June 8, 2012
Dear Members and others,
By now you have probably seen the press release from the AOC, with an operating budget of over $100 million, announcing the layoff of 29 “employees.” The release, like many AOC documents, raises more questions than it answers. We attach for your review an email sent yesterday to second Interim Administrative Director, Jody Patel, from Alliance board member Judge Maryanne Gilliard which requests a complete breakdown of these “layoffs.” As with other requests for information, Ms. Patel has decided to treat an inquiry from a sitting judge pursuant to CRC 10.500. Therefore, we do not expect to receive answers any time soon. We will, of course keep you posted.
While the Alliance appreciates any downsizing of the central bureaucracy, we are concerned that what amounts to a negligible cut not be confused with the key issues. How many courtrooms have the trial courts closed as a direct result of AOC policy and practices? How many local courts have reduced hours of service to the public because of misplaced priorities of the Judicial Council? How many dedicated front line trial court staff have lost their jobs, only to find out that the AOC continued to hire and hand out pay raises and pension spikes?
The AOC cuts should not be measured on the same scale as the trial courts cuts and it is wrongheaded to equate the bureaucracy with the local courts that perform the task of dispensing justice in our communities. In reality, the AOC is nothing more than “overhead cost” and in these times of drastic budget cuts, the first thing that should be done is to significantly reduce the overhead. Under these circumstances 29 layoffs do not merit a statewide press release.
Finally, the Alliance would note that it continues to be a challenge to pin down exactly how many personnel are being paid by the AOC. For instance, Ms. Patel states in yesterday’s press release that, “As of June 30…..the total number of AOC employees, including full time and part-time employees, contractors, and temporary workers is estimated to be 860.” The Daily Journal pointed out yesterday that to get to this point, the AOC plans to lay off approximately 190 workers, 100 of whom are temps and contractors. On May 1st, AOC staff member Phillip Carrizosa indicated to the press in writing that the AOC records showed “about 750 employees,” and then on May 4th Mr. Carrizosa referred to a document that listed 801 employees. Of course we now know that as of March 2011, the SEC found that the “AOC staff had grown in number to over 1100,” and that as of December 2011 they had over 1000 employees. It is frankly embarrassing for those who purport to represent the judicial branch to be incapable of disseminating trustworthy information. We agree with the SEC’s recommendation that, “The AOC must take steps to restore its credibility.” Agreeing on a consistent number would be a good start.
Directors, Alliance of California Judges
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From: Gilliard, Maryanne
Sent: Thursday, June 07, 2012 3:24 PM
To: ‘Patel, Jody’
Subject: AOC “layoffs”
Dear Jody,
I am in receipt of a news release dated June 7th wherein you announce that 29 AOC staff will be laid off. In Sacramento we are laying off 48 employees effective July 1st. I am sure that you are aware that three years ago we discontinued the use of ten temporary employees to scan civil documents in to the labor intensive CCMS program because we could no longer afford to keep them on our payroll. As of July 1st the Sacramento Superior Court will have no more than 620 employees. Interestingly enough, three years ago we had 808 employees while the AOC claimed to have 925. (I am unable to verify this number for accuracy because the AOC is the source of this information). As a result of the comprehensive investigation conducted by the SEC we now know that the AOC had over 1100 on the payroll at a time when many courts were laying off staff, reducing hours of service, and cutting pay.
Having now had the time to read and digest the SEC report, I am sure you are mindful of the observation made by the committee that the AOC lacks credibility with judges and others. It is for that reason and in the spirit of transparency that I request that you provide to me the following information concerning these “layoffs” including the following:
A complete breakdown of the layoffs specifying when they occurred, what the reason for the separation was, what division the person was connected to, whether the contract employing them expired, whether after July 1st any of these individuals will be doing any work for which the AOC or Judicial Council will compensate them directly or indirectly, how many temporary and contract personnel will still be on the payroll after June 30th, the total paid out under the “voluntary separation” program, what cost/benefit analysis was done to support a “voluntary separation” program involving “at will” employees, how many employees took advantage of such program and when the program will end.
It would appear from your news release that this material is readily available. I therefore thank you in advance for your cooperation in providing this information to me the first part of next week.
Related articles
- Tuesday afternoon – ACJ message to members : SEC report urges total overhaul of the AOC (judicialcouncilwatcher.wordpress.com)
- Res Ipsa Loquitor (judicialcouncilwatcher.wordpress.com)
- AOC Telecommuting: When a few equals 98 & an editorial by Judge Dan Goldstein (judicialcouncilwatcher.wordpress.com)
- Legislative action now needed – Contact your legislators (judicialcouncilwatcher.wordpress.com)
- The AOC responds to the SEC Report (judicialcouncilwatcher.wordpress.com)
- You’re suggesting that the budgeting authority should go to the self-dealers? (judicialcouncilwatcher.wordpress.com)
Nathaniel Woodhull
June 9, 2012
Trial courts have already laid-off or will be laying-off up to 35% of their respective staffs by the end of this fiscal year. Employees are being “cross-trained” to handle any one of a number assignments. Sadly, these lay-offs are just the beginning. it is likely that by the end of this calendar year, trial courts will find it necessary to lay-off all subordinate judicial officers (Commissioners) except those funded to handle Title IV-D matters (child support). Civil cases are and will come to a screaming halt. Traffic and Small Claims matters will be set out years in the future. The only thing left is going to be criminal matters, which take Constitutional and statutory priority. The public is already griping about the lines they face waiting to file pleadings and/or see a facilitator, just wait!
HRH-2 and Company can whine and cry and yell and scream all they want about how unfair it is to cut the Judicial Branch budget. The only ones they can blame are themselves. The path they have chosen to deal with the SEC report and budget crisis is both pathetic but predictable. In their minds, the SEC report was a “snapshot in time” and all expressed concerns have been fixed. Why, because we said so. Remember the FACT CHECK that came out about CCMS? As has been said so many times…THE JUST DON’T GET IT!!!!
The “cuts” being undertaken by Jody Patel at the AOC is beyond laughable. Tani has demonstrated that she is remains completely clueless. Sadly, she is listening to people whose only interest is in maintaining the legacy of HRH-1, King George. By the time she wakes up (if she ever does) and finds out that she has been had it will be too late…it already is.
The Legislature and Governor are facing an impossible task. How are they going to balance a Budget that is completely out of whack? Revenues are well below their so-called “projections.” Interest groups are all screaming don’t cut me. The Governor’s approval rating is starting to drop like a hot rock and the chances of passing his proposed tax increases in November are becoming less and less likely. This all adds up to more horrendous cuts in the months to come. Tani and Company are making things way too easy for those who control the purse strings. They can easily justify more cuts to our Branch, just look at the arrogance shown at 455 Golden Gate Avenue!
What’s the solution? (1) Pass and implement AB1208; (2) Democratize the Judicial Council; (3) Recall Tani; (4) Close the AOC, or reduce it by 75%.
unionman575
June 10, 2012
I agree General. I especially like your #4.
🙂
Wendy Darling
June 9, 2012
“By now you have probably seen the press release from the AOC, with an operating budget of over $100 million, announcing the layoff of 29 “employees.”
And not a single attorney from the AOC’s Office of General Counsel was among the 29 that were laid off. Including the OGC attorney who “telecommutes” from Switzerland.
Recall the Chief Justice.
Long live the ACJ.
Nathaniel Woodhull
June 9, 2012
He or she must have great pictures of HRH-1 and/or B. J.
Dan Dydzak
June 9, 2012
Eric M. George, Esq., son of Ronald M. George (Ret. Chief Justice)–the latter being responsible in large measure for the unyieldly and unparalleled expansion of the AOC–has not timely responded to my VERIFIED lawsuit, DYDZAK V. DUNN et al., requiring me to request entry of default. Mr. George has also been requested to produced at deposition AOC records, among numerous requested documentation, and other writings related to conflicts of interest and RICO activities. His counsel has indicated that he will deliberately not appear at deposition, and his certificate of non-appearance will be therefore taken.
