Judicial Council, State of California
The Judicial Council is the policymaking body of the California courts, the largest
court system in the nation. Under the leadership of the Chief Justice and in
accordance with the California Constitution, the council is responsible for ensuring
the consistent, independent, impartial, and accessible administration of
justice.
The Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) implements the council’s policies.
The Judicial Council is the policymaking body of the California courts, the largest
court system in the nation. Under the leadership of the Chief Justice and in
accordance with the California Constitution, the council is responsible for ensuring
the consistent, independent, impartial, and accessible administration of
justice.
The Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) implements the council’s policies.
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& Holtz
Silence is Golden
Schools and Violence
Office Admin Hearings
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State Bar Names
Attorney Member to
Judicial Council of
California
Leanne Kozak
916-263-2838
June 20, 2012
SAN FRANCISCO—Chief Justice
Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye has
announced that the State Bar Board
of Trustees has appointed a new
attorney member to the Judicial
Council of California, the policy-
making body of state courts.
The new member is
James P. Fox of San Carlos.
He was appointed to a three-year
term, from September 15, 2012 to
September 15, 2015. He joins
three other attorney members
on the Judicial Council:
Angela Joy Davis, of Los Angeles,
Mark P. Robinson, Jr., of
Newport Beach, and
Edith R. Matthai of Los Angeles.
James P. Fox is a consultant to
the State Bar, assisting Chief
Trial Counsel Jayne Kim in
reducing a backlog of
complaints against California
attorneys. Before his retirement on
December 31, 2010, Fox was the
district attorney of San Mateo
County for 28 years.
In 2009, the Judicial Council
presented Fox with the Bernard E.
Witkin Amicus Curiae Award for his
many contributions to the
administration of justice through his
leadership and service at national,
state, and local levels. Fox has also
served on the Judicial Council’s
Criminal Law Advisory Committee
and Court Profiles Advisory
Committee, as well as the State Bar’
s Commission on Judicial Nominees
Evaluation.
Chaired by Chief Justice Cantil-
Sakauye, the Judicial Council
consists of the Chief Justice, 14
additional judicial members
appointed by the Chief Justice, 4
attorney members appointed by
the State Bar Board of Trustees,
1 member from each house of
the state Legislature, and 10
advisory members. The
Administrative Director of the
Courts serves as secretary to
the council.
Attorney Member to
Judicial Council of
California
Leanne Kozak
916-263-2838
June 20, 2012
SAN FRANCISCO—Chief Justice
Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye has
announced that the State Bar Board
of Trustees has appointed a new
attorney member to the Judicial
Council of California, the policy-
making body of state courts.
The new member is
James P. Fox of San Carlos.
He was appointed to a three-year
term, from September 15, 2012 to
September 15, 2015. He joins
three other attorney members
on the Judicial Council:
Angela Joy Davis, of Los Angeles,
Mark P. Robinson, Jr., of
Newport Beach, and
Edith R. Matthai of Los Angeles.
James P. Fox is a consultant to
the State Bar, assisting Chief
Trial Counsel Jayne Kim in
reducing a backlog of
complaints against California
attorneys. Before his retirement on
December 31, 2010, Fox was the
district attorney of San Mateo
County for 28 years.
In 2009, the Judicial Council
presented Fox with the Bernard E.
Witkin Amicus Curiae Award for his
many contributions to the
administration of justice through his
leadership and service at national,
state, and local levels. Fox has also
served on the Judicial Council’s
Criminal Law Advisory Committee
and Court Profiles Advisory
Committee, as well as the State Bar’
s Commission on Judicial Nominees
Evaluation.
Chaired by Chief Justice Cantil-
Sakauye, the Judicial Council
consists of the Chief Justice, 14
additional judicial members
appointed by the Chief Justice, 4
attorney members appointed by
the State Bar Board of Trustees,
1 member from each house of
the state Legislature, and 10
advisory members. The
Administrative Director of the
Courts serves as secretary to
the council.
Judicial Council
Accepts Report
From Strategic
Evaluation
Committee
Adopts a process to take
action on recommendations for
the Administrative Office of the
Courts
June 21, 2012
SAN FRANCISCO—The
Judicial Council of
California voted today to
accept for consideration a
report from a special
committee recommending
structural changes to the
Administrative Office of the
Courts (AOC). The council
also approved a process to
consider and take action on
the committee’s
recommendations.
