…on a Friday afternoon just before quitting time. Typical.
Enclosed is the report for your perusal. We will comment on it more when we read the whole thing. Pegasus-Global-AOC-OCCM-Final-Audit-Report
This is what almost 1/2 million buys. Edited to add: and it was worth it.
Media release by the Alliance of California Judges this afternoon:
The Alliance of California Judges is not surprised by yet another Friday afternoon document dump that excoriates another expensive mishandled program by the AOC. The report, by Pegasus Global Holdings Inc, cost in excess of $420,000 dollars. It is an indictment of the Office of Court Construction and Management and the failure of the Judicial Council to lead.
.
The words in the report such as: “lack of transparency”, “lack of oversight”, “lack of ownership”, lack of a “single point of accountability”, no “formal document control system expected of a mega program”,and “confusion and some disagreement” as to who is accountable for decision making….are all terms we are familiar with as they were used in profusion by the State Auditor regarding CCMS and the Chief Justice’s hand picked Strategic Evaluation Committee’s review of the AOC.
.
The report indicates that this program may well be in a position to spend over $6 billion public dollars on projects already identified. Given these findings, the Legislature should simply take control of further construction projects from the AOC. At a minimum there must be an audit conducted by the State Auditor. The AOC and Judicial Council have already proven that they can waste over a half billion dollars and have nothing to show for it. We do not believe that the Council or AOC can be trusted with an opportunity to waste 12 times that amount.
.
To directly download the report as a pdf document, click on http://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/Pegasus-Global-AOC-OCCM-Final-Audit-Report.pdf To visit the Council website to download from there, go to http://www.courts.ca.gov/15693.htm.
Wendy Darling
August 24, 2012
Brief summary: Lack of transparency, lack of planning, lack of accountability, lack of ownership, confusion and lack of organization, poor management practices, poor communication.
So not a surprise.
Long live the ACJ.
Wendy Darling
August 24, 2012
And lack of oversight by the Judicial Council.
Again, so not a surprise.
Long live the ACJ.
Judicial Council Watcher
August 24, 2012
Added: The Alliance of California Judges comments on the Pegasus Global Holdings report on OCCM.
We agree with their summation and urge everyone to comment on OCCM’s future projects – by suggesting they be turned over to the legislature, ergo the Department of General Services.
unionman575
August 24, 2012
THIS IS 2011 PAY STATS…
http://www.sacbee.com/statepay/
Name Job Title Department Total Pay▼
J CLARK Kelso FEDERAL COURT CONSULTANT JUDICIAL COUNCIL $292,069.30
Stephen H Nash DIVISION DIRECTOR JUDICIAL COUNCIL $271,318.30
William C Vickrey ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR OF THE COURTS JUDICIAL COUNCIL $240,068.12
Ronald G Overholt CHIEF DEPUTY ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR JUDICIAL COUNCIL $222,163.48
Sheila Calabro REGIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR JUDICIAL COUNCIL $208,308.73
Christine E Patton REGIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR JUDICIAL COUNCIL $197,942.12
Jyotiben D Patel REGIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR JUDICIAL COUNCIL $191,335.72
Dennis B Jones SPECIAL CONSULTANT JUDICIAL COUNCIL $182,985.48
Mary M Roberts GENERAL COUNSEL/DIVISION DIRECTOR JUDICIAL COUNCIL $180,059.84
Ernesto V Fuentes DIVISION DIRECTOR JUDICIAL COUNCIL $178,011.85
Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/statepay/#storylink=cpy
Name Job Title Department Total Pay▼
Diane Nunn DIVISION DIRECTOR JUDICIAL COUNCIL $178,011.85
James M Vesper ASSISTANT DIVISION DIRECTOR JUDICIAL COUNCIL $175,740.14
Mark A Moore DIVISION DIRECTOR JUDICIAL COUNCIL $169,340.32
Kenneth L Kann DIVISION DIRECTOR JUDICIAL COUNCIL $169,337.64
Diane E Cowdrey DIVISION DIRECTOR JUDICIAL COUNCIL $168,257.96
Mark W Dusman DIVISION DIRECTOR JUDICIAL COUNCIL $167,970.67
Curtis L Child DIVISION DIRECTOR JUDICIAL COUNCIL $167,420.52
Kenneth R Couch ASSISTANT DIVISION DIRECTOR JUDICIAL COUNCIL $164,009.98
Curtis W Soderlund DIVISION DIRECTOR JUDICIAL COUNCIL $162,447.36
Vernon L Willoughby DIVISION DIRECTOR JUDICIAL COUNCIL $162,033.31
Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/statepay/#storylink=cpy
AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON…
JusticeCalifornia
August 24, 2012
Thank you, unionman. Great info on the salaries.
unionman575
August 24, 2012
😉
unionman575
August 24, 2012
Notice that the former AOC Money Man Nash made the big $$$. Steve will come come eventually to the Death Star as the #1.
Nathaniel Woodhull
August 26, 2012
Thanks for the information. The AOC is there to “support” the trial courts. A superior court judge is paid $178,780 per year (excluding LA judges). From that, 8% is taken off the top for JRS/JRSII retirement, plus the costs for medical insurance, dental insurance, disability insurance, etc., etc. It is nice to know that so many people that “support” the trial courts are being paid so much more than those whom they allegedly support. That doesn’t even count their “free” retirement systems and all the other free perks.
Lando and The OBT also raise some other interesting points. If Mr. Jahr was “selected” after a nationwide search for the best candidate, the numbers don’t add up. Back in the 70’s and 80’s, search firms like Ralph Andersen & Associates used to be paid the equivalent of one year’s total compensation package for the focus of the search. If the Director makes $240,000+ in salary, with benefits, his compensation package should be at least $400,000. If the Judicial Council spent so little in their “search” they didn’t really conduct a “search.” The numbers just don’t add up!
unionman575
August 24, 2012
I agree with the summation too.
😉
Michael Paul
August 24, 2012
I’ll be commenting for sure. Move the whole office of court construction & management and all of their funding over to DGS, democratize the judicial council and I’ll be a happy camper.
It’s too bad they had to spend 420+K to confirm quite a bit about what I’ve been pointing out for years but there you have it – and plenty of rationale for a forensic audit to explore all projects and where the money really went.
Michael Paul
August 27, 2012
Hmm, actually I won’t be commenting. Commenting was closed the day this report was released. How….convenient.
Michael Paul
August 24, 2012
One has to admit that it’s a bit morbid to think that someones ability to build or maintain a courthouse is partly funded by infraction convictions. If DGS were building courts and collecting and managing these funds, I would imagine the system would feel less pressure to convict.
This report was quite comprehensive on the projects they looked at. I’d like them to look at a few projects that I pick. Actually, I would like the FBI to look at a few projects that I pick.
unionman575
August 24, 2012
LOTS OF STUFF FROM THE DEATH STAR MINISTRY OF TRUTH TODAY.,
HOW ABOUT THIS TASTY “ROAD APPLE”?
http://www.courts.ca.gov/18903.htm
Judicial Council to Consider Recommendations to Restructure AOC
Leanne Kozak, 916-263-3828
August 24, 2012
Judicial Council to Consider Recommendations to Restructure the AOC
Council’s Executive and Planning Committee recommendations based on those previously presented by the Strategic Evaulation Committee
SAN FRANCISCO—On the second day of its public meeting on August 30-31, the Judicial Council will hear recommendations from its Executive and Planning Committee (E&P) to restructure the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC). The recommendations are based on those that the council’s Strategic Evaluation Committee (SEC) presented to the council at its June 21-22 meeting.
“The Executive and Planning Committee has accepted in some form almost all of the proposals made by the Strategic Evaluation Committee and will bring our recommendations to the Judicial Council for approval,” said Justice Douglas Miller, chair of the council’s Executive and Planning Committee. “Our committee spent several days going over the SEC report with the assistance of San Diego Judge David Rubin, the President of the California Judges Association, as well as three SEC representatives: the SEC Chair, Assistant Presiding Judge Charles D. Wachob of the Superior Court of Placer County, Vice Chair Presiding Judge Brian L. McCabe of the Superior Court of Merced, and SEC member Presiding Judge Sherrill Ellsworth of the Superior Court of Riverside County. The Chief Justice appointed the three SEC representatives to the Judicial Council to ensure continuity and consistency between the SEC report and what E&P is recommending to the council. I am looking forward to our presentation.”
