March 7, 2012
- Author of Trial Court Funding Bill wants to meet with Chief Justice (Maria Dinzeo, Courthouse News)
- SF goes around big California IT project (Dave Tartre, Courthouse News)
- Nations Biggest Court dealt crippling blow (Maria Dinzeo, Courthouse News)
- Letter to David Lampe (JCW uploaded file)
The word on the meeting on the 15th is that the meeting doesn’t work for Senator Steinberg because he will be out of town on that date and that the chief justice (a label that is beginning to develop a bad taste) is still thinking about the meeting. Thus far, Cantil-Sakauye has done a great deal of posturing and has avoided meeting with AB1208 sponsors. She knows the golden rule and knows that whomever has the gold makes the rules and right now the AOC has the gold and the AOC makes the rules as her proxy. Sending a delegation or as Steinberg has done, simply indicate you’re just not available gives you plenty of leeway to continue disingenuous posturing against the legislation and the opposition.
Frankly, the mis-truths coming out about AB1208 at the direction of the chief justice are frankly embarrassing to witness. Rather than debate the merits in any forum, she wants sound bytes of her and others on the bully pulpit speaking against the legislation to carry the day – posturing indeed. And it is because of all of that posturing that it does not make sense for the chief to meet with Calderon from a posturing perspective, something that Steinberg already knows, even though a lack of a meeting would put wind in the sails of AB1208 supporters, there’s a genuine fear that a fruitless meeting might put even more wind in the sails of AB1208.
Perhaps the AB1208 opposition is calculating that ignoring the sponsors and creating their own version of the truth has worked thus far and will help carry the day. We’re calculating that a lack of a meeting attended by the chief justice herself – and not merely her selected delegation – will demonstrate more posturing by a bully – and not from a bully pulpit.
If you can attend the assembly meeting on CCMS on the 14th or write the committee members be sure to do so. Be forewarned that with the AOC’s recent musical management chairs surrounding the program – expect everyone to feign ignorance because the last dolt to run or manage the program was forced out – but they will need another several hundred million to keep CCMS on a lifeline while they sort things out. We expect Mark Dusman to feign ignorance although he’s been overseeing the program as the IT director since its inception and we expect Jody Patel to feign ignorance because she hasn’t been on the job for a year.
In short, expect a massive train wreck against a factual backdrop that CCMS V4 is vaporware that is not functional in any court in California and won’t be without several hundred million more invested in Deloitte.
Ferrari in the garage? How about a Yugo in the shop?
Let’ hope that the Assembly committee is smart enough to know it’s being hoodwinked and moves to terminate the project and its funding.
Related articles
- ACJ – Chief calls out Lawmakers; Overholt steps down (judicialcouncilwatcher.wordpress.com)
- Editorial: Sacramento Bee urges Chief Justice to end rift with legislators (judicialcouncilwatcher.wordpress.com)
- ab1208 in the news, editorial says CCMS is stuck (judicialcouncilwatcher.wordpress.com)
CCMS Hearing Date, Time & Location:
Joint Hearing Budget Subcommittee No. 4 On State Administration And Budget
Subcommittee No. 5 Public Safety
BUCHANAN, CEDILLO, Chairs
1:30 p.m. – State Capitol, Room 437 ( Listen or watch this hearing )
Committees: Budget Subcommittee No. 4 on State Administration
1:30 p.m. – State Capitol, Room 437
SUBJECT: Court Computer System
Item No. Description
0250 Judicial Branch
0502 California Technology Agency
8855 Bureau of State Audits
Judicial Council Watcher 
JusticeCalifornia
March 9, 2012
Ummm. . . .can we please have a reality check here?
A direct request for a meeting to discuss pending legislation regarding an issue of vital importance to the judicial branch has been made by the author of a bill that is supported by over 400 judges and the employees’ unions and passed in the Assembly.
Neither Steinberg nor Cantil-Sakauye are royalty. They are PUBLIC SERVANTS, yet there is a question as to whether they will “deign” to attend such a meeting? Will someone please close the kool-aid bar?
The last time I looked these two were elected officials who are paid by the public to SERVE THE PUBLIC. If either one of them refuses such an important meeting, they should be publicly excoriated and bounced from office.
Wendy Darling
March 9, 2012
Yes, Justice California, if either one of them refuses such an important meeting, they should be publicly excoriated and bounced from office.
Instead, Steinberg, Evans, Feuer, et al, will ignore their public duty and do everything possible to block any kind of legislative correction to the very serious problems in judicial branch adminstration. One of them, Steinberg, will quite possibly then be rewarded with an appointment to the bench by the current Chief Justice when he gets termed out of the State Legislature next year, as the quid pro quo of “a friend doing a favor for a friend” and the others will go on to campaign for other public offices under the banner of all their “great public service.”
And no one in any position of responsibility or authority will do anything about it. No one. Because the very people in those positions of authority and responsibility, the very people sworn to a public duty, the very people who are charged with the obligation of taking corrective action, are the very people who are doing this and permitting to happen. With impunity.
And we all get to watch as the judicial branch sinks ever deeper into the sewer.
Long live the ACJ.
anna
March 9, 2012
Excuse me, didn’t HRH2 complain about not being informed and consulted about by AB1208??? Her complaint was that she was blindsided by this.
I remember Calderon commenting that he was not required to inform HRH about bills, in an article. He also went on to say, that was his job and he did not need permission from HRH. So now, he addresses her whining, and offers to meet with her and she’s going to snub him???
Someone should remind HRH, and the public, that Calderon is bending over backwards for her outrageous demands, and she will never intend to do anything in good faith. She never did.
It was all a ruse, and a delaying tactic. This person does not belong on the bench, let alone in the Supreme Court.
