We recognize that there may be an issue with employees of the courts or employees of the AOC writing a letter to the Joint Legislative Audit Committee and requesting an audit or signing a petition. In a “Hail Mary” last ditch effort to deliver as many petitioners as humanly possible by next Tuesday at noon, we want to ask that you consider using our hushmail form to make the request as it is 100% untraceable back to you as all fields are optional. You don’t even need to use your name if you don’t want to.
We’ll even suggest what you should say so that you can copy and paste it in the form. To get to the form, all you have to do is follow this link (link)
____________________________________________________
Dear distinguished members of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee,
I am a concerned citizen of the State of California. I am also a (Court or Judicial Council – Eliminate one) employee that is trying to avoid using my name due to fear of making a career limiting choice by speaking out. Today, I write this letter to you to respectfully request that you consider auditing the Judicial Council’s facilities maintenance and construction programs that have thus far escaped legislative scrutiny.
A simple internet search – or even a review of the many complaints filed with the state legislature over the past six years regarding the use of unlicensed contractors, overcharging for projects and paying contractors to fix the damage that they themselves cause are just a few themes of the many complaints.
I’m also concerned about how the 2.3 billion dollar Long Beach courthouse PPP project was awarded, why courthouses that were just built 4 years ago for millions are being shut down and whether or not the Judicial Council is safely managing the buildings that I work in.
I also question the over a thousand dollars per square foot being paid for building new courthouses and how the AOC’s outdated facilities standards might play a part in to these costs when federal authorities are able to build federal courthouses for a fraction of the cost.
I believe that only an audit of the court construction and facilities maintenance programs at the Judicial Council can expose the waste in all of these programs. Please consider auditing the Judicial Council’s facilities maintenance and construction programs before all the money is spent and it is too late.
Sincerely,
A concerned (court or judicial council – eliminate one) employee
_____________________________________________________________
All you will need to do is copy and paste the above in the link provided. We will print it off and have it hand delivered to the committee. We would ask that you provide some uniqueness in your response, like maybe the city you work or live in or the zip code of the city you work or live in. Another way would be to alter our suggested text. At any rate, we would love to deliver as many unique requests as we can and we need your help.
Thanks!
The staff of Judicial Council Watcher and Yen Interactive Media
Video credits: On July 30th 2015 the “Rockin 1000” consisting of musicians from across Italy released the above video on Youtube to ask The Foo Fighters to play in Italy. In less than 24 hours this video was viewed more than 9 million times. And The Foo Fighters Twitter response, which also came in less than 24 hours was “See you soon!”
Judicial Council Watcher
July 31, 2015
The link was somehow broken and has been fixed now. Thanks for bringing it to our attention.
unionman575
July 31, 2015
Let’s do it!
😉
Judicial Council Watcher
July 31, 2015
We should have thought of this two weeks ago. Keep the responses pouring in folks and thank you!
Judicial Council Watcher
July 31, 2015
Video credits: On July 30th 2015 (Yesterday) the “Rockin 1000″ consisting of musicians from across Italy released the above video on Youtube to ask The Foo Fighters to play in Italy. In less than 24 hours this video was viewed more than 9 million times. And The Foo Fighters Twitter response, which also came in less than 24 hours was “See you soon!”
Judicial Council Watcher
July 31, 2015
Wow! Thank you “A group of seven San Diego Court Employees” and the many others that have responded.
Judicial Council Watcher
August 1, 2015
Current count of all petitioners and respondents requesting an audit of the facilities maintenance and construction programs:
Moveon petition: http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/audit-the-california?source=c.em.cp&r_by=4605253 62 signers
Letters sent to michael.paul@yeninteractivemedia.com : 11
Letters sent via https://forms.hush.com/judicialcouncilwatcher : 41 (group of 7 above only count as one)
Letters sent directly to the joint legislative audit committee: unknown
Total known petitioners: 114
Keep up the fine work!
unionman575
August 1, 2015
Only written comments received by 5:00 PM on August 7, 2015, will be provided to advisory body members.
😉
http://www.courts.ca.gov/cfac.htm
It is time to “reduce”those facilities costs…
Yeah right….
August 10, 2015 Courthouse Cost Reduction Subcommittee Meeting
10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Judicial Council San Francisco Office
455 Golden Gate Avenue, Third Floor – Malcolm M. Lucas Board Room
Public Call-in Number: 1-877-820-7831,
Passcode: 7004216
In accordance with California Rules of Court, rule 10.75(e)(1), public notice is hereby given that the Courthouse Cost Reduction Subcommittee will hold a meeting open to the public on August 10, 2015, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in San Francisco. A copy of the agenda for this meeting is available on the advisory body web page on the California Courts website listed above.
Public Comment
In accordance with California Rules of Court, rule 10.75(k)(2), an opportunity for members of
the public to directly address the advisory body on agenda items shall be provided. The Chair
will establish speaking limits at the beginning of the public comment session.
Note: members of the public requesting to speak during the public comment portion of the
meeting must place the speaker’s name, the name of the organization that the speaker represents, if any, and the agenda item that the public comment will address, on the public comment sign-up sheet. The sign-up sheet will be available at the meeting location at least one hour prior to the meeting start time.
In accordance with California Rules of Court, rule 10.75(k)(1), written comments pertaining to
any agenda item of a regularly noticed open meeting can be submitted up to one complete
business day before the meeting. For this specific meeting, comments should be e-mailed to
cfac@jud.ca.gov or mailed or delivered to 2860 Gateway Oaks Drive, Suite 400, Sacramento,
CA 95835, attention: Kristine Metzker. Only written comments received by 5:00 PM on August
7, 2015, will be provided to advisory body members.