In its report to the council, E&P outlines a timeline for the implementation of the structural changes for the AOC. E&P also recommends that the Judicial Council direct the Administrative Director of the Courts to keep E&P informed so it can report to the council on the progress of implementation.
The council’s public meeting is scheduled from 1:30 p.m. to 5:10 p.m. on August 30 and 8:30 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. on August 31 in the Judicial Council Conference Center, Hiriam Johnson State Office Building, Third Floor, Ronald M. George State Office Complex, 455 Golden Gate Avenue in San Francisco. A live audiocast of the meeting will be on the California Courts website and the agenda and reports are posted online.
Other items on the council meeting agenda include:
Process and Criteria for 2% State-Level Reserve Funding: The council’s Trial Court Budget Working Group will present recommendations regarding the process and criteria for trial courts to apply for funding from the state-level reserve.
Report from the California Blue Ribbon Commission on Children in Foster Care: The report recommends that the Judicial Council direct staff of the Blue Ribbon Commission to seek private foundation funding to hold a California summit on truancy and school discipline.
The Judicial Council is the policymaking body of the California courts, the largest court system in the nation. Under the leadership of the Chief Justice and in accordance with the California Constitution, the council is responsible for ensuring the consistent, independent, impartial, and accessible administration of justice. The Administrative Office of the Courts carries out the official actions of the council and promotes leadership and excellence in court administration.
unionman575
August 24, 2012
Here’s the breakdown on Judicial Council Meetings in San Francisco.
8-30 & 8-31 Meeting is about rearranging the deck chairs on the titanic: http://www.courts.ca.gov/18903.htm
http://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/jc-20120831-agenda.pdf
9-5, 9-6 & 9-7 Meeting is all about the Multi Billion $$$ Court Construction boondoggle brought to us courtesy of the crooks at the AOC Office of Court Construction Management “OCCM”.
http://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/OCCM12-01.pdf
http://www.courts.ca.gov/18905.htm
For all that can, please do go and show them some tough love, JCW style.
😉
unionman575
August 24, 2012
The Death Star Ministry of Truth sure does like doing the Friday night blue light specials.
Wendy Darling
August 24, 2012
Published late this evening, Friday, August 24, from Courthouse News Service, by Maria Dinzeo:
Audit Critical of CA Court Construction Office
By MARIA DINZEO
SAN FRANCISCO (CN) – An audit of California’s courthouse construction program found a desperate lacking in uniformity, accountability and transparency.
The voluminous report by an independent consulting firm on the Office of Court Construction and Management revealed confusion and inefficiency are widespread within the division of judiciary’s Administrative Office of the Courts responsible for nearly 50 courthouse building projects.
“Ultimately, lack of uniformity, transparency and accountability could seriously jeopardize the legislature’s and public’s trust of the information being reported out of the Program,” the consultants found.
Pegasus Global Holdings, the auditor, reported that while some of the construction office’s policies and processes met industry standards, “as a complete body, the policies, procedures and processes that are currently in place at OCCM for managing and controlling the program are not uniform or transparent and do not provide for the level of accountability expected for a megaprogram the size and complexity of the Court Capital Construction Program.”
The report continued, “There is currently no comprehensive, complete or final policy, procedure or process in place which fully defines construction management under the program, or which provides a uniform structure under which construction management and control will be exercised at the project level. The current program construction management policies, procedures and processes are incomplete, and in some instances in conflict with one another, which results in inconsistencies in construction management practices at the project level.”
It added, “Construction management and control are among the least developed and least coordinated of the OCCM formal policies and procedures. As a result, there is built into those existing policies and procedures an opportunity for confusion, misunderstanding, duplication of effort and inefficiency.”
The Judicial Council hired Pegasus in January 2012 to investigate the construction office’s management of a $6.3 billion courthouse building program, paying particular attention to budget, organization and quality control in the wake of severe funding cuts to the judiciary. The analysis, for which the AOC shelled out roughly $425,000, around five months to complete. It was sent to the AOC for review in July, which the AOC finished in early August.
But the council did not make the report publicly available until Friday afternoon, prompting an outcry among judges who had called for its early release. A statement from the Alliance of California Judges said the reform group is “not surprised by yet another Friday afternoon document dump that excoriates another expensive mishandled program by the AOC. It is an indictment of the Office of Court Construction and Management and the failure of the Judicial Council to lead.”
Teresa Ruano, spokesperson for the AOC’s construction office said the report was held back until the council’s audit subcommittee could hear it presented at its Friday meeting. “The meeting of the subcommittee was when it was felt appropriate to release the report,” she said.
In addition to incomplete, conflicting or confusing polices, the Pegasus consultants also seemed baffled by the construction office’s organizational structure, saying it lacked “a clear chain of command.” While they noted that the office is understaffed and overworked, they recommended it use its current staff more efficiently. “While Pegasus-Global was informed, and agrees, that there was insufficient staff to execute all of the functions required for a megaproject exceeding $5 billion and over 40 individual projects, the Program Management needs to be able to demonstrate that it is making the best, most efficient and effective use of the current staff in order to demonstrate that the current staff is sufficient to execute the full functional responsibilities of the program or the projects,” the report says.
In its response to the consultants’ findings, the construction office said it agrees with their recommendations.
The audit will be formally presented to the council’s Court Facilities Working Group at a series of public meetings in September, where the group will also review 30 courthouse projects to determine which can move forward and which should be indefinitely delayed. But any action on the Pegasus audit is not scheduled until the full Judicial Council can meet at the end of October.
http://www.courthousenews.com/2012/08/24/49639.htm
Long live the ACJ.
Robert Turner
August 24, 2012
The legislature should continue to demand heads at the AOC. There has to be a complete cleaning house of the administration at the top for these scandals.
The Judicial Council has proven to be a really bad body to develop computer systems, to manage courthouse construction, or to oversee their own support agency in the AOC. We had the CCMS audit showing the JC/AOC made huge errors, then there was the SEC report, now the Pegasus Audit. All of them are shameful.
Why does this keep happening? Because most of the Judicial Council members are appointed by the Chief alone. They are there to be yes men/women and are well paid cheerleaders. They can’t actually question anything because they all want their carreers to advance. Many are charmed, wined, and dined be on board and others are true believers. The true believers have perverted the quote of Margaret Mead, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Their view is they are the only ones who can save CA Courts and outsiders just don’t get it. It is just a scam of friends helping friends, six figure salaries, large pensions for them, and the shaft for CA taxpayers, trial court employees, and AOC line workers. Vickrey and Overholt took their big pensions off to Arizona. Classy! Guess you didn’t care that much about CA after all did you gents…
Oh and Dennis Jones who unionman listed above was getting that six figure salary from the AOC on top of his retirement from Sacramento Superior Court. What did he do for Sac Court that was so great? He was skirting the rules and even offered to promote me into management through the back door. I told him no because the process was unethical and it was professional death for me. That’s the way the game is played. That’s why the JC members play along too. They are all pawns of the Chief of their carreers are over. Not what I expected from the “Judicial” branch.
Lando
August 25, 2012
Another real bad day at the crystal palace. Now we can all see why J Hull and J Miller resisted in releasing the Pegasus report to the public. The report like the State Auditor’s review of CCMS and the judicial SEC evaluation are all consistent. They show an out of control and mismanaged AOC recklessly wasting millions of valuable taxpayer dollars while the insiders on the Judicial Council ignore all the warning signs desperate to cling to and maintain their power. Arrogance and group think created by Ron George and J Huffman and perpetuated by Ron George, our current Chief Justice and her insiders J Miller and J Hull have led to this disgrace. Enough is really enough. The legislature needs to act. Please democratize the Judicial Council and CJP and appoint Judge Freeh to fully investigate the multi levels of misfeasance at 455 Golden Gate.
Wendy Darling
August 25, 2012
“The report like the State Auditor’s review of CCMS and the judicial SEC evaluation are all consistent. They show an out of control and mismanaged AOC recklessly wasting millions of valuable taxpayer dollars while the insiders on the Judicial Council ignore all the warning signs desperate to cling to and maintain their power.”
One such report should have been enough to cause the State Legislature to act, Now there are three, each one worse than the one before it. The misconduct, mismanagement, and malfeasance at 455 Golden Gate Avenue is bad enough all on its own, but the indifference and inaction from the State Legislature is just plain appalling. It’s like we’re all screaming into a hurricane — a meaningless exercise in futility.