Wendy Darling
March 9, 2012
And here’s the middle-finger response from the Office of the Chief Justice back to Calderon and the ACJ.
Published today, Friday, March 9, from Legal Pad, the legal blog of The Recorder, the on-line publication of CalLaw, by Cheryl Miller:
Chief Justice Won’t Wrestle, Er, Meet Calderon on AB 1208
[Cheryl Miller]
Thanks, but no thanks.
That”s the gist of a letter from Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye to Assembly Majority Leader Charles Calderon, D-Montebello, in response to his request for a March 15 get-together on Assembly Bill 1208.
Cantil-Sakauye sent the letter Thursday, and while her office has yet to release it publicly we’re told that the chief justice says she’s unavailable on the meeting date. She offers a number of other reasons for declining his offer: the branch is focused on the budget; the Judicial Council has a big meeting coming up on the Court Case Management System; judges are already working hard on governance issues. And she offers no prospect of any immediate meeting with the assemblyman.
The letter’s tone is polite. But its intended audience is clearly the Legislature and judges, not Calderon — just like Calderon’s letter was meant for more eyes than just the chief justice’s. If the two really wanted to chat they could have met Thursday when Cantil-Sakauye was at the Capitol to meet with Senate Republicans. They did not.
A more blunt translation of the chief justice’s letter: Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg reiterated Thursday that AB 1208 is going nowhere in his house, so Calderon can take his invitation to meet and … well, you get the picture.
The chief justice’s scheduled State of the Judiciary speech before the Legislature on March 19 is shaping up to be an unusually fascinating event.
Long live the ACJ.
antonatrail
March 9, 2012
There is definitely something very wrong with California government if Steinberg can pull off this threat to kill AB1208. (Who died and made him king of California?) That California’s citizens and judiciary need AB1208 is abundantly clear! Bravo to SF superior court for their innovative approach to e-filing and courageous side-stepping of the odious idiots at the JC/AOC/CJ offices. My heartfelt sorrow to Los Angeles superior and for all collateral damage to those in the front lines and the trenches there!
As for March 19, bring your popcorn, Kool-Aid and and get compfy for the show. Don’t forget your bucket!
guest
March 9, 2012
It is easy to see what is going on here. Just like Arnold helped his friend Fabian, Darrel is helping his friend Tani. “That’s what friends do for each other” (please add Austrian accent). Tani will return the favor with a plum judicial appointment once Darrel is termed out. “That’s what friends do for each other”. But for slimy people or politicians (same thing), “favors” are without any regard for morals, ethics, justice, common sense or basic choosing right over wrong. Release a “friends” murderer son or kill a bill intended to bring service back to the people. Tani and Darrel aren’t available because “that’s what friends do for each other” (please add either Senate Pro Tem or Chief Justice accent).
anna
March 9, 2012
When one thinks about it, Arnie gave us this idiot, and it’s fitting. He was an idiot who never belonged in office. What were his qualifications? Being a; 1]drug addict body builder, 2] lousy actor, 3] snake oil salesman for supplements,and gyms, 4]married to a Kennedy and 5] a toady and spokesperson for corporate interests [republican party]. He was also a serial sexual harasser, and had no idea of civil rights, or governance.
Hell, at least Jesse Ventura, was a mayor of a city, and served his country as a Navy Seal.
All we got got was a body builder, a fake hero.
And we wonder why he was so thoughtless, as to who he left in charge of the judiciary.
He was crass and a base loudmouth, who got his way by belittling others.
His disdain for the law shows in this nomination, for giving us such an unqualified person to administer our once great system of jurisprudence.
Votes count.
The voters got what they deserved, and they rest of us will suffer.
May Oprah and her BFF Maria rot in hell for vouching and foisting that asshole on us.
anna
March 9, 2012
Anyone have any ideas on how to light a fire under Steinberg’s backside?
What is our recourse?
He’s abdicating his duties of oversight and ceding policy making to the judiciary.
Why is there a checks and balances in our system of govt. if it is not going to be used?
Wendy Darling
March 9, 2012
Maybe it’s just me, but does anyone else find it disingenuous, if not ethically compromising and blantantly dishonest, for the Chief Justice to stomp her foot and claim “co-equal branch of government” and “separation of powers” to degrade AB 1208 as an affront to “her” power with one hand, while with the other she can’t hide behind Senator Steinberg fast enough to protect her and block legislative correction for the failed and unethical management of the judicial branch?
And as for Steinberg abdicating his duties of oversight and ceding policy making, he’s doing it for the most disgusting and appalling of reasons – self dealing.
And people wonder why public opinion of the State Legislature is at its lowest level ever, and why the public has lost all confidence in the California judicial branch.
Long live the ACJ.
Wendy Darling
March 9, 2012
Here’s Empress Tani’s letter to Calderon. Please note she made sure to copy her good buddy, Darrell Steinberg:
March 8, 2012
Assemblymember Charles Calderon
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
Dear Assemblymember Calderon,
Thank you for your letter of March 2, which I received on March 6, and your invitation to attend or provide a delegation to attend a meeting concerning Assembly Bill No. 1208 on March 15. I have been engaged in oral argument calendar session and this is my first opportunity to respond. I appreciate the offer to meet, however it is not possible to arrange schedules by this date. You did not indicate that there were any time constraints that affected the timing of your meeting. I have a number of intervening engagements in and out of state and also am immersed in branch budget issues. Further, the Judicial Council has a public meeting scheduled for March 27, 2012, at which the council will be considering issues that will be relevant to branch budget and governance issues. You are welcome to observe our public meeting in person or electronically.