Audio Recording
Members of the public seeking to make an audio recording of the meeting must submit a written request at least two business days before the meeting. Requests can be e-mailed to
cfac@jud.ca.gov.
Posted on: August 3, 2015
😉
unionman575
August 1, 2015
Let’s hit them with letters…let the legislature know how you feel and why.
How many of our fellow citizens must be denied access to justice while the JC plays money games?
Just do it!
Anonymous or not.
Thanks.
😉
Santa, Tooth Fairies Unicorns and California Court Justice
August 29, 2015
unionman.. usually the answer to that question is “almost all”….but we can keep hope alive… and keep trying
unionman575
August 29, 2015
Except those with the $$$ to go private and hire a retired judge.
sharonkramer
August 2, 2015
“Thank you “A group of seven San Diego Court Employees” Yeah!!! Go San Diego!!!! In my travels thru their courts, I met a lot of good people.
unionman575
August 2, 2015
Yeah go San Diego!
😉
Stuart Michael
August 3, 2015
I want to snail mail my letter to the Audit Committee. What is their address. How can I post a copy to JCW. I need to mail it tomorrow..Thanks.
Wendy Darling
August 3, 2015
“According to the Joint Legislative Audit Committees website, all requests for a new audit must be received in the JLAC office, LOB Room 107 no later than 5 PM on Tuesday, August 4th 2015.
The full address is:
Joint Legislative Audit Committee – California State Capitol
10th and L Streets – LOB Room 107
Sacramento, CA 95814”
http://legaudit.assembly.ca.gov/hearings
Long live the ACJ.
Michael Paul
August 3, 2015
If you instead email it to me it will be hand-delivered tomorrow because audit requests must be in their office by the close of business tomorrow to be considered.
my email address is above in the comments.
sharonkramer
August 3, 2015
Deep wounds caused by deep corruption cuts worse than any knife ever could. It does my heart good to see so many in the know speaking out. Whether poor souls know it or not, the public is NOWHERE without all of you. Shaddow boxing to regain their lives, they don’t understatnd how money for nothin and kicks for free devastates their lives. They need YOU to set their world right. Major thanks to those who are speaking out!!!!!! Love, Mrs Kramer
unionman575
August 4, 2015
After Pasadena, why not have a courthouse names meeting?
Talk about being in the Twilight Zone…
http://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/cfac-20150810-cn-notice.pdf
August 10, 2015 Subcommittee on Courthouse Names Meeting
12:30 p.m. to 12:45 p.m.
Judicial Council San Francisco Office
455 Golden Gate Avenue, Third Floor – Malcolm M. Lucas Board Room
Public Call-in Number: 1-877-820-7831,
Passcode: 7004216
Posted on: August 3, 2015
😉
Wendy Darling
August 4, 2015
But Unionman – didn’t you get the memo? When you change the name it changes “everything” while at the same time changing “nothing at all.”
Long live the ACJ.
unionman575
August 4, 2015
It does not change a F***** thing.
Wendy Darling
August 4, 2015
Exactly, Unionman.
As has often been said by those in charge at 455 Golden Gate Avenue: “It’s not about how things are. It’s only about how we can make things appear to be.”
You just can’t make this stuff up. Really.
Long live the ACJ.
wearyant
August 4, 2015
“There is a fifth dimension beyond that which is known to man. It is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition, and it lies between the pit of man’s fears and the summit of his knowledge. This is the dimension of imagination. It is an area which we call the Twilight Zone.” ~ Rod Sterling
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
These are the people several years ago who, when it was dawning upon all we were in for a horrible downturn in the economy that may match The Great Depression, thought it prudent to call a meeting in an exotic place to discuss how it would affect the third branch.
It should be a joke if it weren’t true. And their interesting thought processes continue to this date. But, well, [sigh] Marty H says a culture change of the magnitude necessary may take 20 years … 😱
wearyant
August 4, 2015
My apologies to Rod Serling, wherever he is, heaven, the twilight zone or some Greek island.
Michael Paul
August 4, 2015
The letters and petitions are on their way to Sacramento. Thank you for your participation.
wearyant
August 4, 2015
Godspeed and safe journey, MP.
Wendy Darling
August 4, 2015
Today’s installment of Tani’s Follies. Published today, Tuesday, August 4, from Courthouse News Service by Maria Dinzeo.
Has anyone seen anyone associated with the Office of the Chief Justice, be it Martin Hoshino, Queen Feckless herself, or anyone else in a position of authority, saying anything or doing anything distancing the California Judicial Branch from Mr. Child or disavowing Child’s inappropriate and unethical conduct, much less severing any connection with Court Call?
[crickets chirping]
Yeah, that’s what I thought.
Former Court Lobbyist Creates New Controversy in New Job
By MARIA DINZEO
(CN) – The controversial former chief lobbyist for the California courts has resurfaced in a new role as pitchman, sending out a mass email to every judge in California promoting a “remote appearance platform” that allows long-distance court testimony.
As one of the top officials in California’s court bureaucracy, Curt Child was a principal promoter of the software platform called the Court Case Management System. The project was widely derided as a mismanaged fiasco before it was finally abandoned, after plowing through a half-billion dollars in public funds, most of it sent to a private contractor.
Child was also connected to a series of additional policies and incidents that often brought intense criticism from the Legislature and trial judges.
When Child left in March, the director of the court administrative office, Martin Hoshino, issued a press release saying he was leaving for an undisclosed “national firm that will continue to enable to him work with judges.”
Those words were given substance by a mass email sent last month from Child to all the judges in California, pitching a technology platform that allows for video appearances in court hearings.