Unlike AOC attorneys, who appear by and large to have no courtroom experience, Mr. Eric George prides himself, so the sources say, on being a very savy and experienced litigator with his own major Century City law firm. Therefore, the viewership out there can draw their own conclusions why he is failing to timely respond to the lawsuit and not willing to testify as to numerous lines of inquiry, including his involvment in AOC activities, RICO violations, and securities and mail fraud/money-laundering.
Mr. Eric M. George used to practice with Mark Dreier, a Park Avenue, now jailed former attorney featured on 60 Minutes, who was a Bernie-Madoff Ponzi Scheme attorney-artist. Mr. Eric M. George was and is now closely aligned to Sandor Samuels, the former right hand man of Mr. Monzillo of Countrywide fame. And we all know what Countrywide management did.
Perhaps the AOC needed counsel working withthe AOC to counsel them on such matters as off-shore bank accounts. Also hiring such a large amount of AOC attorneys does not seem to make much sense from a work standpoint. What were they advising on? It would be interesting to see what value their workproduct has. From experience working at a number of law firms over many years, young attorneys who do not clock in and report to a definite work destination often become, frankly, lazy, indifferent and do little work of value. As long as the paycheck comes in, and they can make their BMW payment and take a date to the latest trendy restaurant, they are happy. Were a lot of these attorneys hired to simply create an environment of yes people who would back up the AOC no matter what?
The OBT
June 10, 2012
Woodhull as usual is right. Please look at what is happening all over the state. Court reporters are being laid off, outlaying court facilities are being closed, Commissioners losing their jobs and worst of all the heart and soul of the courts , the people that staff the clerk’s office are being sent packing. In contrast the AOC is still allowing lawyers to telecommute from Europe and the midwest, still has over 100 people working in “OGC”, and is still hiring .
Official
June 10, 2012
So the question I keep asking myself is: What can be done about this?
The executive branch is more than happy to keep cutting the judicial branch. That’s obvious. As pointed out on JCW many times, the mismanagement of judiciary funds by the JC/AOC probably makes it easier for Gov Brown to continue to cut us. The conflict between the JC/AOC and the trial courts is mostly likely thought of as an “internal problem” that the branch needs to deal with on their own, evidenced by the fact that neither the executive branch, the legislative branch, or even the AG’s office will provide any oversight on our behalf. Dispite the clear directive from their own SEC report, the JC thus far has also refused to take control of the AOC. All evidence points to the JC aligning themselves with the AOC rather than distancing themselves – the chief justice calling Ms. Patel “Jody” and “bucking up” the morale of the AOC employees.
So it’s obvious, folks, that we’re on our own here to bring about change. So what can we do? Can the counties stop depositing funds to AOC bank accounts, sort of like going on strike? Can the CEOs and the Alliance judges initiate some type of vote of no confidence procedure against the JC/AOC? Can the counties refuse to contribute their reserves to the state-wide reserve fund called for in the new budget? Can the counties sue the AOC for mismanagement of the judiciary funds?
It seems like politely asking the JC to take control of the AOC isn’t working… So what’s next???
JusticeCalifornia
June 10, 2012
IMHO, the judiciary should [internally, before it gets bloody] ask Cantil Sakauye to step down.
Team George is dead.
JusticeCalifornia
June 10, 2012
And may I add, Tani should graciously step down. She has refused to clean house, and as a result, the branch is being, and will continue to be, punished for Team George misconduct.
We have a Rose Bird II on our hands, and forcing a recall, or another type of ouster, is embarrassing for all.
unionman575
June 10, 2012
It IS time for a Recall.
JusticeCalifornia
June 10, 2012
She should step down. She knows she is not equipped to be CJ. We all thought the branch couldn’t get any lower. . . .but under Sakauye and Patel. . . .the branch is in hell.
unionman575
June 10, 2012
I stand “ready” to help her with a Recall.
unionman575
June 10, 2012
I agree Justice. Her time to step down has arrived.
DLC
June 11, 2012
I’m so sicken to see that the AOC is such and elitist organization and so much like the H.R in the Santa Clara County Superior Court.
What has become of our institutions? There being run more like a corporation with no concern for the real workers that truly make the system work.
Sent from my iPad
Res Ipsa Loquitor
June 11, 2012
Sadly, DLC, there is a sickness across the land that is seen in every branch, the legislative, the executive and the courts, including (IMHO) the US Supreme Court. The old rules and ethical standards are gone, greed is good, and somewhere in all this the people no longer matter. It’s about making money, having influence, and taking care of those who contribute the most to your election campaign, or otherwise enrich you.
CCMS and the court construction fiascos are the most visible signs of the CJ and the AOC taking care of those who take care of you, and the people be damned.
unionman575
June 10, 2012
https://recalltani.wordpress.com/
Ahh memories….
unionman575
June 10, 2012
http://www.calaverasenterprise.com/opinion/article_88854d52-b190-11e1-9f41-001a4bcf887a.html
Fear, its opposite, and our future
Posted: Friday, June 8, 2012 10:43 am
Fear, its opposite, and our future
by Bill Withuhn
There’s a fear that’s been growing in the country for some time, much commented upon: Government is too big, taxes are too high, both national and personal debt are rising, our democracy isn’t working, the economy has stalled, and some see socialism taking over. Widespread unemployment, the highest it’s been in nearly 80 years, reinforces the fear; Calaveras County is particularly hard hit.
Our county is struggling to reconcile ever-greater budget cuts severely affecting our schools, firehouses, the Sheriff’s Department, courts, libraries, child care, and health care for the uninsured. More cuts are sure to come.
Elsewhere the story is similar. In Galt, for example, they’re thinking about cutting school bus routes. In our universities, budget cuts and ever-higher tuitions are making it much more difficult for middle class kids to get the degrees necessary for professional careers, or saddling them with debt they’ll spend decades paying off. Meanwhile, “Lower taxes!” has become a battle cry. “Shrink government, eliminate waste and abuse, and everything will be fine.”
Some fear our country is in slow decline. Others argue that lower taxes are key to reversing decline. Those who are well off may not see what lower taxes are actually costing us. The cuts mentioned above aren’t cutting waste and abuse at all; those cuts are into the muscle and bone of a civil society.
I submit that the reason we’re cutting into muscle and bone is because it’s so hard to cut the fat.
Take the court system, for example. Courtrooms throughout the state are dark and judicial proceedings are long-delayed because there aren’t enough judges and not enough of the other officers needed to hold the fair and speedy trials demanded by our U.S. Constitution. The state courts have been cut by $653 million since 2008, including $350 million last year. The Chief Justice of California has decried these draconian cuts. She told a Sac Bee columnist, “I don’t want to place blame. … I just want to get it (i.e., the courts back on their feet) done.” The columnist, in praise of the Chief Justice, rightly pointed out that she has no real say in how courts are funded.
But then, just a week after that column, a report came out by a distinguished and independent committee that the Chief Justice had appointed. The committee, after extensive investigation, castigated the Administrative Office of the Courts as, according to the Bee, “too big and top-heavy and its organizational structure unwieldy and unworkable.”
Whoa, Nelly. Strong words indeed. The fact is that in the midst of furloughs among essential court staff and a shortage of judges, the courts’ Administrative Office has kept growing – to nearly three times bigger today than it was in 2000. Increased work load can’t explain that growth.
The Chief Justice certainly can’t control the Assembly’s appropriations process. But I would suggest that she could clean house in her courts’ Administrative Office. As to the politics and trench warfare that would entail, I can’t judge. It surely wouldn’t be easy. Nonetheless, she should get on with it.
What’s the lesson here? I suspect that a hard look at almost every other agency of state government could identify similar waste. That’s not happening.
Instead, we lay off teachers, firefighters, deputy sheriffs, county court officers, and librarians, cut support for child care, and cut back on medical care for the uninsured. Why? Because it’s easier; so far it’s a path of least resistance.
