Remember those 35 or so people let go from the AOC?
I’m sure that you would be amazed, yet not surprised to learn that everyone was fired with cause.
They then are reminded that being fired from the AOC will result in them not qualifying for unemployment benefits.
“But if you sign this here non-disclosure agreement and agree to waive all causes of action, we will change your termination to a layoff and give you a few thousand dollars and you will qualify for unemployment benefits, it’s your choice.”
During the termination ceremony, which has employees getting ambushed in conference rooms, they are fired for anything the AOC can pull out of the air, presented with the lose/lose situation above and then immediately escorted out of the building.
That my friends is extortion and it is unlawful.
We ask AOC employees to verify for themselves that these events are occurring. DO NOT BELIEVE YOUR MANAGEMENT. We waited until we got a third related message confirming this is what is happening before making this post because we were in disbelief ourselves.
Added: A fourth in the comments below from a former employee that put his name to the allegation.
________________________________________________________
From: Cantil-Sakauye, Tani
Sent: Friday, July 27, 2012 4:13 PM
To: AOC Users-All (you still haven’t changed this mailing list name?)
Subject: Appointment of Administrative Director of the Courts
AOC Employees:
I am very pleased to share with you that today the Judicial Council unanimously approved the appointment of Judge Steven Jahr (Ret.), as the new Administrative Director of the Courts for California, effective October 8, 2012.
Following an extensive nationwide recruitment and interview process utilizing a professional search firm starting last fall, and led by a representative group of Judicial Council members, Judge Jahr who retired from the Shasta Superior Court emerged as the ideal choice for this critical leadership position for the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) as the staff arm to the Judicial Council. The Judicial branch will be well served by the depth of his experience—22 years as a trial court judge, including four years as a presiding judge, and as a leader in statewide judicial branch initiatives. Those who have worked with Judge Jahr have consistently remarked on the strength of his character, his integrity, his ability to listen, and his openness to new ideas.
Judge Jahr is passionate about the law and about the administration of justice. He has a clear understanding of the administrative challenges and opportunities for the judicial branch and the AOC. His combination of judicial experience and administrative qualities make him uniquely qualified for this position. I know that Judge Jahr will be accorded the respect he has earned within our branch and that he will embrace the opportunity to work with all of you to preserve and improve our system of justice.
The members of the Judicial Council and I welcome Judge Jahr’s enthusiastic acceptance of this statewide leadership position and we look forward to working with him in his new role. The news release announcing his appointment and providing more detail on his professional career is attached.
Judge Jahr plans to take an active role in this transitional time before he officially takes over the directorship in October. I want to acknowledge and express my great respect and appreciation to Jody Patel who has agreed to continue to serve as Interim Director and to assist with the transition.
I look forward with great optimism to partnering with Judge Jahr, and appreciate all of your continuing hard work on behalf of the Judicial Council, the judicial branch, and the people of California.
Tani Cantil-Sakauye
Chief Justice of California
Chair of the Judicial Council
____________________________________________________
From: Patel, Jody
Sent: Thursday, July 26, 2012 3:09 PM
To: AOC Users-All
Subject: Executive Office Update: AOC Workforce Reduction
Colleagues:
With final, year-end staffing figures confirmed, on Tuesday we issued a news release highlighting a staffing reduction of 277 for the AOC since the beginning of the past fiscal year through layoffs, voluntary separations, and retirements (http://www.courts.ca.gov/18699.htm).
As a result of this major workforce reduction, we’ve lost many valued professionals who contributed a great deal to the AOC’s work on behalf of the Judicial Council. Due to the size of this staff reduction and because it’s important for us to know who is no longer here and providing services at the AOC, I’m sharing with you the list of regular employees who left public service with the AOC during that time. (Agency temps and contractors are not included.) The list underscores the loss of talent and experience for the judicial branch, but also the challenge we’re dealing with in terms of meeting critical programmatic, operational, and service needs with a smaller workforce.
