Judicial Council of California Report: SACRAMENTO SUPERIOR COURT

Showing posts with label SACRAMENTO SUPERIOR COURT. Show all posts

Thursday, December 24, 2015

Sacramento Superior Court Racketeering Allegations Eerily Similar to 1994 San Diego County Scandal

US District Court Eastern District of California Judge Morrison England, Judge Troy Nunley, Judge William Shubb - California Supreme Court Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye Judicial Council of California - Commission on Judicial Performance Victoria Henley Director CJP Victoria B. Henley Chief Counsel California - Justice Vance Raye 3rd District Court of Appeal Justice Ronald Robie, Justice George Nicholson Third District Appellate Court Sacramento - Judge Kevin Culhane Sacramento County Superior Court Judge James Mize, Judge Thadd Blizzard, Judge Matthew Gary -

An alleged racketeering organization composed of judges and local attorneys who work in the family law division of Sacramento County Superior Court bears striking similarities to criminal activity uncovered in San Diego County in 1994.

A recently unearthed editorial from the Los Angles Daily Journal provides a firsthand account of the court corruption that sent San Diego judges James A. Malkus and G. Dennis Adams to federal prison, and put judge Michael Greer on federal probation for three years. The editorial is embedded at the end of this post.

Oversight and Accountability of California Courts Stifled by Judicial Council Chair Tani Cantil-Sakauye

3rd District Court of Appeal Sacramento Judge Andrea Lynn Hoch, Louis Mauro, Jonathan K. Renner, Harry E. Hull Jr., Elena J. Duarte, M. Kathleen Butz, George Nicholson, William Murray Jr., Ronald B. Robie, Vance W. Raye Administrative Presiding Justice - Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye California Supreme Court Judge Carol Corrigan, Leondra Kruger, Mariano Cuellar, Ming Chin, Goodwin Liu, Kathryn Werdegar Supreme Court of California - Judicial Council Chair Tani G. Cantil Sakauye - Commission on Judicial Performance Director Victoria B. Henley CJP Chief Counsel

Judicial Council of California Report Special Report Released

California court watchdog groups and court employee whistleblowers charge that Judicial Council Chair Tani Cantil-Sakauye has failed or refused to investigate allegations of criminal activity in the state court system.

The alleged lawbreaking is so pervasive that the Center for Judicial Excellence has initiated a statewide "Stop Court Crimes" campaign to compel the Judicial Council to investigate allegations that judges, clerks, and court employees routinely violate state law.

Judicial Council Controversy: Troubled Sacramento County Judge Matthew J. Gary Involved in Traffic Fatality

UPDATE: The Sacramento Bee has published an investigative report about the questions surrounding this incident: click here.

The California Highway Patrol has issued a press release announcing a fatal traffic incident involving controversial Sacramento County Judge Matthew Gary:

Whistleblowers Blame Judicial Council Chair Tani Cantil-Sakauye for CJP Inaction Against Former Sacramento County Coworker

Supreme Court of California, Justice Leondra R Kruger, Justice Mariano Florentino Cuellar, Justice Goodwin H Liu, Justice Carol A Corrigan, Justice Ming W Chin, Justice Kathryn M Werdegar, Justice Tani G Cantil Sakauye, Supreme Court of California, Judicial Council of California - Victoria B Henley Commission on Judicial Performance Director Chief Counsel Victoria Henley CJP

The appellate brief excerpt embedded at the bottom of this post recounts one instance of Sacramento Superior Court Judge Matthew Gary's alleged misconduct in the high profile Susan Ferris case, in connection with an illegal attorney fee sanctions order.

The appeal in the case is pending at the controversial 3rd District Court of Appeal in Sacramento.

The proceedings have been reported by the Sacramento Bee, and are being closely watched by court reform advocates. Interest in the case and family court corruption in Sacramento County on social media, YouTube, and Vimeo has reached viral levels among family court reform watchdogs.

The embedded document package also includes the court reporter transcript from a hearing in the case recording that Gary ordered Ferris to pay $2,500 to the opposing attorney, Timothy Zeff, based on Ferris' "body language."

Tani Cantil-Sakauye and Judicial Council Responsible for Statewide Court Corruption Epidemic, Charge Whistleblowers

A Sacramento-based non-profit court news organization has published an exhaustive, investigative report alleging that a criminal organization involving judges and local attorneys operates within the Sacramento County family law court system. The report, from Sacramento Family Court News, is the latest allegation that corruption has reached epidemic levels in California courts.

Court whistleblowers and watchdogs charge that California Judicial Council Chair Tani Cantil-Sakauye has used her position to quash investigations into the alleged criminal conduct of her former coworkers in Sacramento Superior Court, and the adjacent, and troubled 3rd District Court of Appeal.

