On July 20th, the Fresno Bee reported that the AOC had sent a letter to the Fresno County Board of Supervisors offering to sell back to the county at “market value” the Clovis courthouse. This is just one of a number of courthouses slated for closure because the Fresno County Superior Court doesn’t have the funds to keep it open.
Here’s the problem: some years back the county deeded this same courthouse to the AOC free of charge. In light of this creative way to apparently raise funds for the judicial branch, the Alliance issued the following statement:
In the category of “you can’t make this stuff up” comes the following: after bleeding local courts of valuable resources by wasting over a half billion dollars on a failed computer system, the AOC now wants our financially strapped counties to buy back courthouses that have been forced to close due to lack of funds. These are the exact courthouses the counties deeded over to the AOC for as little as one dollar several years ago.
The Alliance points to the Fresno County courthouse in Clovis as exhibit “A” in the never ending revelations of misplaced priorities, bureaucrats run amok and the dismissive attitude toward our local courts and the communities we serve.
The SEC report makes mention on page 156 of an analysis prepared by Pegasus Holdings, Inc., concerning the AOC Office of Court Construction and Management. The AOC’s foot dragging on the release of that report must end now. Judges, legislators, the Governor and the public have a right to know just how the OCCM measures up.
Video hoped to ease Fresno County court closures
County plans to use video-conferencing.
By Kurtis Alexander – The Fresno Bee
Friday, Jul. 20, 2012 | 11:22 PM
After weeks of fielding criticism for plans to close seven courthouses, Fresno County’s presiding judge offered a small concession this week.
Superior Court Judge Gary Hoff says many of those inconvenienced by having to take their court business elsewhere will have the option of staying put and contacting the court through video-conferencing.
In coming months, the court plans to link residents in at least two yet-to-be-determined rural sites with judges in Fresno courtrooms via computer network, initially for traffic and truancy cases.
“If this is successful,” Hoff said, “we could expand the program, which would mitigate some of the issues the cities in the outlying areas have raised.”
But for some of those affected, Hoff’s plan appears to be too little, too late. City and county leaders who have criticized the court closures as limiting access to justice say video-conferencing may be better than closing a courthouse, but it’s no substitute.
Critics are stepping up their protest. The county this week told state court officials that it no longer wants to pay full price for what the state bills counties for court services. Mayors in 14 Fresno County cities have recently signed a letter of dissent. And the city of Mendota is sending its gripes straight to the governor.
Unless the protest bears fruit, though, courthouses in Coalinga, Firebaugh, Reedley, Sanger and Selma will close July 30. The Clovis and Kingsburg courthouses will follow suit Aug. 6.
The closures, which are the result of state funding cuts, mean all court matters will be handled in the city of Fresno — traffic, civil, family law, probate and criminal cases.
“It’s like 40 miles to the court,” Mendota Mayor Robert Silva said. “That’s a major problem. People in our particular area, if they’re working, they’ll have to take the entire day off.”
Council members in other cities have said the same, including in Coalinga, where residents will have to travel some 70 miles to get to a courtroom.
Many residents of these rural cities, home to some of the Valley’s poorest neighborhoods, don’t have cars.
County officials have been critical of the courtroom closures since they were announced in May. But officials waded deeper into the debate this week after receiving a letter, which they called inappropriate, from the California Administrative Office of the Courts.
The state office has asked the county whether it wants to buy the Clovis Courthouse after it closes — at “market value.” The problem for the county is that it originally owned some of the courthouses, including Clovis, and transferred them to the state for free.
“So, you can buy your buildings back, and we’re shutting your courthouses down. How is this good?” county Supervisor Debbie Poochigian said. “They should give the buildings back to us, and what we choose to do with them, that’s up to us.”
A response by the county to the Office of the Courts says that court facilities in Reedley, Firebaugh and Clovis should revert back to county ownership under the same terms in which they were deeded to the state. (County officials have not said what they would do with the buildings.)
