Posted on Thu, Feb. 22, 2007

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Judge in Smith case is derided for antics

BY ERIKA BOLSTAD

ebolstad@MiamiHerald.com

He's become something of a national spectacle for his role as Anna Nicole Smith's probate judge, with his colleagues snickering about his courtroom demeanor and with national legal analysts deriding his professional judgment.

But Broward Circuit Court Judge Larry Seidlin has been taking it all in stride, keeping in daily contact with the county's chief judge and refusing to let the criticism stop him from long soliloquies and other courtroom antics.

Many of his colleagues say they're embarrassed by Seidlin's behavior, saying that it reflects poorly on their profession -- and makes Broward look like an odd place with a weird sense of justice.

Today, the chaotic case and certified media circus got even stranger as lawyers for Smith, her estranged mother, her former boyfriends and her longtime companion tried to make a case for who would get to bury her body -- and where.

''I'm searching for the truth,'' Seidlin said as the court proceedings began, adding that ``this would normally take a couple years to hear a probate case.''

But then he veered off to talk about Camelot and Smith's admiration for Marilyn Monroe, joked with lawyers and offered them juice and sandwiches and came up with nicknames for witnesses. His time in the spotlight has even fueled speculation that he might be in line for a Judge Judy-type show.

The county's chief circuit court judge, Dale Ross, wouldn't comment on whether he had been receiving complaints -- or compliments -- about his colleague. Seidlin has said in court that he's been in daily contact with Ross.

''If there are complaints, a lot of times it's because folks just don't understand the process,'' Ross told The Miami Herald, adding that he does not have the authority to remove Seidlin from the case.

Seidlin, who has been on the bench for 29 years, says he plans to issue an order on who will get custody of Smith's body by Friday morning.

The balding, 56-year-old Bronx-born jurist made heads turn last week when he referred to Smith's corpse as ''that baby,'' declaring that her body ``belongs to me now.''

One lawyer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, was mystified that Seidlin is getting national attention.

''One of the worst judges in Broward County could wind up becoming a TV star,'' the lawyer said.

And that attorney is not alone. In the 2004 Broward County Bar Poll, 22 percent of lawyers responding to the survey said Seidlin was not qualified -- putting him near the bottom of the pack of judges. And the blog found on the website for the Justice Advocacy Association of Broward, jaablaw.com, had several hostile statements about Seidlin, calling him some names that can't be published.

But his supporters say that Seidlin, while controversial, has a no-nonsense approach that works. Fort Lauderdale attorney Bradford Cohen, who has had cases before Seidlin, has nothing but praise for him, describing the judge as fair and smart.

He insists Seidlin's behavior has no negative impact on his job.

''If judges don't have personalities, it would be a pretty boring world,'' said Cohen. Seidlin was elected a county court judge in 1978, becoming one of the youngest at age 28. He was appointed circuit judge in 1989. Prior to that, he worked as a Broward prosecutor. He put himself through college by driving a taxi in New York City. Public records show he has a permit to carry a concealed weapon.

''Larry has no problem expressing his feelings and is unconcerned with public opinion,'' said Fort Lauderdale attorney Gary Ostrow, who has known Seidlin for 20 years. ``He calls it like he sees it. His primary concern is making the appropriate ruling at the appropriate time on the appropriate issue.''

And so does William Gelin, an outspoken critic of the Broward judiciary.

''Seidlin is known for saying controversial things, but that is just his personality,'' said Gelin, founding member of Jaablaw.com. ``He has an old-style mediator approach and when it comes to justice being served, he always tries to get the best possible results.''

''Looks-wise, he is not a Clark Gable,'' said Randy Douthit, executive producer for Judge Judy. ``I wish his posture was a little better. If he sat up straight, I would feel better about him.''

Herald staff writers Jennifer Lebovich, Roberto Santiago and Nikki Waller contributed to this report.