Peter Schorsch
Why is this guy even running for Judge?
Kudos to the Tallahassee Democrat for calling out judge candidate Kevin Alvarez for being a social media troll of the worst kind. Until a few days ago, his Facebook page contained frequent and repeated uses of the B-word, the C-word, and, of course, the N-word.
His posts were, in the words of reporter Jeff Schweers, “too vulgar to republish.”
Mr. Alvarez, what the hell are you thinking?
To be clear, your excuses carry no water whatsoever. Please allow me to explain.
Here’s dumb excuse #1: “ … using inappropriate language before I became a lawyer is not a reflection of how I would act today.”
First, that is a lie. Many of the posts, as noted in the article, “were made in the months following” your admission to the Bar. Second, they were still on your Facebook page as of THIS week. Yes, if your newer self — more refined and reformed — was embarrassed by your younger self, indeed, you could have pulled those posts. You did not. So you have to own them.
Here’s dumb excuse #2: Blame Facebook. He told the reporter that this is the reason “lawyers should not spend a lot of time on Facebook.”
Where do I begin?
So, it’s Facebook’s fault you suggested various sex acts with the state prosecutor and called women “hoes?”
It’s Facebook’s fault that you used unpublishable words?
I don’t care what the medium is, referencing your desire to rape someone and referring to them as either a b****h, a c**t, or dropping the N-word is not Facebook’s problem. It’s your problem.
Here’s dumb excuse #3: These were quotes from songs.
So, if I want to be completely inappropriate and suggest vulgar things, it’s OK to take someone else’s words, make them my own, and then hide behind the fact that I wasn’t the original writer of them?
I call b*llshit!
After blaming his youthful indiscretions, hiding behind song lyrics, lying about the fact that they happened before he became a lawyer (as if passing the Bar somehow cleansed him of his transgressions) and then blaming Facebook, Alvarez states the following and perhaps most incredible line of all:
“I take full responsibility for my juvenile stupidity.”
You just blamed your age, Facebook, and songwriters for your stupidity. At least you owned up to the stupidity part.
From where I sit, I would make a simple recommendation to you. Get out of the race. While this is a one- or two-day story at most, if you stay in the race — it will define you for the rest of your career.
Walk, sir, before they make you run.
4 comments
S.B. Anthony
June 19, 2020 at 4:31 pm
If there hasn’t already been a Florida Bar Complaint lodged, surely there will be a Judicial Qualifications Committee (JQC) Complaint charged. Either way, this guy’s goose is cooked.
Jim Donelon
June 19, 2020 at 5:16 pm
Thank You, Peter for a very insightful article. Why the hell do these dolts run for public office?
RL
June 19, 2020 at 10:41 pm
Thanks for picking up on this and calling him out. I hope, however, that it will last longer than a day or two for a few reasons. These posts are not a surprise to anyone who has had the misfortune of having to work with him — let alone hear his true thoughts and feelings when he feels he’s in good company (or when he thinks no one else can hear him). He has literally turned purple with anger in court (on more than one occasion) when opposing counsel or a judge has called him out on his antics. It is also important to note that he is running for circuit judge in Leon County — there are countless statewide issues that are handled in the circuit court of Leon County because it is the seat of the state capitol. He is clearly not fit to sit on any bench in the state — much less one that could give him jurisdiction on issues for citizens throughout the state.
Michael Simpson
June 30, 2020 at 10:22 am
Note also that Alvarez’s campaign lists eight judicial ethics rules and then says that since Dempsey broke the rules she should be turned out. He implies she broke each of these rules. In fact, she was reprimanded for saying “re-elect” when she had been appointed to her previous term and for claiming 20 years of legal experience when she had been a bar member for 14; all this 12 years ago. She violated none of the 8 rules Alvarez cites. Hunnhh?… I don’t know this guy but obviously his ego demands a public job with a good paycheck and, I guess, an opportunity to make vulgar and discriminatory posts while sitting on the bench. I hope he doesn’t get it.
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