“This a new and exciting opportunity for me to work with a company that is committed to improving access to justice and improving efficiencies for the courts,” said Child in his email, appropriating themes used to promote the old CCMS software.
Child’s new employer is called CourtCall, which has been in the business of long-distance court appearances for 20 years.
It his message to all the judges, Child added, “I will be in touch.”
While the use of the list of email addresses for all the judges in California does not violate any ethical rules, according to experts, it did cause a reaction from a number of judges.
Judge Runston Maino of San Diego fired off his own email to Hoshino and judges on California’s Judicial Council, the rule-making body led by Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye who appoints a majority of the council members.
“I have to wonder about how appropriate it was for Mr. Child to send this sort of an announcement out to every judge and justice in California? It is very difficult for me to believe that any of you would approve of such a thing,” Maino wrote. “In any case I do hope that since Mr. Child has access to the email address of every judge and justice in California that he will not be giving or selling this information to anyone else. Despite our filters I get enough goofy materials on my public email address already. I certainly do not wish Mr. Child to add to the pile.”
Speaking for the California Judges Association, Judge Joan Weber said the email from Child was not a matter for its board to consider.
“CJA has a hard-working ethics committee that deals with ethical issues related solely to judicial officers,” said Weber, the CJA’s president. “This issue, however, does not involve a judicial officer. It involves a former member of the Judicial Council staff. Therefore, the CJA would generally not be rendering an opinion on this type of issue.”
For the Alliance of California Judges, Judge Maryanne Gilliard pressed the matter with the administrative office director.
“It appears, at this point, Mr. Child is cashing in on his time at the top of the central bureaucracy to the detriment of other companies that may wish to compete for these services,” wrote Gilliard, in an email to Hoshino.
Hoshino said nobody on his staff would approve release of the email addresses for the judges in California.
“I don’t know how Curt Child acquired the email addresses for you and your colleagues and to my knowledge, no person at the Judicial Council or its staff would approve of the release of this information to him or any party for that matter.”
Gilliard replied, “Do you plan on making any inquiries or conducting any investigations in to how a former high ranking executive would or could have acquired these email addresses? I understand that you yourself may not know how Mr. Child would have acquired this valuable marketing information, but it’s concerning that ‘to your knowledge’ no AOC staff or JC member would have approved of this release without undertaking an investigation, especially since CourtCall is apparently the main company used in California courts for the stated purpose in Mr. Child’s e-blast.”
Hoshino assured Gilliard that he has been investigating the matter.
“We have been working to determine how this happened,” he wrote. “Until the inquiry is complete, I can’t say with absolute certainty whether our employees or members approved the release. I’ve also asked for examination of all the policies or procedures that protect our confidential information to determine if there are violations or changes that need to be made, as well as any policies that govern the conduct of former employees in this area. We will also be talking directly with the CourtCall company.”
Hoshino also told Gilliard that the Judicial Council does have contracts with CourtCall, but that he wasn’t sure of the details. Trial courts in Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Merced County and San Mateo County also use CourtCall, just to name a few.
A set of statutes and regulations called “revolving door” laws try to put a short freeze on contacts between former government officials working for private companies and their former governmental colleagues. The rules often require a cooling off period of one or two years between the time an official leaves governmental employ and then makes contact with his old co-workers on behalf of a private contractor.
California’s court rules include a similar prohibition.
Rule of Court 10.104 limits the ability of courts to negotiate contracts with former employees of the administrative office or the trial courts.
“A trial or appellate court may not enter into a contract for goods or services for which compensation is paid with a person previously employed by that court or by the Administrative Office of the Courts: (1) For a period of 12 months following the date of the former employee’s retirement, dismissal, or separation from service, if he or she was employed in a policymaking position in the same general subject area as the proposed contract within the 12-month period before his or her retirement, dismissal, or separation.”
But the comments surrounding the email blast from Child do not center on that revolving door provision. Their focus has been on the use of the email list of all the judges in the state to promote a technology product for the California courts.
Retired judge and judicial ethics expert Julie Conger said she did not see any problem with judges using the remote appearance technology after Child had gone to work for the technology’s private vendor for that technology. “I cannot comment on the propriety of his use of AOC email contacts,” Conger. “I don’t see any ethical issues here on the part of judges using CourtCall even after the questions raised concerning his solicitation.”
In an interview, legal ethicist Larry Doyle said he could not see an ethical problem with Child’s use of the email list. “The market may work it out,” he said. “Something that’s a strategy can upset people as much as it can get you business.”
http://www.courthousenews.com/2015/08/04/former-court-lobbyist-creates-new-controversy-in-new-job.htm
Note to Judge Gilliard and Judge Maino: The folks running the show at 455 Golden Gate Avenue left any kind of ethical concerns in the rear view mirror a long, long, long time ago, in a galaxy far, far, away.
Still serving themselves to the detriment of all Californians.
Long live the ACJ.
unionman575
August 4, 2015
Curt you need to be unemployed and in jail.
Wendy Darling
August 4, 2015
I vote for “in jail.”
Long live the ACJ.
unionman575
August 5, 2015
“work together on the source of funding from July 1, 2016, through June 30, 2019”
😉
http://www.courts.ca.gov/epmeetings.htm
Executive and Planning Committee
August 10, 2015
12:10 to 1:10 p.m.
