First, let’s start off by putting a smile on your face…
Donald Trump goes on a fact-finding visit to Israel. While he is on a tour of Jerusalem he suffers a heart attack and dies. The undertaker tells the American Diplomats accompanying him, “You can have him shipped home for $50,000, or you can bury him here, in the Holy Land for just $100.” The American Diplomats go into a corner and discuss for a few minutes. They come back to the undertaker and tell him they want Donald shipped home. The undertaker is puzzled and asks, “Why would you spend $50,000 to ship him home, when it would be wonderful to be buried here and you would spend only $100″ The American Diplomats replied, “Long ago a man died here, was buried here, and three days later he rose from the dead. We just can’t take the risk.”
Nobody Is Willfully Poor.
There was a promising bill in the senate that essentially just died a painful death at the hands of career bureaucrats in the judicial branch and county governments. Senate bill 881 (Hertzberg) would have decoupled an automatic drivers license suspension from the DMV from someones ability to pay their traffic court bills. It would also have chewed away at the up to $300.00 civil assessment that is imposed mostly because people cannot afford their citations by distinguishing a willful disregard to appear or pay from an inability to pay. It would have also extended the amnesty program by making everything up to Jan 1 2015 eligible for the amnesty program. As you will see in the video, there is absolutely no front door opposition and broad support from just about every organization that touches law and poverty. Rather, it was killed in the back room by government lobbyists in the legislative appropriations committee who really believe they can squeeze blood out of a turnip if they squeeze hard enough.
The sickening thing about this…. well… there are several actually, is that state and county governments make a small fortune off the current system which directly equates being poor with being a crime. A really expensive ticket a poor person cannot pay turns out to be the first domino that falls. Of course, in public transportation poor California, people who cannot afford to pay need to live and need to drive to work, to pick up their children from school, to go to school themselves and to care for their families. Most of all, they need at least a restricted license to do these things so that they can pay their tickets!
For far too long, suspensions are automatic at the DMV for failing to pay a fine. When that tool wasn’t very effective, the government lobbyists theorized that adding huge penalties on top of already huge penalties would serve as a deterrent.Worse, you would completely lose your ability to argue any aspect of your case once the second set of penalties was imposed. You deal with a collection agency and not the courts from that point forward.
The next time you go out on the roads, look around you because there is about a 16% chance that the vehicle in front of you or in back of you or to either side of you is driven by an unlicensed, uninsured motorist that has one or a pile of tickets they can’t pay. Wait! That’s a person of color in that car? The odds just doubled. It’s no wonder why profiling is so prolific – driving while black or hispanic is low hanging revenue fruit. When you open up your next auto insurance bill, realize that it would be about 16% less expensive if you didn’t have to pay for this travesty through your own law abiding behavior.
Congratulations to the Center for Judicial Excellence
For too long the people of California have looked on in utter shock and bewilderment at the judicial exoneration committee known as the CJP or California State Commission on Judicial Performance. From the judges side of the fence, there are claims that the organization is both petty and politically motivated. From those aggrieved the stakes are much higher. One of the largest complaints from those aggrieved is that the CJP dismisses or will not investigate complaints if the case itself is active. In family and probate law, this generally means that the aggrieved simply loses until the kids turn of age or the probate assets vaporize. By that time, the judge in question could have been long retired.
In other CJP cases items that shock and bewilder the public lead to questions as to why that judge (or untouchable commissioners and judicial council assigned judges) was not removed from the bench, smacking of a three tier justice system: One for judges, the rich and the rest of us.
But I digress. The reason the CJE deserves congratulations is that the state auditor will be looking at the performance of the commission on judicial performance due to their leadership and coalition building. Maybe, just maybe this will lead to some common sense reforms and some significant distancing from the council. Maybe, just maybe some common sense reforms that will cause the CJP to act in active cases before kids turn of age or probate assets vaporize.
Wendy Darling
August 17, 2016
Judges use their positions as public officials and abusing the powers of their office to engage in vindictive petty behavior and to exact political revenge? Nah – that could NEVER happen, right? Right?
Right.
The real motto of the California Judicial Branch administration: “We can do whatever we want because there is no one who can stop us.”
Published Monday, August 15, from Courthouse News Service, by Lana Morelli:
Jury Convicts Pennsylvania AG Kathleen Kane on All Charges
8/15/2016 By Lana Morelli.
