Commission opens formal process to consider naming new Justice Center after Osvaldo Sotto; asks mayor to identify site to honor Harvey Rubin

The Miami-Dade County infrastructure committee heard more than two hours of public comment on who should be honored by naming the new civil courthouse. Speakers representing a broad cross-section of the legal community urged the commission to recognize either Osvaldo Sotto — a longtime civil-rights advocate and lawyer — or Harvey Rubin — a 52-year elected official who served as county commissioner and as clerk of courts.

After extensive testimony, committee members voted unanimously to ask the county attorney to prepare an item for the full board to consider renaming the Justice Center after Osvaldo Sotto and directed the county mayor, working with the chief judge, to recommend a suitable county facility to name for Harvey Rubin and report back within 90 days.

Why it matters: The request responds to dozens of speakers from the legal, civic and business communities who urged honoring a civic leader whose work opened the local legal profession to Hispanic and other minority attorneys, and to a longtime public official credited with modernizing county court operations. Commissioners described the choice as difficult and instructed staff to find additional ways to honor both legacies.

Most important facts - The committee held a public hearing that produced sustained advocacy for both Osvaldo Sotto and Harvey Rubin; dozens of attorneys, judges and community leaders spoke on the record. - The committee approved a motion to instruct the county attorney to prepare an agenda item for the March 18 commission meeting proposing that the newly named Justice Center be named for Osvaldo Sotto. Commissioner Higgins made the motion; the body recorded a unanimous vote. - Separately, the committee directed the county mayor to coordinate with the chief judge and return within 90 days with a recommendation of a county facility or other appropriate recognition to honor Harvey Rubin.

What commissioners said and did Committee chair Commissioner Joe Gonzales and other commissioners acknowledged the strong and often personal testimony for both men. Commissioner Marlene Bastian and others asked the administration to find a way to honor the distinct contributions of both Sotto and Rubin rather than force a single public choice without broad consensus. The committee voted to advance the Sotto-renaming item and simultaneously directed the mayor to identify suitable recognition for Rubin.

Public testimony Speakers included past and present judges, the Miami-Dade state attorney and leaders of the Cuban American Bar Association and other civic organizations. Remarks detailed Sotto's civil-rights advocacy (including opposition to an "English-only" ordinance) and his role mentoring Hispanic attorneys; they also recounted Rubin's decades of public service as commissioner and clerk and his stewardship of court infrastructure and technology.

Actions and next steps - The committee's motion will be drafted by the county attorney and placed on the commission agenda for next week with a request that the full board consider renaming the Justice Center after Osvaldo Sotto (motion made by Commissioner Keon Hardiman and supported in committee by recorded unanimous consent). - The mayor's office was directed to coordinate with the chief judge and return within 90 days with a recommendation for a county facility to be named for Harvey Rubin.

Ending note Commissioners described the situation as an unusual but welcome dilemma: two widely respected civic leaders with distinct legacies. The committee's actions set a formal path for the full board to consider a courthouse renaming while asking the administration to propose a separate, prominent recognition for the other figure.