Since February, the Trial Court Presiding Judges Committee, which includes the presiding judges of every court in the state, has been planning a meeting of judges, including the California Judges Association and the Alliance of California Judges, with the Judicial Council to discuss branch governance issues. I anticipate that this discussion will also provide important guidance for our branch. This meeting is a high priority for me and the Judicial Council. As you are aware, the report of the Strategic Evaluation Committee, which I appointed approximately one year ago, will be delivered to the
council by mid-April for its review and consideration. Accordingly, I suggest that any meeting be reconsidered after the branch has had its own governance discussions.
As always, the Judicial Council is open to any information you or others wish to provide.
Sincerely,
Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye
TCS/smc
cc: Hon. Marvin R. Baxter, Chair PCLC
Hon. Douglas P. Miller, Chair E & P
Hon. Harry E. Hull, Jr., Chair RUPRO
Hon. Dave Rosenberg, Chair TCPJAC
Assembly Speaker John Perez
Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg
JusticeCalifornia
March 9, 2012
Wow, Tani sounds like a snubbed high school girl. Again.
How much longer are all three branches going to put up with Cantil-Sakauye and her penchant for throwing tantrums and spitting into the wind – at ongoing public and branch expense?
“I’m the new kid on the block give me time”
“It’s not fair”
“That next important report is right around the corner”
“It works, it really works”
“We are all really busy listening to the trial courts”
“No we promise, this time we will really listen”
“let me show you we can handle this ourselves.”
“Trust me, I’m real good at gambling, I’m waiting for the tell”
“It’s just not fair, those legislators are just a bunch of liars”
“It’s all Ron George’s fault”
“Hey Darrell, I’m going down, they are being so mean, save me.”
“Don’t you get it? Darrell is protecting me, so talk to my hand. We are too busy spending money being busy!!!
We are watching a slow-motion train wreck as court services are being cut back, courts are closing, and court employees are being laid off.
Let’s be blunt. A former gambling barmaid with a decidedly mediocre educational and legal background is wielding unchecked power over the largest judiciary in the Western World. A lot of people hoped she was a diamond in the rough, but so far we aren’t seeing any sparkle, just a great big ego and rough edges.
Cantil-Sakauye’s handlers clearly know she isn’t up to the task proposed by Calderon (defending the current indefensible state of affairs.) She has repeatedly opened her inexperienced mouth, unscripted, and stuck her foot in it – usually by insulting people in high places.
The California bench has some of the best and brightest legal minds in the world. I cannot imagine being a seasoned, highly educated, longtime judge (or branch employee, for that matter) a) watching the branch deteriorate into a tawdry reality show (complete with its own pr people and film and production crew); or b) being told what to do and how to run a court by this political mud-wrestling novice and the paragons of waste and mismanagement that are advising her; or c) watching the cj repeatedly bite the hand that feeds the branch.
What is going down real time, right now, is the very best argument for passing AB 1208. Calderon and the ACJ are right. There must be a legislative adjustment to the status quo.
antonatrail
March 9, 2012
“What is going down real time, right now, is the very best argument for passing AB 1208. Calderon and the ACJ are right. There must be a legislative adjustment to the status quo.”
JusticeCalifornia, thank you for putting forward what I was trying to say. All honest citizens of California need AB1208 desperately NOW. The status quo is horribly flawed without the Trial Courts Bill of Rights that has been passed over for more than a decade.
Wendy Darling
March 9, 2012
For over fourteen years now, Ant. And the rest of us agree with you and Justice California. The misconduct, mismanagement, absence of ethics, and lying going on with the Office of the Chief Justice, the Judicial Council, the AOC, and judicial branch administration, must end. Now. The only way that is going to happen is with legislated correction.
Long live the ACJ.
Nathaniel Woodhull
March 9, 2012
Wendy, Unionman575, Ant, and all the rest, you are right to feel continually dejected at the ongoing actions of HRH-2. She really has shown herself to be a dim bulb and a one-trick pony. Her are the catch-phrases that always come out of one end or the other at her public appearances.
Point #1: Boo-hoo, I’ve only been here for __ months and everyone is picking on me. No one ever disagreed with HRH-1. (Counterpoint #1 – There was growing organized opposition to HRH-1 that started not later than 2004. It just took the economic downturn of 2009 to get the Legislature and press to look at these issues)
Point # 2: In the __ months I’ve been in office I have fixed everything that was wrong in the House That Ron Built. Everything is now completely transparent and wonderful. New and independent people are occupying all positions of authority within the Judicial Council and AOC. (Counterpoint #2 – How long will this go on. I’ve only been here 4 years and…? The deck chairs on the Titanic have been re-arranged, but they are always occupied by mindless Toadies who have sworn allegiance to the Queen.)
Point #3: CCMS is a Ferrari, parked in the garage that we rent for $270,000 a day, and we have to see if we have the money, to spend the money, to save the money… (Counterpoint #3 – CCMS is at best a Zastava Koral aka: Yugo. Like the first Yugo, CCMS is “hand-made” Yugo owners had lots of complaints like: engine problems, steering problems, problems with the stereo, problems with the seat belt, problems with the floorboards. The car could stall and fail to restart without prior indication or warning. At least with the Yugo, you could tell an owner: “Look, your Yugo is the cheapest car on the planet, what did you expect?” I guess Tani can tell taxpayers: “Look, CCMS is the most expensive piece of computer equipment in the World, what do you expect?”)
Point #4: I don’t believe in playing “politics” or as Chief bringing politics into our Branch. (Counterpoint #4 – I have let Darryl know that there is a seat waiting for him on the Court of Appeals when he is termed out. I happened to mention to Jerry that not hitting the Branch too much harder in the coming fiscal year would go a long way to make sure his continued red-lining of things he wants to cut, like Redevelopment, would get the okay from the rest of the Supremes.)