NORRISTOWN, Pa. (CN) — Jurors in the trial of Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane found her guilty Monday evening on all charges relating to engineering leaks to exact political revenge.
The jury found Kane, the first woman — and Democrat — to be elected as attorney general in Pennsylvania, guilty on all charges of official oppression, obstruction of the administration of justice, conspiracy, false swearing and perjury.
Kane was so bent on revenge against rival and former state prosecutor Frank Fina, who fumbled a 2009 investigation of Philadelphia civil rights leader J. Whyatt Mondesire, that she broke the law by leaking secret grand jury documents to Daily News reporter Chris Brennan and then lied to a grand jury to cover up her actions, the jury found.
Jury selection for the trial lasted over seven hours on Aug. 8, and Kane’s trial kicked off early the following Tuesday morning. After five grueling days in court spent examining a slew of Kane’s former aids and agents from the attorney general’s office, the jury decided that the phone records, text messages and testimony all stacked up against Kane. They deliberated for roughly six hours after closing arguments wrapped up Monday afternoon.
Prosecutors, led by Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele, successfully showed that Kane began leaking secret grand jury records during her second year in office after her reputation was tarnished by a March 2014 article in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Kane’s defense team could not repudiate witness testimony from David Peifer, a special agent in charge of the Bureau of Special Forces for the attorney general, and Josh Morrow, a political consultant who helped Kane get elected. Both men testified against Kane in exchange for immunity.
Prosecutors presented audio evidence from April 2014 secretly obtained by the FBI in which Morrow admitted to another political constituent John Lisko that Kane was behind the leak.
“Kathleen called me and has information she wants me to leak out,” Morrow said in the call, adding, “She’s unhinged.”
http://www.courthousenews.com/CNSNEWS/Story/Index/93552
Still serving themselves to the detriment of all Californians.
Long live the ACJ.
unionman575
August 17, 2016
Wendy as always you F…… nailed it!
“The real motto of the California Judicial Branch administration: “We can do whatever we want because there is no one who can stop us.”
🙂
unionman575
August 17, 2016
“She’s unhinged.”
Much like someone we all know and loathe, oops, I mean love NOT….!
🙂
wearyant
August 18, 2016
“She’s come undone …”🎤🎼
Too ancient for some of you? Heh heh.
Long live the ACJ
Stuart Michael
August 17, 2016
As a retired court executive type and part-time SJO, I have followed JCW almost since its beginning, and have personal experiences with many of the people, places and events discussed, going back to the dawn of the George era; as so well described by JCW and it’s many contributors; and conducted many Traffic Court and misdemeanor calendars. Your comments on the traffic ticket and fine collection monsters are directly on point.
About two years ago I received a red-light camera citation in a Bay Area city. After posting a “refundable” $500 bail with the Superior Court, I subpeoned the records from the issuing police agency, as well as the agency employee who could authenticate them, I was informed that a non-refundable administrative fee of $500 payable to the issuing agency was also required. It was too much $$ even for a retired government employee with a decent pension, so I gave up and went to traffic “school”.
I also had experience with the CJP when one of our judges – who was a Commission member, was allowed to resign from the Commission but no other action was ever taken on the ethical violations he committed. He was defeated in the next election when it was leaked by one of his opponents. Some justice!
Wendy has always been right on point when she says “Still serving themselves to the detriment of all Californians.”
unionman575
August 17, 2016
Page 3 is your lucky number.
😉
My shoe size is the same as my IQ 10 1/2.
unionman575
August 17, 2016
“Legislative, Judicial, and Executive
Item 0250‑301-3138—Judicial Branch
1. Plan to Address Insolvency of the Immediate and Critical Needs Account (ICNA).
The judicial branch’s fiscal year 2016‑17 court construction plan results in ICNA
becoming insolvent in approximately 15 years. ICNA becomes insolvent even
faster if all projects that are not currently canceled or indefinitely delayed
complete construction as planned. Thus, no later than January 10, 2017, the
judicial branch shall submit to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee and the
Department of Finance a report addressing the long-term solvency of ICNA
within existing resources. This report shall include the following:
(a) The judicial branch’s plan for ensuring ICNA remains solvent. This plan shall
include, but is not limited to, a discussion of planned changes to increase
revenues or reduce existing expenditures, an assessment of which construction
projects will continue to move forward, an explanation for why each project
is proposed to move forward, and a description of any alternative financing
agreements proposed to fund any of the projects.
