There’s some scuttle going around. Prepare to sharpen your pitchforks and I would suggest dragging yourself and every news camera across the state to the next judicial council meeting.
Screw decorum, it is time to be heard and end this bad romance.
You probably remember that utterly unqualified cocktail waitress/blackjack dealer that was appointed by the love child making womanizer, currently being divorced that was letting his little head think for his big one?
Anyways, the scuttle goes that she’s really bent about our state of the judiciary speech so she wants to make it a reality. You probably remember our good friend that is promoting the DonCo Suckcess kits?
The scuttle has it that he has convinced his CCMS committee that CCMS should take precedence over keeping the trial courts open and that the B-Day exercise in futility is about to become reality in the next Judicial Council meeting.
In essence, Mr. Minion is alleged to be promoting the AOC finance department’s recommendation over that of the trial court budget working group at the behest of you know who.
Peanuts? Popcorn? Candy anyone? Not only are they munchies for the good theater of watching the keystone cops of governance, consider it a fund raising drive for the trial courts.
Judicial Council Watcher 
sharonkramer
July 15, 2011
“The scuttle has it that he has convinced his CCMS committee that CCMS should take precedence over keeping the trial courts open”
Yikes! I asked a friend of mine just a couple of questions about Deloitte and case management systems. This is truncated of the response I received:
You’re probably thinking that CCMS has got to be the biggest con job ever pulled off by Deloitte and the biggest screwup. And California has blown the most money on a dumb Deloitte project. You’d think but …..
CCMS is only in maybe second place even though the AOC has striven mightily to catch up to first place. Where does the front runner award go to? Look down in Texas. It started off with a dumb project called TIES done by EDS, but now it’s TIERS, done by Deloitte. (The added “R” is for redesign.) And Accenture had a hand for a while in picking Texans’ pocketbooks. But the front running award (by probably a few hundred million still) goes to TIERS. Look at http://www.hhs.state.tx.us/consolidation/IE/TIERS.shtml. Recognize the…. type of con job? Well, let’s look at little further.
Look at http://www.statesman.com/news/content/region/legislature/stories/04/19/19human.html. ….these folks had a bit of a head start on California and CCMS in getting into the really, really stupid spending range. Look at http://www.hhs.state.tx.us/news/release/110107_TIERS_QNA.shtml
Remember…CBMS in Colorado? Look at http://www.offthekuff.com/mt/archives/005006.html. Hint: Ed Kahn is one of the lawyers in a Colorado lawsuit concerning CBMS. They’ve been at in Colorado since 2004 when CBMS went live. Similar technology in the two states. They signed a stipulated judgment/agreement in December 2007 in Colorado and it still doesn’t work and threats of contempt can’t make it work.
Fast forward in Texas from 2005 to 2008. Look at http://capitolannex.com/2008/02/21/tiers-system-failing-texas-families/.
Note this one and the dollar figures. http://fatherjohn.blogspot.com/2007/04/texas-observer-trail-of-tiers.html from 2007 and they were already up to $415 Million.
CCMS was way behind. But the race continued. http://fatherjohn.blogspot.com/2007/12/trail-of-tiers-continues.html
TIERS played a major part in Texas 2008 political races. http://shapleigh.org/news/print/1756-texas-welfare-privatization-efforts-snagged
Everyone was mad by then. Employees were in tears, people were at each other’s throats, etc. http://hhscemployee.blogspot.com/2008/07/legislative-oversight-committee-on.html
But surely by 2011, it’s all fixed, right? To see what those trying to use TIERS must go through, look at http://www.twc.state.tx.us/boards/guides/tiersrefguide.pdf Sound wonderful? Yeah, except that it doesn’t work worth a damn. The manual has 198 pages of nonsense that no one can learn.
Michael Paul
July 15, 2011
Shovels and political grave markers. I need to be investing in shovels and political grave markers because this self-burial business is catching on.
