Day 32 – Gauging Interest for a strategy meeting & Judicial Council Watcher Radio

Excellent idea, JCW! Please let us know the URL to the internet radio show and provide instruction on to participate anonymously.

Just read an article that says that the union representing Bart employees are demanding an investigation into mismanagement, the shut down of wireless access, safety of employees, etc.
There are way more union represented court employees in this state, than there are Bart employees!
Why isn’t SEIU demanding anything, something on behalf of their members?
As it stands right now, SEIU is useless as tits on a bull.
SEIU, do something for your members. Fight for your members in this state to keep their jobs!

Great ideas of a radio show & in-person meeting. “Three parties have now suggested.. requesting a fully audited accounting of the monies…”

There are more than 3. Set up this petition last week. Have just sent it to a few people who understand the mismanagement of the judicial branch is harming us all. Not going to send to JLAC until I have 500 signers. (Gets edited into professional letter format with all signers able to view/comment before sent) Added benefit to this format is that one compiles an email list of those who are interested and may be willing to work toward change – without their names going on the Net. Upon receiving Signers’ Permission, I could share the (still in progress) email list with you for your upcoming endeavors, if you would like.

http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?AOCJC

“To: Honorable Governor Brown, State Auditor Howle, and members of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee,

We, the Undersigned, are urging you, Governor Brown and Joint Legislative Audit Committee members, to work with you, State Auditor Howle, on a comprehensive audit of the Administration of the Courts (AOC) and the Judicial Council (JC). This audit is needed because of conflicted interests and misappropriation of tax dollars that are meant to run California’s judicial branch.

Many California courts are closing their doors because of lack of funding. Contributing greatly to the problem, on July 22, 2011, the JC chose to allocate an excessive amount of the judicial branch budget to the AOC. The AOC’s sole function is to serve as support for the court – not to compete with them for needed funds.

AOC staff wrote the budget proposal that the JC allocations relied upon. We believe it is a CONFLICT OF INTEREST that AOC staff wrote the recommendations for allocation of funding, providing themselves ample while the trial courts are forced to close and lay off employees. When support staff put their interest over that of the courts they are to serve, they are no longer a benefit the courts or to the public. They are only a benefit to themselves….

..The California State Auditor is the only state entity that is given full access to all records of state agencies. General powers of the California State Auditor include the ability to subpoena records, take depositions, and administer oaths. It is the resource to the Legislature for oversight and accountability by its ability to conduct independent, nonpartisan audits.

Investigations by the California State Auditor’s Office originate from:
¡Requests approved by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee
¡Designation of a program or agency as high-risk for waste, fraud, mismanagement, or that have major challenges that relate to efficiency or effectiveness
¡Allegations of improper conduct by state employees

Given that:
1. The amount of tax dollars allocated to run the judicial branch is in the neighborhood of $4 billion annually; and

2. The AOC has a BSA evidenced recent history of mismanagement of funds; and

3. There are hundreds of millions of dollars unaccounted for by the AOC hiring and overpaying unlicensed contractors with no explanation; and

4. State pension funds have been allocated by AOC to non- state employees; and

5. AOC has several allegations against them for retaliating against whistle blowing employees; and

6. Trial courts are being forced to close when $82 million that went to the AOC could have been allocated to the courts by the JC, while causing the delaying and denying of justice for Californians; and

7. AOC wrote the proposals upon which the JC relied to allocate a disproportion amount of tax dollars to the AOC for future funding;

We, the Undersigned, urge Governor Brown and the Joint Legislative Audit Committee to promptly order a Bureau of State Audit comprehensive audit of the Administration of the Courts and the Judicial Council. This audit is for CONFLICTS OF INTEREST aiding the misappropriation of judicial branch tax dollars in a manner that is adverse to the public’s best interest.

http://www.petitiononline.com/AOCJC/petition-sign.html

Pseudonyms are discouraged. One has to confirm their electronic signature before it registers. Letter does not go w/less than 500 signers. Email addresses are available to letter recepients upon request should they wish to verify signers. Email addresses are not shared with others unless given consent otherwise.

This all sounds great—-developing a functioning organization beyond this board is the AOC / JC worst nightmare—