Crist suspends Rothstein from judicial panel
by Dara Kam | November 24th, 2009Gov. Charlie Crist suspended suspected swindler Scott Rothstein - who raised more than $700,000 for the governor’s campaigns since 2006 - from a Judicial Nominating Commission today.
Crist replaced the disgraced lawyer with Ft. Lauderdale lawyer William Berger, not to be confused with former Palm Beach Circuit judge and former Rothstein law firm partner William Berger.
The RRA Berger called Rothstein “a financial serial killer in an interview with The Palm Beach Post’s Susan Spencer Wendel earlier this month.
“He violated their trust in the most cold blooded, heartless way. He really does deserve to be shot like a rabid dog,” Berger said.
Rothstein agreed to permanently surrender his law license six days ago and will never practice law in Florida again.
Rothstein, a profligate political contributor, is accused of bilking investors and his law firm’s clients of up to $500 million through a Ponzi scheme.
Rothstein’s denoument led to the downfall of his prominent South Florida law firm, where Palm Beach County Commissioner Steve Abrams worked. Federal agents raided the firm, now in bankruptcy, earlier this month.



Where's the money? Use The Post's interactive database of who wants and who's getting federal dollars.
Use these interactive graphics to find and contact Palm Beach County and Treasure Coast legislators.
Sentenced to die for crimes judged heinous and cruel, inmates await execution in a 9 feet by 6 feet cell.
November 24th, 2009 at 6:14 pm
Gov. Charlie Crist replaces this guy with a guy from the same firm?? Good god.
November 24th, 2009 at 6:35 pm
gonz67 Says:
November 24th, 2009 at 6:14 pm
Gov. Charlie Crist replaces this guy with a guy from the same firm?? Good god.
I agree with this poster. Christ does not get it time for him to go.
November 24th, 2009 at 7:27 pm
[...] This post was Twitted by Jstrategies [...]
November 24th, 2009 at 7:28 pm
Great thinking Charlie Crist.You have some serious guts to pull something as stupid like that off.Now you want to represent us in the Senate?God save as all!!!
November 24th, 2009 at 8:33 pm
Good Job CharLIE replace one crook with another one of your crooked cronies. Keep up the good work.
November 24th, 2009 at 8:59 pm
Please check your facts. William Berger of Greenspoon Marder was appointed, not the RRA lawyer with the same name.
November 25th, 2009 at 9:15 am
Is this why Wexler stepped down? Everyone knows he helped Crist get there and he always said how close they are. I can’t wait for the drama that will unfold. We know they are not done yet.
November 25th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
Thank you “Fact Check”. It is nice to know that at least one other person out there has the reading comprehension level of a 4th grader.
For the rest of you, the statement was “Crist replaced the disgraced lawyer with Ft. Lauderdale lawyer William Berger, not to be confused with former Palm Beach Circuit judge and former Rothstein law firm partner William Berger.” In case you were not sure, the use of the word not indicates that the appointed person is NOT Rothstein’s former law firm partner.
November 25th, 2009 at 11:18 pm
Rothstein could not have peddled so much influence w/o exercising his key position on Florida Bar’s Grievance Committee. Rothstein’s participation in FL Bar’s grievance process provided him the ideal pedigree needed to convince almost everyone he was beyond reproach, while intimidating/discouraging nearly anyone who would dare question his integrity. His Vice-Chair Grievance Committee position in Broward’s 17th Judicial Circuit served as a basis to place him on the JNC.
Crist needs to re-introduce legislation to place attorney regulation in the hands of the Dept. of Professional Regulation and out of the self-regulating grip of The Florida Bar.
November 27th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
[...] Also Governor, one trait I want in a Senator is the ability to smell a Rat. In this case, the “Rat” I am referring to is your good buddy, Scott Rothstein. For you folks who are not familiar with our Good Governor’s relationship with Mr. Rothstein..here is link to get you started. [...]
December 7th, 2009 at 11:53 pm
David, why are you calling for an end to lawyer regulation?
Why do you file so many frivolous lawsuits?
Same answer? Miss me?