Nathaniel Woodhull
July 15, 2011
Nice to be back in the land of the living. After a period of convalescence at a secure remote location, General Woodhull has decided it is time to return to the field of battle. In my absence, I have noted the circle of contributors to the JCW has expanded, bravo!
None of what is being reported by the JCW in this article should be a surprise to anyone who has been fighting this battle over the past 10 years. Sadly, most judicial officers did not find the actions of HRH George, Little Lord Vickery, nor the rest of the gang of thieves at 455 Golden Gate Avenue to be of any concern until quite recently. Those of us who tried to voice concerns were continuously shouted down as being ill-informed heretics.
For those new to JCW (I apologize to those who have heard this before) a short history lesson.
Little Lord Vickery came to the AOC in 1992 after having rocketed through the ranks in Utah. Having gone from a probation officer to the administrative director of the Utah courts in no time flat (at the time I believe they had less than 100 judges), questions could have been raised as to the Lord’s qualifications to start with. Little Lord Vickery clearly had an agenda upon his arrival. Relatively speaking, his ambitions where held in check under the administration of Chief Justice Malcolm Lucas. When HRH George was crowned, things changed rapidly.
Californians were told that the purpose of the Lockyer-Isenberg Trial Court. Funding Act of 1997 was to ensure a “stable funding source” for the trial courts, so that they would remain open throughout the year. Back in the mid-90’s there were some counties that would experience fiscal problems such that by the last quarter of the fiscal year it was difficult for them to maintain court operations and they would have to borrow money from the State to keep their courts open.
HRH George and Little Lord Vickery had other plans. Their reading of the Trial Court Funding Act was quite different. In their minds, this legislation was the green light to empire building. Slowly and quietly, the palace at 455 Golden Gate Avenue grew. Suddenly, more and more employees came on board. Tons of lawyers were hired, each making about $200 a month less than the trial judges (although the lawyers have much better benefits and pensions).
The plan was delicately crafted and wonderfully implemented. HRH George said that he was concerned that lawyers and litigants appearing in different counties might be subjected to different local rules and practices by individual trial courts. Under this ruse, the need for “standardization” resulted in countless implementation of mindless make work rules and procedures for local trial courts. Between 1998 and 2001, Judicial Council Forms were “improved” seemingly every six months. A simple straight forward restraining order grew from 4 pages to 13 pages.
Around 1999, the AOC changed the format of the New Judge Orientation program. This became an indoctrination for new judicial officers, in which AOC employees tried to make new judges believe that the judges actually reported to the AOC. Going to any AOC event meant that you would see a group of between 4-6 AOC employees “monitoring” the programs.
HRH George began a program that another country in Europe in the 1930’s would have been proud of. Dissent was not to be permitted. The Judicial Branch must speak with one voice. That voice was to be HRH. Anyone speaking a contrary position was shouted down and told that their dissent would lead to the Legislature cutting funding to the Branch.
When Jim Mize became President of the CJA, followed by Terry B. Friedman, the only then existing independent voice of the judiciary was lost. HRH George, Vickery and Overholt had worked hard to ensure that the CJA became a wholly owned subsidiary of the AOC. Vickery and Overholt began attending the entirety of the CJA Board meetings. They even attended the annual strategy sessions of the Board. It got so bad that Vickery was even drafting the agendas. It was made clear to members of the Board that support for the HRH had its rewards and opposition would result in no further career advancement.
Fortunately, a small band of judges saw that CJA was lost and came up with ACJ. Hundreds of judges within California have joined their ranks and they are doing what they can to speak out for trial judges throughout the State.
One of the Achilles Heel’s of the AOC was CCMS. HRH George finally saw that jive being peddled by Deloitte and those within the AOC was going to be exposed for the drivel it was. HRH rushed to get off the stage and replace himself with a puppet who would keep espousing his mantra while his legacy would be preserved.
Seems that anyone challenging the qualifications or actions of the current HRH is immediately branded as a sexist or racist or that they are not giving her a chance. None of those claims could be further from the truth. The reality is that she is in the deep end of the pool without floaties and she doesn’t know how to swim.
