Members of groups or organizations acting in concert to violate the law present a grave threat to society, especially when members of such an organization stand in judgment over the rest of the populace. When no mechanism exists for state authorities to enforce state laws over state employees, it automatically grants the FBI the authority to enforce state and federal laws over those employees.
Why do so many people point to patterns of racketeering activity in California’s judicial branch? Indeed a long list of attorneys, former employees of California’s judicial branch and the public at large point to the Judicial Council and its administrative arm, the AOC being directly involved in a racketeering enterprise. In the ultimate “you scratch my back and I will scratch your back” local courts accused of malfeasance rely on the AOC and its deep pockets to provide litigation support to defend them. This cuts both ways. When the AOC appears before a court, the court, mindful of whom they rely on for litigation support loathes to move forward any litigation that might damage their relationship with the AOC or the Judicial Council. Indeed, it appears that no litigation against the Judicial Council or the AOC succeeds in making its way to a jury. Is all of this litigation or these attorneys who take it all on that bad or are they legally being railroaded into defeat in front of cooperative courts that assume that the AOC and Judicial Council are as infallable as a judge sitting on the bench? Why is it that law firms won’t take on the AOC? Is it that they know (or quickly learn) that their suits will go nowhere, take 10 years to get there and at the end of the rainbow there is no payday? I have heard this allegation from a large cadre of law firms and individuals. So, in short neither the taxpayers nor the legal community may hold anyone accountable, no one in state government exists to hold anyone accountable and no one is minding the candy store.
The Attorney General of the State of California does not represent the people in the Jacobs/AGS matters. The AG represents the interests of the AOC. As a result, and this has been confirmed with the AG’s office, there has been no investigation conducted by the Attorney General’s office with respect to the AOC’s role in the unlicensed contractor debacle, even though on December of 2009, Ron Overholt told reporters that the AOC asked the Attorney General to look into the unlicensed contractors debacle and find out how this could have happened.
So who is looking into this? John Judnick’s Internal Audits Division of the Finance department? The exact same finance department that entered into multimillion dollar contracts statewide with two unlicensed contractors in the first place? How long is Mr. Judnick going to stay employed if he writes a report blaming his superiors who created this cluster*uck? Surely, his director won’t be forwarding any Judnick report to the Executive Director or his sidekick tonto. Nor will the report be submitted to the executive & planning committee on its way to becoming an official report on events. It is not possible for anyone to be objective in such a report and for people to keep their jobs at the same time because there is lots of culpability that goes well beyond a simple mistake or oversight. There is an active effort to cover it all up, brush it all under the carpet and whistle like nothing is going on here.
So in summary, unless the FBI is actively investigating these matters – which we don’t believe they are – then no one is looking into these matters of how two unlicensed contractors managed to land tens of millions of dollars worth of work they were never qualified to perform.
Why was the issue of overcharging only brought up by Michael Paul, the Assembly Committee on Accountability and Administrative Review and a few concerned judges who were blown away to find out how much they were paying for these services? While the AOC remains in denial over these overcharges and falsely claims that they would never pay $150.00 to change a light bulb or $175.00 to empty an ash tray, the evidence provided to JCW indicates that there is a minimum billable service time for every call of two hours for every SWO generated. When considering minimum billable service times, travel times to travel from facility “A” to facility “B” to change a light bulb and the minimum service time onsite to actually change that bulb, those are $150.00+ light bulbs.
In the beginning, and this is the part that the AOC does not want you to know – the minimum value of a service work order was $2,000.00. This obscene SWO amont was the underlying basis for lowering a flag to half-mast for $1,000.00 and raising it the next day for another $1,000.00. The minimum value of a service work order was lowered to $500.00 some time in late 2008 which interestingly is as far back as the AG’s lawsuit goes to recover this money. Again, taking the issue of gross overcharging with the $2,000.00 service work order minimum value off the table because most of that happened before two years ago.
What is abundantly clear is that there is unlawful collusion between the AOC and its vendors and a cover-up of epic proportions happening. Tens of millions of dollars are being tossed aside in an effort to protect the idiots who really caused the judicial branch harm with those $2,000.00 minimum value service work orders at a time where trial court budgets were being slashed.
And no one but John Judnick is empowered to look into these irregularities? Nobody but the AOC is permitted to manage the litigation against the vendors they are colluding with? No one asks why the financial number given to the Assembly Committee on Accountability & Administrative Review spanning the last two years of service work orders coincides exactly with what the AG’s office has said they seek from the two unlicensed vendors, when both vendors have been doing work for four years? Is there any rational explanation for any of this?
Is there anyone who can ask these questions and get an answer that holds water?
