Miami-Dade’s first judicial investiture of 2013 transformed quickly from near-eulogy to friendly roast.
Actually, David Marko, a former law partner of newly robed Circuit Judge Miguel de la O, called it a barbecue.
“Miguel buys his suits on eBay — used suits,” Marko confided Friday to a standing-room-only crowd in historic Courtroom 6-1. (No denial from the judge.)
De la O, who was raised by a single mother, moved in with Marko’s family when both were teens.
Marko wasn’t worried about being prosecuted for records they got without paying via multiple accounts at Columbia Music House but noted De la O carried a briefcase in high school.
“The statute of limitations never runs out on that,” said Marko, who moved up a notch after Marko & Magolnick dropped De la O from the firm name.
Prominent litigator Neal Sonnett, a former president of the Dade County Bar Association, mentored the young associate at Sonnett Sale & Kuehne starting in 1991.
“It quickly became clear that Miguel had a great legal mind,” Sonnett said, noting he wrote Governor Charlie Crist in 2007 recommending De la O, “an excellent lawyer and a great person,” for a judicial appointment.
De la O, who ran unopposed last year for the opening left by Circuit Judge Lawrence Schwartz’s retirement, thanked the public for paying taxes that kept him fed, clothed and educated in his youth.
“I’m not special, I’m lucky,” said De la O, who was lauded for many civic contributions. “I owe this city, this state and this country much, and I want to pay it forward.”
Robert Harris of Stack Fernandez Anderson & Harris in Miami recalled arriving at Steel Hector & Davis as a new associate with De la O in 1989.
“As big a day as this is for Miguel, it’s a bigger day for the community,” he said.
Actually, David Marko, a former law partner of newly robed Circuit Judge Miguel de la O, called it a barbecue.
“Miguel buys his suits on eBay — used suits,” Marko confided Friday to a standing-room-only crowd in historic Courtroom 6-1. (No denial from the judge.)
De la O, who was raised by a single mother, moved in with Marko’s family when both were teens.
Marko wasn’t worried about being prosecuted for records they got without paying via multiple accounts at Columbia Music House but noted De la O carried a briefcase in high school.
“The statute of limitations never runs out on that,” said Marko, who moved up a notch after Marko & Magolnick dropped De la O from the firm name.
Prominent litigator Neal Sonnett, a former president of the Dade County Bar Association, mentored the young associate at Sonnett Sale & Kuehne starting in 1991.
“It quickly became clear that Miguel had a great legal mind,” Sonnett said, noting he wrote Governor Charlie Crist in 2007 recommending De la O, “an excellent lawyer and a great person,” for a judicial appointment.
De la O, who ran unopposed last year for the opening left by Circuit Judge Lawrence Schwartz’s retirement, thanked the public for paying taxes that kept him fed, clothed and educated in his youth.
“I’m not special, I’m lucky,” said De la O, who was lauded for many civic contributions. “I owe this city, this state and this country much, and I want to pay it forward.”
Robert Harris of Stack Fernandez Anderson & Harris in Miami recalled arriving at Steel Hector & Davis as a new associate with De la O in 1989.
“As big a day as this is for Miguel, it’s a bigger day for the community,” he said.
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