Chutzpah
In Hebrew, chutzpah is used indignantly to describe someone who has overstepped the boundaries of accepted behavior. In traditional usage, the word expresses a strong sense of disgust, condemnation and outrage. It also describes the behavior of the AOC, the Judicial Council and their operatives during the month of January.
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This was predicted by many of our readers. They predicted that the AOC and the Judicial Council would come out swinging, strategically trying to sell their position to legislators and pulling out all of the stops to do so. They would inevitably utilize their operatives to blame the largest court system in the country and those greedy public employee unions. With their message falling on deaf ears in major media they had to bring out the big guns and have the chief justice tour the state, blessing editorial boards with a rare appearance. They gifted legislators with tablet computers with a claim that the expenditure was one of private funds.
Their Peace de resistance where they demonstrated the most chutzpah was surrounding this months judicial council meeting.
Leading into this meeting was Ron Overholt’s report that shockingly highlighted the AOC’s intense lobbying activity that claimed to be working aggressively to defeat AB1208 and a meeting with assemblymember Jeff Gorell where the AOC convinced the legislator to drop his sponsorship of subjecting the AOC’s construction activities to anti-fraud, waste, abuse and public corruption laws.
An even better reason to sweep all construction funds this year for court operations while court construction is transferred to the Department of General Services.
Sad to say, these weren’t the only acts of chutzpah. With AB1208 looking over their shoulder, without possessing a functional CCMesS V4 application for all case types, without having CCMesS V4 functional and operational in a single court, with CCMesS being years late on delivery, with about $2,200.00 per hour being earned by Deloitte and another $4,400.00 per hour being paid by the AOC for AOC CCMesS related employees and consultants with all of this spending being associated with a one year pause, they had the chutzpah to agree to another grant thornton study so that grant thornton can tell the Judicial Council and the AOC how they should go about deploying CCMesS vaporware to ten courts. Because… as we know they haven’t a clue. They will probably be targeting the majority of the courts currently using their competitors product – Sustain – because that is comparatively low hanging fruit.
Hello McFly! How about fixing the mess you made in Sacramento with CCMS V3 first?
Then there were the committee reports that are truly telling. The second committee report is one from Jody Patel, carefully and misleadingly titled “Kings County – Development of fiscal and oversight policy” that amounts to a declaration that CCMess is not ready for even a single county court within the next 12 months – or longer. (The hint here is that a year from now Kings County will need to replace its case management system with an interim case management system……)
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The next subject on the CCMesS committee reports agenda comes from Mr. Curtis Child and informs us of a new grant thornton study (**cough**AOC paid for opinion) on how to deploy CCmesS v4 vaporware to 10 courts….(Please don’t hold your breath unless you’re a director of the AOC or a council insider…)
And then there was the troubling gift of tablet computers to legislators, ostensibly donated by private attorneys but gifted by the AOC.
And Justice Scotland’s choice to take on John Chiang and his authority to eliminate legislators pay (wouldn’t you like to know who is paying those legal bills or what favors are being exchanged?) for not delivering a balanced budget and resigning as chair of the strategic evaluation committee. (this will likely result in a delay in the committees report until well after the election)
All of this bizarre behavior hasn’t only raised your eyebrows but the chutzpah has caught the attention of the legislature and media alike. Let’s hope it is all enough to push AB1208 over the top and reign in some sanity with the central politburo.
Related articles
- The Judicial Council & the AOC: Too many unanswered questions… (judicialcouncilwatcher.com)
- The AOC, Enron and Dr. Stanley Milgram (judicialcouncilwatcher.com)
Judicial Council Watcher 
Wendy Darling
January 28, 2012
Not just chutzpah, but the other word that springs to mind is “hubris.”
Long live the ACJ.
Nathaniel Woodhull
January 28, 2012
Reporting from a secure remote location..General Woodhull is making a guest appearance on JCW.
Art Scotland has left the SEC after submitting his preliminary report to HRH-2, aka Minnie Me.
After not liking what she saw it was decided that it would be best for Art to withdraw and replace him with two completely inexperienced, yet well indoctrinated AOC toadies. To that end a judge from Placer and Merced with less than 10 years experience between them, will continue to “prepare” the SEC report. Meanwhile, Art will withdraw to work for the Legislature in their pursuit of the Controller.