There has been absolutely zero evidence of change under this regime. Retiring sycophants are simply being replaced with new sycophants. There clearly is no intention to honestly evaluate AOC operations or the bureaucracy running out of 455 Golden Gate Avenue.
With regard to the current state of fiscal affairs, people should understand that the recommendation of the TCBWG means nothing. The ultimate decision will rest with Vickery and his apparent replacement (Overholt) and HRH Minnie-Me. Their level of arrogance knows no bounds.
My friends the only way to fight this juggernaut that is the AOC is through the Legislature and the power of the purse. Under the current outlook, local trial courts will have had their budgets cut by almost 50% in three years while the AOC budget is essentially untouched, if not continuing to grow. The AOC budget should be cut by at least 60%, CCMS funding should be shelved, and the Legislature should make clear that money appropriated to the Judicial Branch is meant to be used to keep the trial courts open.
Keep up the good fight!
Judicial Council Watcher
July 15, 2011
Welcome Back General!
This was never about her attractiveness or her personality, except maybe in her appointment.
It was disingenuous for Noreen Evans to use it and it is disingenuous for Chief Justice Mini-mimi to utilize it too. Even the best of political advisers should have advised her that playing that card had only a short term gain with sustained long term political damage.
We’re doing what we can. It should be apparent to all that AB1208 does not go far enough.
New legislation needs to be produced by the trial courts judges and multiple legislative sponsors need to be secured to back that legislation to change this kangaroo governance once and for all.
As General Woodhull has indicated, this mess can only be cleaned up by the legislature acting and changing this system. The alternative is that it is left up to the initiative process and you probably won’t like what that produces.
prada
July 15, 2011
The AOC and the people who run it are nothing but crooks! Plain and simple! They are NO different than Bernie Madoff. And remember his reign of thivery landed him in the clink for LIFE. We as a whole, each and everyone of us who are impacted by these massive cuts being dealt to the trial courts have to make the public and the folks in Sacremento knew what is going on. Though I strongly suspect that the folks in Sacramento know exactly what’s going on. But we Must get this information out to the public! Tell them just how these cuts and purposed future cuts will impact them in the years to come. We will have some resistance due to the fact that the general public are under the mistaken impression that we as court employees are also in the group of public employees that receive outrageous retirements. We are not a part of CalPers, and some of us pay 7.5 to 9.0 percent of our salary into our retirement. We must clear that misconception of outlandish retirement benefits, then point the finger where it belongs: at the AOC. We must let the public know of all the millions of dollars in taxpayer money has been wasted on CCMS and we must have proof to back it. We must let our state leaders know that its our votes that got them where they are and our non votes will take it from them we must notify the media, hold protests, pass out flyers hold rallies in Sacramento. We cannot be silent. All union shop stewards band together, plan it out, and get this on the ball now.
Wendy Darling
July 15, 2011
Published today, Friday, July 15, from The Metropolitan News Enterprise, by Sherri Okamoto:
San Francisco Court to Lay Off 200, Including Commissioners
Presiding Judge Edmon Says Similar Measures Not Being Ruled Out Here
By SHERRI M. OKAMOTO, Staff Writer
http://www.metnews.com/articles/2011/cour071511.htm
Court closures, layoffs, part-time judges . . . so much for “justice” in the California judicial branch. But we’ll always have CCMS. It won’t work, but we’ll always have it.
Long live the ACJ.
Prada
July 15, 2011
Thanks Wendy Darling for the website. It angers me more and more each passing day that the AOC is basically being allowed to dismantle the CA trial courts and from where I’m sitting no one with any authority (Sacramento) is doing NOTHING about it. If left up to them, there will be no trial courts and the only ones left will be them and that BS ass CCMS!!!!!
How a group of total idiots and puppets can change the way the trial court system in this state, a system that has been in place for years, can get away with it, is beyond me.
