While our primary focus is on the Judicial Council and the AOC, we also look at reforms at this level as the gateway to reforming different parts of our judicial branch where we think something needs tweaking. That won’t be our mission, nor will it evolve in that general direction. We like to cover interesting ( and even novel ) ways that others address some of the reform issues that arise elsewhere in the judicial branch. Towards that end, the Center for Judicial Excellence compiled a series of media links of interesting stories about our family court system and we’re happy to provide those for your reading and viewing pleasure.
Los Angeles:
Children Lost in the Family Court System- 4 Parts
Part 1 – San Diego Protest moms, Damon’s story, Alanna’s story (run time 10:11)
Part 2 – LA’s Judge Nash on juvenile court (run time 04:14)
Part 3 – Kathleen Russell on the broken courts (run time 04:20)
Part 4 – Hope for the Future, Cummings Foundation (run time 01:36)
Former Family Court Judge Speaks Out- NEW!
Video – Whistleblowing former judge DeeAnn Salcido (run time 04:55)
Damon’s Story- Lost in the System- 8 Parts
Part 1 – Damon’s Story: A First Look (run time 06:06)
Part 2 – A First Look Update (run time 05:44)
Part 3 – A First Look Latest (run time 05:19)
Part 4 – Damon Tells Story, His Father Responds; Legal Analysis Latest (run time 06:16)
Part 5 – Damon Tell His Story, His Father Responds, Legal Analysis Latest (run time 07:22)
Part 6 – Damon’s Story – Lost in the System (run time 06:43)
Part 7 – Damon’s Story – Lost in the System: the Latest Interviews (run time 04:33)
Part 8 – Damon’s Story – Lost in the System: More Interviews (run time 06:04)
Michigan case:
Bad Behavior Behind the Bench in Family Court – (corrupted link from Fox 11 News, needs to be updated)
http://www.myfoxla.com/video?clipId=7772250&autostart=true
Cleveland, Ohio (FOX 11 is about to cover this case):
Big-name Cleveland family embroiled in custody battle
Video(run time 04:40)
Monterey & Central Coast (print coverage of Damon)
Teen Speaks Out Online About Family Sexual Abuse
Article(posted Aug.30, 2012)
16 Year Old Uses Youtube to Claim Sexual Abuse by Father
Article(posted Sept. 01, 2012)
Central Coast Viewers Help 16 Year Old in Hiding
Article(posted Sept. 01, 2012)
16 Year Old Boy’s Mom Speaks Out About Sexual Abuse Claims
Article(posted Sept 06, 2012)
Teen In Hiding Talks With Sheriff
Article(posted Sept. 30, 2012)
Lando
October 9, 2012
JCW – I have great respect for your work and the many opinions expressed on here. This latest post includes some topics that won’t help anyone in the uphill battle to reform the Judicial Council and AOC. I have spoken out on my views about some excesses of the CJP but their investigation and decision regarding former San Diego Judge Salcido was entirely appropriate given her actions. To republish a one sided media account making Ms Salcido out to be a victim, sidetracks your message and undermines the credibility of what you are trying to achieve. I am not advocating ignoring the First Amendment but respectfully urge this site to focus on the big picture and not get lost in one sided recitations of specific individual cases. Maybe it is just me but I think it may be time to decamp and move to that secure and remote location after all.
Judicial Council Watcher
October 10, 2012
With all due respect Lando, we check the links for functionality not for content. The preamble before the links indicates the media links were supplied to us by a third party whose work we respect.
Should you desire us to publish an article you wrote or media links you supply that tell a story, we’re open about posting those materials as they relate to the California Court system in general, though admittedly our focus is on the judicial council and the AOC.
Nothing anywhere gets fixed before the issues of governance, transparency and accountability are all addressed at the highest levels. Organizations like the Center for Judicial Excellence know this to be true. While we may discount one of the messages and one of the messengers, it’s beneficial to keep in mind that all of these sideroads have the same destination and that CJE is on the front line of the reform movement.