Guests after three days, fish after three days out of water, and the departure of Art Scotland have one thing in common. The all stink!
Hope everyone keeps up the fight.
Wendy Darling
January 28, 2012
Welcome back, General Woodhull. You have been sorely missed.
Perhaps Justice Scotland will still tell the truth that the Chief Justice and the well indoctrinated AOC todies will now seek to hide.
Long live General Woodhull. And long live the ACJ.
antonatrail
January 28, 2012
Entitled “knives come out …”
http://www.courthousenews.com/2012/01/27/43423.htm By Maria Dinzeo
I don’t quite get that title re knives, but Dinzeo as usual hones in on what’s happening.
Simplistically saying, why would the “plaintiff bar” be opposed to AB1208? Their practices will suffer in the worst way if AB1208 is not passed. Can’t they see that?
Why now, after a YEAR, Teensy Tani still has backers saying it’s been a short time to right the ship? A year is a helluva long time! Just ask a seven-year-old. (Just kidding) Really, this CJ is mired in the AOC throng, always has been and always will. She’s pro bloat. Of course she doesn’t want to lose any power.
May AB1208 be passed!
antonatrail
January 28, 2012
Oh, and as far as the smaller counties’ courts having to beg for funds — if that is still the norm, they will be much better off after AB1208 has passed. The funds for the trial courts will stop disappearing into the AOC abyss.
Is that too simple to contemplate? Am I missing something?
Wendy Darling
January 28, 2012
“Am I missing something?”
Ah, if were only that something, Ant. The missing piece is the ever present reality of retaliation if a trial court doesn’t follow the party line, Passo Romano/goosestep in place, and “speak with one voice.”
Long live the ACJ.
Michael Paul
January 28, 2012
Re: The message:Yes we can.
So does this resignation by Justice Scotland negate the promise of confidentiality that the chair made to people who responded to his confidential survey? Is this promised confidentiality to be compromised by being spread amongst people who made no such commitment?
If it is true that Justice Scotland submitted a preliminary report not to the chiefs liking, I would suggest she reconsider her position or be transparent enough to present all iterations of this report to the people.
Wendy Darling
January 28, 2012
Some might think that Bill Girdner, Maria Dinzeo, and Courthouse News should request all iterations of this report on behalf of the people, the First Amendment, and the judicial branch’s and the Judicial Council’s professed “committement” to transparency and accountabilty.
Long live the ACJ.
Wendy Darling
January 28, 2012
Oops, it should read: Ah, if it were only that simple, Ant.
Long live the ACJ.
Been There
January 28, 2012
The promise of confidentiality is now, in the in the words of General Woodhull, of “two inexperienced but thoroughly indoctrinated toadies.”
Been There
January 28, 2012
Sorry, the post should read ” the promise of confidentiality is in the hands of two inexperienced . . . .
Elmy Kader
January 28, 2012
This is an Organized Crime, and I predict a total victory for AB1208 on the January 31, because the honorable America will not allow this organized crime to control California Justice System.
My admiration and best regard to the Honorable Alliance of California Judges
Been There
January 28, 2012
Thank you, General Woodhull, for your informative post confirming my worst suspicions posted on the Crunch Time link on this site.
Kudos to Justice Scotland for filing what he believed to be an honest report, and for having the fortitude not to amend nor rewrite to satisfy Minnie Me.
It was also Justice Scotland that compelled Tonto and Co to release the list of AOC employees and their salaries — except for a few consultants that for some reason Tonto did not want to disclose.
Perhaps a JCW Hall of Fame nomination is in order.
versal-versal
January 28, 2012
Thanks General Woodhull for your insightful post. I have always had great respect for Justice Scotland and knew he would honestly expose the AOC and all of its excesses. So it comes as no shock that he has exited . HRH 2 , Tonto and the whole bloated bureaucracy that resides at the crystal palace is a house of cards. Despite J Bruiners claims, CCMS is not anywhere close to deployment. Instead it continues to be funded by the millions while the trial courts shrink and lay off hardworking employees. Incredibly, the AOC is still growing 1000 plus strong while trial courts reduce vital services to the public. HRH 2 is responsible for all this. Don’t be fooled ,
nothing will ever change until the Judicial Council is democratized.