Public Call-In Number: 877-820-7831;
passcode 846-8947 (listen only)
😉
Item 2
Amendment to the 2015 Annual Agenda of the Trial Court Budget Advisory Committee (Action Required)
Review a proposed amendment to the 2015 annual agenda of the Trial Court Budget Advisory Committee (TCBAC) to include a joint working group with the Judicial Council Technology Committee (JCTC). During its April 17, 2015, meeting, the Judicial Council approved the phasing out of judicial branch subsidies for the V3 case management system by June 30, 2019, and the formation of a joint working group comprised of members of JCTC and TCBAC to work together on the source of funding from July 1, 2016, through June 30, 2019.
Presenters: Judge Laurie Earl, Chair, TCBAC Mr. Steven Chang, Lead Staff, TCBAC
Item 3
Agenda Setting for the August 20–21, 2015, Judicial Council Meeting (Action Required)
Review available draft reports and set agenda for the Judicial Council meeting in August.
Presenters: Various
Written Comment
😉
In accordance with California Rules of Court, rule 10.75(k)(1), written comments pertaining to any agenda item of a regularly noticed open meeting can be submitted up to one complete business day before the meeting. For this specific meeting, comments should be e-mailed to executiveandplanning@jud.ca.gov or mailed or delivered to Judicial Council of California, 455 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco, California, 94102-3688, Attention: Cliff Alumno. Only written comments received by 12:10 p.m. on Friday, August 7, 2015, will be provided to advisory body members prior to the meeting.
Posted on August 3, 2015.
Lando
August 6, 2015
Thanks Wendy for posting that excellent article from the Courthouse News regarding the ethically challenged Mr Child. Where is Mr Hoshino on all this ? Where is HRH-2 ? Aren’t they ultimately responsible for the use and protection of confidential Judicial Council e-mail addresses? Why haven’t they come out and admitted what Child did was absolutely wrong and unethical on any number of levels. Hoshino and HRH-2’s failure to see this and failure to act is the real story here. Their silence on all of this is deafening and speaks volumes about how dysfunctional their so called “leadership” really is.
sharonkramer
August 6, 2015
In the 2011 contract w/CourtCall which was posted on JCW, there is a paragraph which states that courts many cancel their CourtCall contracts with a 30 day notification. I would assume that remains in effect in the current contract. If the judges are really upset about this, then just don’t buy what he’s selling. Cancel the CourtCall contracts with your courts.
wearyant
August 6, 2015
Maria Dinzeo is an incredible journalist.
wearyant
August 6, 2015
Dinzeo is an incredibly fine journalist. I’m gonna ban myself from posting for a few days as self-imposed punishment for that one. It’s almost as bad as my “succubus” mistake. 😦
unionman575
August 8, 2015
http://www.courts.ca.gov/ctac.htm
August 18, 2015 Meeting
12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
1-877-820-7831
Public Access Code # 4348559
CTAC Meeting Schedule for 2015
• October 30 (teleconference)
• December 4 (in person)
Posted on: August 7, 2015
😉
sharonkramer
August 8, 2015
More from Kamala: “….today, I’d like to know what inspired you to get involved….My desire to fight for justice and a better future for everyone comes from my family… My family instilled in my sister Maya and me a sense of shared responsibility — that each of us should have the chance to create a better future for ourselves and those around us. [Define “ourselves and those around us”] I’ve carried this philosophy as a prosecutor, and I hope to bring it to my work in the United States Senate…. Click here to tell us your story, what inspired you to join, and if you like — your view on how we can fix it. I’m looking forward to all of your input. Kamala”
Share your story with Atty Gen Harris HERE: http://www.kamalaharris.org/landing/e150807/?subsource=ngpattre150807
She asks that you “Please use the form to elaborate on how these issues have affected your life, your family, or any other thoughts you might have”
unionman575
August 8, 2015
http://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/ctac-20150818-materials-Info1-annualagenda.pdf
CTAC Annual Agenda Planning
😉
Hmm..guess they are smoking crack in San Francisco…
sharonkramer
August 12, 2015
http://www.indeed.com/cmp/Judicial-Council-of-California/reviews?fcountry=US
Working at Judicial Council of California: Employee Reviews …
Rating: 5/5 – Review by Management – Aug 5, 2015
[mgmt gave it 5 stars — employees gave less]
Reviews from Judicial Council of California employees about Judicial Council of California culture, salaries, benefits, work-life balance, management, job …
unionman575
August 13, 2015
http://www.courts.ca.gov/jctc.htm
Judicial Council Technology Committee
August 20, 2015 Open Meeting
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Sequoia Room, Judicial Council Conference Center, 455 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102-3688
Call-in Number: 1-877-820-7831,
Public Access Code: 3511860 (listen only)
😉
Posted on: August 12, 2015
unionman575
August 15, 2015
http://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/jc-20150821-agenda.pdf
JUDICIAL COUNCIL OF CALIFORNIA MEETINGS
Open to the Public Unless Indicated as Closed (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 10.6(a))
Ronald M. George State Office Complex
William C. Vickrey Judicial Council Conference Center
Malcolm M. Lucas Board Room
455 Golden Gate Avenue • San Francisco, California 94102-3688
Thursday, August 20, 2015 • 2:30 p.m.–3:45 p.m.
Friday, August 21, 2015 • 8:30 a.m.–2:50 p.m.
Meeting materials will be hyperlinked to agenda titles as soon as possible after
Item 1A Five-Year Master Plan—Deferred Maintenance Report, Fiscal Year 2015–2016 (Action Required)
😉
The Facilities Management Unit of Real Estate and Facilities Management has prepared a report of deferred maintenance within branch facilities. This report is requested on an annual basis by the state Department of Finance. The log shows 2,818 registered deferred maintenance projects with a projected rough order of magnitude cost of $2.08 billion. Staff recommends that the Judicial Council approve the log to be submitted to the Department of Finance in September 2015.
