“At this time the fasten seat belt light has been turned on due to some unexpected turbulence. Please return to your seats and fasten your seat belts for your safety and the safety of others. Thank you and thanks for flying the Hindenberg.”
You probably recall the relationship between Dorothy and her dog Toto. In Jody’s case, her dog is named Curt Soderlund. She never goes anywhere without him.
_____________________________________________
From: Patel, Jody
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2012 4:06 PM
To: AOC Users-All
Subject: Executive Office Update
Colleagues:
I know that last week’s announcements raised questions about next steps for the AOC. During this interim period, I will do my best to provide answers and keep everyone informed in a timely way. Following meetings with Ron and Chris, the directors and I met this afternoon to discuss transition and continuity issues for the organization. I want to advise you of two additional changes and a planned briefing session.
My appointment as interim director has created a service gap for the leadership of the regional office. This is a critical time for continuity of services and communication with local court leadership. I, therefore, feel fortunate that Chris Patton has agreed to step in as Regional Administrative Director (RAD), while continuing to have a role in assisting with Executive Office activities. Chris has been a fantastic partner for me as a fellow regional administrative director and for Ron as Interim Chief Deputy Director. To have a leader and judicial administrator of her caliber willing to shift gears once again to meet this unexpected need is invaluable for me, the AOC, and the courts.
With this change for the RAD position, Curt Soderlund has agreed to take on the role of Interim Chief Deputy Director. Curt and I have worked together for more than 20 years. He served with me as Assistant Regional Administrative Director for the Northern/Central Regional Office before his appointment as Director of the Trial Court Administrative Services (TCAS) Division in 2008. Like Chris, Curt’s trial court executive experience and his strong working relationships with court leaders will be extremely helpful during this time. I truly appreciate his support. Curt will continue to have executive oversight of TCAS, while three seasoned managers will maintain day-to-day operations for the administrative and fiscal operations services provided to the trial courts.
This Thursday, the executive team and managers and supervisors will come together, in person and by phone, for a briefing with me and several members of the Judicial Council, including the chairs of the Trial Court Presiding Judges and Court Executives Advisory Committees. In addition to discussing priorities that include staying on track with budget issues for the branch as well as our reorganization process, we will address questions from the management team so that they can share more information with you in person. After April, we will also be rescheduling the all-staff meetings, where there will be further opportunity for in-person discussions.
Today I had the opportunity to walk around a little and talk with some staff at the San Francisco office. I was able to share with them, and want to share with you, that I will be relocating to San Francisco during this interim period so that I can be available at our headquarters. I also heard loud and clear that sharing whatever concrete information we can as soon as it’s available will go a long way toward alleviating anxiety.
I want to reiterate my commitment to supporting the vital work of the AOC, and working with the directors to address current challenges that will place our organization on a solid footing for when a permanent appointment is made to the administrative director position. I welcome everyone’s support for these efforts.
Thank you.
Jody
Jody Patel
Interim Administrative Director of the Courts
Judicial Council of California – Administrative Office of the Courts
455 Golden Gate Avenue
San Francisco, California 94102
916-263-1333, FAX 916-263-1966, jody.patel@jud.ca.gov
www.courts.ca.gov
“Serving the courts for the benefit of all Californians”
_______________________________________________________
This is the trial courts under AOC management…
Any Questions?
_________________________________________
Related Articles:
- The Not So Civil War Between the Legislature and the Supreme Court (fox&hounds)
- Lawmakers and Courts need to end their rift (SacBee.com ) You all should weigh in on this little missive
Wendy Darling
February 14, 2012
Watch Curt roll over and play dead.
Long live the ACJ.
Michael Paul
February 14, 2012
Shameless cronyism at it’s finest. One of her first moves no less….
Michael Paul
February 14, 2012
P.S Jody, if I’m pointing this out, rest assured AOC employees were cackling about it at 4:07 this afternoon.
antonatrail
February 14, 2012
gawd, they’re all so nauseating. I need a bucket …
Peppermint Pattie
February 14, 2012
Apparently no one in the Office of the Chief, the Judicial Council, or the AOC, paid any attention to the article that was published in The Daily Journal last week, about how new leadership is needed from outside the AOC.
Consequently, out with the old, in with the same old, same old, and yet another chapter in The Emperess’s New Clothes.
Elmy Kader
February 14, 2012
Soon all these shenanigans will be over when AB1208 passes and becomes the law in California, always no matter how long it takes the good guys win.