(b) A long-term fund condition for ICNA that demonstrates the fund has
sufficient resources to fully fund all of the construction projects the judicial
branch plans on moving forward. Revenues and expenditures (listed by
project) should be provided annually for all years until debt service on the
proposed projects are fulfilled.”
unionman575
August 17, 2016
tsk tsk tsk JC…
My. my, my….
unionman575
August 17, 2016
This might help you get to court:
wearyant
August 18, 2016
“All courthouses in San Bernardino County remain open during the current Blue Cut fire event.”
—————————–
Jees, how “white” of them! I wonder how many FTAs will be issued to those without benefit of transportation to court? So stupid! But pat yourselves on the back, a–holes, for “serving” [screwing] the public by remaining open during a state of emergency fire and perhaps the biggest in this state’s history.
Wendy Darling
August 18, 2016
Meanwhile, in Louisiana, all legal deadlines, such as court appearances, have been extended due to the flooding, in recognition that it might not be possible to get to the courthouse. You know, because there is an actual emergency situation going on that might take precedence.
Apparently, unlike California, court administrators in Louisiana are not idiots.
Still serving themselves to the detriment of all Californians.
Long live the ACJ.
Santa, Tooth Fairies Unicorns and California Court Justice
August 18, 2016
Bravo !!
Santa, Tooth Fairies Unicorns and California Court Justice
August 18, 2016
A Spotlight-on-Commission-on-Judicial-Performance
https://www.scribd.com/document/321269095/Spotlight-on-Commission-on-Judicial-Performance-pdf
wearyant
August 18, 2016
Wow! 👍
Judicial Council Watcher
August 20, 2016
A study well worth the read – and the reason we refer to them as an exoneration committee.
Judicial Council Watcher
August 18, 2016
wearyant
August 18, 2016
And we have debtors prison back in vogue … after all, the “money-grubbing” JC staff [that’s who it really is] refuses to leave its lavish, outrageously expensive HQ in San Fran. LOL! Funded on the backs of the California poor. Unbelievable. Disgusting. 💩
Judicial Council Watcher
August 20, 2016
California disguises those debtors prison sentences by jailing you for driving without a license and/or insurance, which they took away when you didn’t pay them.
In the video in the primary post, you see a hispanic mother of two who got tickets when she was a juvenile that she could not pay. A couple of driving without a license charges later that carry jail time, they start to get charged as a felonies. This nightmarish scenario is why many millennials choose to not drive or own cars because they’re only one ticket away from being under water. And in their zeal to find a solution as MaxRebo so aptly pointed out is the self-driving car, which is why car manufacturers and just about every silicon valley major is jumping on the self-driving bandwagon.
Jimmy
August 20, 2016
I don”t disagree with much of your post, but driving without a license or driving with a suspended license is a misdemeanor in California, and cannot be “upgraded” to a felony.
Judicial Council Watcher
August 20, 2016
Thanks. If you watch the video, the young lady explains that somehow it became a felony. I’ll happily take your word for it that it can’t be upgraded which probably means she left some details out on how she was charged with a felony and what that might have consisted of. Nonetheless, I think it’s fair to state that there is still a circuitous route to debtors prison vis-a-vis being charged for driving without a license vs. just being jailed for not being able to pay.
unionman575
August 23, 2016
Thursday, August 25, 2016 12:15 PM San Francisco:
https://jcc.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=A&ID=484825&GUID=54E4A519-7A3E-40F7-BFF4-42323466236E
Friday, August 26, 2016 8:30 AM San Francisco:
https://jcc.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=A&ID=463478&GUID=3344ABEF-C05F-40D5-8C5E-
E9C9704CAD96
unionman575
August 23, 2016
oops here is 8-26:
https://jcc.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=A&ID=463478&GUID=3344ABEF-C05F-40D5-8C5E-E9C9704CAD96
😉
unionman575
August 23, 2016
1) Submit advance requests to speak by 4:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 23.
2) Submit written comments for this meeting by 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 24.
😉
Judicial Council Watcher
September 9, 2016
We initially looked at this “submit your comments in advance” garbage and wondered if the judicial council has returned back to their old ways of trying to control the message. We poked around and have come to the conclusion that yes, they’re back to trying to control the message. The propaganda machine is alive and well and back at work the Judicial Council staff offices – lying low for a few years trying to stay off our radar.