Mrs. Kramer
January 29, 2012
We at Katy’s have done our part. We chose to urge support of Assemblyman Mike Feuer for AB1208 and we cc’d Assemblyman Calderon on our request to Mr. Feuer.
“Fax to Assemblyman MIKE FEUER ~ Please Vote ‘YES’ on AB1208”
http://wp.me/plYPz-3ga
We have heard from several in our contingency that they have sent faxes and emails to their assemblymen in support of AB1208.
Its very easy to do. Their faxes, phone numbers and emails may be found at:
http://clerk.assembly.ca.gov//clerk/memberinformation/memberdir_1.asp
If one does not know who their assemblyman is, that may be found at:
http://192.234.213.69/amapsearch/framepage.asp
Mrs. Kramer
January 29, 2012
Here is how easy it is to contact your Assembly representative by phone, fax and/or email and urge a “YES” on AB1208.
All one needs to say is:
“Honorable Assembly Member, As your constituent I urge you to support AB1208 to restore balance of power and wise use of tax dollars in the judicial branch.”
Their faxes, phone numbers and emails may be found at:
http://clerk.assembly.ca.gov//clerk/memberinformation/memberdir_1.asp
If one does not know who their assemblyman is, that may be found at:
http://192.234.213.69/amapsearch/framepage.asp
Wendy Darling
January 30, 2012
Published today, Monday, January 30, from Courthouse News Service, by Maria Dinzeo:
Head of AOC Reform Committee Resigns
By MARIA DINZEO
SAN FRANCISCO (CN) – Retired Justice Arthur Scotland has resigned his position as head of a committee looking into reform of the central court bureaucracy because of the appearance of conflict in his recent decision to represent California’s two most powerful Democratic legislators.
“I really actually had no thought about practicing law after retirement, but after I was approached on this it was too good to pass up,” Scotland said. “The reason I decided to take the case is it’s really a unique case on a type of issue I care very much about, the separation of powers.”
Scotland agreed to represent Assembly Speaker John Perez and Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg in their case against Controller John Chiang, filed last week in Sacramento Superior Court. The suit challenges Chiang’s power to cut off pay for legislators if they don’t come up with a balanced budget.
A press release was issued at about 5:00 in the afternoon on Friday, about two hours after Scotland told Courthouse News of his resignation and a reporter called the press office for the Administrative Office of the Courts seeking a copy of his resignation letter.
Read the entire article: http://www.courthousenews.com/2012/01/29/43427.htm
Long live the ACJ.
Wendy Darling
January 30, 2012
Published today, Monday, January 30, from Courthouse News Service and Maria Dinzeo:
Bureaucracy Plan to Add Lobbyist Criticized
By MARIA DINZEO
SAN FRANCISCO (CN) — Despite a hiring freeze, the central administration of California’s courts is hiring another staff lobbyist while the same officials are fighting a bill to limit their power over the judiciary’s purse.
A job listing posted on the California Judicial Branch website earlier this month seeks a “Senior Governmental Affairs Analyst” to lobby the Legislature on behalf of the Judicial Council “on budget, legislative and policy issues of concern to the Council.”
The trial courts themselves are facing severe budget cuts that are expected to force the layoff of hundreds of trial court employees around California. “As we begin to layoff, the AOC is hiring,” said San Diego Judge Runston Maino.
Read the entire article: http://www.courthousenews.com/2012/01/30/43466.htm
Apparently the messages from the Assembly floor today regarding mismanagement. fiscal irresponsiblity, and lack of accountability by the Judicial Council and the AOC fell on deaf ears. Hence, the response: hire a lobbyist.
Long live the ACJ.
antonatrail
January 30, 2012
The AOC has already gotten their monies worth.
Thanks to all the heart-felt remarks made by pro AB1208 legislators, especially Charles Calderon and Nathan Fletcher.
Long live the ACJ and God help us all.
