FLORIDA BAR JUDICIAL CANDIDATE VOLUNTARY SELF-DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

Transcription

1 FLORIDA BAR JUDICIAL CANDIDATE PLEASE BEAR IN MIND YOUR OBLIGATIONS UNDER JUDICIAL CANON NO.7 IN PROVIDING ANSWERS TO THIS QUESTIONNAIRE. THE FLORIDA BAR DOES NOT ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR ANSWERS NOR WILL THE BAR EDIT YOUR ANSWERS TO COMPORT WITH THE CANONS. Name: Karen Elizabeth Berger June 25, 2018 Date disclosure statement completed: Broward County Circuit Court Judge, Group 43 Judicial position sought: Broward County Jurisdiction: Jurisdiction(s) in which admitted to practice law: Jurisdiction Date Admitted Florida October 20, 2009 Northern, Middle, and Southern Districts of Florida February 2010 Florida Bar No Years admitted to practice law: Years in the legal profession: 9 1/2 years 12 1/2 years (as an attorney and prior to law school, 3 years as a paralegal) Personal Statement: In 100 words or less, without discussing any particular issue that may come before you as a judge, explain why you believe you would be a good judge: I believe I would be a good judge because I am committed to serving the Broward community with honor, integrity, respect, and fairness. As an experienced litigation attorney who has spent countless hours in the courtroom, I offer a unique combination of skills and knowledge in multiple areas of law and an understanding of the complex nature of our legal system with specific familiarity with Broward County's courts. If elected to the bench, I will ensure that every person who walks into my courtroom is treated fairly and ethically and I will make sure that every person's voice is heard while still managing the docket in an efficient and organized manner. 1

2 Prior Candidacy in Judicial Election(s): If you have run in an election for judicial office before, please list the court, relevant date(s) and position: Court Relevant Dates Position Prior and/or Current Judicial Experience: If you have held judicial office, please state the Courts involved, the dates of service, and the office: Court Relevant Dates Office Number of evidentiary hearings, trials and/or oral arguments over which you have presided: Please provide the number of jury trials and the number of bench trials over which you have presided. Current judges may respond to the following questions regarding legal practice only with reference to pre-judicial legal experience. Area(s) of practice: Civil Criminal Government Other 2

3 Please list the primary areas in which you have specialized or have legal expertise and allocate a percentage of your practice to each area. Commercial Litigation including business, collections, and real estate - 80% Appellate - 15% Bankruptcy - 5% Number of evidentiary hearings, trials and/or oral arguments in which you have participated as legal counsel: Please provide the number of jury trials 2 and the number of bench trials in which you have participated. Participated in jury trials during jury selection Number of arbitration hearings in which you have participated as legal counsel or hearing officer: Number of administrative hearings in which you have participated as legal counsel or hearing officer: To the extent applicable, please quantify any additional alternative dispute resolution/negotiation experience: I have participated in at least 200 mediations (including small claims mediations) 3

4 Have you ever been Board Certified in any area(s) of practice? If yes, please identify: The area(s) of practice: When you were certified in each area of practice: Whether you are currently certified in those areas: Please provide the percentage of your practice that has involved representing plaintiffs 75 % and the percentage that has involved representing defendants 25 %. Undergraduate Education: Name of institution: Vanderbilt University Degree received/major: B.S. - Double Major in Latin American Studies and Music Academic awards, recognitions, honors, leadership roles and participation in academic organizations: President of Latin American Students Organization: President of McTyeire Dormitory (International Dormitory) and Member of Interhall:

5 Law School Education: Name of institution: Degree received: Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad Law Center J.D. Internships/in-school clerkships, academic awards, recognitions, honors, leadership roles and participation in academic organizations (e.g., law review, moot court, legal clinics): The Order of the Barristers E. Earle Zehmer Wokers' Compensation Moot Court Competition - Best Brief Award and 1st Runner-Up Oralists (August 2008) Feinrider Moot Court Upper Class Competition - Winner (October 2007) VIS International Arbitration Team - Coach and Participant (2007 and 2008) Moot Court Society, Justice of Competitions - Scoring (October May 2009) Number of hours devoted to public work while in undergraduate or law school. 100 Additional Educational History (if applicable): Name of Institution Degree Received Special awards, recognitions, honors, or leadership roles (if any) Employment: Present employer: Cooling & Winter, LLC Number of years with present employer: 2/ 1/2 Present position: Senior and Supervising Attorney Explain relevant experience or skills gained that you will bring to the bench: Handle commercial litigation focusing on creditors' rights and recoveries; handle own caseload from inception through trial and handle the majority of contested litigation including cases involving counterclaims, direct federal actions, and entitlement to attorneys' fees. Supervise and manage legal assistance staff of 4-5 and 4-5 attorneys. 5