The county’s letter to the Office of the Courts also asks that the county’s roughly $13 million annual bill for state court operations be reduced. Since the state took over court financing in the late 1990s, counties have been billed for a share of the court costs.
The fee “was predicated with the understanding that there would be a certain level of service to the unincorporated communities. That’s no longer the case,” County Administrative Officer John Navarrette said.
Related articles
- Fresno County court closures cause concern in rural cities (fresnobee.com)
- Rural Fresno County courts may close (fresnobee.com)
- Explosive device does damage at Bass Lake Courthouse (fresnobee.com)
- List and images of Fresno Courthouses either for sale or soon to be for sale (Fresno Courts)
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Attached are the amended Dyzdak complaints
Judicial Council Watcher 
Judicial Council Watcher
August 14, 2012
The SEC report largely supported that we have been right about most things concerning the AOC with the SEC making similar recommendations to ours.
You’ll note that we are “California’s 6.5 billion dollar reality check” and all 6.5 billion dollars is directed at the AOC’s office of court construction and management and their fine work.
Wendy Darling
August 14, 2012
“In the wake of the SEC report, the Joint Legislative Audit Committee should demand an audit of the OCCM.”
Note to the Joint Legislative Audit Committee and the members of the State Legislature: an audit of the AOC shouldn’t be limited to OCCM, but should include all of the AOC’s “special fund” accounts, such as the Trial Court Workers Compensation Fund, etc.
The BSA Audit of CCMS should have turned on the bigger lightbulb. It was just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Instead, in the intervening 18 months since the BSA audit of CCMS, the AOC has been very busy rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. Oh, and doing a lot of shredding.
And now, selling courthouses.
Please wake up and smell the fermenting sewage eminating from 455 Golden Gate Avenue.
Long live the ACJ.
Michael Paul
August 14, 2012
ABC News journalists, JCW, Yen journalists, Shadow Mountain journalists and and many others have thoroughly outlined how OCCM measures up.
There was no need for a commissioned report.
Let the FORENSIC audits begin all the way to and through the vendors that performed the work just as the standard AOC contracts call for.
Michael Paul
August 14, 2012
And on the horizon: CBS 60 Minutes News Journalists.
Dan Dydzak
August 14, 2012
Also audit CA Supreme Court, Vickrey’s and Overholt’s spending with the rest of AOC, and present and past CJ’s for the last ten or more years. Add Kamala Harris to the mix over the mortgage crisis fund of 560 Million which she refuses to turn over to Legislature and Jerry Brown. Also brother-in-law Tony West, appaently no longer a US attorney called home to SF. Audit him with Mr. Thor.
unionman575
August 14, 2012
I bid $1.
Wendy Darling
August 14, 2012
Unionman: Are you sure anything the AOC has to sell is worth that much? 🙂
Long live the ACJ.
unionman575
August 14, 2012
I’d risk a buck. LOL
unionman575
August 14, 2012
http://senate.ca.gov/legislativeaudit
http://legaudit.assembly.ca.gov/
😉
unionman575
August 14, 2012
Judicial Council Watcher
August 14, 2012
“Published on Jun 16, 2012 by TheParkourSam
We headed over to the Laguna Niguel abandoned Courthouse in SoCal to have fun and train some free running and parkour. We had a lot of fun and hope you enjoy watching as much as I enjoyed filming!”
unionman575
August 14, 2012
More of that is on the way SOON! Can you say jpg? I can!
😉
unionman575
August 14, 2012
“FOR SALE”
http://www.fresno.courts.ca.gov/courthouses/
FRESNO Outlying Court Facilities
• Clovis- Closed eff. 8-3-12
• Coalinga- Closed eff. 7-30-12
• Firebaugh- Closed eff. 7-30-12
• Kingsburg- Closed eff. 8-3-12
• Reedley- Closed eff. 7-30-12
• Sanger- Closed eff. 7-30-12
• Selma- Closed eff. 7-30-12
unionman575
August 14, 2012
UPCOMING AOC COURTHOUSE “SALES”
“FOR SALE”
Paradise Courthouse – http://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/closure-butte.pdf
Lemoore Courthouse – http://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/20120710-Kings-Closure.pdf
Greenville Courthouse – http://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/Plumas-Closure-Greenville-Court-Location-20120725.pdf
Tracy Courthouse – http://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/closure-sanjoaquin.pdf
Grover Beach Courthouse – http://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/closure-sanluisobispo.pdf
Tulake Courthouse – http://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/siskiyou-closure.pdf
Tulare Courthouse – http://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/Tulare-closure-2012-06-28.pdf
(Tulare is not for sale until on or after 8-31-12 when it closes)
unionman575
August 14, 2012
Do I have any bids?
