Battle of The Judges: Spechler Sues Tobin

UPDATED: [Since this was posted, the Miami Herald and Sun-Sentinel have done their reporting. Tonya Alanez's article is here and you can read Todd Wright's work on the matter here.] A little breaking news from the Pulp: Former Broward County Judge Jay Spechler, who resigned in April after he was...

By Bob Norman

July 2, 2008

[
        {
          "name": "GPT - Billboard - Slot Inline - Content - Labeled - No Desktop",
          "component": "16971022",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "15769925",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "16575154",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "GPT - Rectangle 2x - Slot Auto-select - Labeled",
          "component": "15782206",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "16575154",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "GPT - Leaderboard to Tower - Slot Auto-select - Labeled",
          "component": "15782207",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

UPDATED:

[Since this was posted, the Miami Herald and Sun-Sentinel have done their reporting. Tonya Alanez's article is here and you can read Todd Wright's work on the matter here.]

A little breaking news from the Pulp:

Former Broward County Judge Jay Spechler, who resigned in April after he was banned from the courthouse by chief judge Victor Tobin, is looking for revenge.

Spechler has filed a defamation suit against Tobin who, according to courthouse sources, was served with papers today. I haven't seen the suit yet, but it was authored by Boca lawyer Robert A. Sweetapple. Not sure if the damages Spechler is claiming are specified.

There was never any love lost between the two men, especially since Spechler was long aligned with Tobin's controversial predecessor, Dale Ross. Tobin banned Spechler from the courthouse because of a verbal altercation he'd had with Judge Peggy Gehl during which Spechler allegedly ridiculed her sexual orientation. Spechler resigned ... but now he's back in court to toe off against Tobin.

More as I get it.

Become A Member

BEFORE YOU GO...
Can you help us continue to share our stories? Since the beginning, New Times Broward-Palm Beach has been defined as the free, independent voice of South Florida — and we'd like to keep it that way. Our members allow us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls.

Journalist Bob Norman has been raking the muck of South Florida for the past 25 years. His work has led to criminal cases against corrupt politicians, the ouster of bad judges from the bench, and has garnered dozens of state, regional, and national awards.

Contact: Bob Norman