The OBT
October 9, 2012
Amen brother. I just feel like a lost ship at sea. No one really represents my views anymore and i get discouraged when this blog gets off track as well. The best days in this work were when we had a Municipal Court close to the people we served. We managed our budget and our work just fine. We were free to develop ideas that worked for us without interference from a faceless bureaucracy in San Francisco. The CJP understood the difference between ethical misconduct and legal error. Sorry to live in the past but we had a court system that worked and wasn’t about to go bankrupt. And oh yes you wouldn’t have to spend 5 hours waiting for your speeding ticket to be resolved. Lando’s got the right idea, I think it is time to move on to a state where democracy hasn’t left the building.
wearyant
October 9, 2012
Lando and The OBT, I’m hoping there is a solution other than abandoning our state. We already have a secure and remote location — our minds. Lando and The OBT, you are needed to keep this area secure and remote. Don’t flee to the unknown where there’s different problems. I have seen people abandon the area, then want to return, I suppose in the face of whatever they encountered. It’s darkest before the dawn. Here’s hoping you stay and continue the uphill battle to reverse the mistakes and reclaim the third branch. (Don’t let the greedy, mindless bureaucrats grind you down.) Good people are sorely needed more than ever!
JusticeCalifornia
October 10, 2012
This post was a surprise to me, JCW. Of course I am aware of the story, but was unaware it would be featured here.
That said, the story is not about Salcido or the CJP. The story is about a broken family court system that a) encourages supervised visitation for good and good-enough parents (both fathers and mothers); and b) notwithstanding documented red flags, routinely places children with seriously mentally ill, substance abusing, and/or physically abusive parents, thereby ensuring years of contested custody conflicts and a new generation of dysfunction. It appears that this dynamic, and the AOC training that facilitates it, has its roots in “access to visitation” grant money that is setting family court policy in CA. This grant-driven tail-wagging-the-dog issue was a complaint expressed by judges as reflected in the SEC report.
Just as top leadership is making a big mistake by playing the “i can’t hear you” game with court reformists within its own judicial ranks, I respectfully submit it would be a big mistake for those same court reformists to underestimate and play the “I can’t hear you” game with furious family court litigants and advocates who are actually gaining enough momentum, power and documentation to radically change the way family court justice is administered.
Or members of the public being financially raped and pillaged with traffic court fees, fines and penalties.
Public outrage is grounded in proceedings like this:
A baby was murdered after a judge disbelieved threats by the father, and warned the mother she would be dealt with harshly if she was lying. . . .
Thank God for the transcript in the Tagle case.
How is it that criminals are entitled to court reporters,while parents who are being unceremoniously stripped of their children, property and income are not? How is it that judges are making life altering decisions about the placement of children based upon one-hour drive-by recommending mediators who a) are not properly trained; b) have not properly investigated the case and c) whose files have been destroyed with the blessing of the AOC, so no appropriate cross-examination may be undertaken?
No one should underestimate the power of the public. NO ONE. The public and its advocates have long been subjected to precisely the same type of disrespect, arrogance, retaliation and hubris that the ACJ is now experiencing.
My personal interest in court reform was inspired by my personal observations that tippy-top leadership has encouraged, facilitated, rewarded and covered up really despicable Marin trial court behavior resulting in years of public outcry and foreseeable damage to children. My focus shifted to statewide issues after realizing change in Marin will not come until there is change in top leadership.
Nuff said.
Lando, OBT, I hope you don’t walk away.
Regards, JusticeCalifornia
JusticeCalifornia
October 10, 2012
One more thing. For those who do not see the nexus between trial court corruption, mismanagement and misconduct on the one hand and leadership corruption, mismanagement and misconduct on the other– consider this– after Marin County (read: Judicial Councilmember and Marin CEO Kim Turner, and Marin family court judge Verna Adams) worked with the AOC to block state auditor access and destroy child custody evidence in the middle of an audit of the Marin Family Court (which audit was UNANIMOUSLY approved by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee), Kim Turner became Tani Cantil Sakauye’s right hand woman and a top advisor on many leadership committees. Oh yeah, and that was after the AOC blasted Turner in 2005/2006 for signing off on her former Marin boss’s financial transgressions. Oh yeah, and Sakauye put Turner on those CCMS committees although Turner spends $2 mil a year on Marin’s garbage computer system– far more than many much larger counties with far better computer systems spend.
Verna Adams was placed by Sakauye on the SEC.