So, back to the top of this column: What’s to replace the growing fear that our governments aren’t working?
It’s the spirit that got the nation through World War II – first, recognizing the challenges ahead for what they are: challenges that we must all work on together. Each of us, separately complaining, can’t do much. Together – despite our honest differences in political opinions – we can do what’s necessary. We did it in WWII, in the Pacific, European, and North African theaters, and magnificently on the home front as well. I remember that time: my dad in the Pacific, and me as a 5-year-old donating my favorite metal toys to the defense scrap drive and knowing it was a right thing to do.
My next column will expand on the above. Let me state: I believe the economic and political challenges of today are every bit as full of peril for our country as in World War II.
Fear is making things worse.
Bill Withuhn, former businessman and Special Ops vet, grew up in Modesto and now lives in Burson. Contact him at wwithuhn@aol.com.
wearyant
June 10, 2012
Enjoyed Withuhn’s article very much, Unionman. Thanks for finding it and posting!
Recall Tani!
Long live the ACJ!
Pass and implement AB 1208!
unionman575
June 10, 2012
I find everything! My girlfriend says I am an infomaniac!.
🙂
Wendy Darling
June 10, 2012
“The Chief Justice certainly can’t control the Assembly’s appropriations process. But I would suggest that she could clean house in her courts’ Administrative Office. As to the politics and trench warfare that would entail, I can’t judge. It surely wouldn’t be easy. Nonetheless, she should get on with it.”
Advice that needs to be listened to. How many times, in how many ways, and from how many different sources does the Chief Justice need to hear this? Clean house, and get on with it.
Recall the Chief Justice.
Long live the ACJ.
unionman575
June 10, 2012
http://www.modbee.com/2012/06/02/2225890/government-courts-budget-stanislaus.html
Saturday, Jun. 02, 2012
Stanislaus County court at risk of losing $3 million in funding
By Garth Stapley
gstapley@modbee.com
It’s hard enough going to court for lawsuits and divorce and child custody disputes.
It could get a lot harder, if Stanislaus County Superior Court sheds 14 percent of its already reduced staff to comply with more budget cuts.
“Nobody really wants to be in court,” acknowledged Presiding Judge Ricardo Córdova. “We’re dealing with very difficult issues. But we provide a necessary service that no one else can provide.”
The court for years has kept a close eye on its purse strings, building up $1.2 million in emergency reserves plus $3.5 million in fund balance, or savings through scrimping that normally roll into the next budget. At least $3 million of that is at serious risk of being “swept” away by the state, whose leaders are looking for any extra money to close budget gaps.
Local leaders joined others throughout California in a plea to give credit to frugal courts.
“We’re saying, ‘It’s not fair,’ ” Mike Tozzi, the court’s executive officer, told Bee editors in a recent meeting. ” ‘We’ve been lean, we’re using our resources wisely. We worked hard to get (reserves); don’t redistribute it to other courts who didn’t prepare.’ ”
San Joaquin County courts last year laid off 46 people, closed courtrooms in Tracy and Lodi, and obtained $1 million in emergency money to avoid deeper cuts.
Sacramento courts have lost 193 employees since 2008, according to Courthouse News Service, and San Francisco courts cut 31 percent of their staff and closed 11 of 63 civil courtrooms in the same time frame, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
A shrinking amount of money has sparked a bitter, high-level dispute. The Alliance of California Judges has accused the state’s Judicial Council and the Administrative Office of the Courts of wasting money on bureaucracy, a fancy computer system that was scrapped and courthouse construction.
Services reduced
Tozzi said Stanislaus County courts reduced public access for some services and renegotiated vendor contracts to obtain more favorable terms.
In addition, court employees have not received cost-of-living raises in four years, and Tozzi said he laid off 12 people in March. Pressed for details, assistant executive officer Rebecca Fleming said 12 positions were eliminated, but nine people accepted early retirement incentives or filled lesser-paying vacancies elsewhere in the system.
Corinne Wilson, business agent for the Stanislaus County Employees Association AFSCME Local 10 in Modesto, said one worker was let go and did not know why administrators provided a different number.
Jeanine Bean, the court’s human resources director, said 231 employees remain, down from 290 four years ago.
All lost 5 percent of their pay under a few months of state-ordered furloughs in 2009, Bean said, including managers and judges.
Judges’ participation was voluntary, Córdova said. When courtrooms were dark, he sent willing judges to area high schools to discuss the legal system with students.
Judges’ wages are protected by state law, but they voluntarily contributed 5 percent to a local fund, Bean said. The court’s executive committee, composed of seven judges, used the pool to cover worker training, an employee recognition program, and to pay for drinking water and a staff picnic and holiday luncheon, Bean said.
“We were going to be part of that sacrifice as well,” Córdova said.
The court’s state funding will have dropped 31 percent in two years, according to budget information, from $34.6 million to $23.8 million.
If terms of the governor’s revised May budget are kept, the state’s 58 court systems would hand over $300 million in reserves and put off 33 construction projects for a total of $544 million, on top of $650 million lost over four years.
That means a hit of about $3 million to Stanislaus courts, Tozzi said.
Saving for ‘a rainy day’
Like many administrators throughout the state, he is counting on that money to balance the coming year’s budget. Without it, Stanislaus courts could plunge $1.3 million into the red, numbers suggest.
“We saved that money for a rainy day,” Córdova said. “Now the rain is here and they’re going to take it from us.”
State leaders continue to review options.
Tozzi said he might be forced to shed 30 more positions. The court’s criminal component must press forward, making other functions vulnerable.
“We would close civil and family law down to a trickle,” he said, predicting longer lines and delayed serv-ice.
“It would be grossly unfair,” he added, “if people lose their jobs because they sweep what we’ve been saving.”
Córdova quoted from deceased U.S. Judge Learned Hand: “If we are to keep our democracy, there must be one commandment: Thou shalt not ration justice.”
Bee staff writer Garth Stapley can be reached at gstapley@modbee.com or (209) 578-2390.
Read more here: http://www.modbee.com/2012/06/02/2225890/government-courts-budget-stanislaus.html#storylink=cpy
wearyant
June 10, 2012
Another great article, Unionman! It’s pleasant to see one where the ACJ is not referred to as “rebels” or dissidents or reformists or rogues. Kinda poignant, that reference to the judges contributing five percent of their pay to a fund to benefit the judiciary as the bloated AOC continues to slurp at the the public trough.
Recall Tani!
Pass and implement AB 1208!
Long live the ACJ!
unionman575
June 10, 2012
What happened? You DID squander the public trust…
wearyant
June 10, 2012
Aawwwhhh, gee, can’t she be excused ’cause she’s a cutie? Bwwhhhaaaaa hahaha! I love being politically incorrect.
unionman575
June 10, 2012
I have cleaned up my act Ant. I have washed my mouth out with soap and…This is the new improved Unon Man. LOL
wearyant
June 10, 2012
Oh, rats, Unionman. You’re cleaning up your act? Then I’ll just have to ask myself, What would Unionman have said to that if he hadn’t used the soap and become new and improved?
anonymous
June 11, 2012
JCW, Unionmans video deserves its own post to detail how she squandered the public trust.
unionman575
June 11, 2012
Thanks!
unionman575
June 10, 2012
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=tani+sakauye+cartoon&start=97&hl=en&sa=X&biw=1280&bih=855&tbm=isch&tbnid=Aa2ULlOdKAfvGM:&imgrefurl=http://community.onelegal.com/default.aspx%3FTag%3DCalifornia%2520Judicial%2520Branch&docid=yh_9Io7pWWzhuM&imgurl=http://community.onelegal.com/Portals/24153/images/C–Users-ewinkler.ONELEGAL-Downloads-Assembly%252520sign-resized-600.jpg&w=500&h=375&ei=vYHVT-DMFcHi2QWJvdylDw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=201&vpy=517&dur=9&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=132&ty=126&sig=117574168887496043257&page=5&tbnh=162&tbnw=225&ndsp=29&ved=1t:429,r:23,s:97,i:78
unionman575
June 10, 2012
Santa Clara is hiring????