The Strategic Evaluation
Committee (SEC) was appointed by
Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-
Sakauye in March 2011 to conduct
an in-depth review of the AOC
with a view toward promoting
transparency,
accountability, and
efficiency. The Chief Justice
received the report and
recommendations on May 25.
“When I became Chief
Justice, it was urgent to
assess the needs of the
judicial branch and the
justice system,” said Chief
Justice Cantil-Sakauye,
chair of the Judicial
Council. “An informed,
comprehensive look at the
AOC was one of my first
priorities. I want to express
my deep gratitude to the
Strategic Evaluation
Committee for taking on a
never-before performed
review of the AOC in order
to recommend how the
AOC can best serve the
courts and the public.”
The SEC report was
presented to the council
by the chair and vice chair
of the SEC, Assistant
Presiding Judge Charles
D. Wachob of the Superior
Court of Placer County
and Presiding Judge Brian
L. McCabe of the Superior
Court of Merced County.
The council also received
many in-person and
written comments on the
report from judges,
attorneys, and other
interested parties.
After discussing the report
and thanking the SEC for
its work, the council
approved a process to
consider and take action on
the committee’s
recommendations:
Refer and assign the report to
the Executive & Planning
Committee for review and
consideration of each
recommendation.
The report and its
recommendations will be
posted online for public
comment for 30 days and
the public comment period
will be expanded if
deemed necessary;
Written comments
received on the SEC
report for the June 20-22
Judicial Council meeting
and during the 30-day
public comment period will
be posted to the California
Courts website and
provided to the Executive
& Planning Committee for
its consideration;
The council’s Executive &
Planning Committee will
evaluate and prioritize
each recommendation with
the assistance of the
three SEC members the
Chief appointed to the
Judicial Council-- Judge
Wachob, Judge
McCabe, and Riverside
Presiding Judge
Sherrill Ellsworth;
The Executive & Planning
Committee may ask for
additional input from other
groups or individuals;
The Executive & Planning
Committee will report back
to the council at its August
meeting with the
comments received, a list
of priorities that the
council should focus on,
and a proposed timeline
for acting on the
recommendations.
“We have heard many
thoughtful comments
today and over the last
several weeks about the
SEC’s recommendations,”
said Justice Douglas
Miller, chair of the
council’s Executive &
Planning Committee.
“We are fully committed to
this report and our
process, and take full
responsibility for
preserving its integrity.”
Accepts Report
From Strategic
Evaluation
Committee
Adopts a process to take
action on recommendations for
the Administrative Office of the
Courts
June 21, 2012
SAN FRANCISCO—The
Judicial Council of
California voted today to
accept for consideration a
report from a special
committee recommending
structural changes to the
Administrative Office of the
Courts (AOC). The council
also approved a process to
consider and take action on
the committee’s
recommendations.
The Strategic Evaluation
Committee (SEC) was appointed by
Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-
Sakauye in March 2011 to conduct
an in-depth review of the AOC
with a view toward promoting
transparency,
accountability, and
efficiency. The Chief Justice
received the report and
recommendations on May 25.
“When I became Chief
Justice, it was urgent to
assess the needs of the
judicial branch and the
justice system,” said Chief
Justice Cantil-Sakauye,
chair of the Judicial
Council. “An informed,
comprehensive look at the
AOC was one of my first
priorities. I want to express
my deep gratitude to the
Strategic Evaluation
Committee for taking on a
never-before performed
review of the AOC in order
to recommend how the
AOC can best serve the
courts and the public.”
The SEC report was
presented to the council
by the chair and vice chair
of the SEC, Assistant
Presiding Judge Charles
D. Wachob of the Superior
Court of Placer County
and Presiding Judge Brian
L. McCabe of the Superior
Court of Merced County.
The council also received
many in-person and
written comments on the
report from judges,
attorneys, and other
interested parties.
After discussing the report
and thanking the SEC for
its work, the council
approved a process to
consider and take action on
the committee’s
recommendations:
Refer and assign the report to
the Executive & Planning
Committee for review and
consideration of each
recommendation.