Wendy Darling
January 30, 2012
In addition to Calderon and Nathan Fletcher, recognition and heart-felt thanks are also deserving of Assemblymembers Alyson Huber, Bonnie Lowenthal, Curt Hagman, and Mike Davis.
And Mike Feuer should be completely ashamed of himself.
Long live AB 1208. And long live the ACJ.
Mrs. Kramer
January 30, 2012
What happened today? Is it still going?
Nathaniel Woodhull
January 30, 2012
AB108 passed 41-23! It needed 41 votes to pass!
Nathaniel Woodhull
January 30, 2012
Sorry, got a little excited. AB1208 passed 41-23. Next it is off to the Senate!
sharonkramer
January 30, 2012
Yahoo!!! I sure feel a little bit safer.
antonatrail
January 30, 2012
http://www.courthousenews.com/2012/01/30/43472.htm
Thanks to all who were brave enough to stand up.
antonatrail
January 30, 2012
http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2012/01/a-matter-for-ab-1208.html
Long live the ACJ and Charles Calderon with special mention to Nathan Fletcher. It’s worth checking out his remarks on the ‘net.
unionman575
January 30, 2012
http://www.courthousenews.com/2012/01/30/43466.htm
Monday, January 30, 2012Last Update: 2:25 PM PT
Bureaucracy Plan to Add Lobbyist Criticized
By MARIA DINZEO
SAN FRANCISCO (CN) — Despite a hiring freeze, the central administration of California’s courts is hiring another staff lobbyist while the same officials are fighting a bill to limit their power over the judiciary’s purse.
A job listing posted on the California Judicial Branch website earlier this month seeks a “Senior Governmental Affairs Analyst” to lobby the Legislature on behalf of the Judicial Council “on budget, legislative and policy issues of concern to the Council.”
The trial courts themselves are facing severe budget cuts that are expected to force the layoff of hundreds of trial court employees around California. “As we begin to layoff, the AOC is hiring,” said San Diego Judge Runston Maino.
The Administrative Office of the Courts has had a hiring freeze in place for three years, said a spokesperson for the office. However, exceptions are made for “urgent, critically needed positions,” which must be approved by interim AOC director Ron Overholt.
Meanwhile, cash-strapped courts are laying off court workers.
In Los Angeles, Presiding Judge Lee Edmon of Los Angeles has said the court “will have to make more than 600 layoffs in October 2012 and another 400-plus layoffs in April of 2014.”
In December, former presiding judge for San Joaquin County Superior Robin Appel and her head clerk begged the governing council of the courts for $2 million to keep the court running through the end of the fiscal year. Without the funds, Appel said, the court would be forced to close half its civil departments.
The court already lost 42 employees, she told the council, and while her court should employ 450 people, it is severely understaffed at 250.
Throughout California, it is difficult to get through a conversation with a trial court official without hearing a reference to “staff shortage.”
In that environment, the posting of a job for an additional lobbyist does not sit well with judges like Maino. He noted the money is being spent for another lobbyist as a State Assembly vote looms for a trial court funding bill that is supported by many trial judges but opposed by the central administrators.
“We are down 16% staffing, so rather than the AOC hiring what appears to be a lobbyist, it would be better if we got that money to hire someone who will actually work in the courts and assist the public rather than to assist the AOC bureaucracy,” Maino said.
Last month, the AOC also added a posting for a real estate portfolio manager for its court construction office. “It is hard for me to see this position as being critical by any definition of that word,” Maino said.
Nathaniel Woodhull
January 30, 2012
Some of us have been personally bloodied in this war for independence. The tactics of the AOC have been refined with time. HRH-1’s first smart move was taking over the curriculum and agenda of the NJO (New Judge Orientation) in 1999). Judges appointed or elected from that point on attend a one-week indoctrination session where they are led to believe that they report to the all knowing, all powerful AOC.
Minnie-Me is now only appointing people to the Judicial Council and or key committees (such as the new Chairs to replace Art Scotland) who have barely been here long enough to have enjoyed a cup of coffee. These folks may be nice people, but they have no historical knowledge of how the Courts ran before 1996, and they don’t seemingly understand that they are independently elected State Constitutional Officers. Most importantly, sometimes they don’t seem to understand that they are not employees of the AOC.