Point #5: I only tell the truth. (Counterpoint #5 – Remember that 44 of the 58 Presiding Judges signed my letter supporting CCMS. The rest of the PJs told me that they couldn’t sign the letter, but they all support CCMS anyway. Never mind the fact that the majority of the judges throughout California have told her to pull the plug on CCMS (included in the SEC report we will never see,) this includes at least 50 past-PJs that I know of…)
Point #6: I always want to engage in an open and direct dialogue with anyone who wishes to express any different ideas or contrary opinions. (Counterpoint #6 – Except when I cannot fit these meetings it into my schedule. Have you ever listened to HRH-2 speak? Take the time to listen to her in any Q&A session, be it from the Commonwealth Club, Public Television, or one of her countless appearances before the Philippines media outlets in Sacramento. She seems to have a handful of “talking points” that have been drilled into her thick skull by her handlers. These points seem to come out regardless of the nature or focus of the question she has been asked. Her speech patterns do not conform to accepted standards for the English language. She constantly misuses words. Answers to most questions seem to last two-three minutes and wind around vacuously; obviously a defense mechanism to ensure that the questioner and listeners will not understand what she said and then cannot follow-up with another question.)
Point # 7: My background and experience makes me perfectly suited to have become the Chief Justice of California. (Counterpoint #7 – Was a zero as a lawyer, hooked up with the Duke just before he left town and was rewarded with a Muni job. Did nothing in Muni Court. Elevated to Superior Court and did nothing there. Now takes credit for “starting” the Domestic Violence Court in Sacramento and presiding over it. Funny, no one else in Sacramento remember that she started their DV Court. Do you realize that is the only accomplishment she has mentioned in her judicial career? Was not given any administrative assignments, like Supervising Judge or PJ in Sacto. Ask her how many murder trials, difficult sex offenses, complex civil cases, family laws cases and the like she presided over. Looks like that came up another zero. Never attended a Judges Meeting in Sacramento. By her own admission, really wasn’t “paying attention” when Trial Court Funding came along in 1997. Mysteriously elevated to the 3rd District by Ron, obviously based upon her highly distinguished career in Sacramento??? Pulled out of the hat to become the Chief after having done zero as a Justice on the Third District. So, let’s see; start with a minimal academic record + little trial experience as a lawyer + no administrative background on or off the bench + not keeping current on rather important developments within the Branch between 1990 and 2003 + no fiscal background or experience managing public or private enterprises + diversity. Yup, when you sum it up she was the perfect candidate for the j-o-b. She is someone that will be perfectly run by the “staff” at the AOC.
Good luck everybody!
JusticeCalifornia
March 9, 2012
Yup.
Tani’s theme song is posted below, do listen. You cannot really understand any of the lyrics except “I’m a marionette” but that is a completely accurate description of what is going down, so that’s ok.
Tani’s a “star”. . . . . . marionette. (hah hah). She is propped up by Team George leftovers who hope to keep their jobs long enough to destroy evidence, escape indictment, and get a good retirement, and Steinberg, who is hoping to benefit from kissing Team George’s @$$ all these years. I get to say that because I have been (correctly) calling out Steinberg for years, before his current Senate gig. Steinberg led the branch into this mess by telling it to “build as big a wall as possible and play defense” instead of addressing legitimate concerns of court critics. He and Tani are presently singing a modified version of Helen Reddy’s song– “You and me against the world”.
antonatrail
March 9, 2012
Thanks for putting all the real facts out there, General Woodhull. I sorely hope that reason and intelligence prevails in the California Senate. If anything you have said is untrue, let the dim bulbs “correct” it! God help us all in California and the California judiciary.
unionman575
March 11, 2012
Well done Nathaniel!
Nathaniel Woodhull
March 9, 2012
Oh, I forgot to point out in Counterpoint #7, she is someone who will be run by the AOC staff, and too dim to know it…
anna
March 9, 2012
Why do you think they chose her? Bingo!
antonatrail
March 9, 2012
As my husband has said, not the sharpest knife in the drawer.
Objector
March 9, 2012
Hi Kids!
Glad to join the discussion. You know, the JCW and all you people posting on this site perform a tremendous service in our representative democracy. California is going down the tubes and the one branch that most Branch of our State Government that the citizens might hope would right our course is the Judiciary. I’ve watched from the sidelines for years, going back to the AOC Watcher. It’s time for everyone to stand up and be counted!
Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye is nothing short of a disgrace. She is a hypocrite that uses her “diversity” tale/tail in an effort to deflect others from focusing on her short-comings and just plain lack of ability.
I’ve seen friends cut-off at the knees, literally having their exceptional careers ruined by having the temerity to stand up to Ronald George, William Vickery and now Tani Cantil-Sack-of-u-eh. The gloves should come off and people in the know should share their insider knowledge of the abuses going on at 455 Golden Gate Avenue and all the Mini-Crystal Palaces throughout the State.
Remember folks, there may be something in it for you! Check out the State “Whistle-Blower” laws. Disclose abuses of power and improper uses of public funds (see 424.1 PC) and you too might win a prize.
Keep up the good work and join the resistance.
Wendy Darling
March 9, 2012
“Check out the State “Whistle-Blower” laws. Disclose abuses of power and improper uses of public funds (see 424.1 PC) and you too might win a prize.”
The only prize that an AOC employee will get for disclosing abuses of power and improper uses of public funds is . . . fired. With no right of appeal.