The report and its
recommendations will be
posted online for public
comment for 30 days and
the public comment period
will be expanded if
deemed necessary;
Written comments
received on the SEC
report for the June 20-22
Judicial Council meeting
and during the 30-day
public comment period will
be posted to the California
Courts website and
provided to the Executive
& Planning Committee for
its consideration;
The council’s Executive &
Planning Committee will
evaluate and prioritize
each recommendation with
the assistance of the
three SEC members the
Chief appointed to the
Judicial Council-- Judge
Wachob, Judge
McCabe, and Riverside
Presiding Judge
Sherrill Ellsworth;
The Executive & Planning
Committee may ask for
additional input from other
groups or individuals;
The Executive & Planning
Committee will report back
to the council at its August
meeting with the
comments received, a list
of priorities that the
council should focus on,
and a proposed timeline
for acting on the
recommendations.
“We have heard many
thoughtful comments
today and over the last
several weeks about the
SEC’s recommendations,”
said Justice Douglas
Miller, chair of the
council’s Executive &
Planning Committee.
“We are fully committed to
this report and our
process, and take full
responsibility for
preserving its integrity.”
JUDICIAL COUNCIL OF
CALIFORNIA
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF
THE COURTS
455 Golden Gate Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94102-3688
www.courts.ca.gov
415-865-7740
Lynn Holton
Public Information Officer
June 1, 2011
Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye Names
Four Members to Judicial Council
San Francisco—Chief Justice Tani
Cantil-Sakauye today announced the
appointment of three new members
to the Judicial Council of California,
the administrative policymaking body
of state courts, and the
reappointment of an advisory
member as a voting member.
The new appointees are
Justice Judith Meisels Ashmann-
Gerst, of the Court of Appeal,
Second Appellate District;
Judge David De Alba, of the
Superior Court of Sacramento
County; and
Mr. David H. Yamasaki, Court
Executive Officer of the Superior
Court of Santa Clara County.
San Francisco Superior Court
Judge Teri L. Jackson, a nonvoting,
advisory member, was appointed as
a voting member.
Justice Ashmann-Gerst will succeed
Justice Richard F. Huffman, a
longtime Judicial Council member,
effective July 1, 2011. Judge De Alba,
Judge Jackson, and Mr. Yamasaki will
begin their council terms on
September 14, 2011.
Chaired by Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye,
the Judicial Council consists of
14 judicial members appointed by the
Chief Justice, 4 attorney members
appointed by the State Bar Board of
Governors, 1 member from each
house of the Legislature, and 11 advisory
members. The Administrative
Director of the Courts serves as secretary
to the council.
Short biographies of the new members
and details on their terms of office
follow:
Justice Judith Meisels
Ashmann-Gerst, Court of Appeal,
Second
Appellate District, Division Two, was
appointed to the appellate bench in
2001. She served on the Los Angeles
Municipal Court (1981–1986) and
was elected to the Superior Court of Los
Angeles County in 1986 and
reelected in 1992 and 1998. During her
years on the bench, Justice
Ashmann-Gerst has served in various
administrative roles and has been 2
actively involved in the operation of the
courts. From the beginning of her tenure,
she has
been involved in judicial education, ethics
and technology. Before her judicial career,
she
was the Executive Assistant U.S. attorney
for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central
District of California (1979–1981), special
counsel to the City Attorney of Los Angeles
(1976–1979), and a deputy attorney
general for the California Department of
Justice,
handling the constitutional rights and
consumer protection units (1972–1976).
Justice Ashmann-Gerst is a member of the
council’s Court Technology Advisory
Committee (2008–present), chairs the
Appellate E-Filing Working Group, and is a
former
chair of the Judicial Education Technology
Committee (2001–2004). She also serves
on
the Supreme Court Committee on Judicial
Ethics Opinions (2010– present) and is a
past
member of the council’s Science and Law
Steering Committee (2005–2007). Justice
Ashmann-Gerst has served as a faculty
member at the California Judicial College
and many
other educational programs for judges.
She will complete the term of Justice
Richard D. Huffman who has resigned
from the council effective June 30, 2011.
Her term expires September 14, 2012.
Judge David De Alba,
Superior Court of Sacramento County, was
appointed to the bench in
2001. Before joining the bench, he served
for 22 years in the California Department of
Justice. As deputy attorney general and
then special assistant attorney general, he
specialized in criminal appeals, tort-related
complex litigation, and law enforcement
policy.
During that time, he also served on
assignment as an acting deputy district
attorney in
Sacramento County. He has 13 years of
teaching experience as a college instructor
and
adjunct professor of law.
