Larry Seidlin

Larry Seidlin (born May 24, 1950 in The Bronx, New York) was a State Court judge for the Circuit Court of the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of the State of Florida in and for Broward County. He was the presiding judge during the infamous Anna Nicole Smith body custody hearing after her death.

Anna Nicole Smith trial

As judge during the Anna Nicole Smith body custody hearing, Judge Seidlin was involved in some controversial actions, such as making one-liners and other attempts at humor which some who know him said is normal for him, but led many to speculate that his actions and comments were for the cameras in the courtroom and were made as an attempt to secure a courtroom television show similar to Judge Judy's. [cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,253198,00.html|title=Anna Nicole Smith Snarky 'Judge Larry': Aspiring TV Star or Regular Guy Running No-Jury Trial?|date=2007-02-20|last=Donaldson-Evans|first=Catherine|publisher=Fox News] The judgment was given in what some have viewed as an overly theatrical style, with the Judge weeping and fumbling his words, though others close to him have said that his courtroom conduct was genuine. [citeweb|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_6380000/newsid_6388300/6388309.stm?bw=bb&mp=rm#|title=BBC News Player - Dramatic end to Smith hearing|accessdate=2007-02-23] [cite web|url=http://abcnews.go.com/US/LegalCenter/story?id=2896934&page=1&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312|title=Exclusive: Judge's Wife: People Say He Should Have His Own TV Show|date=2007-02-24]

Seidlin came under criticism in the legal community for his handling of the Smith case, [31 "Nova L. Rev." 645. Phyllis Williams Kotey, "The Real Costs of Judicial Misconduct: Florida taking a set ahead in the regulation of judicial speech and conduct to ensure independence, integrity, and impartiality" "Circuit Court Judge Larry Seidlin made news across the courtry for his antics from the bench for his "witty"one liners and emotional and tearful delivery of his edicts. n28 Judge Seidlin was a presiding judge in some of the custody and legal proceedings that ensued after the death of Anna Nicole Smith. n29 His dramatic behavior led to perception that his speech and conduct were intended to attract offers for a courtroom television show."] and more recently came under fire for other behavior. In February 2007, WSVN-TV Channel 7 reported Seidlin took three-hour lunch breaks on the four days in April that he was tailed by the station's investigative team. WSVN also showed that he was at a tennis club by 4 p.m. on three of the four days he was watched. He declined to comment for the TV report. [cite news
url=http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1182243949915|title=Report:Judge in Anna Nicole Case Resigns -- and TV May Be Next]

Seidlin was dubbed the "crybaby Judge" and "Larry the Cable Judge" because of his courtroom tears, jokes and unsolicited commentary.Fact|date=November 2007 The underlying motives for his emotional displays remain unclear.

Resignation and rumored television show ambitions

Seidlin retired from the bench in Summer 2007. His alleged intentions to star in a courtroom TV show were reported by the celebrity gossip website TMZ.com, citing "unidentified sources" as early as Feb 20th 2007. [cite news|url=http://www.tmz.com/2007/02/20/all-rise-judge-seidlin-says-hes-ready-for-tv|title=All Rise!!! Judge Seidlin Says He's Ready for TV|date=2007-02-20|publizher=TMZ] In a letter to Florida Governor Charlie Crist in June, 2007, Seidlin wrote:

"It is now time for me to devote more of my daily life to my own young family and to pursue the many opportunities that have been offered to me outside the judicial system and I have disregarded until now...While these opportunities are varied, they all share in common a further commitment to helping my fellow citizens through roles in the educational system, the media and nonprofit organizations." [cite news|url=http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flbseidlin0620nbjun20,0,7748496.story?coll=sfla-news-broward|title=Larry Seidlin, judge in the Anna Nicole Smith hearing, will leave bench July 31|date=2007-06-20|last=Donaldson-Evans|first=Catherine|publisher=Sun Sentinel]

Seidlin has not given specifics on his plans after his resignation, [cite news|url=http://chronicle.augusta.com/ap/178604854.shtml|title=Wisecracking Florida Judge Larry Seidlin, who presided over Anna Nicole Smith case, to resign|date=2007-06-29|last=Sedensky|first=Matt|publisher=Augusta Chronicle] but according to Broadcast and Cable Magazine, Seidlin had allegedly cut a deal with CBS Television Distribution to develop a court show in Fall 2008, but no official confirmation has been made from either party. [cite news|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6453559.html?q=larry+seidlin|title=CTD Snags Anna Nicole Judge Seidlin|date=2007-06-19] CBS Paramount will allegedly produce Seidlin's pilot for CTD; they also handle Judy Sheindlin's "Judge Judy" show. [ [http://news.lalate.com/2007/08/08/anna-nicoles-baby-judge-cbs-puts-judge-seidlin-with-judge-sheindlin/ Anna Nicole’s Baby Judge - CBS puts Judge Seidlin with Judge Sheindlin lalate news - America's Fastest Growing Celebrity News Site! ] ]

On "Saturday Night Live" skits during the Smith case, Larry Seidlin was usually portrayed by Fred Armisen.

Investigation into possible criminal charges

According to Law.com & The Florida Sun-Sentinel, Seidlin is being criminally investigated for "allegedly asking a lawyer for gifts and financially exploiting an elderly woman". [Jordana Mishory (August 17, 2007). [http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1187254930825&rss=newswire Fla. Legal Elite Hope to Get Judges a Little Respect] . "Law.com". Accessed 2008-04-11.] Florida lawyer (permanentely disbarred as of September 25th, 2008) Jack Thompson had filed a formal complaint against Seidlin for "violating almost every judicial canon". [citeweb|url=http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-cseidlin23feb23,0,3083996.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines|title=Anna Nicole Smith's mother says she plans to appeal|accessdate=2007-02-23] The complaint was based on an investigative report in a local weekly, New Times Broward*Palm Beach, that found that the judge had received questionable gifts and large sums of money from an elderly neighbor in his Fort Lauderdale condo building. Florida Gov. Charlie Crist has assigned the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office to the case and an investigation is currently underway.

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