For those of us who are old and have taken more hits than the U.S.S. Arizona, today was a day to give us hope. Today was a day once again to make us believe in freedom. Although battered a bruised, we shall keep up the fight. AB 1208 is a start. It passed the Assembly, now on to the Senate and Governor.
On a personal note, I have nothing against Judge Lampe as a person, but nobody voted him King either. His notion of allowing him to be the only one to speak on behalf of the members of the Alliance is a little disturbing. I was in the fight long before he arrived on the scene, as were many others whom I hold in high regard. Our fight is for independence, not the establishment of a new King.
Keep your heads high, your powder dry, and eye on the prize….FREEDOM.
Underground
January 30, 2012
I agree. LA judges have carried most the water on this – why is Lampe grabbing the spotlight?
Judicial Council Watcher
January 30, 2012
He makes himself accessible to media. Try being on our side of the fence and calling your public information officer in search of a judges opinion. We’re going to get comment from whom we can reach.
Underground
January 30, 2012
So no one from LA or San Diego was available? You go through public information officers to speak with Alliance judges? Sorry didn’t know.
Judicial Council Watcher
January 30, 2012
More like, short notice to print deadlines. Different media did manage to get a hold of different alliance judges directly, including Judge Maino in San Diego. Most of what you see on the net tonight won’t hit print copy until tomorrow. Network news will likely carry it tonight.
Underground
January 30, 2012
Cool. Hope you post links to those stories. These judges need to bask in all their glory.
Wendy Darling
January 30, 2012
It should also be remembered that many members of the Alliance remain anonymous because of the reality, if not the certainty, of judicial branch, judicial council, and AOC retaliation. It has been those principled, courageous and ethical judges of the ACJ, like Judge Lampe, Judge Goldstein, Judge Gilliard, Judge Horan, Judge Maino, and others, who have, from the very beginning, walked the hallways of the State Capitol, put themselves out there, taken the sniper fire, and spoken the truth. If any one of them makes themselves available to provide truthful counterpoint to the judicial branch party line, goosestepping mantra of “speak with one voice,” especially to the media and the press, they are to be commended, and thanked.
Long live the ACJ.
Underground
January 30, 2012
Yes. There are many anonymous and unsung judges who have supported this effort. I do hope when this is over and the bill passes they all remember those who stood beside them and lobbied for change.
Elmy Kader
January 30, 2012
Hip Hip HOORAY,
Assembly OKs bill to give local courts more power over spending
Read more here: http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2012/01/a-matter-for-ab-1208.html#storylink=cpy
unionman575
January 30, 2012
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2012/01/court-powers-dispute.html
California’s chief justice loses round over Judicial Council power
January 30, 2012 | 3:31 pm
The state’s top judge lost a political battle Monday when the state Assembly voted to shift key budget decisions from the state Judicial Council that she heads to local trial courts, some of which have complained about the panel’s handling of money.
The legislation, which next goes to the Senate for consideration, was vigorously opposed by California Supreme Court Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, who is also the chairwoman of the Judicial Council. The council said the bill is an “inappropriate intrusion into the fundamental governance of the judicial branch.”
But AB 1208 was supported by a dissident group known as the Alliance of California Judges, which said too much power has been centralized with the statewide court bureaucracy to the detriment of local court operations.
The measure by Assemblyman Charles Calderon (D-Whittier) would give local trial courts power to decide how to spend their share of funding to pay for court operations. Calderon said his measure is needed because some courtrooms have had to close in the face of budget cuts imposed by the Judicial Council at the same time that the panel diverted more than $70 million to a problem-plagued computer modernization program that has gone over budget.
“That $70 million would have been enough to keep the courts open, but the courts shut down,” Calderon said during a long floor debate before the Assembly voted 41 to 23 to approve the bill.
Assemblyman Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles) said the bill is a “distraction” from the real problem of finding adequate funding to keep courts operating and would jeopardize statewide programs overseen by the Judicial Council, including one providing interpreters for victims of domestic violence.