The OBT
August 25, 2012
Where do I sign up to help in the campaigns to recall Justice Miller and Justice Hull? I would love to see them try and justify their actions to the citizens they serve who have been significantly impacted by our economic downturn. The voters of Riverside and Sacramento would be most interested to hear how these two crystal palace ” insiders” have presided over the waste and abuse of multi- millions at the AOC while resisting any and all efforts for significant reform of the mess they helped create .You can’t make this stuff up. Really.
Judicial Council Watcher
August 25, 2012
Good Morning, California!
What is needed, well beyond a recall campaign is to define the “Team George” players and ensure that none of them get re-elected where they’re electable or recycled through a trial court.
With everyone willing to go to bat for some judges that the people object to I can’t see how that goal is achievable. Nonetheless it is a powerful weapon in this war to permit the voters to send a message to San Francisco that business as usual is over.
Moreover, it seems like the only time a judge is chastised or punished for their political activities is when they oppose some thing or someone. Go along to get along, you can rest assured that no complaints will be filed and those that are filed will be ignored. Of course, it is also Team George players like McConnell that have some influence in this process as well.
It comes as no surprise to us that the Team George players happen to be many of the highest paid people in the judicial branch. Some through self-dealing like those at the AOC and some through being appointed to high paying positions.
By now Justice Hill should acknowledge that OCCM’s documented problems are completely out of his league and all he is doing is pretending he has oversight over a competent, responsible division in a branch of government. Mr. Jahr should also be quick to recognize these problems are way out of his league as well but his personal crusade will likely be to ensure Shasta gets their new courthouse through his control of the vehicle that can deliver it.
unionman575
August 25, 2012
Jahr is on way over his head.
Jahr will be a “temp” until they can wangle someone else in there (from San Bernardino).
😉
Judicial Council Watcher
August 25, 2012
No doubt….He left the death star to get court experience with a pay cut? I don’t think so, not unless there were other reasoning behind it. Why on earth would you pay your finance guy / overseer of the desk of the ironically named fraud, waste and abuse coordinator / overseer of all things financial that has a proven track record of speaking for 20 minutes and saying nothing 39K more than the executive director?
Because there is no one that knows were all of the bodies are buried than someone from San Bernardino.
unionman575
August 25, 2012
Here is the guy we need now to start digging acorss the entire spectrum of JC/AOC corruption:
http://www.freehgroup.com/
You can assume when Freeh finds dirt he will call the FBI in.
Michael Paul
August 25, 2012
Former prosecutor, former federal judge, he is the man for this job and the legislature should empower the state auditor to hire him so that the other two branches of government have the appearance of proper checks and balances of a rogue organization.
Jane Public
August 25, 2012
In what section is the recommendation for a criminal investigation of collusion to defraud the public? Surely, I must have just missed it.
Judicial Council Watcher
August 25, 2012
That is the problem with commissioned “studies” and commissioned “audits” when the one paying the bill is the one looking for the results. Make no mistake, a third party, like the state auditor did not pay for this report nor was this report an investigation. It was a comparison of best practices with sound recommendations of therapeutic – and not a fact-finding nature.
The AOC paid for this report and while it my touch on the crux of a number of serious management issues it does so in a therapeutic way to assure a return of the report writers to draft an update.
If, as unionman suggested that the freeh group were tasked with looking into these matters with a fine-tooth comb with an eye towards getting answers and not merely therapeutic recommendations coming from a self-commissioned study or audit, the results would be quite different and there is 128 megabytes of documentation posted on this site that would lead someone to this logical conclusion.
Probably none of which was reviewed by the report writers.
JusticeCalifornia
August 25, 2012
JCW all of your comments are correct.
Forgive me for asking. But how many excuses could the introduction of this report make for AOC mismanagement/misconduct. . . .and ?
PLEASE PAY ATTENTION. The last time I saw this kind of suck-up intro was in the 2002 NCSC report on the Marin Family Court. . . .which report completely sidestepped the real issue that has been and is dogging the Marin court for years: bias and cronyism– including very, very serious financial nepotism/cronyism. In other words: CORRUPTION. In 1997-2000 the family court bench was being called out for, among other things, a) spending entire weekends partying with, and having ex parte communications about cases with, lawyers who appeared before them—and who employed the presiding judge’s wife; and b) blatantly favoring and giving plum rotating assignments to this partying group of Marin lawyers who called themselves “Family Law Elite Attorneys” (FLEAS) .
The allegations back then:
http://www.sfweekly.com/2000-10-18/feature/odor-odor-in-the-court
http://www.centerforjudicialexcellence.org/documents/WinnerReport.pdf
The public was hopping mad and talking to law enforcement, the FBI, the press, and demanding a full formal investigation.
The Marin County court defused the situation by asking the Judicial Council — and NCSC– for “help”.
All were led to believe the bias, cronyism, self-dealing and corruption would be genuinely investigated, and stood down for two years to give time for the report to come out. LOL.
Was the court corruption/bias/nepotism issue addressed at all in the NCSC report? NO. It was specifically EXCLUDED from the report. Bait and switch.
http://www.marincourt.org/data/audits/1.pdf
The NCSC report complimented the Marin Court’s cooperation with the investigation (lol) , and made a lot of recommendations—which the Marin Court blithely ignored. Business continued as usual. The complaints continued, and were covered up with the help of “top leadership”, ultimately resulting in more public outrage, and the 2009 BSA investigation the Marin Family Court. That investigation was stalled for almost a year by the AOC and Judicial Councilmember Kim Turner to allow Turner and the Marin Court time to destroy documents and get rid of employees who knew too much before the BSA was allowed in. (Ironically, “missing” and “misplaced” documents and files were addressed in the 2002 NCSC report—the recommendations related thereto were never implemented.)
The long-winded story above illustrates the rub. Those who commission a report can define the scope of a report, and therefore control the content of the report. In so doing they can buy time, quell impending disasters and disavow the need for a genuine, independent, thorough investigation that follows the money right into the heart of the issues: corruption.
As bad as the Pegasus and SEC reports appear on the face of it—as with the NCSC Marin report, they do not tell the whole story. The whole story requires acknowledgement that what we are all looking at is more than mismanagement. We are looking at hard core corruption and cover-ups.
A common theme is surfacing in all reports about the AOC . That theme includes a lack of transparency, lack of proper recordkeeping, and active misrepresentations. Money is disappearing in all directions, hand over fist, while the branch goes down in flames, but no one has been keeping proper records? The highly trained administrators getting paid those big fat salaries, and getting their big fat pensions, don’t know how to delegate, keep records, balance checkbooks, and implement quality control? Really? Even with cool million the AOC pays the NCSC each year? Please. Let’s fire them all right now and turn over management of the branch to the state.
JCW, Michael Paul, and others are correct.
Ship this court construction program off to DGS.
AND WE NEED A FULL, NO-EXCUSES OUTSIDE FINANCIAL INVESTIGATION THAT FOLLOWS ALL THE MONEY.
courtflea
August 25, 2012
I can see the response to these reports now: clean house of Patel and all division directors and hire more retired judges to do their jobs at the AOC! That will solve all of our administrative problems since you know, thats what judges are trained to do!!! He is not retired yet put perhaps the CJ can convince federal Judge Alex Kozinski to head up the IT division!!! Or federal judge Manuel Real to head the team of access and fairness or the CJP!!
After the laughable appointment of J. head nothing would amaze me.
courtflea
August 25, 2012
By the way, don’t kid yourself that Nash made more money than Vickerey, there are other ways to be compensated than just in salary………..
unionman575
August 25, 2012
Nash did get more $- the SAC Bee breaks it all down.
Here’s how you do it:
Bring up Vickrey first – it breaks down alll different streams of compensation he gets.
The…bring up Nash it breaks down alll different streams of compensation he gets.
NOW if you are talking illegal kickbacks from non-governmental entities, then that needs a criminal (federal) investigation by the FBI.
And when the smoke clears after that investigation I will agree that Vickery got more total “compensation” (both legal and illegal) than Nash.
😉
Been There
August 26, 2012
And when the smoke clears after that investigation I will agree that Vickery got more total “compensation” (both legal and illegal) than Nash.
