Who is the interim appointee to fill the “big shoes” of longtime Miami-Dade Clerk of Courts Harvey Ruvin after his death Saturday?
Miami-Dade Chief Judge Nushin G. Sayfie appointed Luis G. Montaldo as interim clerk of courts.
Montaldo was Ruvin’s chief general counsel for more than 17 years.
When contacted Tuesday, Montaldo reserved comment on his new position until a later date out of respect for his former colleague and family.
Montaldo was an assistant state attorney from 2001 to 2005, according to his LinkedIn page.
As chief general counsel for Ruvin, he represented an office of more than 13,000 employees, and specialized in intergovernmental relations and state, county and municipal legal matters.
“My areas of proficiency include civil litigation, local governmental law, appellate practice, judicial land sales and collateral litigation involving all matters related to foreclosure and tax deed sales,” his profile noted.
Montaldo’s work—litigating cases regarding Florida’s first state court same-sex marriage case and mayoral and county commission recall petitions—gained him accolades in the Daily Business Review.
‘Blessed to Have Luis’
Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle welcomed the news of Montaldo’s rise.
“Luis is the right person at the right time,” she said. “Harvey had been mentoring Luis for years to become his successor.”
As the county’s top law enforcement officer, Fernandez Rundle reflected on Ruvin’s death.
“Harvey was unique and special with a servant’s heart,” she said. “We all will miss him dearly, and our prayers are with his family.”
Appointed state attorney for Miami-Dade County in 1993, Fernandez Rundle thinks there is much to be done as clerk of courts.
“We are at a critical junction for our justice system, as he will revamp and rebuild the Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS), prepare for Amendment 10 implementation, and insuring the financial integrity of Dade County bonds,” she said. ’We are blessed to have Luis willing to lead the clerk’s office.”
‘Well-Deserving of the Honor’
Montaldo’s colleague—Miami attorney Eileen Ball Mehta of Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod—praised Montaldo and his predecessor.
