Vogel

Vogel speaks out on law, justice, fairness

 

BY JOHN ANDOLA

NEWS WRITER

 “There are injustices in this world that cannot be fixed because there is not criminal law that applies,” says Catherine Vogel, State Attorney for the Florida’s 16th Judicial Circuit that encompasses the Keys. “There are laws that even I don’t believe are fair. Is the law applied fairly, even unfair laws? That’s what’s important. Fairness in law depends on your perspective. Litigation is all about winning. The role of the prosecutor is different; a prosecutor seeks justice.” Vogel goes on to say she is proud of her reputation for being tough, but fair.

Nearly everyone who holds a job reports to a boss or a supervisor or someone else who is in charge. Someone in the organization for which you work tells you what to do, directs you and evaluates your work. The 20 Florida State Attorneys, however, do not report to any one person, no one directs their work or sets their priorities; instead, they report to the public which elected them. That work structure means the State Attorney has a great deal of power and is constrained only by the law.

 Vogel views her position as a public service and says she is very careful to use the power of her office in a highly ethical and professional manner. This perspective comes, perhaps, from her very early professional experience as a social worker and an attorney for the Florida Department of Children and Families.  

Janet Reno hired Vogel in 1981 as Assistant State Attorney for Miami-Dade and she held that position until 2001 when she became Chief Assistant Attorney for Monroe County under Mark Kohl. Vogel was then elected State Attorney for Monroe County, succeeding Dennis Ward and began her term in January 2013. She attributes her years of experience under Reno and Kohl as a major factor in her successful run for the State Attorney position in the Keys. Originally from Miami, Vogel graduated college and law school from the University of Miami.

Her most challenging case, says Vogel, involved a DUI manslaughter case in which a Miami judge and a judicial assistant had been killed. Vogel prosecuted the person driving the car and the person who lent the car to the driver (they were brothers). At trial the person who lent the car claimed that he was the actual driver. A conviction was obtained on both. A lot of research into DUI and Miami case law was necessary for Vogel to prosecute and win this case.

In another case Vogel recalls, she didn’t believe her witness could truly identify the person who committed a robbery. Even though it appeared, as the prosecutor, she could win the case, she dropped it. “To this day, I feel good knowing I did the right thing and for the right reason,” states Vogel.

As the smallest judicial circuit in the state of Florida, the 16th has 18 assistant attorneys and a support staff of 48. Miami-Dade is the largest with 300 attorneys. Vogel speaks very highly of Manny Madruga, the chief assistant attorney in Key West and Demetrios Efstratiou, the chief prosecutor in the Upper Keys. She offers that she is also very pleased to have on staff Val Winter, supervisor of misdemeanors, Chris Webber as chief investigator and Tanner Demmery lead prosecutor in the Middle Keys. Although the county school district contracts with Miami-Dade to provide educational services for the mainland portion of the county, all of Monroe County is included in the 16th judicial circuit. Cases from the mainland are heard in the Islamorada courthouse.

Catherine Vogel’s response on some issues and people. The press: The newspapers do their job; they only print information they are given. Ed Scales: I’m so proud of Ed and his appointment to the Third District Court of Appeals that oversees judges here and in Miami. Randy Acevedo: Really very sad for him. He paid a price for trying to protect his wife. Kathy Reitzel: No comment. Dennis Ward: I wish Mr. Ward the best. I hope he is successful in his practice. Mark Kohl:  As executive director in the Upper Keys, he has a lot of contact with Tallahassee and is a good resource in the system. Family:  I have a wonderful husband who calls himself “first man,” a stepson with a 3-year old daughter and one on the way and a sister in Washington State. Hobbies: Jogging and keeping in shape, traveling to half marathons, attending functions in Key West and travel once or twice a year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

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