Judicial Administration: Implementation of Court Technology Governance and Strategic Plan (Action Required)
😉
The Judicial Council Technology Committee (JCTC) recommends amending California Rules of Court, rules 10.16 and 10.53, the rules governing JCTC and the Court Technology Advisory Committee (CTAC), respectively. The amended rule would implement the Court Technology Governance and Strategic Plan, recommended by the Technology Planning Task Force and adopted by the Judicial Council in 2014, by revising the roles and responsibilities of JCTC and CTAC. It would also change CTAC’s name to the Information Technology Advisory Committee to reflect its broader role and responsibilities as a sponsor of branchwide technology initiatives.
Speakers: Hon. James E. Herman, Chair, Judicial Council Technology Committee
Hon. David De Alba, Vice Chair, Judicial Council Technology Committee
sharonkramer
August 16, 2015
How does the name change from “Court Technology Advisory Committee (CTAC)” to “Information Technology Advisory Committee (ITAC)” “reflect its broader role and responsibilities as a sponsor of branchwide technology initiatives”?
What is this “broader role” that those who wasted mass amounts of money on CCMS will be playing in the future?
Why are the same people, who wasted mass amounts of money on CCMS, still in charge of IT and why are they now being given a broader role under an altered committee name?
Does the new accronym ITAC really mean “Inconvenient Truth Avoidance Committee”?
unionman575
August 16, 2015
Does the new accronym ITAC really mean “Inconvenient Truth Avoidance Committee”?
It most certainly does.
😉
wearyant
August 17, 2015
http://venturacountystar.ca.newsmemory.com/publink.php?shareid=03ef34fef
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
Sure would be sweet if the bureaucrats would stop misusing funds meant for the interpreters.
unionman575
August 17, 2015
http://www.lafla.org/pdf/DOJ_Findings052213.pdf
wearyant
August 18, 2015
Ha ha, UMan, you’re the best for finding and posting this. Hope the feddies bring the lazy, money-grubbing bureaucrats down.
Santa, Tooth Fairies Unicorns and California Court Justice
August 29, 2015
wearyant.. lol… rotfmao…. it would be sweet if the fat kids didn’t try to eat all the candy and the crackheads took only the costume jewelry out of the house when they were thwacked out
unionman575
August 18, 2015
http://www.sierrawave.net/state-selects-joseph-site-for-new-inyo-courthouse/
sharonkramer
August 18, 2015
“A Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment turned up underground storage tanks on adjoining and nearby properties, noting impacts on shallow groundwater. The council will do a Phase II assessment to determine “whether or not these recognized environmental conditions are an issue,” according to the staff analysis.”
Really? So who is financially benefitting from the unloading of this Brown Field onto the taxpayer via the Judicial Council and staff? And WHO are they going to hire as environmental toxicology experts to profess there is no proven risk of adverse human health effects from the storage tank/tainted ground-water exposure?
I’m pretty sure I know the answer to that last question. Its the same folks who will make lots of money as expert defense witnesses when court employees who are forced to work in this new courthouse get sick.
unionman575
August 20, 2015
http://www.sierrawave.net/updated-information-on-new-inyo-courthouse/
Updated information on new Inyo courthouse
By News Staff on August 20, 2015 in Gov
(Note: There were errors in the new Inyo Courthouse article: The approving body for the site was the State Public Works Board whose meeting was Monday, August 17; the modular in independence will not have to wait for the completion of the new courthouse in 2022 and should be on-site and functioning within “a couple of years,” and the staff analysis transposed issues with the two alternate sites. The City Bishop withdrew the site behind City Hall and there were timeline issues with the MacIver site.
We regret the errors.)
Here is an updated story:
By Deb Murphy
The State Public Works Board approved the selection of a parcel at the corner of Wye Road and U.S. Hwy. 6, identified as “the Joseph site” for the new Inyo County Courthouse at its August 17 meeting in Sacramento.
The site faces one more hurdle: negotiations with the site’s owner which will also need approval by the Board, according to Teresa Ruano, supervising communications specialist for the Judicial Council of California. The facility will be built on one acre of the 5.47-acre parcel, just south of the Ford dealership.
The 21,000 square-foot structure will include a courtroom, hearing room, improved security features and space for a self-help center, jury assembly and deliberation rooms, clerk’s area, a children’s waiting room, family court mediation and attorney interview/witness waiting rooms. The total authorized project cost is $24,204,000.
County court facilities in Bishop City Hall and the Historic Independence Courthouse will “be vacated” according to the California Courts website. Court functions in Independence will eventually be moved to a “proposed new modular courthouse” adjacent to the County Jail south of Independence.
Since the passage of the Trial Court Facilities Act of 2002, responsibility for county courthouses moved from the counties to the State of California, specifically the Judicial Council. The list of issues connected with both current court facilities is long and renovation of facilities not owned by the State is not do-able. So, Indy gets a modular.
As the center of the county’s population, Bishop was selected as the location of the new courthouse nearly four years ago with the focus on city-owned land behind City Hall and Los Angeles Department of Water and Power land at the corner of Spruce and MacIver streets. According to Public Works Board staff analysis, both sites “were pursued but experienced difficulties in acquiring.” The City withdrew the MacIver site and LADWP site experienced “barriers that would delay project timelines by up to two years.”
Cost breakdowns for the new courthouse include $696,000 for acquisition, $1,234,000 for preliminary drawings, $1,636,000 for working drawings and $19,885,000 for construction. The project is scheduled for completion in 2022.
A Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment turned up underground storage tanks on adjoining and nearby properties, noting impacts on shallow groundwater. A Phase II assessment to determine “whether or not these recognized environmental conditions are an issue,” will be conducted, according to the staff analysis.