Michael Paul
January 25, 2011
The risks to the judicial branch’s ambitous construction goals by not addressing the obvious are that the less obvious turns into legitimate activity. Licensed, qualified contractors on other AOC jobs will look at the kid glove treatment these two unlicensed, unqualified contractors who were robbing the AOC blind and come to the conclusion that they are licensed and qualified and therefore can do the same thing and get away with it. The saddest part about this conclusion would be that they would be correct which goes a long way in spelling out why these courthouses are slated to get exponentially more expensive per square foot. Fraud is factored in as a legitimate expense.
SF Whistle
January 25, 2011
“fraud factored in as a legitimate expense” is how things are done in many other fine third world countries……welcome to the Hotel California….
JusticeCalifornia
January 25, 2011
I have said it before and will say it again– the legislature should find out how much the judicial branch ( I mean the taxpayers) is paying for inside/outside legal counsel/wetworkers to clean up and coverup judicial branch messes.
Research
January 25, 2011
Could you share the research you did before you wrote this, on the litigation management AOC performs for the council and courts? I’d appreciate specific details. I believe they have a committee of court members who strictly oversee all actions considered. I like to get the full unbiased facts before I make any judgement calls myself … I don’t want to be guilty of jumping on the unfounded opinion bandwagon.
judicialcouncilwatcher
January 26, 2011
If you’re talking of the E&P’s role in litigation management for litigation over $100,000.00, E&P manages this litigation (as a committee)(ref:previous info on courtinfo website) but execution is left to OGC. This is mostly for litigation against the courts (on an as requested/required basis) council and aoc.
Edited to add: Most people identify the JC apart from the AOC. The AOC is the JC’s administrative offices. I don’t necessarily recognise the delineation between the organizations as it is nothing but smoke and mirrors.
JusticeCalifornia
January 25, 2011
JCW, you said:
“In the ultimate “you scratch my back and I will scratch your back” local courts accused of malfeasance rely on the AOC and its deep pockets to provide litigation support to defend them.”
The courts at all levels, by design and direction, also rely on top officials from the State and local bar associations. This creates terrific conflicts of interest, which was pointed out to then-state bar president Sheldon Sloan and the public, right after that 11/06 SF judicial “summit”.
JusticeCalifornia
March 9, 2011
Someone forwarded this cartoon to me. It is rather amazing.
http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/11316911/
Wendy Darling
January 26, 2011
The website for the California Bureau of State Audits has now posted a release date of February 8 for the audit of the CCMS and the AOC’s financial practices.
Ctr for Judicial Excellence
January 29, 2011
Thanks for that update, Wendy. On the heels of the damning state auditor report on the systemic problems in the Sacramento and Marin County Family Courts, the AOC is going to have their hands full dealing with yet another PR nightmare. It’s time that the new leadership take charge and admit the need for a clean sweep over at the AOC.
Kicking the hornets nest
February 22, 2011
From the horses mouth (an FBI agent) No one will Deal-with-It because Eric Holder (DOJ) and President Obama have a track record of KNOWING about the Corrupt California Judiciary and since they (the USA Dept of Justice) will NOT deal with it, No One will be Dealing with it!
SF Whistle
February 23, 2011
Hornets Nest—you probably have good information—
Here is the operations flow chart directly from the FBI website “most commonly asked questions”..
“Does the FBI work through U. S. Attorneys?”
“Yes. Although the FBI is responsible for investigating possible violations of federal law, the FBI does not give an opinion or decide if an individual will be prosecuted. The federal prosecutors employed by the Department of Justice or the U.S. Attorneys offices are responsible for making this decision and for conducting the prosecution of the case.”
Kinda causes one to not have a lot of faith in the system?—-Eric Holder showed the world again today that the DOJ is pretty selective where upholding the law is concerned—-
Jon Wintermeyer
February 22, 2011
OK, then who is going to represent the CA Taxpayers when it seems everybody in all the Federal & CA State government agencies that are supposed to go after and arrest the BAD GUYS & GIRLS have all been in the know and chose to keep quiet and look the other way. The whistleblowers already know that the AOC’s legal unit is under the directive to spare no taxpayer dollar expense to protect the guilty from any claims brought against them, by those looking out for the CA Taxpayers. So, Kicking the Hornets Nest, are saying it goes so very much higher above former CJ Ron ? If so how high in CA politics and all the way to back east in DC ? If that’s true, then why did Ron bother to resign ? Just who is going to dare and investigate this now ?
judicialcouncilwatcher
February 23, 2011
I believe our research last year showed that nearly every legislator in the state was given a generous donation from the same council that a certain PJ in Contra Costa county joined forces with to write an op-ed piece about the benefits of court construction……..
