Judge Steven Jahr
MINISTRY OF TRUTH, SAN FRANCISCO—Judge Steven Jahr will become the state’s next Administrative Director of the Courts—and the first with judicial experience—after a unanimous vote today by the Judicial Council of California.
Judge Jahr, who was a judge in Shasta County for 22 years before his retirement in 2009, was selected by the Judicial Council in a closed session. He becomes the state’s fifth Administrative Director since the office was created in 1960.
The appointment comes after a six-month nationwide search by a Judicial Council committee to replace former Administrative Director William C. Vickrey, who retired last year. Judge Jahr will assume his post on October 8. In the meantime, Interim Administrative Director of the Courts Jody Patel will continue in her current role to assist in Judge Jahr’s transition.
“As chair of the Judicial Council, I am enormously pleased that Judge Jahr has agreed to accept this critical position,” said Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye. “The depth of his experience in the judicial branch—as a trial court judge, as a presiding judge, and as a participant in statewide judicial branch initiatives—makes him an ideal choice.”
In addition to his tenure on the Shasta County Superior Court bench—and earlier service on the Municipal Court in Redding–Judge Jahr also served as the court’s presiding judge for four years.
“I look forward to working with the Chief Justice, the Judicial Council, judges, court executives, and employees of the courts and the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC),” Judge Jahr said. “I think I bring a unique perspective to my new role. As a judge, I’ve worked in criminal and civil matters, as well as family law. I understand the world of the courtroom. As a former presiding judge, I know and appreciate that taking care of the administrative side of a courtroom helps make a judge succeed. During my retirement, I have observed and admired how our Chief Justice and the Judicial Council have grappled with the new challenges the branch faces. I have been in public service during much of my career, and I look forward to continue serving the public in my new role.”
Judge Jahr was enthusiastically endorsed by the Judicial Council’s search committee, chaired by Court of Appeal Justice Harry Hull. “After reviewing candidates from all over the country, we eventually found the very best candidate in our own backyard,” said Justice Hull. “Judge Jahr is well known and well liked by many judges throughout the state. I’m happy that my colleagues on the Judicial Council felt the same way our committee members did.”
During his judicial service, Judge Jahr developed and oversaw the consolidation of the superior and municipal courts in his county, which included the reconfiguration of all criminal case processing in the court with the adoption of a direct calendar system. Later, he was assigned to operate a felony direct calendar for several years, which included sole responsibility for the drug court in the county. During this same period, Judge Jahr initiated the Prop. 36 (Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act) court calendar and successfully operated it for its first four years of existence.
On a statewide level, in addition to years of faculty service for the state’s judicial education programs, Judge Jahr served as a board member and vice president of the California Judges Association. Immediately before his retirement, he was appointed by Chief Justice Ronald M. George to the Commission for Impartial Courts.
In the mid-1990s during the period of transition from county to state trial court operations funding, he chaired the Task Force on Trial Court Funding and the Trial Court Budget Commission.
In 1997, Judge Jahr was named Jurist of the Year by the Judicial Council. The next year, he was appointed as a member of the Judicial Council, where he also served as chair of the council’s Rules and Projects Committee.
Since his 2009 retirement, Judge Jahr has continued to serve as a volunteer to his former court concerning its courthouse construction project. He also has served on working groups overseen by the Judicial Council, including the Emergency Response and Security Task Force.
____________________________________________________________
Who is Judge Jahr?
We don’t know how much money was given to the executive search firm to find him – but we can tell you THEY didn’t find him. Retaining an executive search firm gives the necessary appearance of impartiality and a wide search. Chances are at the time they retained the executive search firm, they already had an insider in mind. Through research, we can tell that Steven Jahr worked with King George as one of the behind the scenes architects of the current disaster.
Ten years ago, Jahr was advocating centralizing county probation departments, a county executive function under Judicial Council and AOC control and funding. Think about this for a second. They already provide all of the grants to legal aid agencies, centralizing control over them. What other areas does the Judicial Council and the AOC spread money for support or control? Every place that they can control the money over another entity, they control them. You can look at the SEC comments to see that worked reasonably well and produced somewhat for them. We think that they were waiting this out and only in response to the carnage of the SEC comments, they chose to buy themselves some breathing room by announcing an insider while keeping the SEC comment period sort of open. We expect in the coming days to see judges and justices laud this brilliant choice. We’re already seeing it in the media but this praise will end up flooding the SEC comments and topping the list in SEC comments with people lining up their support, allegiance and trust behind Mr. Jahr. What we really need to do is light the matches between his toes so that he knows we’re serious about reform before he occupies the office.
Appointing Jahr cures no problem whatsoever. He has not acknowledged that anything is broken or that he intends to win the trust and confidence of all of us that vehemently oppose the current regime. The Ministry of Truth release above underscores this. No acknowledgement whatsoever that a) there is any problems or that b)he is committed to win the confidence of Judges, Justices, Commissioners, court and AOC employees by hitting the ground running and through monumental change in the first 30 days.
While I am sure each and every one of us in the trial courts and the AOC rank and file wants the very first thing Jahr does on October 8th is to ask for every director, assistant director, senior manager and manager to tender their written resignations, I’m afraid that what we’re going to see (outside of a substantial delay until he takes office) is several months for him to adjust the organization in the hope that all of this blows over.
While the former would earn the respect and boost the morale of most every judge, justice, court employee and AOC employee, the latter will be more likely from a co-architect of the current dysfunction. The immediate response we’ve received in our inbox from a wide section of the judicial branch does not seem hopeful. It goes along the lines of “Steve is a really nice guy but make no mistake, he was appointed to preserve the status quo”
It’s time to take the case to the legislature to democratize the judicial council.
It’s time to ensure that this co-architect of current dysfunction gets some meaningful trial court oversight.
It’s time to cure the problems – not kick the can down the road and pretend that they don’t exist.