With fewer staff and fiscal resources to handle ongoing workload, we will be continuing to reassess priorities and required organizational realignments. Our most immediate priority is to manage a cumulative budget reduction of more than $30 million, and an additional cumulative cut of $10.3 million to the Judicial Branch Facility Program budget. The directors and I are committed to doing this in the most effective and efficient way possible. Our goal is to continue to fulfill our mandate to serve the Chief Justice, the Judicial Council, the courts, and the public by contributing to the preservation and improvement of the statewide administration of justice.
At the branch level, our most pressing priorities are in helping courts manage their budget reductions to maintain access to the courts for all justice system stakeholders. At the local level, with more requests for assistance coming in from resource-strapped courts, we’re dealing with the reality of a slowdown in AOC response times as well as the forced suspension of some direct and indirect services to courts. For example:
- Staff is currently supporting 22 trial courts in labor negotiations. Timelines for negotiations services have grown;
- Judicial and court employee education programs have been reduced providing fewer opportunities for multidisciplinary interaction and collaboration among judicial officers and court staff. Most judicial institutes have shifted from one per year to every-other year, reducing live, face-to-face education for experienced judges by 50 percent;
- Help is no longer available to small and medium size courts with their Public Information Officer needs, except to play a high-level consulting role;
- Fewer resources are being created for the self-help website to answer commonly asked questions, and updates to the Spanish language site are delayed;
- For the Judicial Personal Security Internet Removal Program, no resources are available to meet demand other than for judges who are under threat and for new assigned judges. This will cause 3,000 judicial officers and family members to lose the foothold they have had in elimination of their personal information from the Internet;
- Cutbacks in assistance to support data collection requirements will mean that courts will need to dedicate more time to meeting legislative mandates for data and quality control checks and reporting, e.g., cost-benefit studies of DUI and mental health courts have been suspended; and
- Replacement of the Appellate Court Appointed Counsel system, which processes approximately 15,000 court appointed counsel invoices for approximately $37 million per year, will experience delays due to the elimination of positions.
As we focus on further operational changes in the coming months, these are the types of issues that we will need to address to remain as responsive as possible to the Chief Justice, the Judicial Council, the courts, and the public. Concurrent with these efforts, we will be taking direction from and working with the Judicial Council to implement changes stemming from recommendations of the Strategic Evaluation Committee.
This is a difficult environment, but we are moving ahead. I want to again express my great appreciation to you all for your sustained professionalism and commitment in supporting the Judicial Council and the courts as we work together to address the challenges confronting California’s justice system.
Jody
Jody Patel
Interim Administrative Director of the Courts
Judicial Council of California – Administrative Office of the Courts
455 Golden Gate Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94102-3688
415-865-4275, Fax 415-865-4244, jody.patel@jud.ca.gov
“Serving the courts for the benefit of all Californians”
Blind Bulldog
July 31, 2012
You know its too bad some of these employees and the good people waging this battle against corruption in our judicial system weren’t a little more “street”, or that I weren’t a bit more “suit”.
unionman575
July 31, 2012
I am plenty “street” here.
😉
Michael Paul
July 31, 2012
All suit with street roots. Thank you unionman for your comments and links about the California unemployment insurance appeals board.
Message to AOC employees: The AOC will utilize one of the “misconduct” reasons to terminate you. They used several to terminate me. While I own a company, I make a whopping one dollar a year salary – and have forever from my non-work there.
I was terminated with a laundry list of cause that magically appeared, most off of unionman’s post, I still received unemployment benefits. The AOC alleged they fired me with cause. It was effortless to ask the appeals board investigator to google my name and AOC and watch ABC news story. Unlike most decisions that are mailed to you, mine was rendered over the phone instantly. Send the appeals board investigator to this link. If they know what’s really going on they will probably approve your claim.
unionman575
July 31, 2012
Right on Michael!
Alan Ernesto Phillips
July 31, 2012
Hear, hear, Blind Bulldog!
I remember you loudly calling that RICO-card two YEARS ago!
Anybody can wear a suit: You are REAL street and plenty smart, man!
I would be honored to “have your back” any day, in a street-fight OR in a suite-fight!!