http://agency.governmentjobs.com/scscourt/default.cfm?action=viewJob&jobID=405009&hit_count=yes&headerFooter=1&promo=0&transfer=0&WDDXJobSearchParams=%3CwddxPacket%20version%3D%271%2E0%27%3E%3Cheader%2F%3E%3Cdata%3E%3Cstruct%3E%3Cvar%20name%3D%27CATEGORYID%27%3E%3Cstring%3E%2D1%3C%2Fstring%3E%3C%2Fvar%3E%3Cvar%20name%3D%27PROMOTIONALJOBS%27%3E%3Cstring%3E0%3C%2Fstring%3E%3C%2Fvar%3E%3Cvar%20name%3D%27TRANSFER%27%3E%3Cstring%3E0%3C%2Fstring%3E%3C%2Fvar%3E%3Cvar%20name%3D%27FIND%5FKEYWORD%27%3E%3Cstring%3E%3C%2Fstring%3E%3C%2Fvar%3E%3C%2Fstruct%3E%3C%2Fdata%3E%3C%2FwddxPacket%3E
Job Title: Certified Court Reporter
Closing Date/Time: Continuous
Salary: $32.81 – $41.68 Hourly
$2,624.53 – $3,334.64 Biweekly
$5,686.48 – $7,225.05 Monthly
$68,237.73 – $86,700.64 Annually
Job Type: ProTem and/or Regular
Location: Superior Court of CA, County of Santa Clara, 191 N. First Street, San Jose, CA 95113, California
unionman575
June 10, 2012
http://slocourts.net/downloads/court_documents/ERE_on_61412.pdf
Hmm looks like 6-14-12 is layoff day in SLO Superior.
unionman575
June 10, 2012
http://www.ventura.courts.ca.gov/pdf_files/Notice_of_Unavailability_of_Official_Reporter.pdf
Superior Court of California, County of Ventura
Notice of Unavailability of Official Reporter
Pursuant to Local Rule 18.00(F)
Effective June 25, 2012, official court reporters will no longer be available…
Dan Dydzak
June 10, 2012
Rose Bird got recalled because a large part of the population disagreed with her judicial view of the death penalty. I witnessed a magnificent speech by Rose Bird years ago where she quoted philosophy and talked about the Rule of Law being observed. Rose Bird’s decisions were generally well-reasoned, and supportive of individual rights. After leaving the bench through the recall, without fanfare, she used to work pro bono for a legal aid office in the Bay area unannounced and taught some courses at law school. She was indeed, apparently, a public servant of the highest order and was not mired in any financial or criminal activitiy. Her legacy was not one of financial transgressions in any manner. Her mindset was not egotisical and she did not care one iota if a building was named after her, or that she made a lot of money.
During her tenure, there was no AOC scandal–no massive layoffs–no insinuations or allegations of misconduct or financially questionable actions taken by her or the California Supreme Court. She did not have an enemies list targeting certain disfavored attorneys or judges. Bird would not have condoned out-of-control spending on computer systems that didn’t work.
I leave it up to the readership of Judicial Council Watcher to analyze and contrast the situation at hand today.
Bird certainly would not have been happy that we could not have court reporters. The less financially disadvantaged are denied due process when they cannot afford a transcript. And Bird, whatever one thinks of her judicial legacy, would not have condoned a heavy AOC bureaucracy with a retinue of attorneys apparently doing very little, especially ones giving advice from Switzerland and other exotic locales outside of CA.
Persons who misuse the public trust and convert funds could take a page out of the humble character of Rose Bird. Yes, certain people may vehemently disagree with her view of the death penalty, and that is the main reason she was recalled. When I first arrived as a young man in the Golden State, during Bird’s tenure, there was no discussion of abuses of the AOC or Judicial Council.
How things have changed…it is fortunate that Judicial Watcher and others have pointed out that the sails need to start going in a fair and more democratic way. This may call for some quite draconian measures, as many on this site have pointed out.
JusticeCalifornia
June 11, 2012
From Wikipedia:
“Bird was also controversial among the Associate Justices on her own court. In a 1998 oral history interview, Stanley Mosk explained that Bird was a bright and intelligent judge but a terrible administrator (one of the Chief Justice’s major responsibilities). . . . .”
Dan, I was thinking of the terrible administrator comparison, but perhaps you are right, and Sakauye will ultimately make Rose Bird look like a saint. . . .
wearyant
June 11, 2012
Thanks for posting about Rose Bird, Dydzak. I remember Rose Bird and being angry that she appeared to have circumvented the will of the people re: the death penalty. At the time I was pro and now — well, not so much. And, yes, legal scholars may make horrible administrators (although I still think Tani is a rank dummy and into cronyism of the highest order). I never thought I’d say it, but I’d welcome Rose Bird back if we could be rid of terrible teensy Tani! It’d be so refreshing to have a slim, nimble AOC! And an honest one! Wow! Well, we can dream …
The OBT
June 11, 2012
Wendy is right as always. It is simple. The CJ needs to clean house. From top to bottom. HRH 1’s legacy is a failure. Arrogance, control , implementing the worst anti-democratic principles, wasting the taxpayers valuable funds and trampling on the trial courts is no way to run an entire branch of government. The wheels have fallen off . The excesses of CCMS were only the start. Please add huge wastes of dollars on unnecessary and overbuilt courthouses, telecommuting lawyers from Europe and the midwest, gifts of public funds via no retirement contributions, “scholars in residence” paid to live 3,000 miles away, hiring of everyone from artists to pr flacks and supporting a CJP who has spun out of control. Let them eat cake was the mantra flowing out of the dark hallways of the crystal palace at 455 Golden Gate. Indeed paying the staggering rent there is just another manifestation of all thats wrong and misplaced with “Team George”, this CJ and their minions. Trial courts forced to close and to layoff a huge percentage of employees all over California, have been the sad result. And incredibly to this day the AOC continues to hire people and claim without any basis they have reformed. You really can’t make any of this up. 1208 needs to pass. The JC needs to be democratized and the CJ needs to clean house or resign.
Lando
June 11, 2012
The rule of HRH 1. A worthy topic. I do believe I sat at a CJA meeting in about 2002 when HRH 1 announced that anyone questioning him would be tantamount to a ” declaration of war”. Then we were told our branch could only speak with “one voice”, of course his. Any critics of the then CJ’s policies were continually denounced as “clowns” as “shrill and uninformed” and as irrelevant as “ants on a trail ” at a Yosemite vacation. Any one who dared speak out about the CJ’s excesses at a JC meeting was either censored or demeaned. Of course the CJP never took any action to address these comments . Incredibly our current CJ won’t free herself of HRH 1’s now failed legacy. We need to democratize the JC and recall the CJ .
unionman575
June 11, 2012
http://www.lakeconews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=25469:-lake-county-superior-court-plans-calendar-chang
es-all-criminal-cases-to-move-to-lakeport&catid=1:latest&Itemid=197
Lake County Superior Court plans calendar changes; all criminal cases to move to Lakeport
MONDAY, 11 JUNE 2012 00:01 ELIZABETH LARSON
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The state judicial branch’s fiscal situation has resulted in the Lake County Superior Court making significant changes to its calendar, including moving all criminal matters to Lakeport, with traffic and small claims going to Clearlake.
Presiding Lake County Superior Court Judge David Herrick said the court calendar needed to be restructured in order to cope with continuing budget cuts.
The changes will go into effect Aug. 6, Herrick said….
