Broward County Public Defender Howard Finkelstein breezed into office unopposed in 2004, when he took over the post long held by Alan Schreiber. Mr. Schreiber was an effective but controversial public defender who spent thousands of dollars on consultants, nutrition seminars, fancy furniture and happy-hour daiquiris in his office. After taking over, Mr. Finkelstein tossed the daiquiri machine and made equal legal representation for all indigent defendants his mantra.
He is opposed by Alex Arreaza and Gary Ostrow, both criminal-defense attorneys. Mr. Arreaza is running a credible campaign while Mr. Ostrow has run into trouble: He was arrested in Tallahassee in May for cocaine possession and is being sued by a former client's family.
In any case, Mr. Finkelstein, 55, has earned a second term. He has transformed the office from a political base where staff were pressured to contribute to selected candidates into what Mr. Finkelstein calls ``a place for the people.''
For Mr. Finkelstein that means having enough well-trained lawyers to give poor defendants a robust defense. This includes ensuring that all defendants are treated fairly in court by judges, Mr. Finkelstein says.
He has been known to take on worthy crusades. Public defenders often work with society's lowliest and least likable. In the 1990s, Mr. Finkelstein used the case of a brain-injured defendant to push for changes in how Broward treats mentally ill people accused of crimes.
For Broward County public defender, The Miami Herald recommends HOWARD FINKELSTEIN.
