Candidate wants lawsuit accusing her of conspiring against Miami judge thrown out

A judge’s lawsuit over a campaign to convince Miami-Dade voters that she is a communist who “hates her country” is an abuse of power intended to intimidate her adversaries and silence “quintessential political opinion and rhetorical hyperbole,” an attorney for her opponent argued in a new court filing seeking to dismiss the complaint.

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Last week, Judge Mavel Ruiz filed a lawsuit alleging that Destiny Alvarez, an attorney who is running for Ruiz’s seat in the 11th Circuit Court Group 67, was behind internet attacks and text messages containing defamatory statements intended to discredit Ruiz and influence the outcome of the Aug. 18 election.

Alvarez called the lawsuit “frivolous” in a statement to the Miami Herald.

“It is clear that the claims lack any legal or factual basis, and we intend to seek attorneys’ fees and sanctions for having to defend against it,” the statement reads.

Several political committees and organizations were allegedly involved in the conspiracy, according to Ruiz’s lawsuit. Named as defendants are Fighting for a Better Miami-Dade, Miami-Dade Residents United, Miranda Advocacy LLC, New Vision For Our Courts, Order 66 LLC, and We Can Do Better Miami.

Ruiz is also suing Nicholas Alvarez, Alvarez’s husband and a political lobbyist; Alejandro Miranda, a political operative and manager of Miranda Advocacy and Order 66; and Damian Tapia, the registered agent of New Vision, Fighting For A Better Miami-Dade and Residents United. Five unidentified defendants are also listed. The filing says they are believed to be lobbyists, donors, consultants or officials.

The motion to dismiss argues that the lawsuit against Alvarez is legally defective because it relies on vague allegations, fails to adequately establish the required “actual malice,” and targets political opinions and rhetorical statements that are protected by the First Amendment.

The motion argues that Ruiz is using the authority of her judicial office against political critics and her opponent’s supporters, and seeks to improperly intimidate voters in a way that violates both judicial ethics rules and Florida’s anti-SLAPP law.

“The message to every Miami-Dade voter, donor, and volunteer is unmistakable: support this judge’s opponent, and this judge will put you in a caption,” the motion reads.

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Efforts on Saturday to reach Ruiz and her attorney, Henry Marines, were not immediately successful.

According to the complaint, Ruiz, who was born in Cuba, was the target of mass text messages portraying the longtime judge as a “communist” who hates the United States and uses the “judiciary as a weapon to attack conservative patriots in our courts.” One message, sent in Spanish, accused Ruiz of preventing President Donald Trump from building his presidential library in Miami.

The claim stems from a 2025 ruling in which Ruiz blocked Miami Dade College from transferring downtown Miami land for the proposed Trump presidential library. Ruiz ruled in a lawsuit brought by historian Marvin Dunn that Dunn was likely to prove the college’s Board of Trustees had denied the public an opportunity to weigh in on the plans before approving the transfer.

Ruiz later lifted her block on the land transfer after Miami Dade College trustees held a new vote, and she dismissed the case. The college’s Board of Trustees subsequently successfully sought to disqualify Ruiz from handling future cases involving the college and the presidential library, arguing that she was personally biased in favor of Dunn.

The listed defendants are also accused of coordinating an internet attack website using the judge’s name.

“Not one overt act, communication, payment, meeting, or document is alleged connecting either Alvarez Defendant to the creation or publication of the website or the text message,” states the motion, filed by Brian O. Cross of Goede Deboest and Cross. Destiny Alvarez is managing partner of the firm’s Coral Gables office.

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Miami Herald reporter Grethel Aguila contributed to this report.