JusticeCalifornia
June 11, 2012
http://www.lakeconews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=25440:new-lakeport-courthouse-preliminary-plans-approved&catid=1:latest&Itemid=197
$56 million for a new Lake County 50,000 square foot 4-courtroom courthouse. . .
versus $15 million for Merced’s 58,000 square foot 6-courtroom courthouse. . . .
http://www.nlarch.com/portfolio/cj_mercedcourt.html
The ACJ is right– the entire courthouse construction program needs to be investigated and reassessed.
I do believe that, as many have predicted, it will rival the CCMS debacle in waste, mismanagement and shock value.
unionman575
June 11, 2012
http://www.courts.ca.gov/jcmeetings.htm
Judicial Council Meetings
Wednesday June 20,
Thursday June 21, and
Friday June 22
unionman575
June 11, 2012
A Huuse of Cards…hmmm..why does this saying come to mind?
Stuart MIchael
June 11, 2012
A recall takes too long, and probably won’t work.
Rose Bird was recalled because of the death penalty, not because of some internal court fight, even though there were plenty during her tenure. And she took other justices down with her. The public has already concluded that the judicial branch (Federal & State) is just as politically corrupt as the other two. Long lines won’t make them any happier. or sympathetic with our plight.
The public (the small numbers of people who even bother to vote) won’t care, unless the Supreme Court issues some highly controversial decisions to get them agitated.
The only way out of our nearly-fatal mess is for a small delegation of the most respected jurists – from all three court levels, tell her face to face that she has to resign or face the humiliation of a huge vote of no confidence by the state’s judges, and judicial calls for a recall election.
Offer her a gracious way out – one of the big law firms or a law school position.
It will take judges with enough internal fortitude to walk into the CJ’s chambers, close the door and look her into the eye while telling her the inevitable truth – resign or be fired. Judges like General Woodhull, who’s absolutely the best we have.
After the Watergate tapes were released by the Supreme Court, Tennessee Sen. Howard Baker did just that with Nixon. It took guts in 1974, and will again in 2012.
Judges created (or allowed to happen) this mess – only they can fix it.
JusticeCalifornia
June 11, 2012
Stuart Michael, you are absolutely right:
“It will take judges with enough internal fortitude to walk into the CJ’s chambers, close the door and look her into the eye while telling her the inevitable truth – resign or be fired.”
Official
June 11, 2012
General Woodhull, this sounds like a motion from Stuart Michael and a second from Justice California… can you please get this task done at your earliest convenience? 😊
Res Ipsa Loquitor
June 11, 2012
I agree, Stuart. And I hope that the CJ’s (former?) friend and mentor, Justice Art Scotland, will join General Woodhull (if he agrees to serve) and other distinguished jurists in delivering this message to the CJ.
I like your allusion to Sen Howard Baker confronting Nixon; actually as I recall there were three senators who delivered the message, High Scott (Republican Majority Leader), Howard Baker, and Barry Goldwater.
wearyant
June 11, 2012
Very well said.
Stuart MIchael
June 11, 2012
Thanks RIL I forgot about them. This trio not only showed Nixon the handwriting on the wall – they brought the wall with them to hit him over the head with if he still didn’t get it.
And here’s another bit of historical trivia: Baker’s chief aide – who reportedly injected some spine into his boss – was none other than California’s now own – Tennessee native Huell Howser. THAT’s where that accent comes from.
Sorry RIL – Maybe Rep. Scott was “high”, but his first name was actually “Hugh”.
I just occurred to me that these accumulated trivia show that I have way too much time on my hands since I retired from the court system. But having time now to follow JCW more than fills the gap for me.
Whether they know it or not, the outcome of the death struggle to save the court system from itself are huge for every resident of this state, whose lives already are or may someday be touched by the legal system. That includes you and me and every other JCW reader, and every other person from the moment of birth until their last breath, and in the probate world thereafter.
JCW – Thanks for all you are doing for all of us – and especially for those who’ve never heard of you or what’s going on in their court system.
Res Ipsa Loquitor
June 11, 2012
Thanks for catching the typo, Stuart. The power in the message of those three senators going to Nixon to tell him to resign, is that they were the leaders from within his own party, who up to the crisis before them, had been loyal supporters.
And that is why any similar delegation to urge the current CJ to step down will have to be comprised of highly respected judicial leaders who have been her counselors, supporters and mentors over the years. In looking at her bio, it appears she came up through largely political contacts, not by building a reputation as a jurist/administrator and leader within her court first and then getting the push from the usual political sources onto the appellate bench.
She worked for Dukmejian as a judicial and legislative assistant, and — as often happens — he rewarded her work with an appointment to the then Sacramento Muni bench, and then those political contacts continued to help her rise to her current position. And in some ways that is what makes her ill equipped to understand her current situation, and also makes anyone reaching out to her to step down have to come from a difficult place.
Art
June 11, 2012
The Courts’ employees receive an advance notice about elimination of their the positions. At the AOC employees are grossly mistreated. There is no notice, they are pulled away from their desks, informed about the layoff, walked back to their desks, given a few boxes and walked out of the buildings. People who are fired are usually treated that way. That is what you call “a friendly touch from Jody and Court-our dear colleagues“. The employees at the AOC are like the “Untouchables” to her, and it shows. Her actual first name is Jyotiben. Well, her ex-friend Christine Patton did not get a nicer treatment ether. Jyotiben called her at home in the evening, told her that she was not a director any more and needs to retire. In the same phone conversation, Christine was also told to pack her office the following morning and find a different spot to sit. Christine is the one who brought her from the Sacramento court when some judges were going after Jyotiben for mistreating court’s employees. She was well informed by Bill and Ron not to bring her to the AOC. Well, now you know who you are dealing with.
Judicial Council Watcher
June 11, 2012
Nothing says I care more than being escorted out of your workplace. Way to go Jody, take a traumatic event and burn it into every AOC employees conscience. 😦
Judicial Council Watcher
June 11, 2012
We’re still trying to find out more but preliminary information we’re getting from other AOC employees is that there were 29 layoffs. Out of those 29 layoffs, 24 were people over 40 years old. A few of those individuals are being characterized as suffering from chronic health issues. At least one is being characterized as retirement age and months from being fully vested.
Wendy Darling
June 11, 2012
That’s the AOC “Team George” way. And don’t forget that Jody Patel wouldn’t be doing things this way without the full knowledge, permission, consent and blessing of the Office of the Chief Justice.
Recall the Chief Justice.
Long live the ACJ.
John
June 11, 2012
The SEC report ask for management reduction. Actually layoff are line staffs. Leaving it even more top heavy.
Michael Paul
June 12, 2012
Is this why Bill and Ron are occupying 1st district court of appeals space so that jyotiben can’t evict them and tell them to go find another place to sit?
SuniD
June 14, 2012
Jyotiben and her drunken home boy Curt have tried to kick them out, but unsuccessfully. They are being protected by Fritz and others. Bill and Ron have no business being there if they are “retired.” Although I hear Ron is moving.
Judicial Council Watcher
June 14, 2012
Welcome to JCW SuniD: As long as the judicial council can afford to let those two roam the hallways they will have zero credibility.
It sounds like Jodi and her dog spot tried to do the right thing there. Someone really ought to rethink protecting those two in light of the SEC report findings and move to fire them with cause.
courtflea
June 11, 2012
lets be totally politically incorrect: Jody needs to get work at a call center…………
Michael Paul
June 12, 2012
Funny you should mention that. I built a call center in her old NCRO office.
Lando
June 11, 2012
It is a disgrace that the line staff are being laid off instead of : 1. Telecommuting OGC lawyers who work out of state and out of the country 2. The staff of the Court Network news who generate only pro JC/AOC propaganda 3. The AOC ‘ artist ” 4. The managers of CCMS. In addition, instead of laying line staff off , how about closing “regional ” offices in Burbank, Sacramento and Dana Point . The reality is nothing is really changing with our CJ, her handpicked JC or Ms Patel. We need to recall the CJ and democratize the JC .
Disgusted
June 11, 2012
Dana Point?