JusticeCalifornia
July 31, 2012
Been street, and suit, and will continue to be both.
unionman575
July 31, 2012
http://www.edd.ca.gov/UIBDG/Misconduct_-_Table_of_Contents.htm
unionman575
July 31, 2012
http://www.cuiab.ca.gov/index.asp
unionman575
July 31, 2012
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=uic&group=00001-01000&file=401-413
unionman575
July 31, 2012
insurance fraud. Employers commit this type of fraud when they
•intentionally provide false information as to why an employee was terminated, or about his/her wages, to avoid contributing to the unemployment insurance program
California Unemployment Insurance Code 2101.5 — False statement, representation or concealment for purpose of lowering or avoiding contribution on becoming subject to division. (“It is a violation of this chapter to willfully make a false statement or representation or knowingly fail to disclose a material fact for the purpose of lowering or avoiding any contribution required of the maker or other person, or to avoid becoming or remaining subject to this division.”)
unionman575
July 31, 2012
If you are an AOC worker let go in this illegal fashion give me a jingle…I am here for you:
bbqchefs1963@hushmail.com
😉
unionman575
July 31, 2012
http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/collecting-unemployment-benefits-california-32504.html
JusticeCalifornia
July 31, 2012
IMHO, most current branch leadership : RICO
Hey Jar-Jahr. Mind that you don’t become branch leadership’s most convenient, if unwitting, North State scapegoat.
One Who Knows
July 31, 2012
Isn’t former AOC’er Kate Howard a member of Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board or an ALJ for the Board?
Wendy Darling
July 31, 2012
If she is, that would certainly explain a few things.
Long live the ACJ.
Wendy Darling
July 31, 2012
Right you are, One Who Knows: http://www.cuiab.ca.gov/Documents/pressReleases/2011-01_NewBoardMember.pdf
Long live the ACJ.
Res Ipsa Loquitor
August 1, 2012
Sounds like those nondisclosure agreements are nonenforceable. What is to prevent a streetwise AOC’er from signing the agreement, taking the dough, and then telling everything they know? Is the AOC going to sue? I think not.
courtflea
August 1, 2012
did i miss something? the list of 277 employees no longer working with the AOC?
Wendy Darling
August 1, 2012
Many of them weren’t actually “employees” of the AOC, Flea, but were temps from a temp agency. Except for the temps in OCCM, all of which are still working at the AOC.
Long live the ACJ.
Judicial Council Watcher
August 1, 2012
The AOC had some terminations that were extorted into layoffs, they had over a hundred positions that were never filled that were eliminated, they got rid of some consultants and they had a whole slew of people who took the buyout package or retired. The OCCM Apple One temps are still representing the AOC as facilities maintenance supervisors. The guy or gal that interfaces with your court day in and day out over facilities maintenance and handed you an AOC business card is probably an Apple One temp. To us, this facilities maintenance supervisor position would be the very last place you would want an agency temp.
Net result: only about 3 dozen people were laid off, including a significant chunk out of the Ministry of Truth operations which only strengthens our position of disseminating credible information to the judicial branch.
George Glass
August 1, 2012
Last year, I was terminated from the AOC for filing a valid complaint. I am thankful that you are mentioning the extortion because I felt alone and singled out. I was thoroughly assured by the nice HR people and OGC that there would be no “retaliation” for coming forward and if I experienced retaliation then I absolutely should report it immediately.
Needless to say, when I reported the retaliation I became a target of sabotage, mind games, and torture. Not torture in a physical sense but those of you who have experienced the keen shiftiness of the AOC management breed will know what I am speaking of.
What is the point in this non-existent “no retaliation” clause in the AOC policies? It is clearly a ruse. Judge Jahr of Hope, I implore you to look into the corrupt managers of the AOC immediately. There are wonderful employees still left and if you rid the agency of that unnecessary layer of subcutaneous blubber called Management, the agency will actually have some hope.
Michael Paul
August 1, 2012
Non-retaliation is a ruse and I’m sure Paula Negley and I know exactly what you mean. In my case, it was things scheduling me to be in Monterey and in Sutter Superior at the same time / date and telling me I must figure out which is more important – and then lecture me over prioritizing and making other arrangements with one of the customers.
