Saturday, September 5, 2015

Judicial Council Controversy: Divorce Corp Documentary Cataloging Systemic, Statewide Divorce Court Corruption Now Streaming on Netflix

3rd District Court of Appeal – Sacramento -Justice Vance W. Raye – Justice – Coleman A. Blease – Justice Ronald B. Robie – Justice William J. Murray Jr. – Justice George W. Nicolson – Justice M. Kathleen Butz – Justice Elena J. Duarte – Justice Harry E. Hull Jr. – Justice Louis R. Mauro – Justice Andrea Lynn Hoch – Third District Court of Appeal California
A documentary film chronicling corruption in family courts throughout the United States is now available for viewing to 65 million Netflix subscribers. 

Divorce Corp, directed by Joseph Sorge and starring a long list of attorneys, judges, family court mediators, whistleblowers, and litigants has just been released on the Netflix on-demand Internet streaming media service. 

The film catalogs corruption, conflicts of interest and other scandals in superior courts in several California counties, including Sacramento, Los Angeles and Nevada County. 

The movie features an interview with former court employee turned whistleblower Emily Gallup, who inadvertently discovered that the Judicial Council provides no oversight or accountability of even flagrant lawbreaking by court employees in California. Gallup also learned that whistleblowers are frowned upon by court administrators: In retaliation for her whistleblowing, her supervisors orchestrated her termination. Gallup subsequently won a wrongful termination lawsuit against the court. 
  
The documentary was released in theaters in January, 2014, and reviewed by the New York Times, Village Voice, Minneapolis Star Tribune, McClatchy-Tribune News Service, Orange County Register and RogerEbert.com. A review by Sacramento Family Court News, an online nonprofit journalism organization is reprinted below. For additional, localized coverage of the film, click here.  

Judge Peter McBrien and Sacramento County Family Court System Disemboweled in Divorce Corp Documentary 

Sacramento Federal Court Eastern District of California – United States Courts, US District Court Sacramento, Judge William B. Shubb, Judge Edmund F. Brennan, Judge Garland E. Burrell Jr, Judge Carolyn K. Delaney, Judge Morrison C. England Jr, Judge Gregory G. Hollows, Judge John A. Mendez, Judge Kendall J. Newman, Judge Troy L. Nunley, Judge Allison Claire, Judge Dale A. Drozd, Judge Lawrence K. Karlton, Judge Kimberly J. Mueller, United States Attorney Benjamin Wagner, Hon. Robert C. Hight – Hon. Bunmi O. Awoniyi – Hon. Steven M. Gevercer – Hon. Tami R. Bogert – Hon. James M. Mize – Vance Raye - CJP Victoria B. Henley – Hon. Thadd A. Blizzard -Chief Counsel Victoria Henley Commission on Judicial Performance - Victoria B. Henley Director Commission on Judicial Performance – Janice M. Brickley Legal Advisor to Commissioners Commission on Judicial Performance – Bradford L. Battson Senior Attorney III Commission on Judicial Performance – Sei Shimoguchi Senior Attorney III Commission on Judicial Performance- Janice M. Brickley Legal Advisor to Commissioners - Ulf Carlsson Benjamin B. Wagner – Melinda Haag – Jayne Kim – Victoria B. Henley – Elaine M. Howle - -Judge Kevin R. Culhane – Hon. Kevin R Culhane – Judge Kevin Culhane -
Sacramento Family Court litigant Ulf Carlsson's startling story is central to the documentary Divorce Corp. 
Movie Review and Opinion by PelicanBriefed

It is now difficult to dispute that the Sacramento County Family Court system - rebuilt more than 20 years ago to the specifications of local judge pro tem family law attorneys by Judge Peter McBrien, then-Judge Vance Raye, divorce attorney Robert O'Hair, and others - has become the most corrupt family court in the nation. 

 The proof is now available to anyone for $20: the cost of the documentary film Divorce Corp, recently released on DVD, and also available by download at the iTunes store. In his first, full-length documentary film, director Joe Sorge meticulously documents the epidemic of corruption and collusion in family courts throughout the United States. And the Sacramento County system rises to the top of the toxic slurry pond.

 A parade of litigants from Indiana, Tennessee, Ohio, California and other locales recount their nightmare experiences in child custody and other divorce-related court disputes. Retired judges, active attorneys, child custody evaluators and court reform advocates are interviewed over the one hour, 33 minute run time of the film. 

 In one compelling segment, Nevada County Superior Court whistleblower Emily Gallup reveals that state-level oversight and accountability of California family courts is effectively nonexistent. In a tacit admission, the Judicial Council and Administrative Office of the Courts declined Sorge's request to be interviewed and respond to Gallup's documented accusations. 