Michael Paul
June 12, 2012
I think Dana Point is a gaffe. While the AOC had plans for 20 satellite offices for OCCM I don’t think they ever opened one in Dana Point.
The OBT
June 11, 2012
Thanks Wendy as always for your tremendous insights. I finally figured out your use of the term “The Office of the Chief Justice”. Concentrating power in the hands of so few has been the undoing of a once proud and vibrant California judicial branch. Weather or not this Chief Justice “retires” “resigns” or gets “recalled”, the only real long term solution to all the problems we face, is to have a democratically elected Judicial Council. JCW can you put up a post inviting all here to lay out specific proposals on how we can restore democracy to our branch again .
Wendy Darling
June 11, 2012
The Alliance of California Judges: a reminder of what the California Judicial Branch once was, and what it might be again – a branch of state government hallmarked by ethics, fairness, integrity, adherence to public duty, and unparalled public service.
Not anything that can be said of current Judicial Branch administration and the Office of the Chief Justice.
Long live the ACJ.
The OBT
June 12, 2012
“The Office of the Chief Justice” . One would think that they would be happy writing and evaluating the many difficult and interesting legal issues presented to them instead of trying to run an entire branch of government. Btw, does anyone see in the California constitution that the “Office of the Chief Justice” was given the power to run an the entire judicial branch? I don’t see it . The legacy of HRH 1 is a complete and total failure. The Chief Justice needs to chart her own course. She needs to clean house at all levels. That includes her “Office of Chief Justice”, Ms Patel, the AOC management, and CJP chair Justice McConnell.
JusticeCalifornia
June 12, 2012
Next week is the JC meeting. . . .any official word yet on candidates for AOC director?
unionman575
June 12, 2012
Yeah I hear Michael Paul is the frontrunner…
🙂
Wendy Darling
June 12, 2012
From The Legal Pad, the legal blog of The Recorder, the on-line publication of CalLaw, by Cheryl Miller:
Trial Court Reserves Still on Negotiating Table
[Cheryl Miller]
Four days before the state constitutional deadline to pass a budget, the spending plan for California’s courts remains a murky work in progress. But an Assembly document released Monday may offer a few clues.
The 108-page “plan” the Assembly Budget Committee will consider Tuesday suggests the judicial branch won’t escape the $544 million in cuts proposed by the governor. The state’s swipe of $240 million in construction funds appears to be a foregone conclusion. The judiciary is also expected to lose another $300 million, but whether it all comes from trial court reserves as the governor proposed was the topic of ongoing negotiations late Monday.
The Assembly’s budget plan hints that lawmakers are considering a different formula. One proposal floated around the Capitol Monday called for a 15 percent cut to the Administrative Office of the Courts — lower than the 30 percent one assemblyman put forward last month. Some $240 million would still be drained from trial court reserves and another $45 million in cuts would be made at the Judicial Council’s discretion. Higher appellate filing fees are also on the table.
That could all change by Tuesday’s committee meeting. But it’s clear that the governor’s plan to effectively end trial courts’ ability to keep reserves is unpopular with lawmakers. What’s less obvious is whether, with so many other cuts in the state budget, the governor’s office and legislators have any interest in sparring over the courts’ issues.
The Senate Budget Committee is scheduled to meet at 2 p.m. on Tuesday.
http://legalpad.typepad.com/my_weblog/2012/06/trial-court-reserves-still-on-negotiating-table.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+legalpad_feed+%28Legal+Pad%29
Long live the ACJ.
Wendy Darling
June 12, 2012
Published today, Tuesday, June 12, from The Recorder, the on-line publication of CalLaw, by Cheryl Miller:
Lawmakers Move Forward With Court Cuts
By Cheryl Miller
SACRAMENTO — Legislative Democrats outlined a budget plan Tuesday afternoon that retains the steep cuts to trial courts sought by Gov. Jerry Brown while adding new restrictions on the Judicial Council’s spending authority.
The proposal would reduce the hit on trial court reserves from the $300 million in the governor’s spending plan to $235 million. But majority Democrats would make the remaining $65 million in cuts in two other places: $50 million from local courts based on a pro rata cut and a $15 million trim from the Administrative Office of the Courts’ budget.
Lawmakers also agreed to take $240 million from construction funds and an additional $4 million from the AOC, an amount the governor recommended be offset by higher pension contributions from state court employees.
“This is really a significant hit for the courts,” said Curtis Child, the chief lobbyist for the Judicial Council. “It appears there’s no intent to give any relief from that $544 million reduction.”
But Democrats (Republican lawmakers, by dint of their minority status, have not played a large role in the budget’s drafting) stopped short of eliminating the trial courts’ authority to keep reserves, as the governor sought. Legislators would instead allow courts, starting in the 2013-14 fiscal year, to keep up to 1 percent of their total budgets under local control, significantly less than what some courts hold now.
The Democrats’ proposal would establish a small Judicial Council-controlled reserve of about 2 percent, or roughly $53 million. Three-quarters of that money would be doled out to courts suffering “hardships” — budget language explaining exactly what that means hasn’t been released yet. The remaining amount would be set aside for court emergencies later in the fiscal year.
And in a clear slap at the judicial branch’s spending on the ill-fated Court Case Management System, lawmakers have proposed budget language that would bar the Judicial Council from using trial court trust funds on statewide projects without the Legislature’s approval. Legislators would also strip $7 million in CCMS “evaluation” funding, money that the council had allocated to determine if any CCMS parts could be put to other uses.
In addition to the $50 million in higher civil filing fees agreed to by the trial bars, the Democrats’ plan includes a 20 percent increase to appellate first filing fees to offset cuts to the appellate courts. The new levies would raise about $1 million.
While the Senate Budget Committee endorsed the new court language Tuesday the Assembly Budget Committee took no action on any spending proposals, signaling that closed-door negotiations on specific details continue with Friday’s constitutional deadline for passing a budget looming.
Court leaders late Tuesday were still digesting the court proposal and pondering whether there is any hope of staving off deep budget cuts to courts.
“If you know a legislator — call him or her and tell her or him what you think,” California Judges Association President David Rubin wrote in an email to members. “Things are bleak, but whatever you feel you can do to assist is appreciated.”
http://www.law.com/jsp/ca/PubArticleCA.jsp?id=1202559211862&Lawmakers_Move_Forward_With_Court_Cuts
Long live the ACJ.
Wendy Darling
June 12, 2012
If you know a legislator — call him or her and tell them that funding for the AOC should be cut by another 75% at a minimum, and the Judicial Council, and the AOC, based on their irresponsible fiscal management to date, should have zero control over any reserve court funds.
Recall the Chief Justice.
Long live the ACJ.
unionman575
June 12, 2012
That’s what Judge Steve White & I (and many others here on JCW) have both been saying for a while now…
sigh..welcome aboard Wendy.
Wendy Darling
June 12, 2012
I’ve been there for quite awhile, Unionman. Trial courts first, everything else after. Much after.
Long live the ACJ.
The OBT
June 13, 2012
Head of the AOC ? watch for Terry Friedman. The train wreck would then be complete.
L.A. Observer
June 13, 2012
Or Joe Dunn!
unionman575
June 13, 2012
Guest
June 13, 2012
The cj knows exactly who the next AOC Director is. Probably the council as well. “Chief Transparency” is just waiting for the press release to go out after hours before the July 4 holiday. We all know the next Director will have all the same qualities as judicial council appointees. Nod yes when Chief Transparency speaks and never ask why.
unionman575
June 13, 2012
Judicial Council Watcher
June 13, 2012
When this chief speaks of transparency it conjures other miracles of transparency. Notably:
JusticeCalifornia
June 13, 2012
The favorite tactic of the cj, jc committees, and the aoc — for decades– has been passing out important Judicial Council information immediately before– or even at– Judicial Council meetings, and then forcing a vote. This limits public comment, advance inquiry, meaningful jc discussion, and informed decision making.
It is OUTRAGEOUS that the names of candidates for the AOC directorship position have not been released.