Judicial Council Watcher 
Nathaniel Woodhull
July 28, 2012
“In 1997, Judge Jahr was named Jurist of the Year by the Judicial Council. The next year, he was appointed as a member of the Judicial Council, where he also served as chair of the council’s Rules and Projects Committee.”
That’s all that need be said!
Nathaniel Woodhull
July 28, 2012
p.s.
Always be suspect when an e-mail is sent out @: Friday – July 27, 2012 5:11 PM
unionman575
July 28, 2012
It’s kinda like a 5’o’clock shadow… 😉
Nathaniel Woodhull
July 28, 2012
Be sure to read this link to a pdf document from 1997. Not the express purposes behind Trial Court Funding, including “decentralized management” of the trial courts. Read the comments by Judge Jahr carefully.
http://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/tcfnews.pdf
unionman575
July 28, 2012
I did and thank you Nathaniel!
We can glean a hell of a lot about Jahr if you go the the JC site, type in his name in the search box, and read every JC meeting he participated in going back many years. Some of it is mundane, sone is hair raising. Yes I know it’s from the Ministry of Truth, but I read everything I can get my hands on and anyalyze it.
Big sigh – life of an infomaniac
He also has mention in various Shasta County Supervisor meeting minutes for anyone that has interest.
Just tossing that oe out there for yall to chew on.
I want to say to everyone here – NICE WORK!
😉
Judicial Council Watcher
July 28, 2012
I did as well and I think everyone should read it. Everything that they were promoting about state budgets and control has turned into a living nightmare for trial courts. It boils down to this:
.
Jimmy
July 28, 2012
I hope that Jahr is successful in his new role, and that he takes on the innumerable challenges that lie ahead in a forthright and honest manner. I am willing to keep an open mind and give him a chance. Perhaps people can continue to provide “rolling comments” to the SEC report with specific suggestions about changes he should make. His activities in the next few months should tell the tale.
Guest
July 28, 2012
I agree that we give the new Director a chance. But a retired judge from a small court (what do they have, 5 judges?) is now in charge of the California judicial branch? He has no ( as in zero) administrative experience but is now the leader of over 20,000 court staff and 2000 judges? Being elected (or maybe appointed) in tiny Shasta and now the branch representative in dealing with the Governor and state legislators? Did he even meet the minimum qualifications of the AOC Director? How will his extensive experience in Shasta courtrooms give him the knowledge of how courtrooms in Los Angeles function? A courtroom is a courtroom right? A clerk is a clerk? A court is a court? I think the cj just showed us again that she is in way over her head.
unionman575
July 28, 2012
Way oover her head!
😉
Curious
July 28, 2012
I understand the sentiment, Guest, but I suggest you must stop thinking of the AOC Director as the “leader” of court staff and judges. He is most definitely NOT that. Nor is the Council.
Hate to keep harping on the law, but see Article VI, section 6(d) for the powers of the Council. Recall, there WAS no AOC until the Council created it. The constitution makes no reference to the AOC, and merely says that the Council “may” appoint an Administrative Director. Do not allow them to set the terms of the debate. Just because they claim power does not mean they legally possess it.
Now, you are quite right on your other points. Jahr seems to have VERY minimal administrative experience. Running a Prop. 36 court in a court with a handful of judges is worth zip. The fact that appears in the AOC press release means they looked in vain for experience, and that is all they could cite.
He is a long-time George insider, and to my knowledge has never uttered a public word criticizing or second guessing Vickrey, CCMS, or any of the usual suspects. His sole foray back into the pubic eye since his retirement was to come out swinging against AB 1208 with specious and speculative “arguments” that attacked the motives of the ACJ, with whom he has had zero contact. The reality is there for all to see. Had he been serious about reform, or been in the loop on the SEC process and favored it, he would have had a prepared statement and released it upon the announcement of his appointment. So far, silence.
Guest
July 28, 2012
My apologies Curious. What I mean is a person in the AOC Director position needs to be a leader in the truest sense of the word. Not lead the day to day of each court but a visible spokesperson who commands respect and is trusted by the branch. Someone who is competent but intuitive to be able to adjust to the times. Someone who has the skills and substance to get the governor and legislature to listen. Someone the judges and employees of the courts in this state can trust to take care of the political statewide business so the rest of us can effectively handle the day to day in the trenches. A skilled and confident advisor to the cj as well as each of the trial courts, as needed.
I apologize because I know this is probably the same definition we all have but haven’t seen in the AOC Director since ???? Let’s just say a very long time.
Jimmy
July 29, 2012
Shasta County has about 12 judicial officers. Hard to tell from their website. While I don’t disagree with some of the concerns posted on this site, he does have some administrative experience, in that he spent four years as his court’s presiding judge. Not a great deal of background given the scope of the position . . . The press release doesn’t say whether that was as a municipal or superior court judge, which may be an intentional omission. I certainly had no illusions that they would select a candidate who would be a reformer. I hope he proves the naysayers wrong – after all, people thought the SEC report would be a whitewash, and that didn’t prove to be the case. Like I said in a previous post, I am willing to keep an open mind and hope for the best. I think we will have a good idea after the first 90 days about whether the change will be for the better. It would certainly be a good start if Jahr gets cracking on implementing the SEC recommendations!
unionman575
July 28, 2012
I am in info gathering and anaylsis mode, as always.
Jahr certainly deserves a good thorough look at his life as a public official. And, I mean thorough.
I am certain JCW and ALL of us will oblige, as we ALL take our duty here with the utmost seriousness and diligence.
When I’m done gathering info from my sources, and each of you from yours, then I’ll announce my intended decsion re the Director designate.
Give me about 3 days. Thanks.
