Anyone who believes that a judge's job is cushy hasn't visited a Miami-Dade County courtroom lately. From the elegant Dade County Courthouse in downtown Miami to the teeming, overcrowded Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building in the Civic Center to the shabby, cramped Juvenile Justice Courthouse, Lady Justice demands grueling workloads from those who preside in court. The person who has been in the center of legal maelstroms recently is Judge Jeri Beth Cohen, whom we are recommending for reelection.

A 15-year veteran of the bench, Judge Cohen has had her share of media attention recently, thanks to two high-profile cases. First was the poignant plight of a 5-year-old Cuban girl brought to this country in 2005 by her mother, who later relinquished custody of her and her older brother. The children have different fathers. The boy's father agreed to his son being adopted by a couple acting as foster parents for both children. The girl's father, a Cuban citizen, wanted his daughter returned to Cuba. The foster parents wanted to adopt her.

The custody trial was contentious and emotionally charged. Judge Cohen, 54, does not tolerate antics or foolishness in her court. She has a quick wit and a sometimes sharp tongue, but she is always fair. These skills kept the custody trial from sliding into chaos. In the end, Judge Cohen granted the father custody, and he agreed to remain in South Florida for two years to allow his daughter time to adjust. This was a just, legally correct outcome.

Judge Cohen's opponent, Abbie Barbara Cuellar, represented the foster parents in the custody case. Ms. Cuellar, 45, appears to be running with a grudge: Judge Cohen ruled against her clients.

The second hot potato to land in Judge Cohen's lap is Norman Braman's lawsuit challenging the megaplan cobbled together by the county and city of Miami. The plan includes building a $515 million retractable-dome stadium for the Florida Marlins. Mr. Braman says the issue should have gone to county voters to decide. The stakes are high in the outcome of this trial, which Judge Cohen is handling in her usual no-nonsense style. One of Judge Cohen's invaluable qualities on display in this trial is her refusal to be intimidated by lawyers for either side.

This year, Miami-Dade's justice system is losing some fine circuit-court judges to retirement. No matter how able their replacements, the absence of these veterans' integrity, grit and commitment to fairness will be a loss to the courts. All the more reason to keep judges of the caliber of Judge Cohen on the bench.

For Miami-Dade County Circuit Court, Group 55, The Miami Herald recommends Judge JERI BETH COHEN.

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