Been There
June 13, 2012
I take tge lack of disclosure a bad omen, Justice California.
Res Ipsa Loquitor
June 13, 2012
I agree that the next AOC director has been chosen. If it is Roddy or Carlson,, their PJs will know and there may be some indications within Orange or San Diego Counties to indicate a change at the top. As for the other likely suspects, oh dear!
If it is true that there were zero, or perhaps very few applicants from out of state, that may signal that court execs in other states did not see this as a long term job choice.
Guest
June 13, 2012
The new AOC Director has been chosen. There is a total blackout to allow that person to deal with their courts budget reductions. Word should get out after the budget is released and the CEO can get the cuts approved by the bench. The bench has no clue as it would undercut the CEO’s authority. Can’t tell if the pj knows or not.
Been There
June 13, 2012
If Guest is correct, his or her information would indicate the successful candidate is a current California court executive officer, but that his or her current employer is being kept in the dark. Mike Roddy has been seen at 455 GG lately, and Alan Carlson, I believe, is a member of the Pravda Traveling Circus in Sacramento.
Any other likely suspects seen spending more quality time with the powers that be rather than their own court?
DLC
June 13, 2012
Would that be a shocker if it turned out to be Kiri Torre ! Or David Yamasaki !
JusticeCalifornia
June 13, 2012
As between Roddy and Carlson:
Several on this blog have suggested that to predict the future, one need only think of the most stupid thing top leadership could do. Replacing Vickrey with an embattled Team George member who has advised the judicial council to play chicken with the legislature by continuing to spend on CCMS and overpriced courthouses would be beyond stupid. . . . . .that would be like waving a red flag in front of a bull, or pinning a “kick the branch” sign on top leadership’s backside.
Carlson is a far more logical choice. He is an insider, he knows people in many different courts, he is a lawyer/CEO, and he teaches and writes about court administration around the country. It appears he has spent his professional life working towards and hoping and waiting for this opportunity, and it is also likely that he would view this mess as a personal and professional challenge. He has spent public money sending an unusually large cadre of Orange County employees to court administration trainings – I would wager if he is selected he will import a number of them to the AOC.
If anyone knows who the new director will be, do tell.
Guest
June 13, 2012
Yamasaki wouldn’t take the pay cut. Plus he still gets to telecommute at Santa Clara which doesn’t have an SEC report that blew the whistle on that boondoggle. Yamasaki can only succeed where no one is watching, or cares. Right now that is the Santa Clara bench.
Judicial Council Watcher
June 13, 2012
Boy Wonder was at the top of our short list. It will take someone who can speak for 20 minutes and be able to not say a thing to run the AOC the way it has been. We think he was being groomed for it with a wee bit of court exposure.
Others on our short list were Kiri Torre, David Yamasaki, Michael Roddy, Alan Carlson and what we thought would be an exemplary choice for this chief justice…. Marin County’s own Kim Turner.
We figure it has to be an insider.
Been There
June 13, 2012
What a lovely group. I believe there is enough baggage carried by at least 5 of the 6 named individuals to assure the AOC’s reputation for zero cred will be unsmirched.
Judicial Council Watcher
June 13, 2012
Shoot for the gutter: It’s all up hill from there…..
unionman575
June 13, 2012
JCW I’ll go with Nash.
Ger me a bucket!
JusticeCalifornia
June 13, 2012
Guest, I have personally observed that Santa Clara is like Marin in terms of arrogance, nepotism, favoritism, corruption, inbreeding and cross-marrying etc.. Take Vanessa Zecher, for instance. But oh well, whatever. . . .
Santa Clara is Team George and Team George is going, going, almost gone.
Dreamy
June 13, 2012
Try working there. Kiri turned the place into AOC lite. Lot’s of new “analyst” positions, reclassifications, lots of high paid IT staff and the tripling of admin. Plenty of supervisors who they tell not to work but to spy on their employees with their fancy phone system. Anyone who dared question their directives was shown the door or made miserable enough to quit. The atmosphere was made so toxic that the staff went on strike. She had her core of minions who placed their friends in leadership positions who promoted their friends and so on. They threw all the civil service hiring rules out the window so that no one could question test results or know their ranking. People were given executive and management positions that they were not qualified for (directors without degrees). The tests that they give for promotional positions are barely relevant and portions are highly subjective.
Some of the minions retired but the old Torre regime reigns supreme and NO ONE, not even judges better question them. After watching this go on for so many years, it’s easy to imagine what happens at AOC.
DLC
June 14, 2012
Dreamy
Right on boy did you drive that all the way home about the truth of the matter, what ever happened to the old days when we had CEO’s that had integrautie, principles, values for the institution and the workers the days of Grace Yamakawa are gone!
Res Ipsa Loquitor
June 14, 2012
As a survivor of Kiri’s management style, let’s just state the obvious: she is a deeply flawed psychologically and toxic in any environment she manages.
That said, WTF with the courts (and the AOC) that haved hired her? She has brought them all grief and, in the case of the AOC, cost them $$ to settle lawsuits brought by employees she abused. She is who she is; the fault, as I see it, lies with those who hire and retain her.
DLC
June 14, 2012
I remember when they had the strike in early 2000 in Santa Clara County Superior Court and the workers slogan that was being shouted out Kiri Torre your no good do your workers like you should! I’m sure they feel the same way about Yamasaki.
Sent from my iPad
Guest
June 14, 2012
The “word” is that Yamasaki is “doing” some of his employees. Also heard that he is very close to a judge too. Fact is that Yamasaki did not move his wife and kids with him to Santa Clara. He is living the bachelor life in the bay area and is making the most of it. All while the rest of the staff is working to hold the place together. Getting the AOC director job might cut into Yamasaki’s love life.
JusticeCalifornia
June 13, 2012
Is Team George “Tricky-I-like-secret-surprise-attacks” Tani as stupid as her last 18 months indicates she is? Please say it isn’t so.
Tani, kindly pull top leadership up from the gutter and do the branch right with respect to cleaning house in picking the next AOC director. . . . or gracefully resign.
Best Regards, JusticeCalifornia
Res Ipsa Loquitor
June 13, 2012
I can only say that if Kiri Torre is the choice, my condolences to all.
JusticeCalifornia
June 13, 2012
Mine as well, but I don’t think Santa Clara’s and Conta Costa’s down and dirtiest will survive the cut.
I am most interested in the fact that a repeated callout about Carlson went almost unanswered. He is either a good guy or a VERY smart player.
Let’s see.
Been There
June 13, 2012
You may really be on to something, Justice California.
Almost all the others named by JCW will simultaneously amaze and disgust the members of the legislature, in whose tender hands the fate of the judicial branch’s budget is decided.
JusticeCalifornia
June 13, 2012
I don’t know or endorse Carlson.
I am merely offering my observations.
He is either good, or very good at flying under the radar.
unionman575
June 13, 2012
courtflea
June 13, 2012
guys, Kiri Torre is as dead as a door nail politically with the branch and has been for some time. David Y has been in the shadow of Roddy and other CEOs in San Diego for too long. He is not ready, ok maybe as a director over a division of the AOc. I told you so, it will be Roddy, ok Alan as a runner up. The CJ does not care how many staff Alan has sent to whatever classes. Outside of San Diego, Roddy has a good rep with the Judges in the state. I think Alan is just too mild mannered and has been out of the loop for too long to be selected, in my mind. Me thinks Alan just wants to get back to the bay area where he worked for so long and more than likely has family ties there, at a good salary.
Karnack has spoken, aka the court flea 🙂
unionman575
June 13, 2012
Never count out the former AOC money man Steve Nash…he has been relaxing out in Hell (San Bernaridino) for a while. His budget “expertise” could come in handy. Nobody cooks AOC the books like Steve!
JusticeCalifornia
June 13, 2012
courtflea, never underestimate the power of those who have lost their children, homes, reputation, livlihood, freedom at the hands of ethically compromised CEOs. Turner, Roddy, Torre, etc.. . .