Or not approving the data center contractor payments and then blaming me for falling behind when the contractor is challenged in making payroll due to late payments and takes on other work to make payroll.
Or chains of command that didn’t previously exist between divisions would suddenly appear after I sent an email or make a phone call.
No-win situation after no-win situation that had me on xanax. They don’t call it retaliation, they call it intense management of singled-out employees. After I went public, I was told by my supervisor that my manager has decided I will report directly to him and no longer to my supervisor.
If I had a problem with this, I was welcome to find another job,
My current job pays better than those managers are getting. 🙂
Many of us have experienced that which you speak of Mr. Glass. And the amazing thing is that these people are still there doing this to others.
unionman575
August 1, 2012
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scapegoat
Judicial Council Watcher
August 1, 2012
Welcome to JCW George Glass. Mr. Jhar-Jhar’s appointment is more likely to result in the continued decline of the judicial branch rather than being its savior.While I would like to believe that the whole judicial branch is sitting on the edge of their seat waiting to find out how many directors, assistant directors, senior managers and managers get walking papers come October 8th to demonstrate this guy is serious about his job, it is pretty clear to us by the recent teleprompter message that this marionette has strings attached and nothing will change.
Paula J. Negley
August 1, 2012
The really amazing thing is that it is the administration of the California Judicial Branch engaging in this behavior and retaliation, with the blessing and consent of the Chief Justice, and that no that could do something about it will, or even cares.
And those “nice” people in HR and OGC openly brag that they can whatever they want, and there is no one to hold them accountable. So far, this has been proven true.
At this point, any AOC employee that would file a complaint or report AOC or judicial branch misconduct would have to be insane. The AOC’s and the judicial branch’s personnel and retaliation policies exist only to identify those that would speak up, and then proceed to get rid of them.
unionman575
August 1, 2012
courtflea
August 2, 2012
Wendy, it cant be true! are you saying that Jody Patel LIED in her memo to AOC staff by saying the list of folks that have left the AOC is really made up of temps and contractors?! heavens to betsy!
Mr. Glass I know of the game you speak. Basterds.
Wendy Darling
August 2, 2012
As they like to say at 455 Golden Gate Avenue, Flea, it’s not about how things are, only what you can make them appear to be.
You didn’t really expect Jody Patel and the Ministry of Truthiness to actually be truthful, now did you? Of course not.
Long live the ACJ.
Been There
August 2, 2012
JCW, has there been any substantiation of the allegation that people subject to layoff were identified as having responded to the SEC’s request for input? As I recall, discussion on this site focused not only on the retalitary nature of these layoffs, but also on the possibility that the AOC either hacked into the NCSC servers, or that the NCSC may have aided the AOC in gaining access to the servers where SEC responders filed their responses.
Judicial Council Watcher
August 2, 2012
Not in any way we can confirm. According to the scoreboard there is conflicting information. Some, like George filed a complaint with the AOC and some were critical of the AOC in the SEC survey process and some filed a complaint and were critical of the AOC. basically it seems that those that did not speak with one voice were canned.
Judicial Council Watcher
August 2, 2012
From our IT consultant: The issue of access to NCSC servers is a point that is left up in the air. It would be effortless to give the SEC committee role-based access to those managing the SEC process and it would also be effortless to give AOC management the same role-based access without the SEC’s knowledge or consent.
L. Kawaii
February 12, 2013
THe Judicial Council of California? No justice there. I along with several other “silent” employees who did not speak up was harassed by another sociopath co-worker for years. And yes the deranged co-worker was reported to Human Resources for years but all of management was afraid if him. Finally it got to a point where this co-worker was harassing me daily and I had had it. Called me the “B” word in front of the “silent witnesses amongst plenty of other assaults . I said I would hurt this co-worker and I was terminated. Yet when a couple of years agao he said he would bring a gun to work and shoot everyone nothing happened to him. His boss when told directed us to report the incident to CHP. I always belieed in good triumphing over evil but I have lost all faith in justice and now believe that the AOC is filled with evil dis-honest conniving people and the day of truth will come for them!