Can anyone please tell me if there is any other trial court system in the country that has an agency such as the AOC? Can anyone me if any other state had to shut its doors 1 day per month such as we did? Ron George crdeated this mess then when it was getting to hot in the kitchen, he ran with his tail between his legs, but not before he recommended this simpleton we have there now, Ms. Tani. What that stupid broad needs to learn, is that when the shit hits the fan and heads start to roll she will be blamed for this mess.
Closing courtrooms and laying off staff will not stop the publics need for court services. When attorneys start pulling time waivers and criminals are set free, don’t complain then. The bs that is going on affects everyone. Trial attorneys, police, DA’s, families, the lists go on.
Where are our elected officials? Why are they NOT doing their JOBS and demanding answers from the AOC? Why are they not being investigated, as to where the money REALLY is and why they are not spending it in court operations. Why isn’t anyone in Sacramento demanding that the AOC explain, how in ten years they have taken to courts to the brink of ruins? Why do they need 2.7 managers for every 1 employee?
That is being done about this? Why is no one kicking and screaming? Why no rallies, protest, picket signs? If ever anyone does decide to do anything, please post. I know PLENTY of people who will join in for the cause
Also, there are five maybe six counties that are in severe dire need of help, these counties made a pitch, plea, cry for help, whatever you want to call it to the AOC, and they were told too bad by the AOC. WTF is going on? Something about that isn’t right and elected officials are doing nothing about this?
Maybe they will when we as voters, send a message loud and clear next election. YOU FAILED US, so you FAIL in your hopes of being re-elected!!!!!!!!!
Prada
July 15, 2011
Please accept my apology for my previous posts that contain my typos, but right about now I am pissed!!
Judicial Council Watcher
July 15, 2011
Information from one of our media partners:
1. Educating the public starts before they enter the court building. It is perfectly acceptable to advocate change at the Administrative Office of the Courts.
Pass out flyers or business cards in those long lines outside your courthouse and educate the public before they walk in and get infuriated and get hit with these unconscionable fees that supports the AOC’s waste. The research conducted by one of our partners has shown near universal outrage at the high costs of justice. Tell them where that money is going and how it is being wasted and they become both incensed and motivated, sometimes motivated enough to act.
2. This kind of advocacy when promoted by a public union (like SEIU) has the opposite of the intended effect. They’re liable to label you wearing that public union shirt as part of the problem. In this case, SEIU works best with their money muscle and lobbying in Sacramento, not picketing anywhere except in front of the AOC.
3. Consider a fundraiser for your local assembly person or Senator. Legislative advocacy of any issue starts with cold hard cash. If they’re disinterested in advocating your position and attending your fundraiser then use that fundraiser to support their opposition.
4 To get effective media attention requires at least 500 individuals acting in unison. The more individuals acting in unison, the more media coverage you get. There are twenty thousand people statewide that will be affected directly in some way by these cuts before the public is ever affected.
5. Dragging out time in court proceedings would be considered a blessing for most. Standing in line for a half of a day and getting nothing resolved is a curse for most. Take advantage of the latter.
JCW and our media sponsors are willing to work with any group or individual willing to carry the ball in what we term “the ground war” as we already own the skies and have already achieved air supremacy over the battlefield.
Feel free to contact us directly if you’re willing to work with us as individuals or a group to bring about change.
sharonkramer
July 15, 2011
Lobbying days can help raise awareness and build momentum, too. Meaning, as many people as possible visiting their legislators on the same couple of set days and armed with short talking points. If you can get a legislator to champion the issue and sponsor a caucus/press conference where seven or eight key people are lined up to speak on the adverse impact of the matter from various aspects, (and a couple of hundred in the audience), that can bring attention. If you can get a celebrity to join in the caucus, that will definately bring attention and help to interest a sponsor legislator.
Its takes a little bit of coordination, but it is not that hard to do. It gives a concrete goal and purpose/assigned jobs people can do to make it a real movement. Its more gentile than a rally.
