Larry Seidlin

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Larry Seidlin (born May 24, 1950 in The Bronx, New York to a Jewish-American family) is a State Court judge for the Circuit Court of the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of the State of Florida in and for Broward County. He is married to, wife, Belinda Seidlin and has a daughter.

1 Education
2 Proceedings to adjudicate the disposition of Anna Nicole Smith's remains
3 Media attention to the Smith proceedings
4 References

[edit] Education

He is a graduate of Christopher Columbus High School (Bronx, New York) and Hunter College, attended St. John's University School of Law in New York for two years, and received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Miami School of Law in 1972. While attending law school in New York Seidlin paid for his education by working as a taxi driver. Later, he moved to Florida and finished law school there. At 28 years of age, he became one of the youngest judges in Broward County. The youngest was Patti Englander Henning.

[edit] Proceedings to adjudicate the disposition of Anna Nicole Smith's remains

These proceedings, which occurred in Judge Seidlin's court, were the subject of national media coverage by, among other media outlets, the cable news channels. Judge Seidlin was the judge assigned to decide among the merits of claims of competing claimants to the legal power to direct the disposition of Anna Nicole Smith's remains. Among those giving testimony in these proceedings were Howard K Stern, Smith's former attorney and live-in partner, and Virgie Arthur, Smith's mother.

On February 22, 2007, Judge Seidlin entered orders essentially awarding custody of Smith's remains to her five-month-old daughter, Dannielynn, who appeared through her guardian ad litem, Richard C. Milstein, a Florida attorney.

It should be noted that Judge Seidlin's influence in the Anna Nicole Smith proceedings extended beyond his verdict. During his ruling, Seidlin loudly stated to the parties involved that they should work together to put Anna to rest and to build a better future for her young daughter. Approximately, one hour after the trial concluded, the three parties that were fighting for custody of Smith's remains, Virgie Arthur (Anna's mother), Larry Birkhead (her ex-boyfriend), and Howard K. Stern (her attorney and confidant) appeared together outside the courthouse in a sign of solidarity. In the days following the trial, however, all parties have made various appeals in the numerous hearings surrounding the custody of Smith's body, as well as custody of her five-month-old daughter, Dannielynn Hope Marshall Stern.

[edit] Media attention to the Smith proceedings

During the proceedings, Judge Seidlin made 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^[1] such as Judge Judy's. Judge Seidlin's alleged intentions were reported by the celebrity gossip website TMZ.com, citing "unidentified sources" on Feb 20th 2007.^[2] 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.^[3] ^[4]

However, many have criticized Seidlin; Florida lawyer Jack Thompson has also filed a formal complaint against Seidlin for "violating judicial canon".^[5]

Seidlin was parodied on the February 24 and March 17, 2007 episodes of Saturday Night Live during the "Weekend Update" segment. Fred Armisen portrays Judge Seidlin in mock interviews with Seth Meyers.