Judge De Alba has served on the council’s
Criminal Law Advisory Committee (2001–
2008)
and Criminal Law Education Committee
(2003–2006). He was a member of the
special
team of assigned judges that helped
reduce the criminal case backlog in
Riverside County
(2007–2008). His appointment to the
council is for a two-year term as a non-
voting,
advisory member. His term expires
September 14, 2013.
Judge Teri L. Jackson,
Superior Court of San Francisco County, is
currently an advisory
member of the Judicial Council. She has
served on the bench since 2002, hearing
criminal
cases and deciding preliminary hearings.
She was recently assigned to civil trials
and sits on
the court’s Appellate Division. Before her
appointment to the bench, she worked for a
San
Francisco law firm, specializing in complex
litigation, employee defense, real estate,
trade
secrets, and white-collar defense trials
before state and federal courts (1997–
2002). She was
a prosecutor for more than 15 years, first in
the San Mateo County District Attorney’s
Office (1981–1984) and later in the San
Francisco District Attorney’s Office (1984–
1997).
As assistant district attorney in San
Francisco, she managed homicide,
domestic violence, 3
and misdemeanor trials. Since 2006,
Judge Jackson has served as an adjunct
law professor at
Hastings College of the Law, providing
instruction on trial advocacy.
As a council advisory member, Judge
Jackson currently sits on the Judicial
Council’s
internal Rules and Projects Committee,
which oversees the development of rules
of court for
the judicial branch and the new internal
committee that oversees the California
Court Case
Management System (CCMS). She also
serves on the council’s Criminal Law
Advisory
Committee (2010–present). She was a
member of the council’s Advisory
Committee on
Criminal Jury Instructions (2009–2010)
and the special team of assigned judges
that helped
reduces the criminal case backlog in
Riverside County (2007–2008). Judge
Jackson’s
appointment to the council is for a three-
year term as a voting member. Her term
will expire
on September 14, 2014.
Mr. David H. Yamasaki,
Court Executive Officer, Superior
Court of Santa Clara County, was
appointed in 2008.
Before joining the Santa Clara court,
he was Assistant Executive
Officer of the Superior
Court of San Diego
County, Central Division,
where he was responsible for
the administration of the
criminal, civil, family law,
traffic, probate, and juvenile
departments and the court’s
administration of court
reporters and court
interpreters.
He had previously served the court
as coordinator and then director of
criminal operations (1992–1993). He
began his career with the Superior
Court of San Diego County as
administrative operations manager
responsible for finance and
personnel administration (1988). His
previous positions include senior
administrative assistant for the Court
Services Division of the Los Angeles
Municipal Court, and legal research
assistant and deputy clerk for the
San Diego Municipal Court.
Mr. Yamasaki is a member of the
council’s Court Executives
Advisory Committee
(2008– present) and the
Governing Committee of the Center
for Judicial Education and Research.
He is also a current member of the
Court Interpreters Advisory Panel
and the CCMS
Executive Committee, one of four
new committees named by the
Administrative Office of the Courts
earlier this year as part of the new
governance structure for CCMS.
Mr. Yamasaki’s appointment to
the council is for a three-year
term as a non-voting advisory
member. His term expires
September 14, 2014.
CALIFORNIA
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF
THE COURTS
455 Golden Gate Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94102-3688
www.courts.ca.gov
415-865-7740
Lynn Holton
Public Information Officer
June 1, 2011
Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye Names
Four Members to Judicial Council
San Francisco—Chief Justice Tani
Cantil-Sakauye today announced the
appointment of three new members
to the Judicial Council of California,
the administrative policymaking body
of state courts, and the
reappointment of an advisory
member as a voting member.
The new appointees are
Justice Judith Meisels Ashmann-
Gerst, of the Court of Appeal,
Second Appellate District;
Judge David De Alba, of the
Superior Court of Sacramento
County; and
Mr. David H. Yamasaki, Court
Executive Officer of the Superior
Court of Santa Clara County.
San Francisco Superior Court
Judge Teri L. Jackson, a nonvoting,
advisory member, was appointed as
a voting member.
Justice Ashmann-Gerst will succeed
Justice Richard F. Huffman, a
longtime Judicial Council member,
effective July 1, 2011. Judge De Alba,
Judge Jackson, and Mr. Yamasaki will
begin their council terms on
September 14, 2011.