😉
wearyant
July 28, 2012
Unionman575: I wonder if you could find out, how did Jahr become a superior court judge, through election, appointment or as part of the court consolidation of muni into superior court? If it is set out distinctly, I haven’t found it. Thank you, infomaniac! 🙂
Res Ipsa Loquitor
July 28, 2012
In my other persona as “Madame Cleo”, I predict that, in response to a minority of comments (as scripted by the AOC), the SEC will be put in long term parking so as to allow the new Director to settle in — they can try to buy 18-24 months on that one. And then after a couple of years they will announce that everything has changed and the SEC is no longer applicable to the “new, improved” AOC. Madame Cleo would never steer you wrong baby.
unionman575
July 28, 2012
In 18-24 months, they hope the smoke will clear from the mess, and then the “Money Man” Steve Nash can come home to the Death Star. We all know Steve as totally radioactive from his prior dirty money shuffling exploits – but the Chief loves the Money Man. Besides, Nash prefers living in SF, not San Bernardino. Now that would be cozy for him with his wife (NOTE: public record from AOC) working at the JC in a well paid job hooking together paperclips. Would that give the appearance of a conflict? I don’t think I would want to supervise my spouse at work Let me know.
Judicial Council Watcher
July 28, 2012
We’re going to be overly generous in our usual style.
He has until November 8th before we start burning him in effigy on the pages of this blog.
(Obviously UMG’s lawyers are at it again. Embedded youtube video removed (Def Leppard’s ACTION NOT WORDS.) because it can’t be viewed here – suddenly.)
unionman575
July 28, 2012
NIce choice of video…oooooooh I like it!
Michael Paul
July 28, 2012
“And you can take that to the bank.”
unionman575
July 28, 2012
http://sfappeal.com/news/2012/07/new-director-named-for-administrative-office-of-the-courts.php
unionman575
July 28, 2012
http://www.courts.ca.gov/18722.htm
Council Allocates Funding for Trial Courts
FOR RELEASE
Contact: Leanne Kozak, 916-263-2838
July 27, 2012
Judicial Council Allocates Funding for Trial Courts
San Francisco—The Judicial Council today made some significant decisions on how to absorb $544 million in cuts to the judicial branch this fiscal year.
Council members approved the following recommendations that were presented by the Trial
Court Budget Working Group, which includes 30 presiding judges and court executive officers from throughout the state:
• $1.74 billion of baseline funding for trial courts for 2012–2013, including $3.6 million for non-sheriff security costs.
• $9.2 million in funding to support parole revocation hearings in the trial courts, based on anticipated workload.
• $385 million in reductions to the trial courts, as required by the 2012 Budget Act.
The Judicial Council also approved what each court will be required to contribute to the statewide reserve fund for unavoidable funding shortfalls, unforeseen emergencies or unanticipated expenses.
In other Judicial Council business:
Council members also unanimously approved an allocation of the $50 million appropriated by the Legislature for court facilities modifications for FY 2012–2013, as recommended by the Trial Court Facility Modification Working Group and the Court Facilities Working Group.
“While an increase from last year, this funding level is insufficient to meet ongoing and increasing needs within the branch’s approximately 500 buildings across the state” said Judge David Edwin Power of the Superior Court of Solano County, who chairs the Trial Court Facility Modification Working Group.
The Council also unanimously approved a revised and updated policy for prioritizing facility modifications.
unionman575
July 28, 2012
JCW – you have mail.
unionman575
July 28, 2012
Shudder — Look for an even more enhanced from the JC/AOC Palace Guard – OERS Unit (Office of Emergency Response and Security) under the new boss…
“Since his 2009 retirement, Judge Jahr has continued to serve as a volunteer to his former court concerning its courthouse construction project. He also has served on working groups overseen by the Judicial Council, including the Emergency Response and Security Task Force.”
http://www.courts.ca.gov/18716.htm
Click to access oers.pdf
courtflea
July 28, 2012
Guest, you took the words right out of my mouth. The choice of Judge Jahr (or do we call him Mr. Jahr) I figure after sleeping on this, was to hopefully silence or at least tone down most judges figuring they will not attack one of their own.
Guest
July 28, 2012
I think you are dead on. The cj and JC think just that. But judges are not public administrators nor should they be. They are elected per the Constitution to judge, as in the courtroom. Judges go to law school to become judges. Head clerks go to college to become administrators. The PJ dictates the courts policy, the head clerk carries it out. How did our new head administrator learn to run a branch, much less an agency? His one rotation through his family law assignment? Can’t wait to hear how is extensive time in Shasta sways the governor and legislators to fix the branch budget. The cj and council think we are too stupid to not see that we want an administrator, a leader. Not a judge to save the judicial branch.
JusticeCalifornia
July 28, 2012
It would be one thing if Shasta County had been a model of administrative excellence for the state. But, after 20 -plus years of Jahr’s involvement here, it clearly is not. I selfishly hope it becomes a model of excellence now that Jahr is director, but right now, it is not.
JusticeCalifornia
July 28, 2012
BTW, Shasta’s Judge Stephen Baker is named on the 2011-2012 board of the National Center for State Courts, which was one of the reasons I thought he could be under consideration.
I wonder what lawyer/administrator Alan Carlson, who has spent his professional life studying court administration, thinks about the selection of Jahr as top AOC dawg.
Also, I am obliged to point out the logical inconsistency of putting out for rolling public comment the SEC recommendations, even including such things as eliminating an AOC lawyer being paid $10,000 to telecommute from Switzerland, while the selection of a new director was done in secret, without discussion, input or feedback from anyone other than the Judicial Council. Really?
unionman575
July 28, 2012
http://www.sacbee.com/2012/07/28/4668391/california-finance-departments.html
courtflea
July 28, 2012
again Guest you are on it. This selection is a slap in the face to administrators in the sttate. what next no CEOs on the JC? I realize they are non voting members but they do bring the administrative perspective to the JC. Especiially important now that the Dirkector has no administrative experience along with HRH 2. Looking forward to the ACJ comments on this appointment
JusticeCalifornia
July 28, 2012
Guest and courtflea you are both on it. After giving this some more thought, I think I understand what has happened and why. Ron George picked a malleable successor cj with a decidedly average educational and professional background and no administrative experience or political skills who presented well defending Team George during a short TV clip. She in turn just picked a retired judge with a decidedly average professional background and no administrative experience but who publicly wrote a nice piece supporting her “personal hill” to be the top administrator for the largest judiciary in the Western World. What do these two now have in common? THEY ARE COMPLETELY DEPENDENT UPON TEAM GEORGE FOR GUIDANCE IN “LEADING” THE BIGGEST JUDICIARY IN THE WESTERN WORLD.