1. Set your mantra.
2. Get a respected leader to be the main voice & a general to interface with the masses.
3. Get a celebrity
4. Get a legislative sponsor.
5. Set the dates and give it a catchy name, like Court Abuse Awareness Days, etc.
6. Set the tentative talking points.
7 Set up a “collection” website where people can tell their individual stories caused by abuse
in the top level of the judicial branch (to get the ire up).
8. Use as many interested websites as possible to post of the causus and link/feed into the collection site that has the directions of how to proceed, etc.
9. Send out moral boosting messages via the collection site that is distributed by many sites to get/keep the momentum/coordination going.
10.Try to get as many various interested groups as possible to join, not just court employees/judiciaries. For instance, parents harmed by assignment judges, taxpayer groups, injured workers, first amendment groups, people who the JCP has blown off, anyone who has been screwed by the policies and protocols coming out of the JC/AOC that is causing courts to close – and other stupid decisions.
#10.is the hardest to keep coordinated. It can be like herding cats when many varying interests, egos and ideas are involved; and people have so much on the line. But the more diverse interests represented by the groups sending One Message, the bigger the message and the more likely to raise public awareness/legislative action. Its KEY to have someone as the general who is the type of person that can communicate with everyone and respectivefully give everyone a sense of ownership while keeping it all on track. It’s also KEY to have the main voice be someone who others would be proud with whom to affiliate.
You can do the whole thing from start to finish in about 60 days. It costs almost nothing. Just alot of elbow grease, passion and coordination, like all grassroots movements. It could be the foundation for the bon voyage party of RB2 and help identify allies.
Nathaniel Woodhull
July 15, 2011
Talk about not getting the concept! The following was just released by the CJA. Talk about not understanding the situation and coming to the party just a little bit late…like 10 years too late! What does this guy think is going on? How are any of the other Courts who are having their budgets sliced by up to 50% supposed to hire commissioners being let go by San Francisoco? News flash, all the other Bay Area Courts, as well as those throughout the State, including San Bernardino will likely be laying off massive numbers of their personnel, including commissioners. At first I thought this was an April Fool’s joke, unfortunately, he appears to be serious!
==============================================================
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, July 15, 2011
The California Judges Association (CJA) is greatly distressed to learn that San Francisco Superior Court plans to close 25 courtrooms, lay off almost all of its Superior Court Commissioners, and reduce its staff by 40%. The budget reductions to the judicial branch the last several years have been so deep that their impact on all trial courts is unavoidable. The announcement from San Francisco Superior Court may be the first of many from trial courts throughout the state.
This is a very sad day for the judicial branch and all who work so hard in it to ensure the fair and prompt handling of all its cases. It is a very sad day for San Francisco judges and commissioners who work tirelessly to ensure that their cases are fairly and promptly handled. It is a very sad day for the lawyers who have championed the appropriate funding of the judicial branch. And, it is a very sad day for all Californians, to learn that their beloved City by the Bay, home of the State Supreme Court, will now suffer the hardship of these layoffs and court closures.
Access to justice becomes a meaningless phrase when courthouses are closed; courtrooms are shuttered; fewer bench officers are available to hear cases; and far fewer staff must process those cases.
As President of CJA, I will be contacting the Presiding Judges of all the Bay Area courts, asking them to consider hiring the San Francisco Superior Court Commissioners for their respective courts. If there are any such positions available, the hiring of these fine judicial officers would immediately bring great talent and ability to their courts.
I also will immediately share with Governor Brown that he should strongly consider for judicial appointment those San Francisco Superior Court Commissioners who are being laid off. They are all capable, qualified and effective judicial officers, who have a demonstrated record of success in their court. Their performance demonstrates that they should be at the top of any judicial appointments list.
These are difficult and challenging times for us all in the branch, at every level and in every capacity in which we serve the public. The cuts taking place in San Francisco and those discussed throughout the state are unprecedented and catastrophic. We will strive to keep our basic functions intact, and to continue to provide essential court services to the public. CJA will continue to advocate for judicial officers and courts, and will continue to be involved in efforts to successfully address our budget issues.