Michael Paul
August 14, 2012
……and the courthouse spending and construction spree continues. Meanwhile, IN REALITY it appears that Los Angeles courts could face up to 1,700 job cuts by the end of the year and the closure of scores of courtrooms.
I know – Let’s build some more courthouses and turn the old ones into former court employee homeless shelters.
unionman575
August 15, 2012
Lando
August 14, 2012
Courthouses like those being closed in Fresno had a bond with their local community. They were easy to access, responsive and served the citizens that lived close by. The best government is the government which sits close to the people and is responsive and accountable to them. Ron George, Bill Vickrey and J Huffman among others hijacked our branch and changed all that. Many of us warned over the years about the dangers of moving away from decentralized judicial governance , only to have the insiders demean and attack us for expressing dissenting opinions. . Now we can see it is the public who is paying the price for the arrogance that pervades the crystal palace. I was struck the other day watching and listening to audio and video of the last Judicial Council meeting. As the ” insiders” like J Miller and J Hull held forth, in the cherry and glass “boardroom” at 455 Golden Gate with laughter all about, I wondered in contrast about those citizens in Fresno who now drive miles and miles or ride a bus and miss work just to go to traffic court. I also wonder about what happened to the court employees who worked in these courthouses and the impact the closures had on them. While the insiders at 455 Golden Gate should be worried about the same they seem only to care about preserving their power at the expense of the trial courts. A sad reality for our branch. Please listen to J Miller and J Hull’s comments. You really can’t make this stuff up. Really.
Wendy Darling
August 14, 2012
No, you really can’t make this stuff up, Lando.
JusticeCalifornia
August 14, 2012
A bloated AOC that keeps getting raises
$500 million down the drain on CCMS. (at least $500 mil– that is all they have copped to)
The most expensive courthouses in the nation.
$500-$2,000 light bulb changes
Fully funded outrageous pensions for top AOC personnel
Judges in residence who live out of state
AOC lawyers who telecommute from Switzerland
A fully functioning news studio and public relations department
The selection of a woefully unqualified gambling barmaid-turned associate justice with no relevant administrative experience to serve as chief justice of the biggest judiciary in the Western World.
The selection of a woefully unqualified judge with no relevant administrative experience to serve as the top administrator of the biggest judiciary in Western World.
$1,000,000 per year to NCSC for advising “top” leadership as to how to run the branch.
Meanwhile outside the palace walls:
Courthouses have fallen into disrepair
Courthouses are being closed
Courthouses are providing reduced services, and operating at reduced hours
Employees are being laid off en masse
Employees are overworked
Judges are without adequate staff
Fees, fines and penalties are rising
And those are just the highlights.
When you really look at what has happened in the cold light of day, it gives whole new meaning and significance to the Judicial Council’s giggling machinations, self-serving awards to each other, intentional appointment of ethically challended branch pariahs to key positions, and disingenuous ongoing claims that they have been good stewards of public funds.
Team George has breached the public trust. We need a full and objective investigation of the financial dealings that have brought the branch to ruins.
And a full examination of whether this was calculated and intentional. . . .
There’s gonna be hell to pay. . . .
The OBT
August 15, 2012
I guess in the twisted world of the crystal palace it is better to build way over priced courthouses in Santa Clara ( again), Lake County with all of 5 judges and of course the number 1 AOC cheerleader county, San Diego rather than
keep the ones open that really provide access to the public..At least while we close courthouses all over the state we can listen to the likes of J Miller tell us how open and receptive he and the other E and P members are to change and reform while at the same time they refuse to open up their meetings for public viewing. How in the world did the management of our branch ever get so messed up ?