I am no Madame Cleo, but I predict that given their historic malleability and shocking combined lack of administrative experience, Sakauye and Jahr are considered perfect puppets through whom Team George can remain employed indefinitely while exerting tight control over the branch – and branch information.
Democratize the Judicial Council.
wearyant
July 28, 2012
I have a question. Was Steven Jahr elected/appointed to superior court or was he automatically elevated when all municipal courts were combined with superior courts in that California proposition/initiative I voted against many years ago? Many court bureaucrats were thrilled, excited and celebrated at that time. I watched court admin lull the court interpreters into a false sense of security and happy acquiescence with their lies of how the pencil-heads understood how valuable interpreters are to justice and how they would be treated fairly, how their contribution to justice in court and on the sidelines was respected, they would be taken care of (translation: gimme your income stream). And here we are.
unionman575
July 29, 2012
elevated
Judicial Council Watcher
July 28, 2012
Sometimes you (well… we…) look at intel reports about various tidbits of information.
At about the same date and time an event occurred relating to Jahr, the same event happened to Terry Friedman. I so wish I could be more specific but press intelligence is a dirty business.
That’s puzzling because Friedman just accepted a two year gig. Could he be the soon to be announced chief deputy director to try and appease the 800 lb gorilla with – and I mean no disrespect – one that the AOC perceives to be one of L.A.’s own?
What would you think about having Terry Friedman as the Chief Deputy Director of the AOC?
🙂
Judicial Council Watcher
July 28, 2012
Gee, I hope that thumbs down is with respect to what you think about Friedman!
L.A. Observer
July 28, 2012
I can tell you that few Judges with whom I have contact in L.A. think of Judge Friedman as their own. He is generally viewed as a self-promoting politician looking out for himself and never supporting the L.A. P.J. He was thought to be in the pocket of CJ George and Vickrey and did everything to strengthen their goal of total centralized control of all trial courts to the great detriment of his own court. Even when he was CJA President he was thought of as a pawn of the AOC by his fellow judges.
unionman575
July 29, 2012
It’s a possibility.
And, I might puke.
JusticeCalifornia
July 28, 2012
Ah. The calm before the storm. Fasten your seat belts, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.
The politics behind what is going down are gonna shake down.. They say you want a revolution. . . . .the political air in the judicial branch is so thick you could cut it with a knife.
JusticeCalifornia
July 28, 2012
In case you didn’t notice, Jahr’s appointment was our arrogant barmaid’s latest F###-YOU to the ACJ and all of those in favor of branch reform. She just can’t help herself. She likes saying F### YOU to anyone and everyone who questions “her” power. Don’t y’all get it? To assuage her ego, she just appointed someone with NO administrative experience (but who said F### YOU to the ACJ) to the TOP judicial administrative job in the state. And, like her predecessor before her, her ego is taking the branch down with her. . . .
unionman575
July 29, 2012
Justice you sound like me!
LOL
😉
JusticeCalifornia
July 28, 2012
And I am going to call out Justice Scotland now.
Do you REALLY think Jahr’s CV qualifies him for the top judicial branch administrative position in the state? Let’s get real. You REALLY think that? You REALLY think the branch scored a grand slam home run in getting someone with NO administrative experience appointed as the TOP judicial branch administrator? Damn, once again I feel like Alice in Wonderland. What is everybody smoking?
Wendy Darling
July 28, 2012
It’s all about protecting and preserving Ron George’s “legacy,” Justice California. Of whom, the current Chief Justice is the biggest fan and protector of “The House That George Built” — her own words.
Like Ant, I am weary — of being disgusted.
Long live the ACJ.
wearyant
July 28, 2012
Yes, Wendy Darling, you know the true meaning of the word “weary” that I was thinking of. I am so weary after three decades of watching this debacle … powerless to do anything about it. I may just crawl back into the ant hill to save myself … I am so weary observing these greedy bastards who lust for power benefit time after time …
Judicial Council Watcher
July 28, 2012
There’s a new sheriff in town trying to keep them honest. It hasn’t changed their behavior much but we ensure that when they sneeze, the entire judicial branch and the legislature catches cold and takes notice. Armed with this knowledge, it is up to good people like yourselves to bring this battle to their doorstep and leave it there until you win.
Our job is to give you an equal footing in the media and to neutralize the ministry of truth’s propaganda machine. We’re only doing our part so that you have the capability of successfully doing your part. Two years, over 400 posts and over 10,200 comments, millions of reads – and a rapidly turning tide and hopefully soon, we won’t have any reason to exist. To borrow a line from the obama campaign: People like Jahr are not the answer. They’re part of the problem. And we’re in total agreement with JC and others – his CV is a little slim to be taking on this task. But he is a former judge and I’m afraid that all will give him the same decorum and respect of a standing judge and the revolution gets stalled. Our inbox had a prediction in it that said the JC just bought themselves two years with appointing a former judge and co-architect of the current dysfunction.
How many people see that besides us and calls bullshit is where the rubber meets the road.
unionman575
July 29, 2012
Crack.
courtflea
July 28, 2012
I am so glad we are not getting folks commenting here that are offended easily 🙂
We can’t quit being disgusted. Oh we may puke over all of this. But it is us, all of us, ACJ and JCW that have made a difference. Right on brothas and sistas, lets get to the legislative reps and keep the ball rolling. Yeah, give Jahr a chance certianly, but if we don’t see big changes real quick, screw him and the horse he rode in on. We will keep up the fight for change and a democratic JC.