Judge Keith D. Davis (San Bernardino Superior Court)
President
California Judges Association (CJA)
Judicial Council Watcher
July 15, 2011
We got a copy of that too. We were deeply offended that Mr. Davis singled out these commissioners and was hoping that someone else would bring this up.
It’s nice to have you back, General! We’re just going to have to run another one of those public service announcements for the benefit of Tone Deaf Keith.
Nathaniel Woodhull
July 15, 2011
JCW,
You and the rest of Californians should be highly offended by the comments of the CJA President. The arrogance of his focus on commissioners is astounding. How about the courtroom clerks, court reporters, and all the clerks and support staff throughout the courts, some of whom will have worked in their courts for decades?
What could make this guy think that Governor Brown will convert any of these commissioner positions to judgeships? Doesn’t he get the fact that the budgets are being slashed in three years by up to 50%?????
Hasn’t he noticed that Governor Brown hasn’t made judicial appointments? There is a reason… it saves money! Why would you ask to appoint more judges when you have San Francisco saying that they are going to have 25 courtrooms go dark! That means judges assigned to those 25 courtrooms will be sitting in their chambers doing “paperwork” since they won’t have any staff to do work in the courtrooms.
I’m sure that Mr. Bissey and the CJA President are in a panic because their membership is dropping like a rock. With this type of press release, it will only drop more. Hopefully the ACJ membership will continue to increase!
Keep fighting the fight!
Wendy Darling
July 15, 2011
Governor Brown would do a greater service to the California judicial branch and the people of the State of California by clearly stating that AB 1208 should be enacted into law by the State Legislature forthwith.
And the “leadership” of the CJA should be ashamed of themselves.
Long live the ACJ.
blowthewhistle
July 15, 2011
Prada, harness that anger and demonstrate outside the Legislature. Demand that they look at those lavish pensions. Demand that they stop lavish courthouse construction. Demand that they stop spending on CCMS. Demand that they force the judicial branch to shrink the AOC. Do it for all of us because some of us can’t be seen publicly doing it.
Wendy Darling
July 15, 2011
Published today, Friday, July 15, by The Recorder, the on-line website of CalLaw, by Cynthia Foster:
11 S.F. Court Commissioners Get Layoff Notices
Cynthia Foster
http://www.law.com/jsp/ca/PubArticleCA.jsp?id=1202501533614&11_SF_Court_Commissioners_Get_Layoff_Notices&slreturn=1&hbxlogin=1
Long live the ACJ.
Judicial Council Watcher
July 15, 2011
Based on the contents of this article, it appears that the San Francisco Bar intends to take to the very same skies over the battlefield that we own.
As such, they risk our wrath if they’re not advocating AOC/Judicial Council reforms as the primary vehicle to adequate court funding. The money needs to come out of the AOC and be given to San Francisco.
Judicial Council Watcher
July 15, 2011
There’s a Cheryl Miller article behind a paid firewall we were made privy to.
http://www.law.com/jsp/ca/PubArticleCA.jsp?id=1202501158741&AOC_Revises_Numbers_on_Trial_Court_Cuts_but_Future_Still_Looks_Grim&slreturn=1&hbxlogin=1
Summary: The AOC issued a press release saying the cuts would result in a 6.7% cut to trial courts instead of the Wednesday advertised 8.8% cut.
Here is one of the arguments we told you would be tabled to prevent budget cuts to the AOC and it appears the respected Judge Lee Edmon has an AOC hook stuck in her lip
“Edmon said the 12 percent cuts to the AOC would still lead to layoffs and worker furloughs. Judges want to give the chief justice-appointed Strategic Evaluation Committee time to complete its review of the branch’s central administration before carving more from its budget, she said.”
Apparently, she didn’t bother to analyze how heavily stacked with cronies this committee was and exactly how much time do they need? Wouldn’t you trial courts like to form a committee to prevent layoffs?
https://judicialcouncilwatcher.wordpress.com/2011/07/13/welcome-to-b-day-an-exercise-in-futility/ Read the fourth/fifth line down.
