast him in a bad light.

He wanted a judge to declare he is eligible for reinstatement, his banishment was unconstitutional and his reassignment was a sham.

The state attorney general’s office, which represented Tobin, removed the case to federal court.

In December, U.S. District Judge Federico Moreno dismissed the case, ruling that Tobin is protected by qualified immunity and Spechler lacked standing.

The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the ruling in a three-paragraph unsigned decision Thursday. Summing up Moreno’s reasons for dismissing the case, the court wrote, "The district court reviewed Spechler’s claims ... and, in any event, they have no merit."

Tobin declined to comment on the decision.

Spechler and his attorney did not return calls for comment.

Comments

[roscoe j. freespeecherman]

ha ha, Mr. Spechler! You HEREBY reap what you sow, be-atch!!

Roscoe