And pleeze don’t call him Judge Jahr. He is now a private citizen and the new Dirketor.
Wendy Darling
July 28, 2012
Can we call him Jahr Head?
wearyant
July 28, 2012
NO! Don’t denigrate the Marines! NO! He’s not fitting to be called that!
Wendy Darling
July 28, 2012
Not “Jarhead”, Flea.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/oddstuff/7362581/Dog-reports-jar-head-cat-at-large
Long live the ACJ.
disgusted
July 29, 2012
The door has definitely been left Ajar.
JusticeCalifornia
July 29, 2012
All kidding aside, we will all soon experience the jahr-ing aftereffects of this appointment.
unionman575
July 29, 2012
I have a thick skin.
😉
The OBT
July 28, 2012
J Jahr may be a decent guy but what qualifications does he have to run the current administrative arm of the court. Being presiding judge of a 5 judge court doesn’t cut it. The reality is that he is one more Ronald George loyalist who revised history with his claim that his committee back in 1998 somehow created a trial court bill of rights. Sorry but that didn’t happen as the growth of the AOC demonstrates. Wendy is right- the protection of Ronald George’s legacy is apparently the priority within the confines of the crystal palace. The irony of course is that the legacy went up in smoke with the CCMS mess, and the financial disaster the courts find themselves in right now. The timing of J Jahr’s appointment is also fascinating as this will be J Miller’s and the JC’s next excuse for delaying the adoption of the SEC report. You can’t make any of this stuff up. Really.
unionman575
July 29, 2012
unionman575
July 29, 2012
Next JC meeting:
Thursday August 30, and
Friday August 31
http://www.courts.ca.gov/jcmeetings.htm
http://www.pbs.org/arts/gallery/circus-exhibit/circus-singing-in-the-rain/
Courtney House
July 29, 2012
Wow! What a shocker! A retired judge from a small California
court as the director of the World’s largest court system — a
court sytem embroiled in turmoil, scandal, and financial ruins?
What are his qualifications? With all due respect to Judge Jahr,
this is a monumental task and responsibility.
I should note that from my experience with Judge Jahr, which was
very limited, he appears to be a nice enough fellow and a good
jurist. However, I would wonder what would entice a retired judge
to seek/accept such a position. Did he apply or was he solicited?
In any event, in a former life (before I worked in the Judicial
Branch), I would have been called a “Pollyanna.” Well, no more!
What I’ve seen since I’ve been associated with this branch would
make a compelling John Grisham novel — except that no one would
believe it!
Can’t wait to see if Jody and Curt retreat to Sacramento. Will
Judge Jahr appoint an Assistant Director? That will be very
telling. Things aren’t going well for Clark Kelso, maybe there’s a
new job for him in the offing?
So many questions, so few answers….
Judicial Council Watcher
July 29, 2012
unnamed sources tell us that Kelso isn’t interested. He likes his cushy job working for Henderson. Those same sources tell us that Jahr was a second choice; a person that was well respected by many, turned down the job and that it was neither Carlson or Nash.
Welcome to JCW. 🙂
Been There
July 29, 2012
Interesting that the top candidate turned down the job — either the job conditions as offered were not acceptable, or the leading candidate did not apply, but was asked to serve.
It would be interesting to know who actually applied for the position.
Dan Dydzak
July 29, 2012
It would be interesting to know the selection process for the new AOC chief. He is apparently closely alligned to the Judicial Council, past and present, and a close confrere of the Georges and CJ Tani. If the AOC does not change, it may be necessary for the legislature to abolish it or cut off its funding.
FYI, in my lawsuit, DYDZAK V. DUNN, most motions in the case, including the receivership motion, have been continued to August 30, 2012. I was obligated unfortunately to file a disqualification verified declaration/statement because the trial judge, Gregory Munoz, did not divulge numerous conflicts of interest, including that his sister, retired Judge Frances Munoz, is good personal friend with Carlos Moreno. Judge Munoz did serve for a number of years on the Judicial Council. My verified disqualification statement and declaration, although filed on July 26, 2012, has mysteriously NOT been put on the docket for public review. I am alleging that, unfortunately, the clerk’s office in my case did not randomly select Judge Munoz but it was “fixed” to go to him. Munoz has too many personal ties to material witnesses and parties to be fair and impartial, but he did not reveal beforehand these conflicts.
Ronald M. George’s response to the lawsuit is due on or about August 8. He is being represented by the Attorney General of California now, and those attorneys claim he was not served. He was. I may have to apply for his default. His son’s attorneys have illegally redacted numerous pages of a pleading without prior court approval to hide informaton from public consumption. It turns out that Kamala Harris, Esq. and her assistant, Peter Krause, Esq. have failed to return 560 million to Governor Brown from the mortgage crisis fund, and questions arise as to whether they themselves personally converted or misappropriated monies from said fund.
Judicial Council Watcher, as always, is doing a good job. Keep up the fine work.
anna
August 1, 2012
Why is the AG representing George. The AG is only allowed to represent members of a State Agency, and under the Govt. Code, the judiciary is not, and cannot be considered a state agency.
anna
August 1, 2012
See Cal Govt. Code section 6252. It clearly states the judiciary is not a state agency. Hello………….?