“We’re on the verge of a constitutional crisis in our state,” Feuer said. “That crisis is upon us because our courts are so severely underfunded.”
sharonkramer
January 31, 2012
This statement literally makes my skin crawl. “We’re on the verge of a constitutional crisis in our state,” Feuer said. “That crisis is upon us because our courts are so severely underfunded.”
I am going to jail on Feb 10th for sending HIM a letter, Sept 2011, detailing how CCMS is being used to conceal judicial “indescretions” in Opinions and for placing it on the Net he, the CJ and others were provided the evidence of it. I sent him a fax, Jan 29, before the vote showing him what was happening to the Constitution in CA, because of his actions of trying to keep control of the courts in the hands of the compromised, elite few.
“Fax to Assemblyman MIKE FEUER ~ Please Vote ‘YES’ on AB1208″
http://wp.me/plYPz-3ga
Wendy Darling
January 30, 2012
Published late today, Monday, January 30, from The Recorder, the on-line publication of CalLaw, by Cheryl Miller:
Last Minute Arm-Twisting Gets AB 1208 Through the Assembly
Cheryl Miller
SACRAMENTO — In a blow to the chief justice, the state Assembly on Monday passed AB 1208, the controversial Trial Court Rights Act, by a 42-24 margin.
Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye has barnstormed the state in recent weeks, arguing to newspaper editorial boards and other groups that the bill aimed at curbing the Judicial Council’s spending power is an unfair challenge to judicial independence.
But in the end, the chief justice could not overcome last-minute efforts by the Assembly speaker and the courts’ biggest labor union, Service Employees International Union, to push the bill off the floor.
AB 1208’s sponsor, the Alliance of California Judges, released a statement Monday, calling the bill’s passage “an essential step in the process of judicial reform
“We hope that this will now be a new opportunity for the chief justice and the Judicial Council to accept our long-standing request to meet and discuss a fair resolution of the issues,” the Alliance judges wrote.
But Cantil-Sakauye appeared in no mood to offer up olive branches Monday afternoon, saying in a statement that the branch will now work to defeat the bill in the Senate.
Read the entire article (this article is NOT subscription access only): http://www.law.com/jsp/ca/PubArticleCA.jsp?id=1202540581018&Last_Minute_ArmTwisting_Gets_AB_1208_Through_the_Assembly&slreturn=1
FYI to the Office of the Chief Justice: stomping your foot and pouting is not attractive behavior.
Long live the ACJ.
Underground
January 30, 2012
I have to say it was pure genius to get the employee unions and law enforcement (PORAC) involved to lobby!! Way to go Alliance of Judges!!! Nothing gets the attention of legislators than employee unions and cops!!! Love it!! Hooray!!
Judicial Council Watcher
January 30, 2012
We’re currently basking in today’s victory so we’ll forego another post for this evening.
Besides, the video at the top of the post says it all anyways.
Thank everyone for their hard work and count on re-doubling your efforts to push this through the senate.
unionman575
January 30, 2012
=)
Paula J. Negley
January 30, 2012
In the words of Thomas Paine: “These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value.”
To all of those, who, in this time, did not shrink from the service to the public good, who stood up, who spoke up, who told the truth, who have paid dearly, and you know who you are, you deserve, and have, the love and thanks today of every Californian, and their children, even though they may not yet know it.
And to the Alliance of California Judges: You remind us all of what the California judicial branch once was, a profession hallmarked by ethics, integrity, public duty, and honor to the law, and what it might yet be once again.
versal-versal
January 30, 2012
General Woodhull has it right. This is a fight about preserving our democratic values. Today was a huge victory for all who believe in our great system of government. 1208 is the first step in restoring balance to the judicial branch. No one Judge, no matter how well intended should run a whole branch of government. Not one Californian has ever voted to support such insular rule and the 1998 Trial Court funding act never intended such a result. Sadly the insular and arrogant rule that followed the 1998 legislation has led to court closures reduced service to the public, layoffs of loyal and hardworking court employees , the creation of an out of control agency the AOC , the waste of millions and maybe billions of dollars on a failed computer system and mean spirited retaliation against those that simply sought to express their dissenting views. (Remember J.Huffman calling out a Judge who he didn’t agree with at a JC meeting as a “clown “) The fight for the right thing now moves to the Senate and hopefully all who helped today will continue to strive to restore democracy and common sense to the branch we all care about .