 But the local, well-known Ulf Carlsson case takes center stage and is woven throughout the movie, overshadowing the horror stories of other litigants. Judge Peter McBrien's clinically sociopathic, personal vendetta against Carlsson - which in 2012 6th District Court of Appeal Presiding Justice Conrad Rushing called a "judicial reign of terror" - is chronicled in all its perverse glory. 

 Sacramento family court litigants Andrew Karres, Mike Newdow and Robert Saunders, and Nevada County pro per Elena Haskins also make appearances criticizing virtually every aspect of local court operations. Judges, attorneys, custody evaluators, the family law facilitator, and even the "child's best interest" legal standard are all held under the microscope and come away nakedly exposed and tarnished. Sometimes, only a cliché will do: Must be seen to be believed. Missing only interviews with family court child victims. Four and a half stars.  
Click here to order the movie at the Divorce Corp web page. To download the film from the iTunes store, click here. Click to visit Sacramento Family Court News on: Facebook, YouTube, Google+, Scribd, Vimeo, and Twitter. For additional reporting on the people and issues in this post, click the corresponding labels below the photos:
Judge Robert Hight – Judge Bunmi Awoniyi – Judge Steven Gevercer – Judge Tami Bogert – Judge James Mize – Vance Raye - Victoria Henley CJP - Judge Thadd Blizzard -Doug D. Cordiner Chief Deputy State Auditor Bureau of State Audits – Donna L. Neville Staff Counsel IV Bureau of State Audits – State Auditor of California - California State Auditor Elaine M. Howle Bureau of State Audits – Phillip J. Jelicich Principal Auditor Bureau of State Audits - Andrew Karres - Benjamin B. Wagner – Melinda Haag – Jayne Kim – Victoria B. Henley – Elaine M. Howle -Sacramento Federal Court Eastern District of California – United States Courts, US District Court Sacramento, Judge William B. Shubb, Judge Edmund F. Brennan, Judge Garland E. Burrell Jr, Judge Carolyn K. Delaney, Judge Morrison C. England Jr, Judge Gregory G. Hollows, Judge John A. Mendez, Judge Kendall J. Newman, Judge Troy L. Nunley, Judge Allison Claire, Judge Dale A. Drozd, Judge Lawrence K. Karlton, Judge Kimberly J. Mueller, United States Attorney Benjamin Wagner, Judge Kevin R. Culhane – Hon. Kevin R Culhane – Judge Kevin Culhane -
Andrew Karres recounts his own hellish experience in Sacramento Family Court in the documentary Divorce Corp. 
Sacramento Federal Court Eastern District of California – United States Courts, US District Court Sacramento, Judge William B. Shubb, Judge Edmund F. Brennan, Judge Garland E. Burrell Jr, Judge Carolyn K. Delaney, Judge Morrison C. England Jr, Judge Gregory G. Hollows, Judge John A. Mendez, Judge Kendall J. Newman, Judge Troy L. Nunley, Judge Allison Claire, Judge Dale A. Drozd, Judge Lawrence K. Karlton, Judge Kimberly J. Mueller, United States Attorney Benjamin Wagner, Hon. Robert C. Hight – Hon. Bunmi O. Awoniyi – Hon. Steven M. Gevercer – Hon. Tami R. Bogert – Hon. James M. Mize – Vance Raye - CJP Victoria B. Henley – Hon. Thadd A. Blizzard -Jody Patel Chief of Staff – Judicial and Court Operations Services Division Curtis L. Child Chief Operating Officer – Judicial and Court Administrative Services Division Curt Soderlund Chief Administrative Officer – California Judicial Council -Judicial Council of California Steven Jahr Administrative Director of the Courts – Judicial Council and Court Leadership Services Division - Robert Saunders -Benjamin B. Wagner – Melinda Haag – Jayne Kim – Victoria B. Henley – Elaine M. Howle - Judge Kevin R. Culhane – Hon. Kevin R Culhane – Judge Kevin Culhane -
Sacramento Family Court litigant Robert Saunders is interviewed for Divorce Corp during a protest demonstration at the courthouse. Saunders' case is ongoing. Last November, Judge Thadd Blizzard inexplicably authorized an illegal, out-of-state child abduction in the case at the request of judge pro tem opposing attorney Richard Sokol. 
