Among the 16 candidates to be interviewed Friday: Melissa Damian Visconti, Raul Cuervo and Zachary James. Courtesy photos. Among the 16 candidates to be interviewed Friday: Melissa Damian Visconti, Raul Cuervo and Zachary James. Courtesy photos.

The Miami-Dade Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission has adjusted its interview process amid coronavirus concerns, making plans to speak over the phone Friday with 16 attorneys and jurists hoping to replace retiring Miami-Dade Circuit Judges Jacqueline Hogan Scola and John Schlesinger.

Those with a chance are six civil litigators, four county court judges, three prosecutors, two criminal defense attorneys and one former Miami-Dade Circuit judge vying to return.

Here's a roundup of the candidates:

Assistant Miami-Dade County Attorney Jason Bloch served on the Miami-Dade Circuit bench but lost his bid for election in 2016 after being appointed by then-Gov. Rick Scott. Bloch has been a prosecutor since 1994, and focuses on eminent domain, real estate, construction and commercial litigation. He is in-house counsel to the Public Health Trust and counsel to the county's medical examiner.

Miami civil litigator Heloiza Alves Correa began her legal career as a prosecutor in 2010 before opening her own practice, focusing on business and real estate disputes, and probate litigation.

Miami-Dade County Court Judge Raul Cuervo has presided over criminal cases since 2018. A former Carlton Fields shareholder, Cuervo represented banks, insurance companies and other financial institutions in national class action lawsuits. He's also served in the U.S. Army, and holds undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Florida. He was admitted to the bar in 1985.

Senior Assistant City Attorney Christopher Green has served 20 years at the Office of the City Attorney in Miami, after starting out as a public defender in 1993. He became litigation division chief five years ago and is board certified in civil trial practice.

Criminal trial attorney Kevin Hellmann directs training, professional and leadership development at the Miami-Dade Public Defender's Office. Admitted to the bar in 1996, he teaches trial skills at the University of Miami and is vice president of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Miami solo practitioner Peter Heller has more than 30 years of experience in criminal defense. Eligible to practice in seven different courts spanning Florida and Michigan, he holds a law degree from the University of Miami.

Prosecutor Chiaka Ihekwaba has served the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office since obtaining her law degree from St. Thomas University in 2001.

Before Miami-Dade County Court Judge Zachary N. James rose to his post in 2019, he was a partner at commercial litigation firm Melland, Russin & Budwick. A certified e-discovery specialist, James also served as a federal prosecutor in the Southern District of California, and a state prosecutor and trial lawyer for the Department of Homeland Security, where he specialized in prosecuting human rights violations.

Scott Janowitz is a founding partner of Coral Gables firm Janowitz & Barreto, which handles litigation involving products liability and recalls, transport accidents and other personal injury claims. Janowitz began his legal career in 2005 at the State Attorney's Office in Miami, where he became lead felony attorney in his division and tried more than 80 jury trials.

Miami-Dade County Court Associate Administrative Judge Lody Jean is a former prosecutor and criminal defense and immigration lawyer. She's also a past president of the Haitian Lawyers Association and became the court's second Haitian American judge when she was sworn in by its first in 2019.

Civil litigator and criminal defense attorney Jeffrey Kolokoff of Beighley Myrick, Udell + Lynne in Miami began his legal career in 2006 as a prosecutor specializing in white-collar fraud. He's a former assistant chief of the county court division and has lectured at multiple training and continuing legal education programs.

Miami-Dade County Court Judge Joseph J. Mansfield has served in the criminal division since Gov. Rick Scott appointed him in 2017. A former Miami-Dade assistant state attorney, he was admitted to the bar in 2002.

Marie Elizabeth Mato has served as Miami-Dade assistant state attorney for almost 20 years. She holds a law degree from the University of Miami.

Commercial litigator Joseph D. Perkins is a partner at Miami firm Garbett, Allen & Roza, where he focuses on contracts, leases, banking, intellectual property and corporate law. Before that, he worked at national financial and business litigation firm Lydecker Diaz.

Miami trial and appellate attorney Melissa Damian Visconti is of counsel to Damian & Valori and a former federal prosecutor who is regularly appointed as a receiver in complex commercial and securities cases.

Miami attorney Craig Weissberg has specialized in family law since 1996 and helps children with developmental disabilities and their families in disputes with school systems. He also serves as a family mediator and a guardian ad litem for abused, abandoned or neglected children.

 

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