Nathaniel Woodhull
August 15, 2012
Lando and company are 100% correct. The Chief, members of the JC and executives at the AOC hope that those of us remaining dinosaurs will simply stroll off into the forest and die. This is exactly why the Chief said she likes working with “newer” judges because they are “easier” to work with. The reason for that is the newer judges have no historical perspective and only understand the pap that’s been fed to them since 1999 by the AOC and JC.
For those of us who were around during the discussions and creation of the State Trial Court Funding Act (STCFA for all you AOC files), we were all absolutely assured that State funding would mean a sufficient, consistent and uninterrupted revenue stream to all trial courts throughout California. Those of us who raised questions were immediately branded heretics and were no longer invited to play in any of the games hosted by the CJ, nor were we invited back to teach at CJER educational programs.
What the Legislature did not anticipate was the development of the mega bureaucracy that is now the AOC, nor did they expect the level of incompetence shown at the management level of the statewide administration.
Since the AOC has “taken over” the effect on the citizens of this State have been unimaginable. Special “fees” and “assessments” that are added on to civil, criminal and traffic cases are staggering. $30 per count conviction fees, $40+ security fees, fees on fees, it is to the point where a traffic citation in California averages about $450+ whereas in other states people might pay $50 or less for the same offense. These fines and fees are breaking the backs of working people. I’ve had people saying they needed to decide to either pay their monthly rent or the citation. Why? So those in high places within the Crystal Palace can enjoy their champagne wishes and caviar dreams!
If this scenario were presented to any business school or those who major in public administration, they would think it was a bad joke being played by their professor. It couldn’t be true, yet sadly it is and more.
CCMS should have cost less than 1/10th of what was wasted on the program had they gone about its development in the proper manner. But no, they started out by putting Shiela Gonzalez-Calabro in charge. Highly qualified I’m sure. Then we ended up with five different oversite committee and finally Justice Bruiniers who had the temerity to say CCMS was both viable and “deployed” just before it was shut down. Heard anything lately from the IT Oversight Committee that was going to report on all the great things that would be salvaged from the CCMS adventure? Well, you won’t because the rocket scientists drafting the contracts at the AOC left Deloitte with any intellectual property that might be developed in CCMS.
How many other tens of millions of dollars have been squandered by those within the Crystal Palace? Now we see courthouses for sale throughout the state. These buildings which are vacant are the subject of untold vandalism while they await their “disposal.” The folks at the OCCM are offering the counties to buy back their courthouses at market prices? Whatever they are smoking let’s pass out to the rest of us. How many of the remaining buildings that were transferred to state ownership are beyond their useful life spans and need to be demolished and rebuilt?
The magnitude of all this, the depth and breadth of incompetence is beyond laughable. Yet we see no change in course at 455 Golden Gate Avenue. As Chip said in Animal House, remain calm, all is well…
The OBT
August 15, 2012
Woodhull all is right again indeed. The JC /AOC logo should be ” Justice is Not So Good” I really believe Ron George created a whole system designed to only promote his most loyal supporters. Hence, the Millers, Hull’s, Bruiners and McConnell’s of the world holding positions of great power they were never elected to. The only flaw is that when you pass up people of merit , common sense and integrity you end up with the insular insider mess we are now faced with. J Miller and J Hull your oversight of the SEC report and AOC Director selection has failed miserably. J Mc Connell, your arbitrary and unfair rule of the CJP has also failed the citizens of California. You should all resign so that meaningful change can occur to help the public we all represent .