Kicking the hornets nest
February 23, 2011
US politics in it’s entire is inter-related. As you know at the State level the states supreme court justice has the final say, beyond that it goes to the Supreme court. Mr. George is a Diplomat and was on president Obama’s Supreme court short list. I believe his resignation was for many reasons. The new Justice and others are making required changes. State and federal constitutions contain either Judicial remedy and or where those fail, (the voice of the people) Executive remedy.
Michael Paul
February 23, 2011
While I’m unsure your assertions are valid, there is a difference in walking the line and not attracting the interest of the feds and stepping over the line several times over. It’s easy for Washington D.C. to turn a blind eye towards many things in the age of the patriot act but public corruption involving public funds isn’t one of those things they turn a blind eye towards. Eye-popping 3 billion dollar software programs and allegations of mismanagement of hundreds of millions of dollars in public funds and public buildings that cost $1,910.00 per square foot and are all over the news aren’t things that get past the feds very often.
I’m witnessing today a vivid picture being painted regarding a certain scenario being played out. No doubt, others are also witnessing that vivid picture develop as well. If they weren’t witnessing that vivid picture coming to life before their eyes, you would likely not be seeing the two pieces of legislation put forth recently with the intent of altering that vivid picture.
I’ve visited the offices of a few of my legislators in Sacramento and intend to do so more in the future. One belief many had in common is that what is going on at the AOC is so blatantly obvious that they’re waiting for federal intervention to happen to see what laws need to be passed. (!) I’m happy to see that this years’ legislature is thinking a bit differently.
Michael Paul
February 24, 2011
Credit is due those who won’t turn their backs on these issues.
You know who you are. Thank you.
JusticeCalifornia
February 24, 2011
Michael what is the second piece of legislation?
Michael Paul
February 24, 2011
Assembly Bill 314 which would eliminate the statutory exemption of the public contract code from the state court facilities construction funds. In my opinion, both bills need to be passed.
AB 314 needs an executive branch oversight mechanism because the last person in the world that should be trusted with oversight is John Judnick.
Kicking the hornets nest
February 24, 2011
Michael Paul, you have a good head on your shoulders. I don’t have direct knowledge of the numbers referenced. I see the Vivid picture and agree with the legislative efforts as well as congressman Issa’s investigative efforts. Maybe a unified, statewide Egyptian style revolt would draw attention (Facebook-Santa Clara Corruption, Facebook Placer, Sacramento, Los Angeles Corruption, Fresno)
SF Whistle
February 24, 2011
I have always felt that unified revolt is what corrupt despots fear most—The California Judiciary has such a great advantage—they have their large PR department—they have their canned responses to indefensible acts—
Opposition has no centralized voice and has avoided anything that might pass for an attmept to organize.
If you take a long look at the lesson of Egypt you find that the population resigned themselves to life under a corrupt dictator for 30 years before they took to the streets—-Libya is a population that has suffered under leadership of a madman for 40 years–
There are “mother’s groups”….”father’s groups”….”dv groups”…that have suffered in California Courts at the whims of jurists that refuse to follow the law—Judicial Immunity is an issue that no one wants to discuss—
If these unaligned groups could come together with the recognition that there is one huge thing that can be agreed upon—the NEED FOR JUDICIAL REFORM—Organize–take to the streets….
Where do I sign up?
Yeah Right
May 30, 2011
Govabuse.org
Kicking the hornets nest
February 24, 2011
Get acquainted with ” Abrogating State Immunity ” it’s close at hand!
judicialcouncilwatcher
February 25, 2011
We think what has been disclosed in this thread is very important for law enforcement, legislators, judicial branch employees and the public in general. We’re going to periodically bump this thread for these reasons.
Kicking the hornets nest
February 27, 2011
As stated by Martin Luther King the great organizer Of his time.
“There is more power in socially organized masses on the march than there is in guns in the hands of a few desperate men. Our enemies would prefer to deal with a small armed group rather than a huge, unarmed resolute group of people. However, it is necessary that the mass-action be persistent and un-yielding.”
– mahatma ghandi –
Yeah Right
May 30, 2011
I have to wonder the connection between JCC, it’s AOC and the CAGC or Cal League of Cities. There seems to be some kind of organized corruption going on at county level ysing public funds to process citizens at the divorce court level. It kinda seems like a scheme to net federal dollars on the backs of parties litigant by controlling their property and fabricating fake DV cases (though the issue isn’t limited to just these).
Judicial Council Watcher
April 22, 2013
The periodic bump-