Judicial Council Failure to Investigate Sacramento Superior Court Racketeering Allegations

Hon. Richard Bloom Member of the California State Assembly Hon. Hannah-Beth Jackson Member of the California State Senate - State Bar Mr. Mark Bonino Attorney at Law Mr. James P. Fox Attorney at Law -Secretary Martin Hoshino Administrative Director

An online, nonprofit journalism organization has published an investigative report alleging that a criminal organization involving judges and local attorneys operates within the Sacramento County family law court system.

To continue reading, click Read more >> below:

Stop Court Crimes Campaign To Confront Judicial Council at Sacramento Public Comment Session

Family Court Judge-Attorney Collusion, RICO Racketeering and Other Crimes To Be Submitted at Judicial Council Meeting

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, Judge James Mize Sacramento, Judge Robert Hight Sacramento Superior Court, US District Court Eastern District of California, Sacramento Federal Court, United States Courts,

The Center for Judicial Excellence, a Marin-based family court reform organization, has initiated a "Year of Action to Stop Court Crimes" campaign throughout California.

Evidence of alleged criminal activity by Sacramento Superior Court judges, employees, and part-time judges who also work as for-profit divorce lawyers will be presented by court watchdogs and whistleblowers at a Judicial Council meeting in Sacramento on Thursday, February 19. The presentation is a component of the "Stop Court Crimes" campaign sponsored by the Center for Judicial Excellence, a Marin-based family court reform organization.

The statewide CJE "Year of Action to Stop Court Crimes" campaign kicked-off in September with a rally at the Judicial Council in San Francisco, and is slated to run throughout 2015. Family court watchdogs from 16 California counties attended, including a strong Sacramento County contingent. The event generated press coverage by the San Francisco Examiner.

In addition to the rally, the group made a formal, written request for an audience with the Chair of the Judicial Council to present evidence and discuss alleged criminal activity and other misconduct by family court judges and employees throughout the state. The request was denied, and the group was directed to express their concerns at the public comment segment provided at regularly scheduled Judicial Council meetings.

To continue reading, click Read more >> below:

Judicial Council Advisory Bodies

To provide leadership for advancing the consistent, impartial, independent, and accessible administration of justice, the Judicial Council must be aware of the issues and concerns confronting the judiciary, as well as appropriate solutions and responses. The council carries out this mission primarily through the work of its internal committees, advisory committees, and task forces. See below for more information about each of the groups.

For meetings subject to California Rules of Court 10.75, notices and agendas will be posted five business days before the meeting and materials for an open meeting will be posted three business days before the meeting.

Internal Committees

Advisory Committees

Refer to Rule 10.34 Duties and responsibilities of advisory committees.

Task Forces and Other Advisory/Working Groups

Refer to Rule 10.70. Task forces and other advisory bodies.

Advisory Group Archive

Judicial Council working groups and task forces "sunset" after their final recommendations are presented to the council. The service of the following groups has expired; they are listed here for reference.

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Blue Ribbon Commission on Children in Foster Care

Provides leadership and recommendations to improve the ability of California's state and local agencies, and the courts to help children grow up in safe, nurturing, and permanent homes through the application of reasonable efforts to prevent removal and achieve permanency; increased collaboration among courts and their partnering agencies; court reform to ensure timely hearings and fair treatment; and prioritization of children and families in the child welfare system in the allocation and administration of resources and funding.

Blue Ribbon Commission Members

Commission for Impartial Courts

The Commission for Impartial Courts was formed in September 2007. In December 2009, the Commission presented its final report to the Judicial Council of actions it should take in order to safeguard the quality, impartiality, and accountability of the California judiciary for the benefit of all its citizens.

Domestic Violence Practice and Procedure Task Force

Makes recommendations to the Judicial Council on improving the administration of justice in domestic violence cases in the California trial courts.

Membership list

Audiocasts, meeting materials, and transcripts from Public Hearings in Los Angeles and San Francisco on March 14 and March 21, 2007

Final Report of The Domestic Violence Practice And Procedure Task Force

Elkins Family Law Task Force and Implementation Task Force

The Task Force was charged with proposing measures to improve efficiency and fairness in family law proceedings and ensure access to justice for all family law litigants.

Elkins Family Law Implementation Task Force Fact Sheet
Membership list

Joint Working Group for California’s Language Access Plan

The Joint Working Group for California’s Language Access Plan developed a comprehensive, statewide, language access plan (LAP) for the judiciary to be able to expand meaningful access for limited-English-proficient court users.