lando
January 30, 2012
My Mom had a great expression, the chickens will always come home to roost. That happened today in Sacramento. The excesses of our former CJ , current CJ, J Huffman, J McConnell , and others that tried to stamp out dissenting views about the branch combined with the continued arrogance of the bloated bureaucracy at 455 Golden Gate are the reasons change is in the air. Versal – Versal is right the house of cards is certainly falling down. Thanks as well to General Woodhull for reminding us that this fight is all about Freedom and democratic values.
sharonkramer
January 31, 2012
When does it go to vote in the Senate?
versal-versal
January 31, 2012
Lando is right. The policy decisions of HRH 1, HRH 2 , Huffman, Mc Connell , and their handpicked allies have demonstrated why we need to create a democratic structure to fix the judicial branch. The suppression of diverse and dissenting ideas has created the mess we find ourselves in. J Scotland’s sudden resignation from a committee that is evaluating the work of the AOC should raise a red flag as to what he uncovered and why he is exiting. Last March, March of 2010, another JC/AOC insider, J Bruiners announced CCMS was fully deployed. Really. Well as we move into February 2012 can anyone say that CCMS now three years and millions over budget is deployed? These are all the issues and questions the state Senate needs to look at as 1208 moves on. Enough of the spin, the Rosengrams, the talking points, the false claims , the arrogance and attempts to suppress those in the branch that have a dissenting opinions or a conviction that our courts should provide service to the public rather than a bloated bureaucracy at 455 Golden Gate and the inslular group that runs it all. The lesson of today is a great one, Democratic principles trump arrogance.
unionman575
January 31, 2012
We now have to truck this baby through the Senate.
Underground
January 31, 2012
Yes! Get more employee groups and cops out there with more “arm twisting”. Thanks JCW for all your hard work. Please put links of all the media coverage on the your site so I can enjoy them when I get home from work. Keep marching everybody.
One Who Knows
January 31, 2012
Yes, I agree more organizations need to step up and formally support AB 1208. Until yesterday, there have been only 4 organizations that have formally and publicly done so: the ACJ, the SEIU, the Howard Jarvis Taxpayer Association and the California Court Reporters Association. Yesterday, the International Laborers Union which represents some trial court employes also stepped up and worked to secure the passage of AB 1208. But there are others out there who need to urge their organizations to formally support the bill and commit their lobbyists to ensuring the success of AB 1208. Yesterday, every AOC lobbyist and lawyer organization lobbyist was in the Capitol working against AB 1208. On the flip side there were about 6 ACJ members, 3-5 SEIU lobbyists, the court reporter lobbyist and Laborers Union lobbyist working for the right cause. But if the rest of the employee groups: AFSCME, the Interpreters, IFPTE 21, OCEA, SDEA, Local 1 committed their organizations we would have such a force behind getting AB 1208 passed.
Elmy Kader
January 31, 2012
I’m as certain as the sun will rise every day at down and sits at dusk that a total victory for AB1208 all the way until it become the law in California , because the honorable America will not allow this organized crime ( JC and its flunkies) to control California Justice System.
Wendy please forgive me for what about I’m going to do, it will be only one time since it is your own trade mark. LONG LIVE THE ACJ
Wendy Darling
January 31, 2012
To Elmy Kader: No forgiveness is necessary, nor does it need to be asked for, as it does not belong to anyone personally. As is known to all who visit JCW, the principles of the ACJ and the work they do to democratize the Judicial Council, and to restore credibility and ethics to the judicial branch transcends individuals – it belongs to all of us. So feel free to use the anthem of Long Live the ACJ whenever you wish; it belongs to you, and all.
Long live the ACJ. And long live JCW.
althepal55
January 31, 2012
As we (and our constituency) approach the celebration of the great American, César Estrada Chávez, I say,
“¡Si Se Puede!
On to the Senate!