😉
Wendy Darling
August 18, 2015
Still feeding at the public trough. Apparently the City of Dayton, Ohio, didn’t Google Ken Couch’s name before hiring him as the new Human Resources Director. Either that, or being a thug, a thief, and a liar/perjurer, among other things, were desired qualifications for the job.
City Appoints New Human Resource Director
Release Date: Monday, November 17, 2014
City Manager Tim Riordan today announced the appointment of Kenneth Couch to
Director of Human Resources, effective December 1.
Mr. Couch will manage a team of eleven and provide assistance to nearly 2000
employees across 14 city departments. Couch, an accomplished Human Resources
executive, brings 20 years of HR experience working on both the management and
labor side of human resources. As Director of Human Resources, Mr. Couch will be
responsible for overseeing the City’s health care budget, workers compensation
expenses, labor management relations and all other aspects of human resources.
“Ken brings hands-on experience to head our human resources department,” said
Tim Riordan, City Manager. “His well-rounded background makes him an
excellent choice for our executive team.”
Prior to accepting this position, Couch was the Director of Human Resources for the
Judicial Council of California. His responsibilities included leading and directing
labor and employee relations and coordinating human resource services for 58
County Superior Courts, 6 Appellate Courts, Supreme Court and the Judicial
Council staff.
Couch holds a Bachelor’s degree in Labor Studies from The McGregor School of
Antioch University, Silver Springs, Maryland and Master’s degree in Conflict
Resolution from Antioch University, Yellow Springs Ohio.
Long live the ACJ.
anonymous
August 19, 2015
They just wanted someone bold enough to slash retiree benefits like he did in Sonoma County.
There’s been a mass exodus from the AOC in the past year. Many were reclassified from respectable titles for the work they do down to menial titles. Management appears virtually unscathed by the changes they directed their commissioned report writer to come to. The reorg virtually came to a halt when the new administrative director took the helm.
Mr. Hoshino, did you stall the reorg? Or did you realize that your sr. management staff paid for a million dollar piece of crap designed to protect their jobs while further slicing and dicing rank and file?
unionman575
August 19, 2015
Sr. management staff paid for a million dollar piece of crap designed to protect their jobs while further slicing and dicing rank and file?
😉
Martha pratt
August 21, 2015
true that! The compensation study left upper management completely intact. Middle management got the shit kicked out of them and a lot of line staff took the rest of the brunt. Nothing will change there. Line staff (and, hell, I would even let supervisors
join the effort) NEED to unionize now to stop this shit.
sharonkramer
August 19, 2015
More on the OC case fixings.
“All files were accessed with the former clerk’s ID. The clerk’s name is being withheld from the press as the matter moves forward in the grand jury. Authorities say that the Orange County Superior Court system is working with computer technicians to prevent something like this from occurring again in the future.”
“Share Your Feedback With Us We at Wallin & Klarich would like to hear from you about this topic. Do you believe that the court violated the defendants’ rights by summoning them all back to court because of the allegedly fraudulent actions of the former clerk? Why some defendants admitted to paying the “fixer” to reduce their charges or penalties, what do you think should happen to the cases of those who did not participate in the fraud? What do you think should happen to the clerk for his actions? Please feel free to leave your comments below.”
http://www.wklawdui.com/thousands-of-dui-case-records-fixed-in-orange-county/
anonymous
August 19, 2015
It went on for years. Executives and auditors also need to be losing their jobs over this.
katy
August 20, 2015
Off topic, but not really. This is what McConnell, Huffman, Benke and company aided to continue by falsifying court docs and fixing the SLAPP suits against me on behalf of the SLAPP plaintiffs who are public policy writers/toxic tort expert witnesses for the USDOJ. i.e. Veritox, Inc. Sometimes its unbarable for me to see the devastation left in their criminal wake.
“Mold injured teen commits suicide. Mother pleads for laws to protect children.”
https://katysexposure.wordpress.com/2015/08/20/mold-injured-teen-commits-suicide-mother-pleads-for-laws-to-protect-children/
Please consider making a donation to the Dussault family.
Thanks,
Sharon (logged in as Katy’s Exposure)
Official
August 20, 2015
Check out the published case today in the matter of JCC v Jacobs. Reversed and remanded.
http://www.courts.ca.gov/opinions/documents/A140890.PDF
Michael Paul
August 20, 2015
There was zero substantial compliance when you consider that they were operating as “team jacobs” and both ABM and Jacobs employees had team jacobs business cards and merged their logos. I’m glad someone took a better look at this. I feel somewhat vindicated. I’ll feel totally vindicated when the AOC introduces some of those team jacobs materials as zero substantial compliance. That’s a slam dunk.
Michael Paul
August 21, 2015
For your reading pleasure – note at the top of this post is a generator follow-up proposal that the AOC should introduce to the court as substantial non-compliance. NOTHING about this proposal comports with California law and the obligations of a licensed contractor.
https://judicialcouncilwatcher.com/2011/01/18/the-10000-00-estimate-from-the-company-that-does-not-exist/
unionman575
August 20, 2015
http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/52988/000119312505241653/dex21.htm
wearyant
August 21, 2015
Good lord, what a behemoth! Michael was a “David” against a “Goliath.”
wearyant
August 21, 2015
Having a case certified for publication, isn’t that sorta a big effing deal in the legal circles?
Wendy Darling
August 20, 2015
The “defendants” should have asserted a defense of Unclean Hands against Plaintiff Judicial Council of California. That would have been a slam dunk too.
Still serving themselves to the detriment of all Californians.