Nathaniel Woodhull
July 29, 2012
Great comments everybody! 🙂
JCW, sadly you are correct in your assessment. First, Mr. Jahr may be a “nice guy” but he his hopelessly unqualified to be the Director of the AOC. Some folks have given HRH-2 way too much credit, it is now transparent that HRH-1 is still calling many of the shots within the Crystal Palace and Jahr’s selection is evidence of that. Jahr was one of the top-five cheerleaders for HRH-1 and his efforts to take-over the Judicial Branch. Mr. Jahr has been caught in a distortion field with reference to his “recollections” of what took place during the drafting and passage of the Trial Court Funding Act of 1997. If you notice, Chief Justice Sakauye will not appoint judges to the Council and/or other important positions if they have a depth and breadth of knowledge. As she pointed out a few months ago, newer judges are so much easier to deal with. WHY??? Because the totalitarian regime within the Crystal Palace brilliantly took over the education functions of the CJA, including New Judge Orientation (NJO). Sometime around 1999, Vickrey, Overholt and Chief Justice George made the brilliant decision to change the curriculum of NJO. New judicial officers were “trained” to believe that HRH-1 was “in charge” of the Branch and that essentially they (judges) worked for him and the AOC. Each new judge/commissioner was ushered in to the depth of the Crystal Palace for a photo-op with HRH-1 and Vickrey/Overholt at the end of NJO. “True believers” were identified and immediately placed on the path to promotion. Ever ask yourself why starting around 2000 all the old “instructors” at the NJO were replaced with new and improved models? It was because of the “new curriculum” (Gee this is starting to sound like Scientology… The CJP has become what L. Ron Hubbard created in 1966 with the WorldWide Guardian Office. Let’s make sure that we chill the “free speech” of any judges who might stand up to the powers at be.)
So now HRH-2 has surrounded herself with either the few remaining “true believers” from the old generation or new judges that don’t have much of any experience or who don’t know any better. This certainly makes for an environment geared to reach decisions based upon open and candid discussions now doesn’t it????
Jody Patel was installed as “Interim Director” in February 2012. I am sure that by now she has “vested” into this new position such that her retirement compensation will be based upon the Director’s salary and benefits. For a few laughs, read the “unedited transcript” of the Judicial Council’s business meeting on February 28, 2012 to see how things have changed. At her introduction to the Council as the newly appointed Interim Director, Jody Patel set forth her “priorities” in that capacity. 1) Support Chief and Council in restoring budget in 2012-13; 2) Plan for budget reductions within the AOC; 3) align the branch wide initiatives such as CCMS as well as the facility projects as your direction with the Judicial Council and ensure that we support you in your direction with regard to all those branch wide activities(???); 4) “I think it’s important for the AOC to begin to prepare for the report from the strategic evaluation committee. Our understanding is that will be forthcoming to the council in early April. The SEC report will make recommendations, we believe, that we have to address long before a new permanent director may be appointed by the council and so it’s important for the AOC while we’re undergoing the budget restriction drill to look at how we’re structured and how we can better be streamlined and then sync our efforts together with the recommendations that the SCC (sic – SEC) may provide to the council”; 5) “Lastly, I think it’s very, very important that we maintain productivity and moral at the AOC.”
Apart from supporting the Chief and Council, I guess Jody changed her “priorities” on her own since February.
Nothing of any further of consequence will take place within the AOC (toward reforms) until Mr. Jahr is installed as Director. Then he will need a year to two to “get up to speed” before any meaningful changes can even be discussed. Bottom line, there are no plans for change on the horizon; at least change coming from within the AOC or JC.
We all need to keep focused.
1) Change within the Judicial Branch will only come from legislative action; and,
2) The Judicial Council must be democratized; and,
3) JCW must continue to maintain its vitally important role. Public comment is essential in efforts toward positive changes within the Branch.
All trial judges need to keep in mind that they serve the people in the local political subdivisions, i.e. the electorate that put them and keeps them in office every six years. Last time I looked, the CJ and JC don’t directly appoint lawyers to become judges nor do they retain/re-elect them. (Although Ronald George came pretty close to appointing all appellate justices under the deference granted him by Schwarzenegger)
Stay focused my friends.
b
July 29, 2012
All your comments have really been thought provoking. Ant, I think you may be correct in surmising Jahr was a last minute draft. And I would surmise that would have happened when the favored applicant carried too much baggage.
I think Jahr is a realist and knows he has limited administrative experience. The “sell” was probably “Don’t worry, we have people here who know the ropes and they will help you out”.
Which brings us back to the man behind the curtain. The one who controls the CJ and now the new Administrative Director. Who are these people? (There has to be more than one). I think getting their names out in public would be very instructive. There is more going on, as we all know, than just protecting Ron George’s legacy. Credible allegations have been made of illegal activities within the AOC. Cui bono?
JusticeCalifornia
July 29, 2012
JCW, I know you think a slew of people in the branch are going to say Jahr’s appointment is the greatest thing since sliced bread.
Let’s remember the fairy tale about the Emperor’s new clothes.
I don’t know Jahr– he may be pleasant, he may have been a decent judge in his time, but the bottom line is Jahr’s CV and track record with respect to his own court’s administration simply do not support this appointment. The sobering reality for those who have been giving top leadership the benefit of the doubt is that in this time of crisis, two unqualified non-administrators are in charge of administration of the biggest judiciary in the Western World.
The branch is now left to hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.
Democratize the Judicial Council. We need strong, forward thinking leaders in positions of power on the Council.
JusticeCalifornia
July 29, 2012
In the spirit of hoping for the best, on December 9, 2011, Jahr said with respect to the ACJ’s “allegations of waste and inefficiency on the part of the Judicial Council and Administrative Office of the Courts”:
“As for the present allegations offered by these judges, I will be the first to say I have no first hand information to offer. My involvement in budgeting matters took place in the 1990’s, and a decade has gone by since I served on the Judicial Council myself. But I do know that as one of her first initiatives, our Chief Justice established a Strategic Evaluation Committee to assess the operations of the AOC, top to bottom, which will necessarily examine the assertions raised by these judges. Such an inventory and assessment is wholesome and it is due. Furthermore, the Chief Justice appointed retired Justice Arthur Scotland to chair that effort. The conclusions and recommendations reached by a committee so guided will be unflinching and they will be thorough. It is by those means that the present allegations can be addressed in a way that most benefits the public we serve.”
