Howard Finkelstein is a retired American attorney who served as the public defender of Broward County, Florida. He was first elected in 2004 and re-elected in 2008, 2012, and 2016. He retired in January 2021.
He practiced both as a government lawyer and in the private sector. While in private practice, he was a partner in the law firm of Brackey, Finkelstein and Dallas, and specialized in criminal defense. In 1987, Finkelstein's license to practice law was suspended after he pleaded no contest to drug possession and driving under the influence. Prosecutors also accused him of using his position as an attorney to obtain a court order that allowed him to retrieve drugs confiscated from a client.[1]
As a public defender for most of his career, he represented clients charged with crimes ranging from misdemeanors to murder. As a Chief Assistant Public Defender, Finkelstein was instrumental in forming the first drug court in Florida [2] and initiating a misdemeanor and felony mental health court in Broward County.
He also serves as the on-air legal analyst for WSVN Channel 7 News for over 20 years. In that capacity he has provided gavel to gavel legal commentary in the case of the State of California vs. O.J. Simpson and has provided ongoing commentary during the U.S. vs. Timothy McVeigh Oklahoma bombing trial, the President Clinton impeachment proceedings, the Princess Diana investigation, Bush vs Gore legal battle for the Presidency, the "nanny" murder trial, INS vs Elian Gonzalez, the Terry Schiavo right to die case and the Marv Albert and Michael Jackson trials. His televised commentaries during the O.J. Simpson trial made him a star on local Florida television. WSVN-TV still uses his "Help Me Howard" feature.[3][4]
Howard was honored as "Man of the Year" by the Deerfield Beach Democratic Club in 2013.[5]
Referencesedit
^Michelle Reuss, Attorney Given Probation, Fine For Drug Charges, [South Florida Sun-Sentinel],
^Karla D Shore, Broward Public Defender Praised, [South Florida Times],
^Glenn Garvin, Casey Anthony verdict outrage: critics blame Nancy Grace, Geraldo Rivera and other media figures 2011-08-12 at the Wayback Machine, Associated Press, July 7, 2011.
^Dan Christensen, Broward public defender demands attorneys for poor in minor cases, Miami Herald, January 13, 2011.
^WSVN7 News, County public defender honored as "Man of the Year" 2013-09-26 at the Wayback Machine, WSVN-TV, September 22, 2013.
External linksedit
Broward Country public defender official biography
Website of law office of Broward Country public defender
November 23, 2023
howard, finkelstein, retired, american, attorney, served, public, defender, broward, county, florida, first, elected, 2004, elected, 2008, 2012, 2016, retired, january, 2021, contents, early, life, education, career, references, external, linksearly, life, edu. Howard Finkelstein is a retired American attorney who served as the public defender of Broward County Florida He was first elected in 2004 and re elected in 2008 2012 and 2016 He retired in January 2021 Howard FinkelsteinContents 1 Early life and education 2 Career 3 References 4 External linksEarly life and education editHoward received his Bachelor of Arts degree in the Social and Behavioral Sciences from the University of South Florida in 1975 He received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Miami School of Law in 1978 Career editHe practiced both as a government lawyer and in the private sector While in private practice he was a partner in the law firm of Brackey Finkelstein and Dallas and specialized in criminal defense In 1987 Finkelstein s license to practice law was suspended after he pleaded no contest to drug possession and driving under the influence Prosecutors also accused him of using his position as an attorney to obtain a court order that allowed him to retrieve drugs confiscated from a client 1 As a public defender for most of his career he represented clients charged with crimes ranging from misdemeanors to murder As a Chief Assistant Public Defender Finkelstein was instrumental in forming the first drug court in Florida 2 and initiating a misdemeanor and felony mental health court in Broward County He also serves as the on air legal analyst for WSVN Channel 7 News for over 20 years In that capacity he has provided gavel to gavel legal commentary in the case of the State of California vs O J Simpson and has provided ongoing commentary during the U S vs Timothy McVeigh Oklahoma bombing trial the President Clinton impeachment proceedings the Princess Diana investigation Bush vs Gore legal battle for the Presidency the nanny murder trial INS vs Elian Gonzalez the Terry Schiavo right to die case and the Marv Albert and Michael Jackson trials His televised commentaries during the O J Simpson trial made him a star on local Florida television WSVN TV still uses his Help Me Howard feature 3 4 Howard was honored as Man of the Year by the Deerfield Beach Democratic Club in 2013 5 References edit Michelle Reuss Attorney Given Probation Fine For Drug Charges South Florida Sun Sentinel Karla D Shore Broward Public Defender Praised South Florida Times Glenn Garvin Casey Anthony verdict outrage critics blame Nancy Grace Geraldo Rivera and other media figures Archived 2011 08 12 at the Wayback Machine Associated Press July 7 2011 Dan Christensen Broward public defender demands attorneys for poor in minor cases Miami Herald January 13 2011 WSVN7 News County public defender honored as Man of the Year Archived 2013 09 26 at the Wayback Machine WSVN TV September 22 2013 External links editBroward Country public defender official biography Website of law office of Broward Country public defender Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Howard Finkelstein amp oldid 1182393192, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
