Who is judge larry seidlin

If the guy ran for reelection, he'd be reelected. Get the latest updates in news, food, music and culture, and receive special offers direct to your inbox. Support Us South Florida's independent source of local news and culture. I support. Support the independent voice of South Florida and help keep the future of New Times free.

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I Support Learn More. Latest Stories. More ». Sign Up Now No Thanks. Become a member and go ad-free! Smith, famous for her career as a Playboy Playmate, jeans model, reality TV show star and long legal fight for a stake in her late husband's fortune, died February 8 at a casino hotel near Hollywood, Florida. Seidlin took jurisdiction a week ago over her body, quirkily referring to it as "that baby" and declaring that "it belongs to me now. He allowed television cameras into his chambers, then into the courtroom.

He ordered a swab of DNA taken for a paternity test and released Smith's will to the media. He said he would hold hearings for as long as it takes to bring the warring sides together. On Wednesday he began by saying that while the proceedings might not be as important as the war in Iraq, a little girl's life is at stake.

Legal observers say issues involving the child's custody and paternity are irrelevant to the central issue before Seidlin -- Smith's burial. Watch the judge ask a witness to write the baby's name on a board. Seidlin, a balding, deeply tanned former New York cabbie, has been on the bench for 29 years. He presides over family and probate matters. He talks about calling upon well-heeled pals to provide their private jets to shuttle witnesses and perhaps carry Smith's corpse to its final resting place on a moment's notice.

He has said he likes to put people in his courtroom at ease so they can come together on matters of life and death. And so, he calls one of Arthur's lawyers "Texas," and speaks repeatedly about preserving the beauty and dignity of Smith's corpse while looking out for the best interests of her infant daughter, Dannielynn. I'd say it was wearing thin on Day One.

The judge has said he will decide Friday whether Smith should be buried in the Bahamas by Stern, her Los Angeles, California-based lawyer-turned-boyfriend, or in Texas by Arthur, a former police officer who has been estranged from her daughter for 10 years. Toobin called the hearings "a total waste of time" in deciding what should be a fairly straightforward matter: who is the next of kin and what were Anna Nicole Smith's wishes. Perper called Seidlin on the bench to say Smith's embalmed corpse has begun to deteriorate at the county morgue.

Seidlin put Perper on speaker phone, playing the call in open court. Member Center: Sign In Register. If Anna Nicole Smith case is a circus, judge is ringmaster. Next story in Law. What are E-mail Alerts?

Manage Alerts Create Your Own. At one point, referring to a dress being made for Smith's burial, Seidlin's face soured as he expressed his general discomfort over funeral details.

It prompted amused attorney Stephen Tunstall to note wryly, "But you're a probate judge," referring to the type of judge whose job is to deal with wills. He's a very tough guy, but certain things [about the case] really affected him -- this child, particularly, and the way the mother passed away … really everything. Baby Dannielynn was born last year days before her only brother Daniel died of an apparently accidental drug overdose.

Several men have claimed paternity of the child and a lengthy court battle is ongoing over millions that could someday be awarded to the child.

Seidlin grew up in the Bronx, playing championship doubles tennis at Christopher Columbus High School with lifelong friend Dr.

Sheldon Warman.