Let’s hope and expect that Jahr walks his talk.
courtflea
July 29, 2012
Hi Courtney House! welcome to Pollyannas annonymous.
Excellent historical points Woodhull. How soon we forget. The AOC has been performing the same brainwashing techniques on new CEOs (sans photo op). Especially now with their new Judicial “administration” program at SACTO state, with a faculty full of kool aid drinkers.
Justice CA, Mr. J heads comments will just be considered “a snapshot in time” and based on “apperances”. Once Direktor, he will know dismiss his remarks as such.
Maybe Madame Cleo will back me up on this one: if Patel’s kid is out of medical school, she will be gone next year.
Guest
July 29, 2012
So has anyone heard if Jahr is going to defer his judges retirement while he gets his Director salary? Or his going to double dip? The governor loves public employees who double dip.
unionman575
July 29, 2012
Double dip.
unionman575
July 29, 2012
http://www.sb-court.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=iHhlW0cXAJ0%3d&tabid=40&mid=395
disgusted
July 29, 2012
Effective October 1, 2012, the public service hours for the Needles District clerk’s office will be
8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday during the second full week of each month and
8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Thursday during the second full week of each month. The Needles District
clerk’s office will be closed on all other days.
Talk about expecting employees to do more with less! If this is going to be the pattern of cuts up and down the state, the system may just collapse from the bottom (front line workers) up toot sweet.
Wendy Darling
July 29, 2012
The system alreayd is collapsing from the bottom up, Disgusted.
That’s why we’re all here.
Long live the ACJ.
disgusted
July 29, 2012
Believe me, Wendy Darling, I know this all too well. I was in the L.A. June 15, 2012 group to go. What I’m saying is they may not have to keep laying off workers; the workers may just walk away to get out from under the already unreal expectations.
Wendy Darling
July 29, 2012
True enough.
Long live the ACJ.
courtflea
July 29, 2012
Disgusted, CEOs in some of these larger counties have been salivating (rightly or wrongly) to close branch courts for years :Fresno, San Berdu, Riverside, oh and Jody’s closing of a branch court when she was the CEO in SACTO. Unionman, you can find the articles on that debacle. This budget provides an excellent vehicle to carry those types of missions out.
In regards to double dippping, retired judges have been able to double dip for years as assigned judges or “private” judges. Apparently through the “scholar in residence” program they can double dip in other capacities as well. This sounds like a great investigative article the SACTO Bee or the San Jose Mercury News or Maria?? about double dipping. If anyone has contacts in the media, a tip off would be most appropriate here. Whoops, maybe not, I just realized that judges may not want that can of worms opened. Again, maybe this is why J. head was appointed. The more I think about this it all becomes clearer.
unionman575
July 29, 2012
Steve Nash talks a lot in this media piece…
http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_21132501/closing-chino-courthouse-just-one-step-among-cutbacks
Closing Chino courthouse just one step among cutbacks in store for San Bernardino County’s court system
Canan Tasci, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/22/2012 07:04:35 AM PDT
CHINO – Furlough and hiring freezes alone couldn’t save the Chino courthouse from closure.
San Bernardino County Superior Court announced the court will shut its doors on Jan. 1 as part of a significant court budget shortfall – $13.5 million this year, growing to $21 million annually thereafter.
The decision was only one of several steps in an attempt to reduce the deficit.
“The difficulty is how are we going to get to the level of cuts that we’re facing the next two years,” said Stephen Nash, the court’s executive officer.
“Yeah, you could have cut less, but that saves you less, and that just means that you’ll have to have to (cut) more somewhere else.
“It really defines dilemma. And dilemma is where each option is bad and in this case we have many options that are all bad. The question is which is going to hurt the least and how are we going to do it in a way that minimizes the impact to the public and other agencies. That really is what drives our leadership in terms of making these decision.”
Effective Jan. 1, cases being heard in the Chino courthouse at at 13260 Central Ave. will most likely be transferred to Rancho Cucamonga or Fontana, and it is estimated the closure will result in the reduction of at least 15 positions countywide, according to a court news release.
Officials announced on July 13 partial closure of the clerk’s office in Needles, cutback in hours for the clerk’s offices countywide and reduction of administrative staff by three positions.
It is estimated the Chino court closure will save the system $1.7 million, a savings which barely scratches the surface of a system that costs $107 million to operate each year.
Presiding Judge Ronald Christianson assigned a working group of judicial leaders to look at various cost-saving options for the court. The decisions made so far represent the beginning of more reductions to come.
“I don’t want to say this is the first wave and then five minutes later there’s another. There’s lots of things we’re looking at right now. We are also involved in collective bargaining and negotiation with the intent to try to find ways to reduce the cost overall,” Nash said.
“But there is no way we’re going to get to it just though that, we’re going to have to consolidate operations and do (other) things so this was just the first wave.”
Overall, the court system has been reducing its costs the last couple years, but Nash admits officials had “no idea the full scale of cuts that awaited us.”
Officials implemented a hiring freeze and monthly furloughs. With some exceptions, yearly salary increase was reduced from 5 percent to 2.5 percent.
Nash said even those cuts have had only a small effect.
“The problem is we need substantially more savings. We have to look at items that are going to produce savings. And we still have a long ways to go, that’s the problem,” he said.
The Chino courthouse has 21 employees and the county Sheriff’s Department has six bailiffs there, Nash said.
Keep in mind, Nash said, like most public agencies, the court has collective bargaining and contract employees with varying seniorities.
“There are a lot of moving pieces that will determine what’s going to happen to specific employees. This is just the first step, a very important first step,” he said.
Supervising judges and managers and district managers will all weigh in and figure out the details. Part of that is to figure out what will happen to individual employees in this process.
Nash said the impact of the Chino closure is estimated at 15 positions court-wide.
One of the challenges for this court, which is more than 20 years old, is that it’s under-used, Nash said.