The amendments that Bonnie Lowenthal and Audra Strickland made to the State whistleblower protection act for AOC employees are ineffective. Just ask Michael Paul. After Paul got fired for reporting the AOC and Judicial Council’s use of unlicensed state contractors, he filed an appeal with the State Personnel Board. The State Personnel Board promptly sent Michael Paul a letter denying his appeal, stating that the SPB doesn’t give “advisory opinions” and the amendments to the Whistleblower Protection Act were inconsistent with the SPB’s constitutional authority. In other words, the SPB blew Michael Paul off.
Going to court isn’t an option either. Again, just ask Michael Paul. Or John Wintermeyer. Or others who have tried that route.
AOC employees are the only public employees in this State with zero protection against retaliation, which is one of the main reasons why Judicial Branch and AOC retaliation against employees continues unabated and with impunity. Every AOC employee knows at this point what will happen to them if they so much as file an internal complaint, let alone report the rampant fraud, abuse, corruption, and misuse of public funds going on within the AOC.
Employees at the AOC don’t call it the Administrative Office of Corruption without good reason.
Long live the ACJ.
anna
March 10, 2012
What I have read of the demurrer that was granted against Michael Paul was that he did not fall under the time line regarding the amendments. That does not mean that anyone else will fare better, considering that when it comes to the judiciary re; the AOC, JC or the State Bar, the state trial courts will not follow the law. Then or now.
In addition, Michael Paul did have a viable lawsuit against his first set of lawyers. He chose not to sue them for malpractice. [big mistake in my humble opinion].
Until a powerful law firm gets nailed for putting their own interests against their clients, the attorneys in this state will be to scared to represent people such as Michael Paul or will advise them that they have no recourse.
Much to the detriment of their clients and in violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct.
However, if a large law firm took this up, they could attack the CJ AOC and the JC and get results.
The powers that be have no qualms about taking down sole practitioners or small plaintiff’s firms. Just ask Richard Fine or Phil Kay
As I have said many times, until a state court trial judge with the backbone required of a judge, allows a case to go forward, by following the law, [and not making up shit that’s written by the AOC,] because they want to be elevated, we’re in world of hurt. If one judge had the backbone to allow the case to go forward, the AOC couldn’t do a thing!! They would have to take a writ, which if granted, would stink to high heaven.
Judges can’t be fired, and a judge with a backbone and a clean record, can take on the CJP , they at least have some protection, and a little due process.
That’s a lot more than the employees, and attorneys in this state.
Until this is made clear to the public and the legislature, we’re all FUBAR.
antonatrail
March 9, 2012
It has been said that California sets an example for other states and Cali’s “innovations” are observed and perhaps followed. For God’s sake and all of humanity, this gangrene in the judiciary must be cut out. That’s how you deal with gangrene and cancer; radiation, chemo and/or surgery.
Wendy Darling
March 9, 2012
And when one refuses to treat gangrene or cancer and instead responds with denial and tone deafness, the usual result is, well, death.
JusticeCalifornia
March 9, 2012
You could not write a better script than this.
As a longtime observer of corrupt court politics and suck ups, I am really, really going to enjoy watching ron george chief sycophants cantil sakauye and steinberg take each other down. A loudmouthed former gambling barmaid who couldn’t get a legit post law-school job has just undercut everything Steinberg has spent his life trying to build.
“She held him up and he held her for ransom, in the heart of the cold, cold city”.
Life in Ron George’s increasingly cursed, and unpopular, fast lane.
Lando
March 10, 2012
The CJ’s March 8 letter to Assemblyperson Calderon represents just how arrogant and out of touch judicial branch leadership has become .Mr Calderon’s fair effort to reach out was denied because the CJ doesn’t have time to meet? Some pressing business out of state takes priority over meeting about the constitutional rights of the trial courts to survive and serve the public ? The CJ’s decision to ignore State Assembly leaders when hundreds of LA court employees are about to lose their jobs on the heels of layoffs and courtrooms being closed all over the state is shocking. What this tells me is that in the CJ’s mind the only priority is the preservation of her power and maintaining the insular anti-democratic power structure that the former CJ set up. At the end of the day the CJ and her continued arrogance makes for one of the strongest arguments in favor of the reform 1208 will bring.
Portia
March 10, 2012
The CJ did not even deign to “send a delegation” to the March 15 meeting as suggested by the original invitation – what arrogance! And her hand-picked Judicial Council is “open to any information you or others wish to provide”! What chutzpah! This snarky response to a genuine effort to discuss and mediate is Exhibit Number One on why this state needs a new Chief Justice and the Judicial Council must be democratized!
antonatrail
March 10, 2012
Everything this CJ does is more proof that California desperately needs AB1208 to pass! I wish to hell we could recall her butt too.
unionman575
March 10, 2012
Recall Tani!
Wendy Darling
March 10, 2012
Ant and Unionman, perhaps you could enlighten the masses as to how a sitting Chief Justice gets recalled. Inquiring minds would like to know . . .
Long live the ACJ.
Judicial Council Watcher
March 10, 2012
Recall petition – 20% of the voters in the last election (or about 1.2 million signatures) puts her back on the ballot for recall.
Click to access recall.pdf
CourtObserver
March 10, 2012
Wendy, you are right that court employees and others in the court system can’t say anything. All they can do is hope they make it to retirement. The chief apparently has protection from Mr. Steinberg so the only thing that will stop this madness is for the citizens of the state to recall her.
Wendy Darling
March 10, 2012
And Court Observer, it pretty much tells everyone everything they need to know about just how bad things are with current judicial branch administration and the complete absence of ethics when AOC and court employees can’t tell the truth without being punished and fired for it.
anna
March 10, 2012
While employees may find work somewhere else, attorneys who have taken on these criminals have had their livelihood taken away. [permanently] all for doing their job, representing their clients.