Business As Usual
July 15, 2011
Budget crisis? What budget crisis? The AOC Executive Management Team has no concept of what what accountability means. It’s all posturing and self preservation. Some directors are still asking for their staff to be promoted! And guess what??? Bill and Ron will approve it anyways. They’ll find some way to justify it.
JusticeCalifornia
July 15, 2011
Great video JCW. Hey power-addicted and otherwise compromised RB2, as you and your tarnished minions shamelessly exploit your immigrant, working class family; and shamelessly kiss and roll RG’s loaded dice; and shamelessly FORCE the state bar into your follies; and shamelessly waste taxpayer billions on failed RG policies and projects; and shamelessly take down the branch and harm millions while you do all of the above— are you paying any attention at all, to the handwriting on your wall?
.
JusticeCalifornia
July 15, 2011
you know, in the above post I meant that brain on drugs video.
But it is actually quite amusing to think of the Lady Gaga thread video being a tribute to Tani and Ron George and co. Rah, rah.
sharonkramer
July 15, 2011
I still like Hussle and Flo! Could we use the chorus from that as a mantra? 🙂
lando
July 15, 2011
Like Woodhull I feel compelled to return to offer some comments for what they are worth. The news regarding the SF Superior Court is a sad preview of what is likely to happen all across the state. The irony is that when State Trial court funding was enacted in 1998, it was intended to stabilize the funding of the courts. No one ever intended for that legislation to create a giant bureaucracy that would eventually make policy for the trial courts , dictate to them and drain them of their finances. Former CJ George and J Huffman took the 1998 legislation and created an anti-democratic insular judicial governance system that closed the courts, wasted millions on a failed computer system and has led the trial courts to the brink of disaster. Over the last two years many trial courts around the state have seen their budgets reduced in the twenty percent area. Now the AOC wants to cut back the trial courts another twenty four percent in the next two years. This can only result in layoffs ,closures and diminished service to the public. Meanwhile, the AOC won’t take any cut for the third year in a row. It is time to get real. The AOC’s budget should be cut by at least twenty eight percent to match what has happened to the trial courts and the cuts should start with the unnecessary position that Mr Overholt holds along with the regional managers.Next all consulting contracts should be eliminated. Regional offices including in San Dimas should be closed forthwith. The bloated AOC legal team should be cut in half. The excesses of the JC and AOC need to end now with CCMS being at the head of that list. It is time for balance to be restored so the trial courts can do their jobs on the front line of serving the citizens of California. If this can happen the hard working employees of the trial courts may not have to suffer the sad and unfair fate that the SF Superior Court is about to endure.
sharonkramer
July 16, 2011
I don’t think this is an accident by fool hearty people. I think its more sinister than that. I have said this a million times pertaining to false health marketing, but I think it might well apply here, too, “He who controls the courts, controls the game”.
Its hard to proscecute the defrauding of the public if there are no courts open or they are so backed up that it could take years to stop a fraud. Those Evidence Based Practice people who want to be the ones to set the standards for everything are concerning; just like the Evidence Based Medicine people. It is well evidenced, why, and becoming clearer to me by the day.
Judicial Council Watcher
July 16, 2011
The flawed processes being undertaken by the Strategic Evaluation Committee include the following:
You remember our good friend Ernesto Fuentes, former “Cleaner” for the RTD in Los Angeles, currently the HR Director for the AOC? Remember how he blew over sixty people out the door?
This entirely effective committee had the ultimate of brain farts. They thought – and I kid you not because there is a copy of this letter on the way to JCW – they thought that having Ernesto Fuentes write these people and ask something to the effect of “What problems did you observe at the AOC and what was the underlying reason you no longer work for the HR department” letters.
They are from Ernesto Fuentes. You’re asking these people to be re-traumatized by reporting back to Ernesto Fuentes so that he can forward those glowing tributes to the SEC committee.