“It’s not easy anywhere, but this court is very difficult,” Nash said.
Out of the 481,599 court cases in 2011, 26,261 came from the Chino courthouse, said Chris Volkers, assistant court executive officer.
“That’s 5.45 percent of the case load in Chino,” she said, adding 70 percent of the cases are traffic related.
At Needles, the other courthouse that is reducing the clerk’s office hours, 96 percent of its case load is traffic.
“Those are some of the things that we took into consideration when we talked about it,” Volkers said. “Also remember, with traffic tickets, it’s often people who are driving through the area. It’s not necessarily residents of the area.”
Nash said there is often a misconception of how the court system works and how they collect money.
The court collects fees and fines consistent with state statues and almost all of that is distributed to other agencies or the state.
“It’s not like we’re a business where you have the cash register running and you have all this money that’s your revenue,” he said.
“Our revenue is mostly provided from the state, and most of the money that comes from traffic tickets, a vast majority doesn’t stay in the court.”
Assistant Presiding Judge Marsha Slough said they are having to reinvent how they provide justice in the county and how they do business.
“It is daunting on many fronts because we have a constitutional duty to make sure that we are able to comply with that constitutional duty and at the same time we have to be able to do it within the confines of the money that is provided to us,” said Slough, who is also on the judicial working group.
She said it is daunting locally and at the statewide level, and those are two very difficult fronts to be battling at the same time.
“It’s tough and it’s sad because you know that every time you close a courtroom or courthouse you’re impacting a family’s ability to obtain justice in some fashion,” Slough said.
“And on a personal level it is equally sad and difficult because our court is very close and it has a huge impact to our court family. Knowing that we will be doing more with less and saying goodbye to family members that we’ve worked and lived with for a long time – it’s a very difficult part of the process as well.”
This number goes out to you Mr. Money Man Steve Nash:
unionman575
July 29, 2012
Money Man Steve Nash Part 2:
http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_21132494/chino-court-closure-likely-increase-work-at-nearby
Chino court closure likely to increase work at nearby courts
Neil Nisperos, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/22/2012 07:04:26 AM PDT
The closure of the Chino courthouse is expected to increase workload and operations at the other nearby courts in the San Bernardino County Superior Court system, but the details on how exactly have yet to be determined, officials said.
The system announced July13 that the Chino courthouse on Central Avenue would close effective Jan. 1 due to budgetary issues.
“That would result in some increase but exactly what that increase is, we’re going to have to take a courtwide look into how the cases are assigned and processed, but it’s probably a fair guess that there will be an increase overall to Fontana and Rancho,” said Stephen Nash, court executive officer.
“It’s premature to say what the specifics are.”
The county court system is facing a $13.5million shortfall this fiscal year, and a $20 million to $21 million shortfall annually in subsequent fiscal years. The court is also facing $14 million to $18 million in additional cuts to its reserve.
“The level of cuts that this court is experiencing is unprecedented and simply staggering,” Nash said.
Cost-saving measures systemwide include a partial closure or reductions of clerk office hours and a cutback in court administration workforce.
The county’s court system has already closed courthouses in Twin Peaks and Redlands, two juvenile traffic courtrooms, and one juvenile delinquency courtroom.
With 71 authorized judges and 15 commissioners, the court system has only 57percent of the judicial officers it needs, officials said. The California chief justice has assigned retired judges to the court to help with caseloads, but the court has been required to provide staffing and other resources to support the assigned judges.
Officials said these reductions are limiting the ability to continue to provide staff to support courtrooms that remain open.
“There is going to be a workload impact on our courthouses,” Nash said. “These are impacts that will have to be determined as we proceed.”
Reach Neil via email, call him at 909-483-9356, or find him on Twitter @InlandGov.
Lando
July 29, 2012
Thanks Woodhull for that excellent analysis . It pretty much summarizes perfectly where things went off the tracks and why we need the change you recommend. I found J Jahr’s comments fascinating regarding the SEC report. Sounds like nothing is going to be implemented anytime soon. Since no one was buying the need for J Miller to study the SEC report to death the new default position will be that we need our new Bill V to take all the time he needs to carefully study the myriad of recommendations made by the SEC. As for the Chino courthouse closure I agree that these kind of cutbacks are horrible for the local courts their employees and the citizens who have had their access to their courts cut off. In Mr Nash’s case it is particularly ironic as wasn’t he the money man at the crystal palace when spending ran out of control on CCMS, manager perks , the telecommuting European lawyer and pretty much everything the AOC was spending money on ? It really is fascinating that no one in top management who patrols or has patrolled the dark hallways of 455 Golden Gate ever makes the connection between the damage the financial wreckage they have created and the huge adverse impact it is now having on the citizens we are sworn to serve. The legislature needs to act. The Judicial Council needs to be democratized so we can save the branch.
Wendy Darling
July 29, 2012
“The legislature needs to act.”
Yep. No truer words were ever spoken.
Long live the ACJ.
JusticeCalifornia
July 30, 2012
Yes. Democratizing the judicial council is apparently the only way to infuse some sense into branch leadership. Well, that and a recall or impeachment. . . .
The fact that Cantil Sakauye and her henchpeople redacted SEC comments to remove the names of two very compromised players operating in the family court system with immense power to harm families and children (Shasta County/Jahr’s very own Jack Halpin –whom Sakauye continues to re-assign every 30-60 days–and Fraga, who has trained court personnel) tells me that she continues to have no compunction about throwing families and children under the bus, and then taking whatever measures are necessary to cover up the bloody mess . None whatsoever. Speaking of throwing parents and children under the bus—where is the report the Judicial Council asked for two years regarding best practices for retention of Family Court Services child custody evidence? I wonder if the AOC has advised Sonoma County to cleanse its Family Court Services files, to rid itself of all evidence related to Fraga?
JusticeCalifornia
July 30, 2012
http://www.metnews.com/articles/2012/jahr073012.htm