Sharon Kramer, is looking at jail time.[she is a civilian as far as I’m concerned] that is how out of control this guys are. It’s one thing to incarcerate a lawyer, but the “general public” now? Richard Fine did jail time.
Until someone has the courage to expose this, or take them on, nothing will be done.
At least if Steinberg is nominated everyone here should write letters, along with the SEIU, to the JENE commission to have that SOB denied a court position.
What’s the quote? Who will be there when they come for me?
Lando
March 10, 2012
The damage this CJ is doing to the judicial branch is overwhelming. Under her watch two of the largest trial courts in the state have laid off hundreds. Court rooms are shuttered and basic services to the public eliminated. Yet in her out of touch arrogant world this CJ believes she’s transitioned her insular JC and bloated AOC into more transparent responsive and open entities all part of her self proclaimed ” transformation to triumph “.Fortunately most aren’t buying this Pravda like self congratulation . Reckless spending of over 250,000 dollars a day continues on CCMS, the AOC keeps hiring and promoting managers and consultants , the chair of the internal study of the AOC exits at the time their first report was to be submitted and the CJ insults the legislature by attacking them in her well publicized post 1208 passage diatribe and by refusing to meet with The Speaker and Mr Calderon.Sounds like quite a triumph. This CJ needs to be recalled and the insular JC democratized. Those are he only real long term solutions to the mess we find ourselves in.
CourtObserver
March 11, 2012
I agree, Lando, that the only way to fix this is to recall the CJ. But before that can happen, the major media needs to get involved. All of you should be suggesting to your local TV stations and newspapers that they attend the Wednesday hearing. Many of us cannot attend for various reasons, all having to do with keeping our jobs.
unionman575
March 11, 2012
Wendy it looks like JCW beat me to it. See the JCW post re recall. Tahnks JCW!
unionman575
March 11, 2012
Court Observer- We are working on media pieces that may get some play in SAC, LA & SF.
Wendy Darling
March 11, 2012
How about media pieces that may get some play in San Diego (Channel 10), San Jose (San Jose Mercury News), and Kern County/Bakersfield?
And Court Observer, Unionman, JCW, and others, do you think it is it feasible to get enough signatures for a recall of the Chief Justice?
Long live the ACJ.
unionman575
March 11, 2012
Wendy- Yes it’s feasible.
Lando
March 11, 2012
One idea I have is to try and get enough signatures for an initiative to democratize the judicial council and have a concurrent signature campaign to recall HRH. The incredible waste of billions on CCMS can be the unifying theme. After all in this economic environment who outside of HRH J Bruiners and the other JC insiders could with a straight face tell the California taxpayer that it is ok to spend 275,000 a day for the next thee years on a computer system that will never work. . Add the half billion they want to waste on a new palace in San Diego along with the other waste and bloat generated from the dark hallways of 455 Golden Gate and there is a lot to talk about.
wearyant
March 11, 2012
Agreed. The average California taxpayer has to be reached and educated about the current state of affairs in the judicial branch. God knows, all employees in the courts are aware of this crazed state of affairs with the JC/AOC/CJ. The thinking, caring citizens need to be educated and brought up to speed. The majority of us do not interface with the California courts.
unionman575
March 11, 2012
We are dealing with an 8th grade electorate Lando. I doubt most will have any clue what the JC is.
I’d stick to a straight up recall of the CJ. That will get the attention of every CA Supreme, not just Tani. They all remember CJ Rose Bird even though she was recalled for other reasons back in the day.
=)
JusticeCalifornia
March 11, 2012
My opinion– Go for the elected officials in all three branches who are knowingly letting the judicial branch rape and pillage the public– at the expense of the public that pays for all three branches.
JusticeCalifornia
March 11, 2012
Well, the really interesting thing here is that top leadership of the Judicial Branch, at Steinberg’s suggestion six years ago, adopted a “build as big a wall as possible and play defense” strategy in dealing with legitimate challengers and critics.
That may work for football, but it doesn’t work for an entire branch of government. And I say that with no offense to football.
In fact, top leadership would have been cut from any legitimate sports organization (including Pop Warner) a long time ago for disregarding the rules; getting failing grades; using illegal body hits and bought and paid for referees; and trying to cover up all of the above with doctored documents, audio and video.
Like it or not for top leadership, this is a democracy, and oppression will not be tolerated here. Look at where Ron George was in 2006, and look at where it is now. (Ummmm…..where is he now? Even Tani has disavowed her association with him, and Team George is increasing about as popular as leprosy.)
Tani is on borrowed time. Her lines of credit are running out, and her due bills are piling up. She is tired and frazzled and based on her 20-minute rant and last week’s high-school letter to an assemblymember, frankly an emotional wreck who can’t for the life of her separate her feelings and ego from her job and the best interests of the branch. She has been and is an inexperienced justice/administrator who is out of her league, and honestly, that is not her fault.
Utilizing, defending, and buying time to cover up for known judicial branch thugs and tyrants is her fault, entirely. She has most assuredly sold out in this respect, and she should be ashamed of herself — for herself, her family, and the public that elected her thinking she would do the right thing– and the same goes for Steinberg.
Steinberg is a savvy lawyer and politician. He knows that what has been and is going down in the branch is illegal, terrifically corrupt, and ever so harmful to the branch. His comments to the CIC report reflect that– he responsibly and correctly asked where the legitimate oversight of the branch was, and pointed out that the report had no credibility if there was no provision for appropriate oversight. And nonetheless (fatally– for his post-legislative career) he has decided to hold hands with Team George. . . . .down the mistaken course he charted for Team George. . . . .that he knows is just plain wrong for the branch.