Roddy is a VERY bad dude amongst mothers and fathers and others in San Diego.
If he gets the nod, mark my words, watch the SD court reformists and their supporters STATEWIDE, and disgusted members of the legislature roar.
Perhaps no one has noticed that Roddy’s court has been in line for the most expensive courthouse statewide? Or that the SD press has excoriated top leadership?
Roddy would be an unintended gift to the court reform movement.
He is NOT going to fly.
Get the “kick the branch” sticker ready to plant on top leadership’s ass if Roddy is in the running.
unionman575
June 14, 2012
I have my sticker ready Justice.
Guest
June 14, 2012
My observation of Carlson is that he is smart and has a good vision for the branch. The problem is that he is an independent thinker and is his own man. The cj and council would never go for that in a Director.
Guest
June 14, 2012
Yamasaki is a joke. He is the male version of the cj. The two have made a career of distracting you with their “prettiness”. The bad news for the cj and Yamasaki is when those of us aren’t smitten by their perfect hair and listen to what they say. We soon find out that they have absolutely nothing upstairs and have only gotten to where they are by their style and fashion sense. Outside of the Santa Clara bench I think there are too many smart people that are on to shallow Yamasaki. But the Santa Clara court employees sure hope Yamasaki makes a permanent home at the AOC.
Res Ipsa Loquitor
June 14, 2012
And I am sure the Contra Costa folks are lighting candles hoping Torre makes a permanent home anywhere but in their court!
Been There
June 13, 2012
I know this question has been asked before, but just who are the CJ’s closest advisors on this? Who is handling the interviews of candidates for Vickrey II?
JusticeCalifornia
June 13, 2012
Great questions.
And why haven’t the proposed candidates been posted yet?
unionman575
June 14, 2012
Shall we put a blindfold on her and stick a cigarette in her mouth?
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=lady+justice&hl=en&sa=X&biw=1280&bih=855&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=YblwOPc9wu8lUM:&imgrefurl=http://straightfromthea.com/2009/08/08/ushers-new-tatt-a-message-to-his-future-ex-wife/&docid=MwSUI_qRCTxViM&imgurl=http://straightfromthea.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/Lady-Justice.jpg&w=250&h=452&ei=XenZT6m0D4Tk9ATl7sjrBQ&zoom=1
JusticeCalifornia
June 14, 2012
If the names of the proposed candidates for the AOC directorship were posted, the judiciary and others could weigh in about who they would prefer and on what grounds. That might give branch stakeholders more trust and confidence moving forward.
courtflea, I didn’t mean to be abrupt about Roddy– I guess I am still naive. It may well be that Roddy has the support of some members of the branch.
However, he has been in top leadership for a very long time, and as such has been a chief architect and supporter of the bloated, wasteful, power-grabbing AOC at its worst. Further, he is disliked by the public he “serves” and more importantly– I cannot imagine the cj/jc/aoc would consider selecting someone who just last year publicly suggested that the branch play chicken with the legislature regarding trial court funding. The cj/jc/aoc spit into the wind by going along with that suggestion and top leadership is now covered in spittle.
Selecting Roddy would be a stupid business decision. Period. If Roddy is selected I for one will most certainly and gladly present to members of the legislature his inflammatory remarks and poor track record when I want to impress them with how clueless top leadership has been, is and continues to be.
The branch desperately needs ethical, credible, experienced, respectable (and respected) leadership that can openly and effectively communicate and work with (as opposed to threaten, trick, insult and piss off) branch members and the other two branches of government.
savects
June 14, 2012
There is a rumor that the new AD will be someone who is highly respected by most w/in the cts – someone who was fairly high w/in the agency in days gone by but who quit in disgust at some of the practices of the old regime. Does anyone know who that might be? I am told it is NOT ACarlson.
Res Ipsa Loquitor
June 14, 2012
Since I have a sense of humor, savects, Dennis Jones? He is already on the AOC Executive Office payroll (being CEO of Sacto Superior does not qualify one for CalPERS), but given that fact alone, I do not know how highly thought of he might be now.
He was Vickrey’s #2 between Steve Love and Ron Overholt; IMHO Vickrey did not treat him very well, and he left to take a lead position in the Delaware State Court system. From there back to Sacto Superior (his former job) after (ahem) his replacement found peace and love at the AOC.
Again, the caveat is that this is wild speculation and I cannot speak as to his reputation within the general court committee.
Others: Torre was highly placed but did not quit in disgust exactly, ( Tthe inference has always been that she and Vickrey had a huge falling out and she was off to Santa Clara. Her statewide reputation? Next!
Not to sure about Unionman’s candidate, Mr. Nash. Unionman did he leave in disgust or was he, in baseball terms, traded to a county court?
Wendy Darling
June 14, 2012
Are we all forgetting about Kiri’s husband, the “other” Torre?
Res Ipsa Loquitor
June 14, 2012
Wendy, I think the highest position Ken Torre may have ever held within the JC was perhaps as a member of the Court Execs Advisory Committee (?). Kiri does have some friends she went to USC with, and who are now court executive officers in other courts in the state . . . .
DLC
June 14, 2012
Just off the press Yamasaki just hired a Publicate Information Officer now that’s he way to trim the budget!
Guest
June 14, 2012
Perfect! He is the Face of the court but needs someone else to Speak for the court. Same qualifications to be on the Council.
courtflea
June 14, 2012
Guest, perfect observation of Alan. Justice CA, I wish the things you mention about Roddy would be taken into consideration, but since when does the CJ, JC or whoever will decide who is the next BVII care? They will take the gamble that most folks in the state don’t give a rats butt or know crap about the branch.
courtflea
June 14, 2012
I remember the strike in 2000 in Santa Clara! their other slogan was we don’t need no Kiri (pronounced kitty) litter! very clever 🙂
unionman575
June 14, 2012
I’ll still go with “Mr. Money” former AOC budget director Steve Nash AKA Wonder Boy, the current San Bernardino CEO.
unionman575
June 14, 2012
DLC
June 14, 2012
Wow Steve Love that’s a name to remember from the pass! Where’s the love now?
Stuart Michael
June 15, 2012
This string is filled with well-considered insights about the “candidates.” Its also a fascinating recap of past history and present reality. I can attest to much of its accuracy from my own experiences and observations, and from what I have heard and seen from victims of the cabal at local and state levels, Many lives have been ruined beyond repair by its reign of terror (e.g. Paula Negley) which continues unabated.
As for the new director, the best of the available bunch of likely suspects is probably Carlson. He’s got no real baggage that has been uncovered, and was not at the AOC during most of the years it has run rampant. He’s got a good resume, and hasn’t made too many enemies
He’s capable of being his own person if he gets the chance. One can only hope. The others are so embedded in the mess they have no choice to keep on sailing along the same discredited/doomed way of doing the courts’ business.
If he’s anointed, the CJ/JC will have no choice but to back him like it or not. A short-lived Director who’s stymied in reform and leaves in disgust would give final proof to the Gov and the Legislature that the judiciary can’t control its own affairs. Branch administration might then be legislatively transformed into just another State Agency like the Dept of Consumer Affairs, with support services provided by the GSA – located in Sacramento where it belongs.
Might not be such a bad idea after all
JusticeCalifornia
June 16, 2012
Interesting thoughts, Stuart Michael.
It anybody knows who is going to be the new director and AD, start giving hints!
Notwithstanding her many missteps of the last 18 months, there appear to be some who want to believe that because Sakauye asked for the SEC report (I personally suspect at Scotland’s suggestion, but whatever), her head is in the right place. What she does in the next few months– re the SEC report and the selection of the new director and AD–could make or break her.
She is in a bit of a bind, because no one in their right mind could look at the problems identified in the SEC report, and then keep those who created and perpetuated those problems in top leadership.
I do believe she is at the point where the rubber meets the road.