Chaired by Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye,
the Judicial Council consists of
14 judicial members appointed by the
Chief Justice, 4 attorney members
appointed by the State Bar Board of
Governors, 1 member from each
house of the Legislature, and 11 advisory
members. The Administrative
Director of the Courts serves as secretary
to the council.
Short biographies of the new members
and details on their terms of office
follow:
Justice Judith Meisels
Ashmann-Gerst, Court of Appeal,
Second
Appellate District, Division Two, was
appointed to the appellate bench in
2001. She served on the Los Angeles
Municipal Court (1981–1986) and
was elected to the Superior Court of Los
Angeles County in 1986 and
reelected in 1992 and 1998. During her
years on the bench, Justice
Ashmann-Gerst has served in various
administrative roles and has been 2
actively involved in the operation of the
courts. From the beginning of her tenure,
she has
been involved in judicial education, ethics
and technology. Before her judicial career,
she
was the Executive Assistant U.S. attorney
for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central
District of California (1979–1981), special
counsel to the City Attorney of Los Angeles
(1976–1979), and a deputy attorney
general for the California Department of
Justice,
handling the constitutional rights and
consumer protection units (1972–1976).
Justice Ashmann-Gerst is a member of the
council’s Court Technology Advisory
Committee (2008–present), chairs the
Appellate E-Filing Working Group, and is a
former
chair of the Judicial Education Technology
Committee (2001–2004). She also serves
on
the Supreme Court Committee on Judicial
Ethics Opinions (2010– present) and is a
past
member of the council’s Science and Law
Steering Committee (2005–2007). Justice
Ashmann-Gerst has served as a faculty
member at the California Judicial College
and many
other educational programs for judges.
She will complete the term of Justice
Richard D. Huffman who has resigned
from the council effective June 30, 2011.
Her term expires September 14, 2012.
Judge David De Alba,
Superior Court of Sacramento County, was
appointed to the bench in
2001. Before joining the bench, he served
for 22 years in the California Department of
Justice. As deputy attorney general and
then special assistant attorney general, he
specialized in criminal appeals, tort-related
complex litigation, and law enforcement
policy.
During that time, he also served on
assignment as an acting deputy district
attorney in
Sacramento County. He has 13 years of
teaching experience as a college instructor
and
adjunct professor of law.
Judge De Alba has served on the council’s
Criminal Law Advisory Committee (2001–
2008)
and Criminal Law Education Committee
(2003–2006). He was a member of the
special
team of assigned judges that helped
reduce the criminal case backlog in
Riverside County
(2007–2008). His appointment to the
council is for a two-year term as a non-
voting,
advisory member. His term expires
September 14, 2013.
Judge Teri L. Jackson,
Superior Court of San Francisco County, is
currently an advisory
member of the Judicial Council. She has
served on the bench since 2002, hearing
criminal
cases and deciding preliminary hearings.
She was recently assigned to civil trials
and sits on
the court’s Appellate Division. Before her
appointment to the bench, she worked for a
San
Francisco law firm, specializing in complex
litigation, employee defense, real estate,
trade
secrets, and white-collar defense trials
before state and federal courts (1997–
2002). She was
a prosecutor for more than 15 years, first in
the San Mateo County District Attorney’s
Office (1981–1984) and later in the San
Francisco District Attorney’s Office (1984–
1997).
As assistant district attorney in San
Francisco, she managed homicide,
domestic violence, 3
and misdemeanor trials. Since 2006,
Judge Jackson has served as an adjunct
law professor at
Hastings College of the Law, providing
instruction on trial advocacy.
As a council advisory member, Judge
Jackson currently sits on the Judicial
Council’s
internal Rules and Projects Committee,
which oversees the development of rules
of court for
the judicial branch and the new internal
committee that oversees the California
Court Case
Management System (CCMS). She also
serves on the council’s Criminal Law
Advisory
Committee (2010–present). She was a
member of the council’s Advisory
Committee on
Criminal Jury Instructions (2009–2010)
and the special team of assigned judges
that helped
reduces the criminal case backlog in
Riverside County (2007–2008). Judge
Jackson’s
appointment to the council is for a three-
year term as a voting member. Her term
will expire
on September 14, 2014.
Mr. David H. Yamasaki,
Court Executive Officer, Superior
Court of Santa Clara County, was
appointed in 2008.