Wendy Darling
March 12, 2012
The latest quote from Senator Steinberg, as reported by The Sacramento Bee:
“I know that a lot of these trips actually not only build bridges between California and a country that members visit, but that there are also some real economic relationships that get built.” — SEN. DARRELL STEINBERG, Democratic leader, defending overseas trips legislators take at the expense of foundations and special interests.
JusticeCalifornia
March 12, 2012
Darrell drank way too much of the Team George kool aid — very long ago– and needs serious rehab. He has taken the branch down the garden path and has had a longtime conflict of interest as a result thereof.
He should be cleaning up his act and business at home for, and making amens to, the public he is paid to serve.
Just my opinion.
Regards, JusticeCalifornia
JusticeCalifornia
March 12, 2012
Hey Joe Dunn.
As a longtime bar member I think that ethical judges, lawyers, court employees and litigants (pro per and otherwise) are terrifically compromised when deprived of ethical court leadership, personnel and professional court reporters.
I think you can and should use your considerable political/legal talents to broker an historic, positive deal that mends fences, and builds bridges between–
your longtime (but in some key instances outdated or professionally compromised) buddies. . . .
and legitimate court critics. . .
in the face of a very broken branch.
Just my opinion.
Regards, JusticeCalifornia
unionman575
March 12, 2012
Happy birthday to Assemblyman Charles Calderon, D-Whittier, who turns 62 today. We’re not sure if he’s on Facebook for you to wish him good cheer, but son and Assembly staff member Ian Calderon apparently is.
Wendy Darling
March 12, 2012
Published today, Monday, March 12, from the Metropolitan News Enterprise:
CJP Voices Concern Over Court Reporter Cutbacks
By a MetNews Staff Writer
Court reporter cutbacks around the state threaten the ability of the Commission on Judicial Performance to investigate and prove judicial misconduct, the commision has told state officials.
The lack of a verbatim record of proceedings “impairs [the commission’s] ability to fulfill its mandate to protect the public, and undermines the administration of justice in court proceedings in California,” commission Director-Chief Counsel Victoria Henley wrote.
Henley’s comments came in a Feb. 29 letter to the governor, chief justice, and the leaders of the Senate and Assembly. She said she was writing at the request of the commission, which “takes no position on how the problem should be fixed but urges, for the public’s protection, that the problem be addressed and resolved.”
A copy of the letter was obtained by the MetNews.
Henley explained that because judicial misconduct must be proven by clear and convincing evidence to discipline a judge, the lack of a courtroom record can be fatal to the commission’s efforts. Ninety-five percent of the complaints to the commission involve courtroom conduct, she said, and as of December, the commission had transcripts or recordings in only half its pending investigations in those cases.
Court reporters have been targeted by budget-cutters in courts around the state, Henley noted, citing news or web reports of 15 reporters laid off in Alameda County last October and 22 in San Francisco in November.
Other courts that have laid off reporters in the last two years include Santa Cruz, Napa, and Marin. The Los Angeles Superior Court revealed last week that it intends to lay off 60 reporters, convert 60 others to part-time status, and eliminate the use of court-employed reporters in civil trials, apart from family law cases.
Other states, Henley said, have adopted statutes or court rules requiring either verbatim reporting or audio recording of all court proceedings, at least in courts of record. In New York, she noted, even courts not of record—the state has about 1,200 village and town justice courts in counties outside New York City—are required to audio record all proceedings, and the state supplies the equipment.
“This problem should be addressed before the administration of justice in California is further compromised, in the commission’s cases as well as in judicial proceedings,” Henley said.
Long live the ACJ.
anna
March 12, 2012
What a joke! So what was their excuse for not disciplining judges when they had transcripts?
Wendy Darling
March 12, 2012
Also published today, Monday, March 12, from Courthouse News Service, by Maria Dinzeo:
California Court IT Project In Bind
By MARIA DINZEO
SAN FRANCISCO (CN) – California’s half-billion-dollar court technology project is in a new bind, this time over its warranty.
By declaring the project “finished,” California’s court officials have started a warranty clock ticking before the technology is installed in a single court.
The problem is surfacing just as the California Legislature prepares for a hearing Wednesday on the technology project that has been severely criticized by many of trial judges at a time when their courts are starved for operating funds.
A “fact sheet” sent to reporters and legislators said the half-billion-dollar Court Case Management System is “finished,” and California’ chief justice has repeated that statement in an address last month.
But a report sent to the Legislature two weeks ago outlines a problem that has resulted.
A warranty clock has been triggered. The report says the warranty expires in July 2013, giving the bureaucracy just over a year to push the technology into trial courts that have so far balked at installing the expensive and labor-intensive software.
“This is nothing more than the result of poor planning and the failure to oversee this program in an efficient way,” said Los Angeles Judge Stephen Czuleger. “This should not be happening at this point.”
The legislative report from the Administrative Office of the Courts notes that while under warranty, developer Deloitte Consulting will pay for the expense of fixing any defects — costs the judiciary will have to handle on its own in a little over a year.
The triggering of the warranty clock has a practical effect of putting pressure on the court system to implement the much-maligned software.
“A primary concern is ensuring implementation of CCMS in one or more courts while the application warranty is in effect,” the report says.
“Our experience with the interim civil case management system has shown how important having a valid warranty is during the initial implementation of CCMS,” the report continues. “A warranty ensures that application defects identified during the initial implementation of the system are addressed at the vendor’s expense-not at the expense of the branch.”
The project started in 2003, when the central bureaucracy signed a contract with Deloitte to develop a statewide civil case management system. An interim version was installed for all civil cases in four California trial courts.
The final version that allows lawyers to file papers via the Internet was said to be completed late last year, but no trial court has implemented the final product, called V-4, for reasons running from problems with the interim version to the additional millions of dollars it would cost to implement the final version.