6 List All Prior Employers and Occupations, Legal or Non-legal, for the Last Ten Years: Employer: Frederick J. Hanna and Associates (n/k/a Cooling & Winter, LLC) Number of years employed with this employer: 8 months Position/specialty: Associate Attorney Explain relevant experience or skills gained that you will bring to the bench: Handled commercial litigation focusing on creditors' rights and recoveries; handle own caseload from inception through trial and handle the majority of contested litigation including cases involving counterclaims, direct federal actions, and entitlement to attorneys' fees. Employer: GA Telesis, LLC Number of years employed with this employer: 1 Position/specialty: Corporate Counsel Explain relevant experience or skills gained that you will bring to the bench: In-house counsel for one of the world's largest commercial aerospace firms which operates sales, leasing, distribution, and maintenance facilities throughout the world; prepared and reviewed company's contracts primarily for the maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) division and government and military division. Handles litigation matters within Florida on behalf of company and engaged and monitored outside counsel for litigation matters outside of Florida. Employer: Tobin & Reyes, P.A. Number of years employed with this employer: 1 1/2 years Position/specialty: Associate Attorney Explain relevant experience or skills gained that you will bring to the bench: Handled commercial litigation focusing on business disputes involving real estate, construction, and employment; handled own caseload from inception through trial. 6

7 Law Organizations: Please list legal organizations in which you have been an active member for more than two years and all legal organizations in which you hold a leadership position or which required nomination to join: Organization Name Dates of Participation Office Held (If applicable) DiveBar January present Secretary Honors and Publications: Please list relevant published articles or books that you have authored, speeches or lectures you have given, and honors, prizes or awards you have received: Title Date Additional Information The Order of the Barristers May 2009 Gold Girl Scout Award May

8 Public Service Pro Bono, Volunteer Work or Military Service: Please provide the dates, activities and any special accomplishments, honors or leadership roles you have played in volunteer, public or military service organizations or in providing pro bono, volunteer, public or military service: The DiveBar: Secretary present The Ladies Annual Fish-Off: Volunteer and participant Broward Community Cats: Volunteer present Health: Do you currently suffer from or have you suffered from any of the following ailments in the last three years: Dependence on narcotics, drugs or intoxicating beverages Pathological or compulsive behavior Memory loss or impaired judgment Yes No If yes, please identify the ailment and provide full details, including the relevant dates, including dates of diagnosis, if applicable, the treatment received and any additional relevant information: Discipline: If you have ever been found, either involuntarily or by consent, to have committed a violation of The Florida Bar Disciplinary Rules, the Florida Rules of Judicial Administration or the Florida Code of Judicial Conduct for which the discipline imposed was one of the following: (a) public reprimand; (b) suspension; or (c) disbarment, please provide the following information: Date of charge: Date of disposition: Rule(s) found to have violated: Discipline imposed for rule violation(s): Date reinstated to the Bar or bench: Any conditions imposed for reinstatement (e.g., financial penalty, probation or public service): 8

9 If you have been found to have committed a violation of the ethical or discipline rules, please explain the circumstances surrounding your discipline: For Current or Former Judges: Has the Florida Supreme Court, or a similar body in another state, ever ruled against you on a Notice of Formal Charges by the Judicial Qualifications Commission? If so, please explain the circumstances surrounding the charges and include a description of any discipline imposed: Military Discharge: If you served in the military and your discharge was anything other than honorable or you received a court martial, please provide that information here: Criminal Convictions: Have you ever been convicted or pled no contest to a crime involving dishonesty or moral turpitude? If so, provide the following information: Date of conviction or plea of no contest: Crime for which you were convicted or pled no contest: Sentence: Any additional conditions imposed: If you have been convicted or pled no contest to a crime involving dishonesty or moral turpitude and would like to explain the circumstances surrounding your criminal conviction, you may do so here: 9

10 CERTIFICATION I certify that the information given on The Florida Bar Judicial Candidate Voluntary Self-Disclosure Statement is complete, true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief. 25 June 18 Executed this day of, 20. Name Karen Elizabeth Berger Certification Confirmation (must be checked prior to submission): 10