Valdes-Fauli v. Valdes-Fauli

In my opinion, the majority has reached a terrible result. It exemplifies just what seven of us2 so roundly condemned in Kopel v. Kopel, 832 So.2d 108 (Fla. 3d DCA 2002)(Schwartz, C.J., specially concurring), review denied, 848 So.2d 1154 (Fla.2003):

The appellate attitude that a trial judge may, if sufficiently unobtrusive, be seen, but rarely heard, has- been reflected in several recent decisions which are in denigration of her proper function as an active participant in the search for truth, but cf. Sparks v. State, 740 So.2d 33 (Fla. 1st DCA 1999)(eonvietion reversed because, at bench…