Last year, State Auditor Elaine Howle found the AOC had failed to ensure that the warranty for the interim version would remain in effect long enough to handle defects that became apparent when the system was installed in Sacramento, San Diego, Orange County and Ventura County.
“The AOC failed to ensure that the warranty period in its contract with the development vendor was effective during the time that warranty defects were most likely to become evident,” Howle wrote, adding that the administrative office had triggered the year-long warranty period for the interim version before any court had installed it.
In a statement that seemed to warn against the current predicament, Howle recommended that the administrative office re-negotiate the warranty period to make sure the problem with the interim version was not repeated with the final version of the technology.
Read the entire article: http://www.courthousenews.com/2012/03/12/44615.htm
Long live the ACJ.
Lando
March 12, 2012
As HRH has represented things improved when she changed the governance structure of CCMS . I guess having a warranty that will run out long before the system is ever deployed constitutes one of those improvements. Sounds like J Bruiners and company have struck out again. Remember though as Kevin Bacon says in Animal House ” All is Well ” and “Knowledge is good ” especially if you are a CCMS “Subject matter expert” like J Bruiners.
Nathaniel Woodhull
March 12, 2012
For those of us “bitching” about the warranty issue since 2004-05, it’s nice to see it finally getting some traction. Amazing the Mr. Bruiniers finally is being called on the carpet for not getting this fundamental issue addressed. Kind of hard to say that they are “inexperienced negotiators” since they are lawyers and judges involved. More to the point, it is a little embarrassing to see that judges cannot draft a contract that a first year law student would know is important.
Embarrassing is an understatement. As for Lando, remember my favorite line by Dean Wormer, “Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life son.” ….or Justice B.
Wendy Darling
March 12, 2012
Fat, drunk, and stupid is also no way to run the California judicial branch.
But that’s what we’ve got.
Long live the ACJ.
Judicial Council Watcher
March 12, 2012
CCMS Hearing Date, Time & Location:
Joint Hearing Budget Subcommittee No. 4 On State Administration And Budget
Subcommittee No. 5 Public Safety
BUCHANAN, CEDILLO, Chairs
1:30 p.m. – State Capitol, Room 437 ( Listen or watch this hearing )
Committees:
Budget
Subcommittee No. 4 on State Administration
1:30 p.m. – State Capitol, Room 437
SUBJECT: Court Computer System
Item No. Description
0250 Judicial Branch
0502 California Technology Agency
8855 Bureau of State Audits
The actual links to the hearings can be found at the bottom of the underlying post.
Your mission, should you choose to undertake it is to ensure that not one more dollar goes to CCMS.
.
JusticeCalifornia
March 12, 2012
JCW, I think you are giving far too much credit to wannabe Empress Tani, her tainted courtiers, and her legislative consort, Prince Steinberg.
Tani’s ship is sinking. It just took another serious hit from the CJP which essentially has made an official finding that top leadership’s funding priorities are interfering with the administration of justice.
Everybody knows Cantil-Sakauye’s skewed prattle and priorities (CCMS, court construction, tattle teams, “restructuring” teams, PR teams, lobbying teams, etc., etc., etc. etc.) are being funded at the expense of the basics — judges, clerks and court reporters. Yet, Team George sycophants- which include certain judges, ceos, lawyers’ associations, and lawyer-legislators, have been jumping on every expensive, useless, idiotic bandwagon Cantil Sakauye trots out, with mindless enthusiasm.
Watch this hysterically funny 13-minute muppet version of The Emperor’s New Clothes if you have time. . . .it will put a smile on your face. . . and then just imagine our faux-empress and her sycophants running around wearing slippers on their ears, smiling stupidly, saying pop!pop!pop!pop!pop!
courtflea
March 13, 2012
while not a fan of King George, at least he was not afraid to take a meeting. Man up Tani
JusticeCalifornia
March 13, 2012
Love how you say how it is, courtflea. But apparently Tani can’t man up.
Tani’s handlers know our gambling barmaid cannot open her mouth without sticking her amazingly high-school foot into it. That is why she is making appearances, but there is very little press coverage about all those appearances. Without a script, coaching, and lots of time to practice, she is in big trouble.
Calderon, the ACJ, experienced members of all three branches, and ever so many others could chew her up and spit her out in no time flat without Steinberg and other thugs to protect her. . . . .while they are using her.
anna
March 13, 2012
Empress Tani, is the Sarah Palin equivalent. Just saw Game Change, and HRH is the equivalent of Sarah, deer caught in the headlights. She’s in over her head and doesn’t even know it. She is/was HRH the first’s pawn.
JusticeCalifornia
March 13, 2012
Anna, you are correct that Cantil-Sakauye is in over her head.
You are correct that she has no idea she is a pawn.
But blackjack dealer/barmaids are seldom deer in the headlights.
Our gambling cj has been hoping to win a take-no-prisoners, lose-lose game at the expense of the branch and the public.
Even though counties are jumping the corrupt, sinking AOC ship left and right, she apparently still doesn’t realize that she and her thugs have no chance in hell of getting what she wants– a) credibility; b) respect; and c) absolute control over the largest judiciary in the Western World.
anna
March 14, 2012
sorry for the deer in the headlight analogy. The film showed Sarah Palin having a meltdown, while at the same time being so arrogant and blaming everyone else for her screw-ups.
the fact that our Empress can’t or won’t attend the meeting is what I was referring to.
She doesn’t know what to do, however, that won’t stop her, from lying and charging full steam ahead.
unionman575
March 13, 2012
We all have to keep up the full court press on them all up there at the JC/AOC borg.
wearyant
March 14, 2012
http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2012/03/dan-walters-daily-judicial-restraint.html
This appears new. Short, but kinda interesting.