And there is no way that Vickrey could have received illegal compensation unless:
1. The CJ and other highly placed JC members knew about it; and
2. They failed to report it because they were also receiving illegal kickbacks.
That is the only scenario that makes sense.
And the names of these corrupt Supreme Court and the Judicial Council members are –JCW may we have the envelope please?
JusticeCalifornia
August 25, 2012
I would rather not see the self-important little group that has brought the branch to its knees take the branch all the way over the cliff.
Like many, I am waiting for the 2,000 bench officers and union reps to send a contingent in to ask the chief to step down.
Like many, I am waiting for members of all three branches to call for an investigation.
It is ridiculous that a handful of puffed up characters led by a gambling barmaid on a personal (not professional) mission have the entire branch (judges and employees) and the public, and the two other branches over a barrel. Especially after good cause to investigate and/or get rid of these characters has been handed to everyone on a silver platter, over and over again.
I’m sorry, but somebody needs to grow some b*lls. Sorry if that was politically incorrect—but just how long is the branch going to dutifully bend over and take it, while letting the branch go down in flames? And the best person Sakauye and the Judicial Council can offer to take over the AOC’s top administrative job is a retired judge from a small court with no administrative experience? Really? No, of course not really. The best qualities Mr. Jahr has to offer Team George are his loyalty, his inexperience (he will be reliant on those in place), and the fact that he has been out of the game so long he doesn’t know where the bodies are buried.
How long are the other two branches going to look the other way, instead of going all the way to find out what exactly happened and is happening here? At this point it’s just embarrassing. Handwringing about how it’s never, ever been this bad before isn’t going to do anything at all to resolve this mess. It is time for concerted action BY ALL THREE BRANCHES. We are not talking about a secret $50 million slush fund. We are talking about billions in waste, while the branch is crumbling.
Dan Dydzak
August 25, 2012
All interesting comments and information. A lot of this info will be in RICO and CLASS ACTION filed out of state. And a lot of the individuals identified WILL BE Defendants. And the LAWSUIT will be out of state, i.e., not in CA. I am doing an interview shortly which has a large audience on the world wide web. Stay tuned.
The comments and report help solidify my out-of-state lawsuit. Thanks for all the input.
Since a lot of defendants identified will be in the caption, there will be some angry people at the AOC and elsewhere. This lawsuit will name such easily identifiable and well-known individuals that it will explode in the national and world wide media. Melvin M. Belli, Esq. would have told me, “Expose the corruption.” Well, I am about to in the national and international media, with or without the LA Times and San Francisco Chronicle.
Did you know that R. George and his son, E. George, control negative references to them by blocking the references through their buddy, John Keker, Esq., one of whose clients is Google.
By the way, Keker’s law firm and Jon Streeter, the State Bar President (and his partner) are
being sued in the new lawsuit for RICO activities with their other partner, MATTHEW WERDEGAR (son of K. Wergedar, also a new party for RICO activities). MARIA SHRIVER will be a party as well as her money-laundering lawyer, DENNIS WASSER. So will the EX-GOVERNOR for RICO activities. Welcome to Louis Nizer and Melvin Belli litigation, DYDZAK style. The years of experience and training and education–thanks dad and mom.
I attempted to informally resolve the matter with well-known attorney Bertram Fields, Esq. listening in on the issues. It appears, however, that the players in the CORRUPT power structure are in denial as to their RICO activities.
Thanks for all the support,
Dan Dydzak
August 25, 2012
Another nugget of useful information. Called up Steven Jahr, head of AOC, and indicated to him that he would be part and party of RICO lawsuit I am filing out of state. He incredulously claimed he did not know who I was. I advised him he was not telling the truth, and to speak to CJ Tani and Joe Dunn about me, two other future RICO parties. He is well aware of my present lawsuit and me from Judicial Council Watcher and other sources. This is who is heading the AOC. Inspires confidence, doesn’t it? Go to the legislature and abolish the AOC and democracize the Judicial Council. I am surprised there is no picketing in Sacramento and elsewhere. It is no surprise that the financial corruption continues in the AOC as shown by the Report. We did not really need a 1/2 Million Dollar Report to state the obvious, but of course it is great evidence for my two cases. Thanks so much for the report. It will be an Exhibit to the litigation.
unionman575
August 25, 2012
http://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/oers.pdf
Judicial Council Watcher
August 26, 2012
Moderators Note to Mr. Dyzdak:
Not helpful to either you or us:
“The comments and report help solidify my out-of-state lawsuit. Thanks for all the input.”
Your challenge is a lack of concrete evidence with regards to your allegations which are pretty broad. We’d love to see some documentary evidence that will lead us down the path to one of your allegations and I would guess the claims about further lawsuits without our readers having the documentary proof of just one of them has everyone wondering if you can substantiate it, hence the slowly increasing disapproval of your comments.
I can tell you that your clarifying to everyone that you intend to use comments here as some form of evidence has caused a substantial drop in participation on this site.
It benefits no one when everyone clams up. This site is dedicated to the exchange of information and regrettably, you’ve only shared allegations without any evidence to back it up. You need to start sharing information, not merely allegations or threats of additional lawsuits with an ever-widening net of defendants.
Edited to add: Uploaded to this site already in various posts is approximately 128 mb of what most would consider documentary evidence as well as links to other documentary evidence all over the internet. If you can provide it, we will upload it and post it for all to see and evaluate for themselves.
Dan Dydzak
August 25, 2012
The thumbs down I am getting are likely from the Jody Patel and Jahr fan club. That means the Big Brother AOC machine is monitoring my and others’ comments. Given Jahr’s tion of his RICO activities with others, and business as usual at the Crystal Palace, since the AOC is not changing and still spending with abandon and the legislature is slow, there is a legal and equitable basis in my soon-to-be-filed RICO lawsuit to ask:
(1) For declaratory relief or other relief that the AOC be dissolved for RICO activities;
(2) For a receivership and special prosecutor to look into illegal AOC activities;
(3) For declaratory or other relief that the Judicial Council as presently composed be
dissolved and elected — or a special prosecutor or receiver look into their illicit activities.
Going to add that in the Louis Nizer-type lawsuit. Thanks for inspiring me, Mr. Jahr, since you claim not to know me which is of course a complete distorted fabrication from a former judge. There is no immunity for illegal RICO activities, Mr. Jahr. You can be held personally liable for RICO activities, including compensatory and punitive damages, among other remedies.
The OBT
August 26, 2012
I am still very troubled about Justice Hull’s assertion that J Jahr was the best candidate that his “nationwide search ” could find to run an organization like the AOC. It would be interesting to ask how many taxpayer dollars were spent on this “nationwide search” ? My understanding is that amount would be significant if in fact a true ” nationwide search ” ever really took place. If in contrast the amount spent is relatively small then one could question whether Justice Hull presided over a real ” nationwide search ” to find the most qualified candidate. Is it possible that the ” nationwide search ” was in name only and that the “insiders” at 455 Golden Gate planned on appointing a fellow “insider” all along ? My sense is that something doesn’t add up here once again. Maybe this also explains why Mr Vickrey has been seen on a regular basis at the crystal palace ? This is no small issue given the Pegasus and SEC reports that correctly describe what a mess the AOC is . It is time for a full and complete legislative investigation led by someone with experience and a reputation for independence and honesty like Judge Freeh.
Been There
August 26, 2012
I agree, OBT, that something is amiss with J Hull’s story on how and why Jahr, an unqualified candidate was selected.
It is clear to me that Jahr was not the first choice and that he is merely a short term temp until another person, probably already selected by J Hull, can take the job
Two possible explanations have surfaced on this site:
1. JCW posited that another candidate was offered the job and turned it down; and
2. Others on this site said that the leading candidate (who is also enshrined in the JCW Hall of Shame) was deemed too controversial, too toxic to be appointed during a time when the branch was the subject of negative press generated by the SEC Report. The leading candidate is now in a “holding pattern” until the SEC Report has been commented and committeed to death.
And hence the desperate need for Mr. Jahr — as a compliant, unknowledgeable place holder who will not rock the boat until Mr. Right can take over in a year or two.
Curious
August 26, 2012
Documents released by the AOC so far show the cost of the search was just over $49,000.