1. How many people do you believe will actually take the time to respond knowing it is going straight into the hands of a cleaner that’s going to shred anything not a glowing tribute to his greatness?
2. This goes to show that this SEC committee is controlled by the AOC and not the committee itself. There is no independent authority looking into this. You’re asking a criminal to collect evidence against himself and forward it on to the grand jury.
3. Are you stoned or just stupid?
Edited to add: This letter is being delivered via a private courier today. We will scan it and then dedicate a post to the SEC’s effectiveness and this scanned document. I think anyone viewing this letter will come to the realization that the SEC committee is a sham being perpetuated by the AOC. Hopefully, they will act accordingly and act WITHOUT further input of the SEC committee.
sharonkramer
July 16, 2011
Too bad the request did not say, “And please cc a copy of your response to JCW”. One could not make this stuff up.
(From JCW: Rather than block this blogger from further posting on JCW, we’ve censored the content of this post to remove specific personal case information not directly related to the Judicial Council or the AOC.
In an effort to keep our eye on the prize, this site is moderated under the “benevolent dictator” model. We make an extraordinary effort to discourage such postings and reject on average two new bloggers per day attempting to advocate their case online here at JCW.)
And you’ll love this. I went to the FBI. You know what they told me to do? Blog about it!!! You could not make this sh** up if you tried!
Its pretty obvious, the House that George Built is imploding.
sharonkramer
July 16, 2011
As always, JCW, whatever you think is best. But you have to admit, that’s pretty funny and getting closer to the prize by the day. Hussle & Flo! I will put it on Katy’s within the next few days. Send you the link and you can decide what to do with it.
sharonkramer
July 16, 2011
JCW, I am giddy this morning (aka laughing my ass off). I dedicate this video to all who have been forced to watch what is occurring at the hands of the AOC and the clowns that have aided and/or stood by and let it happen. Wishing those of you with lawsuits directly against the AOC, the best of success!
courtflea
July 16, 2011
told you so. Unless the Judges choose to storm the gates of the proverbial Bastille, that is the JC meeting, it will just be the same ol same ol rubber stamp session, and the AOC runs rough shod over the Judiciary once again. Step up and demand to be heard!! Libete, egalite, fraternite. Mon dieu! stop the madness! Wouldn’t that be something judges being jailed for demanding their rights and violating roberts rules of order?
robin
July 17, 2011
Courtflea, what the “trial” courts forget, is that only “trial courts” can enforce contempt orders and actually jail people. The Supremes are a reviewing court. Superior Court are the “courts of original jurisdiction for all other matters”. Cal. Const. Article VI sect. 1.5 The Superior trial courts are the ones with actual power. They don’t want to use it. [or are too afraid to use it] This state is a non-collateral bar rule state, and if a reviewing court, or AOC or Judicial Council want to jail someone they have to go to a Superior Court, and have their order reviewed for it’s constitutionality,before it can be enforced. Also, only Superior “trial courts” can enforce jailing someone. Calif is unique that way. However, the trial court judges are to scared because of the long arm of the AOC, the Judicial Council, the CJP, and don’t forget the JNE commission of the State Bar. Who recommend promotions.
Read the comments in the Michael Paul, July 13 entry. King George, and his partner in crime, Huffman, set this whole system up ten years ago. What both of them forgot to read was the Cal Constitution, and, that this state is a non-collateral bar rule state. Unfortunately, most trial court judges want a promotion, and won’t exercise their exclusive rights, of courts of original jurisdiction, granted by our cal constitution. Our trial courts could take down this whole system if they would only let the lawsuits of Michael Paul and Phil Kay go forward.
George, Huffman, two other appellate Justices, along with Baxter would go to jail. It’s time the Trial courts exercised their power, they can clean this whole mess up. Too bad they are too scared for their own hides. It would probably be suicide[politically] for any judge to stand up for these actual whistle-blowers. However, it will never happen until a trial court judge does it.
George and Huffman are nothing more than mob bosses, who have been stealing from this state for ten years.