Conflict In The Courthouse

In The News

Name: Chief Judge F. Dennis Alvarez March 2001 - Alvarez announces his retirement from the bench. Alvarez denies that his departure is part of a settlement with the Judicial Qualifications Commission, although others say it was investigating his handling of the courthouse scandals.

Name: Judge Robert Bonanno December 2001 - Bonanno announces his resignation. While the JQC said it had had found no evidence of criminal wrongdoing in its own investigation, a move to impeach Bonanno was afoot in the state legislature.

Name: Judge Gasper Ficarrotta October 2000 - Ficarrotta resigns amid investigations by the JQC and a special grand jury of his affair with bailiff Tara Pisano, and allegations that Ficarrotta helped solicit contributions for Sheriff Cal Henderson's re-election campaign.

Name: Judge Ed Ward June 2000 - Ward announces his retirement three months after he is accused of sexually harassing four female colleagues, including two judges. He was scheduled to appear before the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission on those charges.

Name: State Atty. Harry Lee Coe III July 2000 - Coe commits suicide shortly after learning that Gov. Jeb Bush has ordered an inquiry into his conduct in office. Coe had been accused of soliciting loans from employees and using his office computer to visit gambling sites.

Name: Court Bailiff Tara Pisano March 2001 - Pisano was suspended for 10 days on a charge of conduct unbecoming an officer for having sex at the courthouse with former Circuit Judge Gasper Ficarrotta. She and Ficarrotta had a 16-month affair that ended in 1999.

Compiled by Tribune researcher Buddy Jaudon

Make-A-Wish Foundation Investigation Dolores Crooks An investigation of the Make-A-Wish charity has uncovered that officials spent tens of thousands of dollars - money that could have fulfilled more wishes for dying children - to fund events for themselves and take care of their friends. Tampa Tribune Series: Part 1 (July 17, 2005) Behind The Good Wishes Foundation's Wish Is To Help Children Finances Of Nonprofit Groups Rarely Reviewed By IRS Agents Part 2 (July 18, 2005) A Prosecution Driven To Keep Secrets Make-A-Wish Chapter Reached Big Leagues, Then Card Scandal Hi From Make-A-Wish To The Courthouse: A Chronology Who's Who Documents: 72-page PDF file Testimony transcript; tax documents; FDLE report; DOC report

	Dennis Alvarez

Full story

Related Documents Here is a list of documents related to the case of Judge Gregory P. Holder. List Of Documents: •  E-mail from Judge Holder's former assistant to the Air Force investigator last April.    Read document •  Transcript of Holder's conversation with Air Force investigator Col. David Leta from last March. Holder acknowledges his signature but can't say if it is his paper.    Read document •  Transcript of Holder's deposition with the JQC on Nov. 5. Here, he does not acknowledge his handwriting on the same documents discussed in earlier document.    Read document •  Full text of statement of Col. Gregory P. Holder to the Air Force.    Read document

	Background stories

o  May 08, 2004: Colleague Lied About Clique, Former Chief Judge Writes
o  May 03, 2004: Chief Judge Wants Probes To Wrap Up
o  May 02, 2004: Ex-Judge Recounts Invitation To Clique
o  Feb. 18, 2003: Experts Doubt Judge's Account
o  Feb. 18, 2003: Major Meets With Bosses
o  Feb. 18, 2003: Profile: Rene "Rocky" Rodriguez
o  Feb. 15, 2003: Major Blames Inquiries On Affair
o  Feb. 14, 2003: Sheriff, Major Clash Over Bill
o  Feb. 13, 2003: Memo: Major Rings Up $6,000
o  Jan. 28, 2003: New Inquiry Keys On Sheriff's Major
o  Jan. 19, 2002: Probe Mars Major's Charmed Life
o  May 18, 2002: FBI Probe Puts Estate Case Judge On Guard
o  Aug. 24, 2001: Bailiff Talks Of Mischief Among Judges
o  June 20, 2001: Grand Jury To Bonanno: Leave
o  March 2, 2001: Alvarez To End Reign On Bench
o  Jan. 31, 2001: Bailiff Who Reported Judge Faces Inquiry
o  Oct. 27, 2000: 1 Judge Quits; Other Faces Trial
o  Sept. 7, 2000: Chief Judge, Bailiff Subpoenaed
o  Aug. 6, 2000: Courthouse Only Looks Silly, Insiders Maintain
o  Aug. 1, 2000: Judge Accuses Colleague Of Break-In
o  News Stories from TBO.com