Established: June 2013
Sunset: January 2015

Self-Represented Litigants Task Force

Determines the best ways to assist the growing number of Californians who need legal services but cannot afford an attorney. The task force coordinates the statewide response of the bench and bar to the needs of self-represented, or pro per, parties and helps share information about model pro per programs; implements a statewide action plan for serving self-represented litigants; develops resources for services for self-represented litigants, particularly activities in the statewide action plan that require significant funding; and makes recommendations to the Judicial Council, the State Bar, and other appropriate institutions about additional measures that should be considered to improve court services for self-represented parties.

Task force roster
Guidelines for Self-Help Centers

Task Force on Trial Court Fiscal Accountability

The Task Force on Trial Court Fiscal Accountability will focus on implementing specified recommendations of the Trial Court Funding Workgroup and Trial Court Budget Working Group Funding Methodology Subcommittee as directed by the Judicial Council on April 26, 2013. The recommendations of these two bodies were designed to bring greater equity to California trial court funding and help ensure the delivery of quality justice, and equal access to justice statewide.

Task Force Roster
Task Force Charge

Technology Planning Task Force

Purpose: This task force is charged with addressing and making recommendations on the governance, strategy, and financial support for judicial branch technology. They work in partnership with the courts and with input from branch stakeholders.

Date Established: Feb 2013
Date Sunset: August 22, 2014

Judicial Council Members

Council members are volunteers and do not receive additional compensation for their service. Most members are appointed by the Chief Justice, who serves as Chair of the Council, or by the State Bar Board of Trustees. Legislative representatives and advisory members also serve. Most members serve three year terms and each year about a third of the membership rotates off and a new group is sworn in. See Judicial Council Governance Policies for details about membership.

Chair

Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye
Chief Justice of California

Supreme Court

Hon. Ming W. Chin
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court

Courts of Appeal

Hon. Judith Ashmann-Gerst
Associate Justice of the Court of Appeal
Second Appellate District, Division Two
Los Angeles

Hon. Harry E. Hull, Jr.
Associate Justice of the Court of Appeal
Third Appellate District
Sacramento

Legislature
Hon. Richard Bloom
Member of the California State Assembly
Hon. Hannah-Beth Jackson
Member of the California State Senate

State Bar
Mr. Mark Bonino
Attorney at Law

Mr. James P. Fox
Attorney at Law
Ms. Donna D'Angelo Melby
Attorney at Law

Ms. Debra Elaine Pole
Attorney at Law

Advisory Members
Hon. Daniel J. Buckley
Judge of the Superior Court of California,
County of Los Angeles

Mr. Richard D. Feldstein
Court Executive Officer
Superior Court of California,
County of Napa

Hon. David E. Gunn
Commissioner of the Superior Court of California,
County of Butte

Hon. James E. Herman
Assistant Presiding Judge of the Superior Court of California,
County of Santa Barbara

Hon. Morris D. Jacobson
Assistant Presiding Judge of the Superior Court of California,
County of Alameda

Hon. Brian L. McCabe
Presiding Judge of the Superior Court of California,
County of Merced
Mr. Frank A. McGuire
Court Administrator and Clerk
Supreme Court of California

Hon. Marsha G. Slough
Presiding Judge of the Superior Court of California,
County of San Bernardino

Hon. Kenneth K. So
Judge of the Superior Court of California,
County of San Diego

Ms. Mary Beth Todd
Court Executive Officer
Superior Court of California,
County of Sutter

Hon. Charles D. Wachob
Assistant Presiding Judge of the Superior Court of California,
County of Placer

Hon. Joan P. Weber
Judge of the Superior Court of California,
County of San Diego

Secretary
Martin Hoshino
Administrative Director
Trial Courts
Hon. Marla O. Anderson
Presiding Judge of the Superior Court of California,
County of Monterey

Hon. Brian J. Back
Presiding Judge of the Superior Court of California,
County of Ventura

Hon. James R. Brandlin
Judge of the Superior Court of California,
County of Los Angeles

Hon. David De Alba
Judge of the Superior Court of California,
County of Sacramento

Hon. Emilie H. Elias
Judge of the Superior Court of California,
County of Los Angeles
Hon. Gary Nadler
Judge of the Superior Court of California,
County of Sonoma

Hon. David Rosenberg
Judge of the Superior Court of California,
County of Yolo

Hon. David M. Rubin
Judge of the Superior Court of California,
County of San Diego

Hon. Dean T. Stout
Presiding Judge of the Superior Court of California, County of Inyo

Hon. Martin J. Tangeman
Assistant Presiding Judge of the Superior Court of California,
County of San Luis Obispo

Judicial Council of California Report

Pages

Thursday, December 24, 2015

Sacramento Superior Court Racketeering Allegations Eerily Similar to 1994 San Diego County Scandal

Monday, December 7, 2015

Oversight and Accountability of California Courts Stifled by Judicial Council Chair Tani Cantil-Sakauye

Friday, November 13, 2015