Judge Jahr did not meet any of the substantive qualifications set forth in the search brochure which was created in conjunction with the Judicial Council search committee–i.e, Justice Hull and a few others. Notwithstanding that Judge Jahr met none of the qualifications set forth by the committee, that same committee chose him. He was never vetted or interviewed by the search firm. It seems he was an afterthought. Several highly qualified candidates applied, including one who posted a lengthy and intelligent public comment on the SEC report. It is incomprehensible to say that Judge Jahr was the most qualified candidate, or even a qualified candidate, given the search criteria. He did have one qualification, however–a proven track record of defending the status quo, opposing AB 1208, and coming out of retirement as a “go to guy” to attack the ACJ. Those qualifications were apparently seen as more important than actual qualifications for the job.
On another note, I will offer my quite humble opinion on another point: People have the right to post as they please, of course, but please understand that profanity, vulgarity, and wild allegations that never seem to be substantiated turn off people that otherwise would take this site far more seriously. Please consider your audience. There are hundreds of fence-sitters in this battle. Don’t knock them off the fence to the other side. I think the AOC is an abomination, frankly, and but unfortunately a few folks on this site give them ammunition to discredit their critics. You had better believe that the AOC loves to cherry pick certain rather outlandish posts on this site, and portray them as the norm. Just a thought. Those working every day to have their positions given respect can sometimes be undermined by those acting with zeal, good faith, but a lack of good judgment.
unionman575
August 26, 2012
The AOC cherry picks everything. That is nothing new.
Dan Dydzak
August 26, 2012
Judicial Council Watcher, thank you for your last commentary. To be clear, any lawsuit I file in the near term will have a reasonable basis in fact and law and based on evidence adduced. Any party named will have a reasonable nexus to the allegations.
Judicial Council Watcher
August 26, 2012
Along the lines of curious’s concerns: Our detractors do use this site to bend the minds of the fence-sitters over to their side of the argument. This is why plausible proof is of concern to all of us who post and read here. It is one thing to make an allegation or file a lawsuit. It takes more than an allegation to make it stick.
This is why major media has been continuously writing and broadcasting hundreds of stories on the Judicial Council and the AOC because something just isn’t right and it smells like corruption. They haven’t come out and said it because they cannot prove who is benefiting from it.
courtflea
August 26, 2012
Justice CA, I agree with you whole heartedly. Once the ball (no pun intended) starts rolling many of those fence sitters will join in the outrage.
I hope anyone reading this site could sift though and disregard oulandish posts. Who cares what the AOC thinks? I would think that anyone willing to go to the dark side based on what the AOC says would read what is on this site before doing so. I think what makes a lot of folks fence sitters too is that they are still willing to give the “new” CJ a chance and are being charmed by her in the interim.
One last comment (from me anyway) on Bill V’s compensation: you can receive car allowances (including parking costs), housing allowances, bonuses, etc, etc. that can add up pretty quick especially in the City. His additional compensation can be totally legal and acceptable in the executive category.
unionman575
August 26, 2012
I accept the accuracy of the SAC Bee re total TOTAL AOC compensation for each and every employee listed from the driector on down. Nash was #1 in total compensation. If Nash wasn’t #1 in TOTAL compensation give your source with a link to the data please.
Jimmy
August 26, 2012
Union Man, do you think Nash’s compensation was high because he received a large payoff for accrued vacation and sick leave when he left the AOC to go to San Bernardino? That could account for the figure, I suppose.
unionman575
August 26, 2012
That was his compensation per the SAC Bee.
Note Nash as Finance Direcotr was higher paid than the AOC Director 3 yearts in a row: 2009, 2010, and 2011.
So the answer to your question is I doubt it. Perhaps others here have info that we don’t have Jimmy.
courtflea
August 26, 2012
I will say this unionman (and I have no link) , the AOC is STILL not subject to the public records act, so they are not required to do full disclosure to anyone much less the press. Ya the CRC is there but since when does the AOC comply with that? see: ACJ requests for information.
Laters baby
unionman575
August 26, 2012
Still waiting for the salary link other than the SAC Bee.
I never mentioned public records act – scroll back – you did.
unionman575
August 26, 2012
The SAC Bee is a LINK to CA Controller and CA Legislature data. It is CA legislative data.
Either you have data in addition to the CA legislative salary data or you don’t.
Clearly you don’t.
No need to get nasty here.
unionman575
August 26, 2012
Sources: University of California President’s Office; California State Controller’s Office; California Legislature.
Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/statepay/?name=&agency=JUDICIAL+COUNCIL&salarylevel=#storylink=cpy
unionman575
August 27, 2012
http://www.allgov.com/usa/ca/news/top-stories/disorder-in-the-courts-over-billion-dollar-construction-program-120827?news=845122
DISORDER IN Billion-Dollar construction-program
Monday, August 27, 2012
When lawmakers stripped the California Judicial Council of its authority in June to spend any more money on a failed, half-built billion-dollar computer system without legislative approval, it dealt a heavy blow to the state judiciary’s central bureaucracy.
For critics of the council, including the Alliance of California Judges and Judicial Council Watcher, it was a measure of vindication in their ongoing battle with what they consider to be an autocratic group of overseers who are out of touch with rank-and-file judges and the real needs of the court system.
On Friday, those critics got another bit of a boost from the release of an audit by Pegasus-Global Holdings, Inc. that had some harsh words for the council’s decade-long management of court construction. While acknowledging that the council court construction program “has essentially fulfilled its primary mandates,” the report detailed fundamental problems with transparency, lack of uniformity, a non-existent document control system and a poor organizational structure.
Most importantly, it said, in a variety of ways, that no one was in charge of overseeing the vast array of projects, which it called “a lack of ownership.” The report warned that the program cannot continue to its next phase of development operating this way.
The audit’s recommendations will be presented to the Judicial Council’s Court Facilities Working Group next month, at which time 30 new courthouse construction projects will be reviewed.
Since the court reorganization of 2002—which transferred court planning and construction from local to state level—the Office of Court Construction and Management (OCCM) has initiated work on 59 projects budgeted at $6.6 billion. It has completed eight of those projects, valued at $300 million.
In a program as huge as this one, there is usually a “ramp-up” in which the foundation is laid for planning, staffing, and setting of “policies, procedures and practices.”
The Judicial Council didn’t have time for those niceties.
The court construction program was initiated at the same time the Judicial Council was transferring all the trial courts from local to state control and operating under a mandate to immediately commence work on both the program and project level. The compressed time frame did not allow for a ramp-up, the report said.
“While the number of completed projects through the first ten years of the Program sounds low, to have initiated and completed that many projects representing that level of investment is an accomplishment not typically expected for a megaprogram the size of the Court Capital Construction program,” the report said.
California Supreme Court Chief Justice Tani Gorre Cantil-Sakauye, who chairs the council, has been at the center of a whirlwind since being sworn in last year. Huge budget cuts by the governor and Legislature are taking a heavy toll on judicial services, the court’s billion-dollar computer project has been shut down, a grass-roots alliance of judges has confronted the chief justice on policy, and the State Auditor has questioned the courts’ management by the Judicial Council and the Administrative Office of the Courts.
And now the construction program has been damned with faint praise.
–Ken Broder
SCARYPERRY
August 27, 2012
In reference to comments, the Judicial Council Watcher is doing an excellent job exposing the misconduct and corruption of the AOC and those associated with it. The Alliance Judges are fighting the right fight.
With regard to Mr. Dydzak filing a new lawsuit, he is one of the most honest, ethical persons I know. He is carrying the football when others are not willing, unable or relucant to sue those accountable. He does’t file lawsuits unless they have merit. Hopefully, the legislature will act to fix things. Until then, Mr. Dydzak should be applauded and congratulated and supported for carrying the ball.
Judicial Council Watcher
August 27, 2012
Hi Perry, There have been many before him that have tried to hold people accountable via the same justice system that purports to be equal and fair that Mr. Dydzak is utilizing.
The issue is that the power brokers control that system by controlling their money, by controlling the future aspirations of judges who might wish to hold them accountable, and through a stranglehold on the “old court state court system” where most any unfavorable decision at the trial court level awaits a fate of certain reversal.
Many of our posters have provided (and we have posted) documentary evidence of misdeeds for all to evaluate for themselves. This is all we’re looking for from the Dyzdak camp. Call it “A reason to believe” if you will.
Wendy Darling
August 27, 2012
Published today, Monday, August 27, from the Metropolitan News Enterprise:
Audit Criticizes AOC Handling of Construction Projects
By a MetNews Staff Writer
The Administration Office of the Courts’ Court Capital Construction Program has been plagued by a lack of focus and accountability, an outside auditing firm said in a report released Friday by the AOC.