JusticeCalifornia
August 15, 2012
The telltale sign (as if we needed one) that the cj/jc/aoc have no intention of changing their ways was the selection of Jahr to replace Vickrey. I don’t know Mr. Jahr. He may have been a decent judge and he may be a very nice man. His participation in the Halpin debacle and his wife’s intimate involvement with the Shasta Court while he was on the bench are on the face of it troubling. . . .but the real issue is that it is OBVIOUS this man does not have the experience and credentials to be the top administrator of the biggest judiciary in the Western World. His experience is from the 90’s for heaven’s sake. He was major force in creating the system we have now and he was vigorously defending it 8 short months ago — even after the laundry list of AOC waste/mismanagement smoking guns had been plastered everywhere.
Clearly the cj/jc/aoc did NOT want an experienced, qualified outsider to come in to investigate and clean up the mess the cj/jc/aoc triumvirate has made of the branch.
The sobering fact is this: If not for all the “rebels” who have jumped in to put a screeching halt to what was going on, billions more would have been wasted on CCMS and ridiculous courthouses (Markleeville, as one stellar example) by a cj/jc/aoc triumvirate drunk with self-importance and power. If we think things are bad now– can you imagine how much worse it would be if billions of court funds were still flowing freely into failed projects, as the cj/jc/aoc were insisting?
As we look at the war zone that is the branch, it is obvious that the next step must be an official, neutral investigation of what has happened to the money entrusted to “top leadership”.
A BSA audit of OCCM– connecting all the dots and turning over all the rocks of who was involved in land purchases, selection of vendors, contractors, subcontractors, price of construction–who got rich– from the top to the bottom– is a great start. It is also bite-sized. The records should be readily available– all the invoices, receipts, contracts, etc, right?
But the investigation cannot end there. How many times does anyone need to hear that money has been moved around by the jc/aoc to hide it from the legislature? AND WE HEARD THAT FROM AN IMPECCABLE SOURCE– A JUDGE WHO PERSONALLY WITNESSED IT.
The legislature and governor is funneling billions to a branch that is still controlled by the very same people who have wasted billions, brought the branch to its knees and thumbed their noses at the legislature.
We must demand an official investigation that follows the money. Such an investigation is the next obvious, necessary, responsible step.
Curious
August 15, 2012
Eyes and ears are needed now more than ever before. AOC/Council will be sorely tempted to ignore the recent changes to Gov. Code 68085 (AB1208 changes instituted via trailer bill) and get very creative. Also expect creative writing from OGC. All of this, of course, notwithstanding the Chief’s rather transparent statement that she was “pleased” with the changes that she so vehemently opposed, and that AOC lobbyists opposed to the bitter end.
Yes, it will be a sight to see.
JusticeCalifornia
August 15, 2012
As I understand it, in the end, those who have purposefully and knowingly helped cover up corruption and criminal acts are on a par with those perpetrating the crimes. I think that is RICO.
I have also heard that those who become government witnesses are treated better than the actual perps.
Someone PLEASE step in and correct me if I am wrong. I most certainly am not a white collar/black robe crime practitioner.
Robert Turner
August 15, 2012
Absolutely. We need the other two branches to get involved with more audits and committee hearings immediately. Judges, staff, and laid off workers are begging for change. The broader public is only remotely aware of the scandals but would become very aware if the other two branches were properly checking on a branch run into the ground by failed leadership at the top. The press has been covering this stuff in the legal papers but it needs to go to the wider media like the LA Times, the San Diego Tribune, the San Francisco Chronicle for the public to follow it properly. There also needs to be a champion in the Legislature or Governor’s Office who keeps a spotlight on the JC/AOC. This can’t remain just an internal fight forever. Fight on!
AOC Tracker
August 15, 2012
Mr. Turner, Sir, you are right. This insider game can’t go on forever. The legislature has had plenty of opportunity to get it right, but other than a few pokes in the eye to the Judicial Council and AOC, they don’t have the motivation or political will to take on the fight. The LA Times will never cover this story. They too, have had the opportunity to do so and have been provided more than enough detail to assign investigative reporters, but have failed us. The Attorney General, who should have initiated investigations by now, has failed us. The legal media is still trying to figure out what’s going on and how to reference the Alliance Judges, still seeming to think they are a “splinter” group of rebel outliers. Leadership in the bigger, more powerful courts such as San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego are ineffective and lack the courage to support the Alliance judges, holding them at arms length. The California Judges Association enjoys their insider status too much to make waves, lacking discipline and principle. They get to be at the “adult” table while the Alliance judges are relegated to a status tantamount to undocumented outsiders. It’s pretty clear that waiting around for the other two branches to get involved or the mainstream media to generate the impetus for change or some “champion” to show up from the Legislature or Governor’s Office is pie in the sky. It aint gonna happen!!!