These admirable people will have the final word;
Hon. Andrew P. Banks (Orange)
Hon. E. Jeffrey Burke (San Luis Obispo)
Hon. Tia Fisher (Los Angeles)
Hon. Mark Forcum (San Mateo)
Hon. Maryanne Gilliard (Sacramento)
Hon. Daniel B. Goldstein (San Diego)
Hon. W. Kent Hamlin (Fresno)
Hon. W. Michael Hayes (Orange)
Hon. Thomas E. Hollenhorst (4th District Court of Appeal)
Hon. David R. Lampe (Kern)
Hon. Susan Lopez-Giss (Los Angeles)
Hon. Kevin McCormick (Sacramento)
Hon. John Somers (Kern)
Hon. Steve White (Sacramento)
Behind you all the way ACJ
versal-versal
February 15, 2012
You know I am amazed at how unresponsive the JC and AOC are to what is going on in the real world that resides outside of the crystal palace at 455 Golden Gate. When trial courts are getting hammered every day and cutting back staff , might it be appropriate to not fill and refill the office of “Regional Administrative Director ” ? Why does such a position even exist? According to Ms Patel such position is “invaluable for me, the AOC and the courts.” I see Ms Patel like Bill V and Ron O before her have their priorities straight. And oh btw the JC and AOC just advertised a job listing for a high paying “network consultant”. So while trial courts all around the state cut back employees, cut back services and cut back court hours , the tone deaf JC/AOC grinds on building and rebuilding their empire. You really can’t make this stuff up .
anna
February 15, 2012
Yes, you can, John Grishom does it all the time. He does his research and it’s usually based on facts and issues which have actually happened. He then just write a fictional story which include actual truth.
Read The Appeal. The US supremes did, and were appalled at how corrupt he portrayed the political “gifts” judges receive.
Our judiciary has no shame.
They make the judges in the Appeal look like pikers.
anna
February 15, 2012
Add an “s” to writes. and when I refer to “our” judiciary, I mean our state Judiciary.
Lando
February 15, 2012
One of the things that the CJ likes to tell everyone about her “transformation to triumph ” is how we have a new chair of the JC Executive and Planning Committee. I will agree J Miller is a good guy and I doubt he would ever call a fellow Judge a clown like his predecessor J Huffman. There is however just one problem . New chair or not , the same old insular group is picking from the same old group of AOC insiders to run things and nothing has or will ever change. See J Patel’s memo above . Versal is also correct about his information as a notice to hire yet another “consultant ” for the AOC was circulated within the last few days. This is a point that the State Senate needs to focus on. Almost every local trial court has had to make major cutbacks in personnel yet in contrast the AOC just keeps hiring people and growing .Rumor has it this latest consultant is for an IT position.It wouldn’t take a rocket scientist to conclude that they are hiring yet another consultant for the CCMS rathole. Hmm I thought that project was already “working” and “deployed”…
Wendy Darling
February 15, 2012
Well, Lando, from the perspective of many of us, the only “transformation” and “triumph” that has happened in the last year is for the administration of the California judicial branch to have been transformed into the laughingstock of three branches of state government and the triumph of earning the derision of much of the State Legislature and pretty much anyone in the public sector who has been paying attention to what is taking place at 455 Golden Gate Avenue. And the Chief Justice is just so proud of herself for having done so.
Long live the ACJ.
Stuart Michael
February 15, 2012
This is worse than re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. There are no chairs left to re-arrange, only the rats scurrying for the nearest well-paid exit.
How much will it cost for the new Interim A. D. to “temporarily relocate” to SF? Where will her #2 sharpen his teeth after a busy day gnawing away? And where will the multi-headed RAD lay her head at night? Guess who pays for all this travel, per diem and other perks. All this for B.V. and R.O. clones (with the original models still pulling the strings from just behind the curtains) to keep the C.J. and the JC mesmerized by the same old spinning helm.
A good step would be to force-feed all three regional office rat holes some Decon. They have been an expensive and irrelevant boondoggle from their inception – and a upscale resort for loyal court execs and employees – while the trial courts that are actually performing real public services are locked down in steerage, on rations of less cheese to keep doing their jobs than the fat rats still in charge of the upper decks who are greedily hunkering down at the public trough still get.
Such a bold move would demonstrate to the Executive & Legislative Branches, and the trial courts, that the Judicial Branch is committed to real change. Too bad it will never happen while the bridge is still occupied by the same old captains who’ve chartered the course for too many years, and keep sailing along as if the icebergs lying ahead will somehow melt away before the ship gets hit.
I know many of the very knowledgeable insiders and outsiders who follow JCW can come up with other rats to chop up – in whole or in part.
Let’s put some bait in the water and see what floats.
Hopefully, Coast Guard Cutter AB 1208 will break through the ice and save the ship.
Wendy Darling
February 15, 2012
“A good step would be to force-feed all three regional office rat holes some Decon. They have been an expensive and irrelevant boondoggle from their inception – and a upscale resort for loyal court execs and employees . . . .”
Ah, Stuart Michael. In order to do that, the Office of the Chief Justice, the Judicial Council, and the AOC would have to abondon their grand plan of eliminating all of the trial court executive officers, and replacing them with AOC chosen Senior Managers, or similarly titled AOC ilk, who in turn report to . . . well, the respective head(s) of the three regional offices. And the source of this information? Well, that would be none other than . . . Curt Soderlund. Right out of his own mouth.