Long live the ACJ.
Michael Paul
August 21, 2015
Somewhat agreed. If the defendants made that argument I’m pretty confident that it would trigger an investigation that would have considerable blow back in their general direction when some parties finances are analyzed.
Wendy Darling
August 21, 2015
Exactly.
Long live the ACJ.
sharonkramer
August 21, 2015
Uman, do you know how the State Public Works Board was able to approve the land purchase for the Inyo courthouse w/o the phase II Environmental Impact Report being done? Is the approval contingent of passing the EIR?
unionman575
August 21, 2015
Once it passes SPWB it is green lighted and ready to build EIR II or not.
sharonkramer
August 21, 2015
Hmmm. There is a reason for EIRs to be taken seriousl and it seems odd to have a finalized sale w/o completing them.
One example why:
“Downey Syndrome” http://articles.latimes.com/2009/aug/02/business/fi-ct-downey2
unionman575
August 21, 2015
It’s messed up, but it is what it is…
Martha pratt
August 21, 2015
Hey JC watcher- Sad to see that there are clearly no more JC insiders that post here anymore. So I will start again since I still have hope that you will help those of us who are working our butts off with no 6 figure salaries and no representation at the agency. Unionman help us organize. This place sucks to work at.
This was a big day at the office when class and comp finally came down. The good news is that 24% of the staff are taking pay cuts. Of those 50% were in management positions (despite the fact that the JC has only about 20% of the people in management- a reasonable percentage). So, as line staff I am happy to see that the management took the lion’s share of the hits, but I hate that they were all middle managers that aren’t making a
whole lot more than the rest of us and the vast majority began as line staff but put in the years of hard work to make it up one level. Upper management remains unscathed.
Overall this is good news that some of the front line workers weren’t hung out to dry, but all they did was take the next step up ( I actually have a lot of respect for my supervisor who has to take crap from below and above her). Upper management still sits pretty at the AOC. I wonder how pretty they will be sitting when 24 % of their most needed workforce takes off. sucks coming to work everyday, and the people who made it just a little bearable are the ones who just got screwed– that being said, better them than me 😉
Judicial Council Watcher
August 21, 2015
Unionman, help them organize!
unionman575
August 22, 2015
Let’s talk: bbqchefs1963@hushmail.com
😉
unionman575
August 22, 2015
Martha please put “UNION ASSISTANCE REQUEST” in the email title so when my hush mail acct spam catches your email I will know it’s you. I get a lot of spam.
Thx.
I remain very truly yours,
Unionman
😉
Judicial Council Watcher
August 22, 2015
For the benefit of AOC employees: bbqchefs1963@hushmail.com is both a union rep and a seasoned organizer for AFSCME. He’s been involved in this site since the beginning and like us, wants to see some serious change happen at the AOC “for the benefit of all Californians”
He can successfully organize those of you in Sacramento, San Francisco and Burbank that are seriously interested in change and holding your managements feet to the fire. So it’s really important that if you’re interested in bringing about change in the place you work and stop all of that expensive consulting crap that goes on that you contact him.
The AOC has suffered from really bad management for far too long. It used to be a small organization of a few hundred employees and those few hundred employees were essentially promoted by the voters into your senior management through unification. In other cases, those promoted by the voters have long retired and the person(s) that replaced them were hired by those that were promoted by the voters regardless of their merit.
The facts are indisputable:
Mark Dusman led one of the largest software boondoggles in state history and he stands as the head of the information technology department, ready to lead you down another primrose path to the next iteration of CCMS.
Jerry Pfab is the current – and one of the original – owners of the unlicensed contractor debacle. He wasted millions by pulling people off the job and having them jump through baby baldridge hoops. Instead of working to resolve many facilities issues by using lowest cost vendors or even state employees, he has discouraged competition that would reduce costs by steering work to preferred vendors who in the past, he absolutely knew had no contractors licenses. All he’s really accomplished is listing over two billion dollars in deferred maintenance.
As an individual employee, there’s not much that can be done about hanging incompetent management out to dry without getting canned. As a union, you work with your reps to ensure incompetent management is not who you are working for.
unionman575
August 22, 2015
Get a 5 gallon bucket ready then click the link. You WILL need the bucket….
😉
“Timeline: Reforms and Progress in Challenging Times
Since she took office in 2011, California Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye and the Judicial Council have launched far-reaching reforms with a vision for improving the public’s access to justice, while building strong partnerships to lead California’s judicial branch out of the worst fiscal crisis since the Great Depression. Learn about these many efforts in this timeline.”
http://www.courts.ca.gov/judicialcounciltimeline.htm
unionman575
August 22, 2015
Open Meetings Rule Called a Success
http://www.courts.ca.gov/32980.htm
unionman575
August 22, 2015
Check check check..time for another “Fact Check”…
http://www.courts.ca.gov/14908.htm
My, my, my…
Fact Check: Judicial Branch Budget
😉
anonymous
August 23, 2015
Breaking down the fact check even further, that gives each courthouse in the state about 0.18% of the judicial branch budget. In contrast, the Supreme Court enjoys a budget over six times greater than any courthouse’s paltry 0.18%
The AOC enjoys not only a budget that is 21 times greater than any ‘courthouse’ share but manages a construction program that they benefit greatly from that has a budget that is 57 times greater.
Ahhhh, the benefits of unification…. to those who were considered state courts before unification.Figures lie and well, liars figure with fact checks.
It’s the judicial version of wealth inequality.
Santa, Tooth Fairies Unicorns and California Court Justice
August 29, 2015
unionman575
August 22, 2015
Drum roll please.