JusticeCalifornia
August 15, 2012
Branch members and stakeholders have ever so many and varied and unexpected historians/scriveners amongst them. . ..
Loyal/corrupt Team George members can never be covered because they have been and are being documented.
When the walls come tumbling down. . . .
JusticeCalifornia
August 15, 2012
And AOC Tracker–I disagree with you. The three branches of CA government have no choice but to demand an accounting for the who, what, where, when, how and why it has paid out $3 -$4 billion annually to the judicial branch, with the current obviously dysfunctional results.
Dan Dydzak
August 16, 2012
To commentators out there, I have just found out that my case of Dydzak v. Dunn was now reassigned to an out-of-county court. Will have to see shortly what that means.
While LA Times and other mainstream papers are too “chicken” to write the truth about a lot of issues such as the money-laundering, other papers will directly or indirectly. Justice California is correct about the RICO activity–fixing cases is just one aspect. The Attorney General of CA does nothing because she is involved in and supports the fixing of cases with her aid-de-camp, Peter A. Krause, Esq. Starr Babcock and others in the Office of General Counsel, with Mary Roberts, Esq. and Beth Jay, Esq., Ronald M. George and CJ Tani support the case fixing because they don’t play by the rules. However, if necessary, there will be more lawsuits filed on the RICO activity and not necessarily in CA where they take delight in “rigging the show.”
Kamala Harris is converting monies–that is why she does not account for the 560 Million mortgage crisis fund, and give it to the Legislature. She is BREAKING THE LAW, yet she is the Attorney General–high level hypocrisy and nepotism. Certain law firms and lawyers–and they know who they are–benefit from their cozy relationship with her. Well, don’t worry, Kamala and company, I am drafting a new lawsuit on your corruption and malfeasance. Join the coterie of crooked persons involved in the massive cover-up of RICO activity, including your collusion in now giving back TARP monies to the U.S. government, and , again, not giving the 560 Million Mortgage Fund monies back to CA. My sources advise you are involved in criminal and grand jury conduct. Welcome to a new lawsuit. As well, since the CA Supreme Court is supporting K. Harris’ activity, it is quite alarming.
JusticeCalifornia
August 16, 2012
Out of the mouths of and for the benefit of our children and grandchildren–
by, unexpectedly, Disney.
Love the message of this song.
Can’t back down.
unionman575
August 16, 2012
I love it too!
😉
unionman575
August 16, 2012
unionman575
August 16, 2012
Hot Rod is having a sale:
SAN DIEGO – RAMONA COURTHOUSE “FOR SALE”
Effective September 3, 2012, the Ramona court facility located at 1428 Montecito Road, Ramona CA, 92065 (including its courtroom and clerk’s office) will close, and all case matters will be relocated to the East County Division Courthouse located at 250 East Main Street, El Cajon CA 92020. This action is being taken due to unprecedented and ongoing state budget cuts enacted in Fiscal Years 2012/13 and 2013/14. These cuts are in addition to reductions incurred during the preceding four fiscal years. As a result, the Court is facing the most significant reduction of services in its history.
Click to access FORM%2060%20DAY%20NOTICE%20-RAMONA%20COURT%20CLOSURE%20-%207-2-12.PDF
unionman575
August 16, 2012
Please let “Hot Rod” know how you feel about his Ramona Courthouse Closure Plan here:
http://www.sandiego.courts.ca.gov/portal/public/pubcomment_form.html?subject=RAMONA%20COURT%20CLOSURE