Defenders say Jaimie Goodman is hard on attorneys for their own good
Jane Musgrave|Palm Beach Post
When Palm Beach County Circuit Judge Jaimie Goodman decided to run for a second term, he knew he would be hounded by allegations that he runs his courtroom like a petty tyrant.
After blasting his courtroom demeanor in two Palm Beach County Bar Association judicial polls that were conducted two years apart, attorneys throughout the county lined up to support his opponents.
But despite the opposition, Goodman surviveda three-person primary in August. He faces43-year-old civil litigator Adam Myron on Nov. 3.
While the 62-year-old former labor lawyer says his primary victory shows he enjoys widespread support, lawyers are deeply divided about Goodman’s performance on the bench.
Few deny that Goodman can be abrasive.
But those who support him say his harsh treatment of some attorneys is justified.
More: Judge defends low Bar poll marks against two challengers
“He has high expectations of lawyers and when lawyers come in and they fail to meet his expectations, he’s not going to sit idly by and let the lawyer get away with it,” said longtime attorney John Romano, who has appeared before Goodman.
While some lawyers may dislike getting “dressed down in court,” Romano said, sometimes tough talk is necessary.
“I agree with Judge Goodman,” Romano said. “He expects lawyers to be prepared.”
Butothers sayGoodman’s behavior is unacceptable.
“I’ve been dressed down plenty of times (by judges) over the years. I’m embarrassed, but I don’t leave feeling like I’ve been demeaned,” said veteran Palm Beach Gardens civil trial attorney Stephan LeClainche.
“If you’re not prepared, the judge should point it out to you, but you don’t have to be rude and condescending and nasty,” LeClainchecontinued. “He is just nasty.”
While LeClainche said he’s never appeared before Goodman, he and other attorneys said the stories about his courtroom antics are legion.
Young lawyers leaving the courtroom near tears. Clients confused about what their lawyers did wrong. Veteran lawyers chastised for using the wrong word.
“He’s got such a trigger temper,” LeClainche said. “It’s not something substantively important. It’s just something that’s gotten under his thin skin.”
More: PBC judges Stephens, Gillen in control as Goodman struggles
Some lawyers who have appeared before him declined to comment publicly, saying they worry that any negative comments could impact their cases.
Like LeClainche, defense attorney Gregg Lerman said he’s heard the same stories over and over. “I’ve talked to lots of lawyers and I’ve never heard a good thing in their descriptions of Judge Goodman,” he said.
Myron, in contrast, is an 18-year lawyerwho has impressed his supporters with his even temper and his legal skills.
“He’s fundamentally a decent guy,” said West Palm Beach attorney James Green, who has worked with Myron on several cases. “He’s always pretty measured.”
Such contrasting views of Myron and Goodman are similar to those expressed in 2014, when political newcomer Jessica Ticktin ranagainst Circuit Judge Diana Lewis.
Like Myron, Ticktin repeatedly talked about the low marks Lewis received from lawyers on two consecutive bar polls. Like Goodman, their top complaint about Lewis was her demeanor. Voters responded by ousting the two-term judge.
Goodman got a front-row seat to Ticktin’s attacks on Lewis. Running for judge for a third time, he attended forums where Ticktin rehashed her opponent’s dismal scores.
Still, when Goodman won a judicial seat after spending $634,000 of his own money on three elections, he didn’t appear to learn from Lewis’ mistakes.
On the most recent judicial poll, conducted last fall, his scores were worse than the ones Lewis received a year before she was voted off the bench.
While 68% of the 217 lawyers surveyed in 2013 gave Lewis low marks for her courtroom demeanor, 83% of the 278 lawyers who rated Goodman in 2019 said heneeded improvement.
Like Lewis, Goodman dismissed the results of the survey as merely a popularity contest. Further, he said, the lawyers who rated him are a mere fraction of the “thousands” who have appeared before him.
Both Goodman and Myron have plowed much of their own money into their campaigns. Goodman has pulled $75,000 out of his own pockets, while Myron has contributed $35,000, according to campaign finance reports through Sept. 18.
Goodman has received $134,000 in contributions from 316 donors. Myron, meanwhile, has raised roughly $60,000 from 301 donors.
While the bulk of their campaign cash comes from lawyers, the difference is that Goodman has received $1,000 contributions from big law firms and their partners while Myron has received $250 and $500 contributions from other lawyers.
Goodman and Myron have received endorsem*nts from similar groups. Both are endorsed by the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council.
Myron has snared endorsem*nts fromthe Puerto Rican Bar Association of Florida and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.Goodman has the support of The Hispanic Vote of Palm Beach County.
Myron has the endorsem*nt of the Service Employees International Union of Florida.Goodman has the backing offive unions, including the Palm Beach Classroom Teachers Association, the Palm Beach Treasure Coast AFL-CIO, and the Fraternal Order of Police.
Goodman also has the endorsem*nt of the Palm Beach County National Organization for Women.
Still, Lerman insisted, support for Myron among lawyers is strong. Further, he said, simple math shows that Goodman faces a steep path to victory.
Attorney Caryn Siperstein, who came within 427 votes of beating Myron to advance to the runoff, also talked about Goodman’s low scores on judicial polls and the need to bring civility to the courtroom.
If her supporters vote for Myron, he would capture more than 60% of the vote, Lerman said. Siperstein, however, hasn’t endorsed Myron.
Among the lawyers who supportGoodman is Christian Searcy, a name partner in a big West Palm Beach law firm.
Lost amid the criticism about Goodman’s demeanoris that he’s a good judge, Searcy said. “Judge Goodman is very bright and studious,” he said.
With a strong work ethic of his own, Goodman has little tolerance for lawyers who don’t do their homework, Searcy said.
“I would hate to see us lose a good judge because he thinks lawyers shouldn’t show up in his courtroom unprepared,” he said.
jmusgrave@pbpost.com
@pbpcourts
PALM BEACH COUNTY CIRCUIT JUDGE
Term: Six years.
Salary: $160,688.
About the election: This is a nonpartisan race. Voting by mail already is underway; in-person early voting begins Oct. 19; Election Day polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Nov. 3.
JAIMIE GOODMAN
Personal: 62, Jupiter, single.
Education: Bachelor's degree, industrial and labor relations, Cornell University; law degree, Cornell University.
Professional: Took office January 2015. Solo practitioner, West Palm Beach, 1999-2015; private practice, Detroit, representing workers, 1993-1999; private practice representing large companies, July 1987-1992; in-house counsel, General Motors, 1982-June 1987.
ADAM MYRON
Personal: 43, Wellington, married, two children.
Education: Bachelor’s degree, philosophy, Emory University; law degree, George Washington University Law School.
Professional: Senior counsel, Day Pitney LLP, West Palm Beach, February 2006-present; litigation associate, Cole, Scott & Kissane, P.A., West Palm Beach, April 2004-January 2006; litigation associate, Leibner & Potkin, P.C., Washington, D.C., October 2002-January 2004.