Judge Robert Hight – Judge Bunmi Awoniyi – Judge Steven Gevercer – Judge Tami Bogert – Judge James Mize – Vance Raye - Victoria Henley CJP - Judge Thadd Blizzard -attorney Yasmine S. Mehment CFLS San Francisco Legislation Chair – attorney Naghmeh Bashar CFLS – attorney Vanessa Kirker-Wright CFLS – attorney Robert “Paul” Bonnar Pleasant Hill – attorney John A. Lazor CFLS Los Angeles – attorney Laurel B. Brauer Irvine – attorney John E. Manoogian CFLS Walnut Creek – attorney Raymond R. Goldstein Culver City – attorney Ana M. Storey Los Angeles – attorney Ronald Scott Granberg CFLS Salinas – attorney Edward J. Thomas CFLS Bakersfield – attorney Diane M. Goodman Encino – attorney Deborah Hannah Wald San Francisco – attorney Minouche D. Kandel CFLS San Francisco – California State Bar -State Bar of California Board of Trustees – President Patrick M. Kelly – Vice President Luis J. Rodrigez – Treasurer Gretchen M. Nelson – State Bar of California Office of the Chief Trial Counsel - attorney Jayne Kim Chief Trial Counsel – attorney Joseph R. Carlucci Deputy Chief Trial Counsel – Patsy J. Cobb Deputy Chief Trial Counsel – FLEXCOM – Family Law Section State of California – State Bar Family Law Section – attorney Mark Ressa San Ramon Chair – attorney Andrew M. Cain San Jose Vice Chair – attorney Michael J. Kretzmer CFLS Beverly Hills Secretary – Michael Newdow -Benjamin B. Wagner – Melinda Haag – Jayne Kim – Victoria B. Henley – Elaine M. Howle - Sacramento Federal Court Eastern District of California – United States Courts, US District Court Sacramento, Judge William B. Shubb, Judge Edmund F. Brennan, Judge Garland E. Burrell Jr, Judge Carolyn K. Delaney, Judge Morrison C. England Jr, Judge Gregory G. Hollows, Judge John A. Mendez, Judge Kendall J. Newman, Judge Troy L. Nunley, Judge Allison Claire, Judge Dale A. Drozd, Judge Lawrence K. Karlton, Judge Kimberly J. Mueller, United States Attorney Benjamin Wagner,Judge Kevin R. Culhane – Hon. Kevin R Culhane – Judge Kevin Culhane -
Sacramento Family Court reform activist, attorney and doctor Mike Newdow mocks the "child's best interest" standard, attorney fee awards, and other issues in Divorce Corp.
Sacramento Federal Court Eastern District of California – United States Courts, US District Court Sacramento, Judge William B. Shubb, Judge Edmund F. Brennan, Judge Garland E. Burrell Jr, Judge Carolyn K. Delaney, Judge Morrison C. England Jr, Judge Gregory G. Hollows, Judge John A. Mendez, Judge Kendall J. Newman, Judge Troy L. Nunley, Judge Allison Claire, Judge Dale A. Drozd, Judge Lawrence K. Karlton, Judge Kimberly J. Mueller, United States Attorney Benjamin Wagner, Hon. Robert C. Hight – Hon. Bunmi O. Awoniyi – Hon. Steven M. Gevercer – Hon. Tami R. Bogert – Hon. James M. Mize – Vance Raye - CJP Victoria B. Henley – Hon. Thadd A. Blizzard -Judicial Council and Court Leadership Services Division Jody Patel Chief of Staff - Doug D. Cordiner Chief Deputy State Auditor Bureau of State Audits - Bradford L. Battson Senior Attorney III Commission on Judicial Performance - Judicial and Court Operations Services Division Curtis L. Child Chief Operating Officer – Donna L. Neville Staff Counsel IV Bureau of State Audits- Sei Shimoguchi Senior Attorney III Commission on Judicial Performance - Judicial and Court Administrative Services Division Curt Soderlund Chief Administrative Officer – Elaine M. Howle California State Auditor - Bureau of State Audits Elaine Howle - Victoria B. Henley Director Chief Counsel Commission on Judicial Performance – Steven Jahr Administrative Director of the Courts - Phillip J. Jelicich Principal Auditor Bureau of State Audits - Janice M. Brickley Legal Advisor to Commissioners Commission on Judicial Performance - Elena Haskins-Benjamin B. Wagner – Melinda Haag – Jayne Kim – Victoria B. Henley – Elaine M. Howle -
Elena Haskins and her Nevada County Family Court case play a prominent role in Divorce Corp.
Correction: This post has been updated to reflect that Elena Haskins' family court case is in Nevada County.  
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Location: California Judicial Council 455 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102, USA

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