In solidarity,
Alan Ernesto Phillips
Chairman
NORTHERN HISPANIC LATINO COALITION
P.O. Box 990875
Redding, CA 96099
sharonkramer
January 31, 2012
I will do a better job this time around of helping them hear from the IAQ (indoor air quality) community. The little, elite group has aided a scientific fraud to remain in Ca & US public health policy seven years longer than it should have by aiding with unconstitutional litigation. We are scientists, physicians, industirial hygenists, policy setters and many people who have been unnecessarily harmed by their actions.
How long before this goes to the Senate?
Elmy Kader
January 31, 2012
Wendy, thank you for your response, you are a world class just like all the rest of the members of the JCW. I’m honored and proud to be one of you, so let us march foreword until we accomplish our mission.
May GOD bless the Honorable Alliance of California Judges
unionman575
January 31, 2012
JC/AOC media like this crap below means we all have to fight on for change to occur.
Get me a bucket. You ain’t seen nothng yet folks as the JC/AOC spin machine goes into warp drive.
This is going to be nasty right down to the wire in the Senate and then we have to all lean heavy on good old Jerry Brown to sign.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/01/31/EDV71N0US9.DTL
Legislature meddling in state judicial conflict
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Legislation that would undercut the Judicial Council’s ability to oversee the state’s trial courts cleared the state Assembly this week. The Senate needs to put a stop to AB1208, which threatens judicial independence and 15-year effort to instill consistent practices and standards from county to county.
The bill, authored by Assemblyman Charles Calderon, D-Whittier, is a response to a rebellion by judges who regard the state court bureaucracy as too big and too unresponsive. A particular point of contention is a statewide computer system that has been plagued by delays and cost overruns. This rebellion against the Judicial Council and the Administrative Office of the Courts comes against the backdrop of state budget cuts – $350 million this year alone – that have left courts struggling to maintain their hours and avert backlogs.
Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, who took office only last year, has pledged to address concerns about the statewide bureaucracy she inherited. She should be given a chance to make reforms. There are compelling reasons – in efficiency, in consistency, in distribution of resources, in quality of the judiciary – to have a statewide overseer of the courts. Calderon’s AB1208 would allow as few as two counties to veto any statewide edict.
Calderon has tried to cast his measure as a shift toward local control. But the real shift in power would be from the Judicial Council to the Legislature. “I’m worried that it injects politics into judicial branch policy,” said Cantil-Sakauye, who has been working against the bill. The majority of the state’s presiding judges agree with her.
AB1208 secured the bare-minimum 41 votes for Assembly passage, with a handful of members ducking the issue. The Senate should defeat this ham-handed attempt to meddle in the operation of the judiciary.
This article appeared on page A – 13 of the San Francisco Chronicle
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/01/31/EDV71N0US9.DTL#ixzz1l65FzGrh
Wendy Darling
January 31, 2012
It’s interesting how these “editorials” all sound as if written by the same person(s), but never have an actual name attached to them. Hmmmmmm . . .
unionman575
January 31, 2012
It’s no holds barred as the JC/AOC spin machine works 24/7 to prevent change.
sharonkramer
January 31, 2012
Couldn’t agree more, Unionman. I have a degree in marketing. Am highly anticipating No Holds Barred. Their campaign theme is already set when approaching the Senate. “Seperation of branches. The Senate should not condone meddling among branches – particularly when finances are involved.”
So now tell me again, why did Judge Scofield leave his position as head of the committee overseeing the AOC? Who did he go to work for and what is it he is now doing for these legislators? Does it have anything to do with not “meddling” in Senate affairs? Do these legislators who hired him support AB1208 or the Judicial Council?
unionman575
February 1, 2012
Sharon you and I have a lot in common, I have an MBA.
=)
sharonkramer
February 1, 2012
I just have a BA and much corporate training of how to sell a concept. Its in marketing and I have always made my living as a salesman for 10 plus years (okay will show my age, that’s 10 + 25). I can usually spot the theme to a sales pitch and the various presale work a mile away.
Their whole schtick appears to be geared toward the theme of Seperation of Government Bodies is best for the sake of the Constitution. It appears that the central approach will be to try to use scare tactics that AB1208 gives one branch of government alarming control over another.
Rule No 1 in sales, “Know your product and know your competitor’s product”.