And our new AOC leader Mr. Jahr who has no meaningful administrative experience? He may eventually become best known for assisting in perpetuating what appears to be one of the biggest abuses of the assigned judges program in this state’s history. ALL assigned judges are going to suffer the consequences for that, and I do hope blame is placed where it belongs: on the office of the chief justice and the presiding judges and the AOC members who abused the program.
It ain’t the cream rising to to the top and therein lies common ground between people like me and the ACJ.
Top leadership should be stocked with the democratically selected best and brightest so the entire branch and public are not punished for what the cj’s handpicked “leadership” ship of fools du jour are doing.
JusticeCalifornia
October 12, 2012
I said above, to 4 thumbs down
“Just as top leadership is making a big mistake by playing the “i can’t hear you” game with court reformists within its own judicial ranks, I respectfully submit it would be a big mistake for those same court reformists to underestimate and play the “I can’t hear you” game with furious family court litigants and advocates who are actually gaining enough momentum, power and documentation to radically change the way family court justice is administered.”
“The public and its advocates have long been subjected to precisely the same type of disrespect, arrogance, retaliation and hubris that the ACJ is now experiencing.”
Case in point:
http://www.theunion.com/news/ticker/2826973-113/court-gallup-family-jury
Don’t shoot the messengers.
Next let’s see what happens regarding court reporters being yanked out of family court, and let’s see what happens about abuse of the assigned judges program.
By the way, the Judicial Council report on best practices regarding retention of Family Court Services recommending mediation child custody evidence (requested two years ago) is supposed to be presented at this month’s Judicial Council meeting. Should be interesting.
anna
October 13, 2012
WTF is the AOC doing with any court files?????? They are not clerks of the Court. Destroying court files is a felony. Striking court documents is also illegal, without a court order, however, that happens all the time in San Diego. Why aren’t more family law attorney’s demanding to find out who are destroying records, putting it the record, demanding names, and then filing complaints with the DA for obstruction of justice, spoliation of evidence and UPL. To tamper with Court records is obstruction of justice and comes with a heavy fine and sentence. The AOC is engaging in UPL by most of it’s policies and practices.
The AOC needs to be abolished. along with the JC. The current CRC are sufficient, and all the rest can be done by the legislature, thru CCP and Family court statutes.
As I said, the Current AOC and JC were set up by George to fix cases, under the radar.
San Diego is just the tip of the iceberg.
Stuart Michael
October 12, 2012
OBT – your recollections of the Muni Courts are entirely correct. They were generally well-run, and had computer systems that had been working fine for years at minimal cost. Muni Ct judges, administrators and court staff were responsive to the people they served. They had to be as efficient as possible to effectively deal with the large volume of cases they processed. The Court Clerks Association provided excellent training and educational opportunities for court staff, and promoted a family of cohesiveness that has sadly been destroyed. Most Muni Ct Administrators had risen from the ranks and knew their operations from the ground up. Court budgets were manageable, and the revenue generated funded many other worthy programs. Support services provided by counties, while not always the best, were better and cheaper than what the AOC now force feeds down court throats. They were located nearby, not in the city by the bay. The AOC produced forms and promulgated real-world rules; and the JC didn’t seek to take over the courts. There were no expensive conferences and meetings in exotic locations to escape to.
By comparison, the Superior Courts (often run by elected County Clerks with no real court experience) were in the dark ages.
As we know, all this changed with state trial court funding, court unification, and the AOC cancer that has been metastisizing for 20 years. Although we can’t turn the clock back, there are many lessons that could be learned (and re-learned.) Control must be returned to the local level.
Although others can help – its up to the judiciary to continue the struggle to regain the courts.
courtflea
October 12, 2012
Stuart Michael, well said but sadly Superior Courts in those days were poorly funded as opposed to the Muni courts that were major revenue generators with all of those traffic fines. That is why many superior courts were in the dark ages technologically speaking.
Been There
October 12, 2012
…and that is why (Muni Courts as big revenue generators) R George began his power grab with Trial Court Unification. It seemed like such a good idea on paper and Muni Court judges would automatically be “promoted” to Superior Court Judge without having to secure a gubernatorial appointment or run for a vacant seat on the bench.
Three counties were not convinced — Los Angeles, Kern, and Modoc — and only ratified after George and the then Governor collaborated to crush their opposition.
anna
October 13, 2012
You got that right.