Here comes the comp study with real world results for AOC Sr.Mgmt…
I now offer People’s Exhibit 1 and please note the HR disclaimer.
The rubber has now met the road as salaries for those above the worker/line supervisor level get rich, and the rest of you working folks get reamed…
Pay and Benefits
Starting Salary: $11,156 per month*
*HR Disclaimer: Classification and Compensation Study
😉
In an attempt to remain an employer of choice, we consistently review our practices, policies, and procedures to ensure we are current and comparable with other similar employers. To that effort, the Judicial Council is currently conducting a top to bottom classification and compensation study through a third party vendor, Fox Lawson and Associates.
A classification and compensation study is primarily designed to focus on the internal and external equity of both the structure by which employees are compensated and the way positions relate and compare to one another across the organization. The Study is expected to be completed in late 2015 and there may be changes to employee’s job titles, duties, FLSA status and possibly salary.
To ensure all candidates are able to make a well-informed decision about employment with the Judicial Council, we are informing all potential new hires of this study during the recruitment phase so that if you are selected as the successful candidate, you are fully aware that there may be changes to this position in the future.
https://careers.jud.ca.gov/psc/recruit1/EMPLOYEE/PSFT_HR/c/HRS_HRAM.HRS_CE.GBL?FolderPath=PORTAL_ROOT_OBJECT.HC_HRS_CE_GBL2&IsFolder=false&IgnoreParamTempl=FolderPath%2cIsFolder
unionman575
August 22, 2015
Here’s the beef..
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
JUDICIAL COUNCIL
Monthly Salary Listing
Effective July 1, 2015 (Last Revised 7-1-15)
http://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/jc_classcomp.pdf
Martha pratt
August 22, 2015
Thanks Uman. I will be emailing. That salary listing is not the one that came out with the comp study yesterday. I will email the new one on Monday. I know that nobody in upper management had to take pay cuts, but I honestly could not bear to look at their pay ranges. The secretaries that work for them took cuts though.
unionman575
August 24, 2015
Martha where art thou? I await your email me lady….
unionman575
August 29, 2015
E-mail received Martha.
😉
unionman575
August 22, 2015
July ’15 org chart: http://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/jc_org_chart.pdf
unionman575
August 22, 2015
Governor, what do we have here?
Hmm..
http://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/hr-staffing-metrics-1516-07.pdf
unionman575
August 25, 2015
Brought to you by John “The Cleaner” Judnick in Closed Session
Posted on: 8/25/2015
http://www.courts.ca.gov/aecommittee.htm
Advisory Committee on Financial Accountability and Efficiency for the Judicial Branch
September 17, 2015 Meeting
12:00 p.m.
Public Call-In Number: 1-877-820-7831
Public Participant Code 4045700
😉
Written Comment
In accordance with California Rules of Court, rule 10.75(k)(1), written comments pertaining to any agenda item of a regularly noticed open meeting can be submitted up to one complete business day before the meeting. For this specific meeting, comments should be e-mailed to aecommittee@jud.ca.gov or mailed or delivered to Judicial Council of California, 455 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102, attention: John Judnick. Only written comments received by 12:00 noon on September 16, 2015 will be provided to advisory body members.
VI. CLOSED SESSION (CAL. RULES OF COURT, RULE 10.75(D))
😉
Closed pursuant to California Rules of Court, rule 10.75 (d) (6): Non-final audit reports or proposed responses to such reports
Item 1
Discuss Audit Services’ pending audit report of the Superior Court of California, County of Yolo (Action Required)
Presenter(s): John Judnick, Principal Manager, Audit Services
😉
Robert Cabral, Audit Supervisor, Audit Services
Adjourn to Closed Session
wearyant
August 27, 2015
Check out Dilbert.com today, Thursday, August 27, 2015. It show the AOC’s new health care plan for the hardworking employees for whom upper management care so little. There must have been collaboration between Herman’s high tech group and Herr Judnick.
katy
August 29, 2015
What’s the difference between a non-management AOC employee and a large pizza?
Answer: A large pizza can feed a family of four.
sharonkramer
August 31, 2015
More from Kamala:
“You know, everyone procrastinates once in a while… the time for procrastinating is over…
We need your help right now….This is your last chance to make a contribution — even if it’s just $5 or $10 — before our August deadline hits.
Thanks!
Team Kamala”
[Yea right! How many people have told Kamala Harris that they need her immediate help as CA Atty Gen to prosecute crimes in gov’t and showed her direct evidence of why that is? And what??? She’s telling people this is their “last chance” to give her campaign money so she can move up the ladder? I think she’s “procrastinated a little to long when not doing her job as CA Atty Gen – to get my money or vote to be a U.S. Senator]
wearyant
August 31, 2015
I’ll donate what I think she’s worth to the CA taxpayers; zero.
Wendy Darling
September 1, 2015
I’ll match that donation, Ant. 🙂
Is it possible to make a donation of less than zero as a reflection of her worth to the CA taxpayers?
Long live the ACJ.
unionman575
September 1, 2015
Is it possible to make a donation of less than zero as a reflection of her worth to the CA taxpayers?
I hope so Wendy, count me in at less than zero.
😉
sharonkramer
September 1, 2015
Haven’t checked out this Senate race too closely. Does she have any real competition?
sharonkramer
September 2, 2015
State Bar proves it needs a little sunshine
The Center for Public Interest Law at the University of San Diego law school, which tracks the bar’s spotty history of policing its own, is asking the Legislature to require that the association become subject to the Public Records Act and the state’s open meetings law.
Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/opinion/editorials/article32998614.html#storylink=cpy
http://www.sacbee.com/opinion/editorials/article32998614.html