What do you think about giving them a new round of special attention?
unionman575
September 9, 2016
Show those pigs at the trough a really good time!
Delilah
August 28, 2016
Out of Money, Judicial Council Delays Courthouse Plans
Cheryl Miller, The Recorder
August 26, 2016 | 0 Comments
SACRAMENTO—The Judicial Council on Friday delayed plans for 17 future courthouses around the state as branch leaders acknowledged that revenues feeding the construction program have plummeted.
The delay order was issued for one project each in El Dorado, Glenn, Imperial, Inyo, Lake, Mendocino, Sacramento, Santa Barbara, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sonoma, Stanislaus and Tuolumne counties. Work on four other courthouses in Riverside and Los Angeles counties was also stopped. The buildings are in various stages of planning, from site acquisition to work bidding.
The vote was a blow to the eight-year-old, $5 billion program that was originally designed to build 41 courthouses in 34 counties with bonds funded by higher criminal fees and civil filing charges. But after the recession hit, the state diverted $1.4 billion from that revenue to keep courts and other operations afloat.
Since then, civil filings have dropped. The state in 2015 also enacted a two-year traffic amnesty program, further cutting into the funding stream.
“We’ve been able to limp along through cost savings … that have allowed us to get to this point, but we’re out of money,” appellate court Justice Brad Hill, who chairs a court facilities committee, told the Judicial Council. “And there’s nothing we can do at this point, short of getting that money back.”
The delay order was no surprise. Branch leaders have been sounding the alarm about the growing insolvency of the construction fund. At a five-hour hearing before Hill’s committee this month, judges joined community officials from around the state to plead for their projects to continue, warning about the dangers of aging courthouses and dropping plans in towns eager for construction jobs and neighborhood renewal.
Hill and others have pledged a full-scale lobbying effort on members of the Legislature, particularly those who have delayed projects in their districts.
“One of the things we’re very interested in is having a respectful discussion about the decisions that were made” in the past, said administrative director Martin Hoshino. “It’s fair to revisit those, now that the [fiscal] complexion has changed.”
The controller warned in July, however, that state revenues had fallen short of budget projections for the fourth straight month.
Judicial Council Watcher
August 29, 2016
Justice Hill has nothing to worry about. When they started building new courthouses, the people who needed them the least, like Justice Hill, got them first. More than 40% of courthouse construction funds have been earmarked for just one courthouse and I’m reasonably confident that if the state auditor followed the money, she would discover why.
unionman575
August 28, 2016
Delilah
August 30, 2016
CA Judges & Court Workers Blast Pay Proposal
By MARIA DINZEO
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
http://www.courthousenews.com/2016/08/30/ca-judges-court-workers-blast-pay-proposal.htm
Judicial Council Watcher
August 30, 2016
Wow. The proposal was summarily pummeled by virtually everyone. The long standing issue of judicial council and their committees is that each and every one of them are puppets of the chief justice and they’re coming up with all of these brilliant (not) ideas in an echo chamber of their own design. How do you classify and compensate a person in one of the hwy 395 “villes” who wears a half-dozen hats vs. let’s say, a network specialist in one of the larger counties who works on only one really complicated thing all day?
Well you take the extra hats off the “villes” and you turn that budget over to central command who then contracts that crap out so that THEY are never held accountable. This was a blatant power grab. And if the AOC’s own classcomp study is any indication of costs, it’s a 40+ million dollar study.
Don’t you fools on the council have something better to do with 40 million you don’t have?
What I find staggering, what I think are key words that our legislators should pick out of this mess is not only is this universal classification compensation unworkable – but Justice Corrigan all but admits that traffic court judges and commissioners are stripped of their judicial discretion and cannot lower fines and fees – yet there exists no “mandatory minimums” in our traffic laws.
How far does that crap go? Is everyone guilty unless they spend big bucks proving their innocence?
Santa, Tooth Fairies Unicorns and California Court Justice
September 1, 2016
Hmmmm…. https://youtu.be/AegLdB7UI4U
Santa, Tooth Fairies Unicorns and California Court Justice
September 1, 2016
unionman575
September 1, 2016
hmm
unionman575
August 30, 2016
“There is nothing etched in stone as of yet,” Corrigan said. “We are in the process of trying to figure out what might work and what wouldn’t work, and what we are not anticipating, as other aspects of these questions come forward.”
http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/etched+in+stone
unionman575
August 31, 2016