Pegasus-Global Holdings, Inc., a Washington state-based firm retained in January, said it had studied the overall direction of the program, as well as six “audit test projects,” including the new San Bernardino courthouse, and had found significant “gaps” that need to be addressed.
Pegasus acknowledged that those gaps arose from circumstances beyond the agency’s control—the relative newness of the program, which was created by the Legislature in 2002; the need to transfer control of court facilities from the counties to the judiciary, which was not completed until December 2009; and the need “to establish, organize and staff” the Office of Courthouse Construction Management as the entity responsible.
The report, which is more than 300 pages long and has been posted on the AOC website at http://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/Pegasus-Global-AOC-OCCM-Final-Audit-Report.pdf, identified several deficiencies, including:
•“From the legislation, it appears that the legislature specifically empowered and required the Judicial Council to perform as the Owner of the Program, and in logical extension, of each project within that Program. However, there is no universally acknowledged agreement or understanding within the Program (at any level) as to the ultimate Owner of the Program. Thus, the actual Owner may not be exercising its responsibility to examine and make crucial funding decisions from a program perspective.”
•“The OCCM is not staffed to the planned levels or for all of the organizational positions identified. The lack of staff since the inception of the Program resulted in the need to prioritize program tasks away from the completion of the Program’s draft policies, procedures and processes, focusing the existing staff on a limited number of what were considered to be more critical elements of the Program;
•“There is no formal delegation of authority and responsibility at either the program or project levels. This has resulted in confusion and some disagreement as to who within the Program and project structure are accountable for the decisions made and actions taken on behalf of the Program and each project.”
Pegasus did say, however, that “[n]o issues were found related to a single point of accountability as every Program and Project Manager without exception held themselves accountable and responsible for all the decisions made and actions taken relative to their functions and project assignments.”
Pegasus said the AOC had, with modifications acceptable to the auditor, accepted its recommendations for a proper organizational structure. The firm said it was “impressed with the speed with which AOC/OCCM has reviewed the full body of the findings and recommendations and moved to address each of those findings and recommendations.”
It added:
“The immediate attention directed towards planning and implementing actions intended to improve and strengthen the management and execution of the Program and its constituent projects is highly commendable.”
The Alliance of California Judges, however, was not in a commendable mood. In a statement, the group said it was “not surprised by yet another Friday afternoon document dump that excoriates another expensive mishandled program by the AOC. “
The alliance noted that the AOC paid more than $420,000 for the audit, which it called “an indictment of the Office of Court Construction and Management and the failure of the Judicial Council to lead.,” adding:
“The words in the report such as: ‘lack of transparency’, ‘lack of oversight’, ‘lack of ownership’, lack of a ‘single point of accountability’, no ‘formal document control system expected of a mega program’,and ‘confusion and some disagreement’ as to who is accountable for decision making….are all terms we are familiar with as they were used in profusion by the State Auditor regarding CCMS and the Chief Justice’s hand picked Strategic Evaluation Committee’s review of the AOC.”
The alliance proposed that the Legislature “simply take control of further construction projects from the AOC.”
http://www.metnews.com/
Long live the ACJ.
SCARYPERRY
August 27, 2012
I witnessed first hand a few hours ago the Orange County Superior Court refuse to allow Mr. Dydzak to file a motion to set aside Borris’ void transfer order. The law requires the Clerk to allow the filing of documents. In effect, the male clerk involved committed obstruction of justice.
When Mr. Dydzak spoke to Mr. Carlson’s office, counsel, representing Carlson and Judge Borris, indicated that he would not allow the Clerk to file Dydzak’s important motion. Dydzak advised him that such actions were a rico and obstruction of justice tactic and illegal. That is evidence. That is case fixing.
Insofar as your asking Mr. Dydzak lately for proof, Mr. Dydzak has proof from several witnesses aside from himself, and certain of these witnesses have indicated they will provide him with documentation. The documentation he has is voluminous and other documentation will be the subject of discovery. Mr. Dydzak of course will be conducting discovery, such as the deposition of Eric M. George (who has answered) and Tod Thor, with document requests.
At the litigation stage and possible settlement stage, it would be tactically unwise to publicly provide all documentation. However, as the discovery develops, this documentation will likely be available as public knowledge. In litigation ,so as to not waive potential work product and litigation privileges, it would be tactically unwise and premature for him to reveal all his aces.
As well, much of the information and evidence is the hands of third parties, witnesses and the defendants. All of which will be subpoenaed.
Judicial Watcher seems to suggest that one can never prevail suing judges. Well, judges don’t have immunity for committing illegal acts, and since Mr. Dydzak’s litigation will be out of state, I do not think any judge will be impressed by hearing about AOC and other corruption in California. Mr. Dydzak has a lot of supporters out there, and he handled prior litigation for me with much success. He is very experienced and smart. No one else, such as the union group, is filing suit against AOC corruption. Mr. Dydzak should be commended for the facts he has the guts to do it–and no one else has lately. Others could–no one does.
unionman575
August 27, 2012
I don’t want to hear it anymore Dan & Co. It is old my man.
Wendy Darling
August 27, 2012
Published today, Monday, August 27, from the Legal Pad, the legal blog of The Recorder, the on-line publication of CalLaw, by Cheryl Miller:
Email on Controversial AOC Proposal Surfaces
[Cheryl Miller]
Three years ago a veritable judicial ruckus erupted when a draft piece of legislation that appeared to give the Judicial Council authority to appoint presiding judges and court executives was discovered in the Capitol.
The fracas over the never-introduced bill, authored by someone in the judiciary who is still unidentified, never really died down. In fact, it’s become a touchstone for judges who see the document as evidence of a power-hungry Administrative Office of the Courts hell-bent on centralization.
An email that surfaced last week may only add fuel to that fire. It’s a June 16, 2009 missive from Donna Hershkowitz, assistant director of the AOC’s Sacramento lobbying shop, passing along proposed Department of Finance judicial budget language and the AOC’s response to a half-dozen Capitol staffers. It’s the first document made public linking a specific AOC executive to the controversial draft.
“… I’m forwarding the language finance sent,“Hershkowitz wrote. “The AOC made revisions to the language to provide necessary technical assistance to make the language work.”
The revisions she refers amend Government Code Section 77001 to read, “The Judicial Council shall adopt rules, policies, or directives, which shall provide, consistent with statute … means of selecting presiding judges, assistant presiding judges, executive officers or court administrators, clerks of court, and jury commissioners.”
Contacted last week, Hershkowitz and the AOC’s chief lobbyist, Curtis Child, declined to say who authorized the draft language. They also say, as they did three years ago, that no one in the judiciary endorsed the language, which they insist was drafted to fix structural and wording problems in the Department of Finance’s bill. (A Finance spokesman three years ago said his department never asked for the amendments). And even if the bill had been enacted, they say, the changes would have had “no substantive effect” on local courts’ ability to select their own presiding judges and other court officers.
“No one had any intent to put together any language secretly that would have allowed the Judicial Council to appoint presiding judges,” Child said.
Suspicious judges aren’t buying the explanations.
The proposal speaks for itself,” said Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Maryanne Gilliard, a director of the Alliance of California Judges. “It was a blatant and sneaky attempt to eliminate the statutory requirement for ‘a decentralized system of trial court management.‘”
The answers also did little to soothe Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Lance Ito, who in an email called the revelation of the AOC’s draft language three years ago “the event that caused me to lose all faith in the AOC and the Judicial Council.”
Ito has been among the most vocal judges demanding to know who authorized the draft. The judge said he plans to continue pressing the issue.
“The [lobbyists’] refusal to identify the author begs the question, ‘What else are they hiding?’” Ito wrote. “I will be attending the CJA conference in Monterey in October for the specific purpose of asking the chief [justice] these questions in the annual Ask The Chief session that closes the conference.”
http://legalpad.typepad.com/my_weblog/2012/08/email-on-controversial-aoc-proposal-surfaces.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+legalpad_feed+%28Legal+Pad%29
Long live the ACJ.
Wendy Darling
August 27, 2012
The fact that the Administrative Office of the Courts is run by a bunch of liars leads one to the inescapable conclusion that there is absolutely no value to telling the truth in court.
courtflea
August 27, 2012
not nasties meant Unionman sorry if it came off that way. I just don’t trust the AOC to tell the truth to anybody..they sure didn’t with the legislature re: CCMS.