Long live the ACJ.
Judicial Council Watcher
February 15, 2012
We’ve heard this same story about Soderlund from several sources now. It was the primary reason the underlying post was formatted the way it was.
Guest
February 15, 2012
Am I the only one who is starting to think that this Chief wants AB1208 to pass? I ask because I find it hard to believe that anyone who was able to go through school, law school and elevate all the way the CJ could possibly be so dense. For every move she makes that appears to be possibly shrewd under the circumstances is followed by another move that is so counter to common sense. Bill V and Tonto are gone and she appoints Patel. Ok, maybe. Patel doesn’t want the job. Ok. Good. But then the interim Interim backfills behind her old position with someone who has the respect on no one outside JP. This is an obvious salary bump payback that will give CS added retirement for life. Maybe CS wants the job. The CJ either is aware of this, or is oblivious. In either case her actions keep getting legislators who are against 1208 to ultimately vote in favor of 1208. Ask your assembly person.
Judicial Council Watcher
February 15, 2012
In other branches of government, the easiest way to get rid of someone is to……promote them first.
Judicial Council Watcher
February 16, 2012
Message from a senior AOC employee who unabashedly used their real name to send us a message
The AOC suffers from bloated, unresponsive management that would rather try to convince us that all is well when we all know better. We know that people of questionable character lead the AOC. It does great harm to our mission of serving the courts for the benefit of all Californians when we have inept leadership who try to cover everything up.
We all know better and we also know we like our jobs. One of the best suggestions I’ve seen on judicial council watcher was to take everyone with a title of manager and above and ask for their resignations. That’s the only thing that will clean things up around here. With Patel and her dog toto now leading the AOC, the writing is on the wall. I’m readying my resume as I type this email to you. What a sad state of affairs that the leadership of the judicial council has not called for an independent investigation into the unlicensed contractor debacle or killed CCMS. I feel as if I work for a criminal organization and I’m leaving that criminal organization as soon as possible.
Your comparisons between Enron management and AOC management were on target.
It goes on asking JCW to not disclose who the author is and explains that they do not post because the AOC will do anything they can to discover who JCW posters are.
Wendy Darling
February 16, 2012
Brave soul, who has very valid reasons for fearing retribution and retaliation. Sadly, most AOC employees have much in common in sexual assault victims: for every one that speaks out, there are likely ten more that remain silent out of fear. And it’s a sad day in the California judicial branch when you work in the Administrative Office of the Courts and you realize you’re actually working for thugs and criminals, and you have nothing but fear and contempt for the people who have been put in top “leadership” positions because they are those very thugs and criminals.
And no one in any position of authority or responsibility will do anything about it.
No one.
Long live the ACJ.
courtflea
February 17, 2012
Seriously guys, there is SOMETHING going on between Kurt and Jody that she has been allowed to drag him EVERYWHERE with her. Is he her hatchet man? Does he have some goods on her? Is he her personal butt kisser/lapdog? Is it sexual? I just don’t get it. As expressed above, how can such continued blantant croynism continue for so long? Not to mention that neither one is the sharpest tack in the box….go figure.
JusticeCalifornia
February 17, 2012
Word on the street is that staff morale is big problem at the AOC. Surprise, surprise.
Staff has been dealt a rotating deck of tainted, stacked “boss” cards, none of which draw respect from anyone.
How will the AOC deal with staff morale problems? Let me look into my crystal ball.
In Marin County, Cantil-Sakauye’s Best Friend Forever, Kim Turner, took over for Turner’s boss, former Marin CEO John Montgomery, after he was arrested on 10 felony accounts of conflict of interest for, among other things, funneling $650,000 in court contracts to his live-in girlfriend. Turner was severely criticized by the Judicial Council and AOC for signing off on many of Montgomery’s inappropriate expenditures, and waiting until a financial audit of Marin was imminent before reporting these expenditures. Upon taking over for Montgomery, reports are that Turner held early-morning document shredding parties, and Turner fired or otherwise got rid of ONE HALF the Marin Court staff, largely made up of ethical, old school employees who knew too much and/or opposed Turner as Montgomery’s replacement. Turner then famously reportedly hired her very best and loyal buds from here, there and everywhere. Just ask old court staff about Cheri Brannon. Cheri was reportedly hired to be the jury services director, at an AMAZINGLY OVERPRICED SALARY. Brannon quickly advanced to become Turner’s assistant court executive officer and then apparently. . . .”retired”. Someone correct me if I am wrong.
It would appear that Jody Patel is Tani’s Cheri Brannon, and Curt is Jody’s Cheri Brannon.
My crystal ball says we should expect that Cantil-Sakauye, her good bud Jody, and Jody’s good bud Curt will all continue to take steps to maximize retirement benefits for a revolving door of court insiders; and will continue to hire for branch “priorities” like CCMS and court construction– while handing out pink slips to select independent minded AOC employees so the AOC can say it is “downsizing”.
Let’s see. I do hope I am wrong.