JusticeCalifornia
August 28, 2012
I don’t trust the AOC to tell the truth about anything to anybody either, flea.
Fool us once, shame on them. Fool us twice, shame on us.
It has been a lot more than twice.
SCARYPERRY
August 27, 2012
Evidence: Assuming Ronald George declared $ 500,000 or so yearly on his tax returns as a judge (which will be requested by Mr. Dydzak in discovery), how did Mr. Dydzak and his investigative work turn up the fact that Ronald George and his family trusts, and Eric, his son, own approximately $ 30 Million in real estate, not to mention likely a boat. I have asked Mr. Dydzak to demand this information from Ronald George when he takes George’s and his son’s depositions. Inquiring minds want to know.
unionman575
August 27, 2012
The Opposition-
http://www.justbuildcalifornia.com/?q=just_build_coalition
The Just Build Coalition
LABOR ORGANIZATIONS
• California State Building and Construction Trades Council
• California State Association of Electrical Workers
• California State Pipe Trades Council
• LiUNA LOCAL 1414
• Painters and Allied Crafts, Local Union 294 (District Council 16)
• Plaster Tenders of Southern California, Local Union 1414
• Alameda Building and Construction Trades Council AFL/CIO
• Contra Costa Building and Construction Trades Council AFL/CIO
• Fresno, Madera, Tulare, Kings Building and Construction Trades Council AFL/CIO
• Humboldt/Del Norte Building and Construction Trades Council AFL/CIO
• Imperial Building and Construction Trades Council AFL/CIO
• Kern, Inyo, Mono Building and Construction Trades Council AFL/CIO
• Los Angeles/Orange County Building and Construction Trades Council AFL/CIO
• Marin Building and Construction Trades Council AFL/CIO
• Mid Valley Building and Construction Trades Council AFL/CIO
• Monterey/Santa Cruz Building and Construction Trades Council AFL/CIO
• Napa, Solano Building and Construction Trades Council AFL/CIO
• Northeastern, Shasta, Trinity, Lassen, Tehama Building and Construction Trades Council AFL/CIO
• Sacramento/Sierra Building and Construction Trades Council AFL/CIO
• San Bernardino, Riverside Building and Construction Trades Council AFL/CIO
• San Diego Building and Construction Trades Council AFL/CIO
• San Francisco San Diego Building and Construction Trades Council AFL/CIO
• San Joaquin, Calaveras, Alpine San Diego Building and Construction Trades Council AFL/CIO
• San Mateo San Diego Building and Construction Trades Council AFL/CIO
• Santa Clara, San Benito Building and Construction Trades Council AFL/CIO
• Sonoma, Mendocino, Lake Building and Construction Trades Council AFL/CIO
• Stanislaus, Merced, Mariposa San Diego Building and Construction Trades Council AFL/CIO
• Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Ventura (Tri-County) Building and Construction Trades Council AFL/CIO
• Western States Council of Sheet Metal Workers
• UA Plumbers & Pipefitters Local Union 228
• Insulators & Allied Workers Local 5
• Insulators & Allied Workers Local 16
• Boilermakers Local 92
• Boilermakers Local 549
• Boilermakers Int’l Western States Section
• Bricklayers & Allied Crafts Workers Local 3
• Tile, Marble and Terrazzo Local 18
• Teamsters Local 137
• Teamsters Local 287
• Teamsters Local 315
• Teamsters Local 386
• Teamsters Local 431
• Teamsters Local 439
• Teamsters Local 624
• Teamsters Local 853
• Teamsters Local 890
• Teamsters Local 912
• Teamsters Local 986
• Teamsters Joint Council Local 42
• Teamsters Local Local 150
• CA State Assn.of Electrical Workers
• Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 6
• Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 11
• Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 40
• Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 100
• Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 180
• Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 234
• Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 302
• Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 332
• Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 340
• Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 401
• Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 413
• Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 428
• Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 440
• Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 441
• Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 477
• Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 551
• Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 569
• Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 595
• Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 617
• Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 639
• Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 684
• Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 952
• Electrical Workers, Ninth District
• Elevator Constructors Local 8
• Elevator Constructors Local 18
• Gunite Workers Local 345
• Hod Carriers Local 166
• Hod Carriers & Laborers Local 783
• Laborers Local 89
• Laborers Local 220
• Laborers Local 220
• Laborers Local 300
• Laborers Local 507
• Laborers Local 585
• Laborers Local 652
• Laborers Local 802
• Laborers Local 1184
• Laborers Local 1414
• Laborers So. CA District Council
• Carpet, Resilient Floor Covering Local 1237
• Carpet/Linoleum/Soft Tile Workers Local 12
• Floor Layers Local 1247
• Glaziers Local 169
• Glaziers Local 636
• Glaziers Local 1621
• Glaziers & Glass Workers Local 718
• Glaziers/Floorlayers/Painters Local 1399
• IUPAT D.C. 16/Glaziers Local 767
• IUPAT District Council Local 16
• Painters Local 3
• Painters Local 52
• Painters Local 83
• Painters Local 272
• Painters Local 741
• Painters Local 775
• Painters Local 913
• Painters Local 1036
• Painters Local 1595
• Painters & Allied Trades D.C. Local 36
• Painters & Dry Wall Finishers Local 376
• Painters & Drywall Finishers Local 1036
• Painters & Tapers Local 487
• Painters & Tapers Local 507
• Painters Drywall Finishers Local 1136
• Painters, Tapers, Glaziers, Floor Coverers Local 294
• Painters-Auto,Marine & Specialty Local 1176
• CA State Conference of Plasterers & Cement Masons
• Cement Masons
• Cement Masons Local 400
• Cement Masons Local 400
• Cement Masons Local 500
• Cement Masons Local 600
• Cement Masons (Area 631 Dispatch) Local 400
• No District Council of Plasterers & Cement Masons
• Plasterers Local 66
• Plasterers & Cement Masons Local 200
• Plasterers & Cement Masons Local 300
• Plasterers & Cement Masons Area 429 Local 300
• So District Council of Plasterers & Cement Masons
• CA State Pipe Trades Council
• Landscape/Irrigation Local 345
• UA Pipe Trades DC Local 36
• UA Plumbers Local 38
• UA Plumbers Local 78
• UA Plumbers Local 246
• UA Plumbers Local 393
• UA Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 230
• UA Plumbers & Fitters Local 114
• UA Plumbers & Fitters Local 364
• UA Plumbers & Fitters Local 398
• UA Plumbers & Fitters Local 403
• UA Plumbers & Fitters Local 442
• UA Plumbers & Fitters Local 761
• UA Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 62
• UA Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 447
• UA Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 484
• UA Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 159
• UA Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 290
• UA Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 343
• UA Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 460
• UA Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 494
• UA Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 582
• UA Plumbers & Steamfitters HVAC Local 228
• UA Plumbers, Steamfitters & Refrigeration Fitters Local 467
• UA Road Sprinkler Fitters Local 669
• UA Road Sprinkler Fitters District 2 Local 669
• UA Road Sprinkler Fitters District 22 Local 669
• UA Road Sprinkler Fitters District 22 Local 669
• UA Road Sprinkler Fitters District 27 Local 669
• UA So CA Pipe Trades DC Local 16
• UA Sprinkler Fitters Local 483
• UA Sprinkler Fitters Local 709
• UA Steamfitters Local 250
• UA Steamfitters Local 342
• UA United Association
• Roofers Local 40
• Roofers & Waterproofers Local 27
• Roofers & Waterproofers Local 36
• Roofers & Waterproofers Local 81
• Roofers & Waterproofers Local 95
• Roofers & Waterproofers Local 220
• W.Reg.DC of Roofers/Waterproofers
• Sheet Metal Workers Local 104
• Sheet Metal Workers Local 105
• Sheet Metal Workers Local 162
• Sheet Metal Workers Local 206
• Sheet Metal Workers Local 273
• Sheet Metal Workers (Dispatch Office) Local 104
• Sheet Metal Workers’ International Assn.
• Sheet Metal Workers W.S.C.
• District Council of Iron Workers
• Iron Workers Local 118
• Iron Workers Local 155
• Iron Workers Local 229
• Iron Workers Local 377
• Iron Workers Local 378
• Iron Workers Local 416
• Iron Workers Local 433
• Iron Workers Local 624
• Iron Workers Local 844
BUSINESS GROUPS
• Florence-Firestone/Walnut Park Chamber of Commerce
• Industry Manufacturers Council (City of Industry Chamber of Commerce)
• Lake County Chamber of Commerce
• American Institute of Architects, California Council
• Clark & Sullivan Construction
• EHDD Architecture
• Fentress Architects
• Gayner Engineers
• Gilbane Building Co.
• Hensel Phelps Construction Co.
• Sundt Construction, Inc.
• Kitchell
• Moore Ruble Yudell Architects and Planners
• Page & Turnbull
• The Engineering Enterprise
• Turner Construction Company
• ZGF Architects
• Syska Hennessy Group
• Sandy Pringle Associates
• Forell/Elsesser Engineers, Inc.
• California Metals Coalition
• Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, LLP
• Stephen Wheeler, Landscape Architects
• Capital Engineering Consultants
• American Council of Engineering Companies
• Associated General Contractors
• California Chapters of the National Electrical Contractors Association
• California Landscape and Irrigation Council
• California Legislative Conference of the Plumbing, Heating and Piping Industry
• Golden State Builders Exchanges
• Structural Engineers Association of California
• United Contractors
• American Construction and Inspectors Association
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
• Councilmember Norma Macias, City of El Monte
• Mayor Sandra Armenta, City of Rosemead
• Councilmember Mari Rodin, City of Ukiah
• Councilmember Roy Parmentier, City of Lakeport
• Mayor Pro-Tem Thomas Engstrom, City of Lakeport
• Councilmember Sam Pedroza, City of Claremont
• Councilmember Rosa Perez, City of Huntington Park
• Councilmember Joseph Gonzalez, City of South El Monte
• Councilmember Steve Cohn, City of Sacramento
• Councilmember Charlie Klinakis, City of La Puente
• Mayor Luis Ayala, City of Alhambra
• Councilmember Carl Hagen, City of Placerville
• Councilmember Rob Fong, City of Sacramento
• Assistant City Manager John Dangberg, City of Sacramento
• Supervisor Salud Carbajal, District 1, Santa Barbara County
• Supervisor Anthony Farrington, District 4, Lake County
• Supervisor Jerry O’Banion, District 5, Merced County
• William Spears, Chief of Police, City of Willows
• Sergio Calderon, Boardmember, Water Replenishment District of Southern California
INDIVIDUALS
• Andy Bell, Electrical Engineer, The Engineering Enterprise
• Bob Louden, Architect, Fentress Architects
• Emmett Harrison, Fentress Architects
• James Cunningham, Business Representative, United Association of Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 230
• Jennifer Carlson, Project Coordinator, Dreyfuss & Blackford Architects
• Kirk Crosswhite, Business Manager, Plumbers and Steamfitters Local Union 230
• Kristopher Barkley, Design Director, Dreyfuss & Blackford Architects
• Leslie Carey, Architect, Ratcliff Architects
• Mark Hornberger, FAIA, Principal, Hornberger + Worstell, Architects
• Mike Castillo, Sr. Vice President of Northern CA Region, C.W. Driver
• Rick Feldman, Architect, EHDD Architecture
• Robert Stokes, Vice President of Operations, Rudolph and Sletten, Inc.
• Ron Price, Senior Project Manager, Parsons Brinckerhoff
• Scott Ondik, Senior Consultant, Shen Milsom & Wilke
• Scott Wheeler, Principal, The Engineering Enterprise
• Selene Lenox, Senior Business Developer, Gilbane Building Co.
• Stephen Blaylock, Project Director, Sundt Construction
• Ted Hyman, Partner, ZGF Architects
• Edward K. Takahashi, President, Edward K. Takahasi Architectural Corporation
• David Karina, President, Dynamic Engineering & Inspection, Inc.
• William Davis, DSA Inspector, Certified Inspection Associations Inc.
• Steve McConnell, Managing Partner, NBBJ
• Andre Ross, Attorney at Law
• Bill Brunetti, CEO, Lakeport Chamber of Commerce
• Allen Nudel, Principal, Forell/Elsesser Engineers
• Anthony Colacchia, Prinicpal, Capital Engineering Consultants
• Lowell Shields, President/CEO, Capital Engineering Consultants Inc.
carol
August 27, 2012
Is Scary Perry on this blog really Perry Caravello the Plaintiff in this lawsuit represented by Dydzak for damages for willingly putting his penis in a mousetrap? Yikes!!!!
http://www.tmz.com/2007/06/01/kimmel-corolla-sued-by-guy-who-put-his-junk-in-mousetrap/
Judicial Council Watcher
August 28, 2012
Ouch. In more ways than one.
Robert Turner
August 27, 2012
I disagree unionman. Those groups are not the opposition. They are mainly contractors who will take state procurement dollars from DGS just as easily as they will from the Judicial Council. The legislature can act with no fear that these groups will fight back. The bonds were approved but nothing says the JC and AOC can’t be cut out managing the funds and more accountable agencies in the Executive branch (DGS) could be put in charge of managing these projects. The JC is no longer allowed to spend money on CCMS and if they keep wasting money the legislature could act again so the JC loses oversight of the courthouse construction money as well. Things are changing and the ACJ is on the right side. The Governor portrays himself as an openly cheap man with taxpayer money (to his great credit) and this kind of waste in CA government can’t be ignored forever especially when the public is being asked to raise taxes this fall.
The Chief should see the ACJ as true friends who want all voices at the policy making table. Tani may feel endebted to the old guard for her job but nothing says she can’t chart her own course now and join with the ACJ. Dump the old guard from key committees, democratize the JC, and bring in new ethical court administrators to run the AOC (not retired judges). Fight on my friends!
unionman575
August 27, 2012
Closing current courthouses = BAD.
Building NEW courthouses that no trial court can fill with staff to operate = BAD.
Yes they are the opposition.
Stop building now.
Wendy Darling
August 27, 2012
The legislature needs to put the brakes on everything at 455 Golden Gate Avenue that involves the expenditure of public funds, order an outside, independent investigation and put people under oath subject to the penalty of perjury. Now.
Long live the ACJ.
SCARYPERRY
August 28, 2012
The release of the Pegasus Report is good news and good work by Judicial Council Watcher. I think that it is good that everyone exchanges First Amendment ideas on this site, as this will lead to changes hopefully that are positive and productive. The Alliance Judges are doing a good job. Wendy Darling’s last comment is on the mark. The union is also doing a good job getting the message out.
Guest
August 28, 2012
Soon all we have been fighting for will be rewarded. In about a month out new director Mr. Jahr will take the leadership reins of the branch. He will fix the AOC and repair the branch’s relationship with the legislature and Governor. We will all see the work of the selection committee, after their nationwide search and direct selection of pulling him from retirement all pay off. Soon we won’t even remember that Mr. Jahr doesn’t even meet the MQ’s of the position or mind that he is double dipping his salary and judicial retirement. In time they will rename the Vickery building to the Jahr Center.
Been There
August 28, 2012
Sounds like the nightime reverie of J Hull!
Dream on,Justice, dream on,
Robert Turner
August 28, 2012
Lol. That was funny guest. Nice post.
Guest
August 28, 2012
From what I gather, OCCM at 455 Golden Gate has been at war with the DGS Management for years. Interesting.
Michael Paul
August 28, 2012
I was involved directly in that war and let me tell you from first-hand experience that the war with DGS is contrived by the AOC because they want the ownership of the entire crystal palace to transfer from DGS to OCCM.
It has been a management goal for as long as I can remember. It has been briefed to AOC employees and it was an established goal to blow everything that happens way out of proportion as a means to making their case.
Again, from first-hand experience, I assure you that the AOC gets better service from DGS than any court gets from OCCM, bar none.
DAN DYDZAK
August 28, 2012
Carol, Mr. Caravello’s lawsuit is public record. Can’t comment further because of settlement confidentiality and attorney-client privilege in that matter.
carol
August 29, 2012
Mr. Dydzak,
I was not looking for a comment from you, but rather I posted Mr. Caravello’s lawsuit for some much needed levity on this blog in light of all the serious doom and gloom that is regularly reported, including by you!
DAN DYDZAK
August 29, 2012
Carol, I like your Erma Bombeck viewpoint. Remember, she wrote a book with a title something like, “If Life is a Bowl of Cherries, What am I doing in the Pits”? Thanks for your last commentary.