Before joining the Santa Clara court,
he was Assistant Executive
Officer of the Superior
Court of San Diego
County, Central Division,
where he was responsible for
the administration of the
criminal, civil, family law,
traffic, probate, and juvenile
departments and the court’s
administration of court
reporters and court
interpreters.
He had previously served the court
as coordinator and then director of
criminal operations (1992–1993). He
began his career with the Superior
Court of San Diego County as
administrative operations manager
responsible for finance and
personnel administration (1988). His
previous positions include senior
administrative assistant for the Court
Services Division of the Los Angeles
Municipal Court, and legal research
assistant and deputy clerk for the
San Diego Municipal Court.
Mr. Yamasaki is a member of the
council’s Court Executives
Advisory Committee
(2008– present) and the
Governing Committee of the Center
for Judicial Education and Research.
He is also a current member of the
Court Interpreters Advisory Panel
and the CCMS
Executive Committee, one of four
new committees named by the
Administrative Office of the Courts
earlier this year as part of the new
governance structure for CCMS.
Mr. Yamasaki’s appointment to
the council is for a three-year
term as a non-voting advisory
member. His term expires
September 14, 2014.
Trial Courts
Hon. Stephen H. Baker
Judge of the Superior Court of California,
County of Shasta
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. Sherrill A. Ellsworth
Presiding Judge of the Superior Court of California,
County of Riverside
Hon. James E. Herman
Judge of the Superior Court of California,
County of Santa Barbara
Hon. Teri L. Jackson
Judge of the Superior Court of California,
County of San Francisco
Hon. Ira R. Kaufman
Assistant Presiding Judge of the Superior Court of California,
County of Plumas
Hon. Mary Ann O'Malley
Judge of the Superior Court of California,
County of Contra Costa
Hon. David Rosenberg
Judge of the Superior Court of California,
County of Yolo
Legislature
Hon. Noreen Evans
Member of the California State Senate
State Bar
Ms. Angela J. Davis
United States Department of Justice
Office of U.S. Attorney
Mr. James P. Fox
Attorney at Law
Ms. Edith R. Matthai
Attorney at Law
Mr. Mark P. Robinson, Jr.
Attorney at Law
Advisory Members
Hon. Sue Alexander
Commissioner of the Superior Court of California,
County of Alameda
Mr. Alan Carlson
Chief Executive Officer
Superior Court of California,
County of Orange
Hon. Laurie M. Earl
Presiding Judge of the Superior Court of California,
County of Sacramento
Hon. Allan D. Hardcastle
Judge of the Superior Court of California,
County of Sonoma
Hon. Morris D. Jacobson
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
Hon. Robert James Moss
Judge of the Superior Court of California,
County of Orange
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
Mr. David H. Yamasaki [from San Diego]
Court Executive Officer
Superior Court of California,
County of Santa Clara
Hon. Stephen H. Baker
Judge of the Superior Court of California,
County of Shasta
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. Sherrill A. Ellsworth
Presiding Judge of the Superior Court of California,
County of Riverside
Hon. James E. Herman
Judge of the Superior Court of California,
County of Santa Barbara
Hon. Teri L. Jackson
Judge of the Superior Court of California,
County of San Francisco
Hon. Ira R. Kaufman
Assistant Presiding Judge of the Superior Court of California,
County of Plumas
Hon. Mary Ann O'Malley
Judge of the Superior Court of California,
County of Contra Costa
Hon. David Rosenberg
Judge of the Superior Court of California,
County of Yolo
Legislature
Hon. Noreen Evans
Member of the California State Senate
State Bar
Ms. Angela J. Davis
United States Department of Justice
Office of U.S. Attorney
Mr. James P. Fox
Attorney at Law
Ms. Edith R. Matthai
Attorney at Law
Mr. Mark P. Robinson, Jr.
Attorney at Law
Advisory Members
Hon. Sue Alexander
Commissioner of the Superior Court of California,
County of Alameda
Mr. Alan Carlson
Chief Executive Officer
Superior Court of California,
County of Orange
Hon. Laurie M. Earl
Presiding Judge of the Superior Court of California,
County of Sacramento
Hon. Allan D. Hardcastle
Judge of the Superior Court of California,
County of Sonoma
Hon. Morris D. Jacobson
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
Hon. Robert James Moss
Judge of the Superior Court of California,
County of Orange
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
Mr. David H. Yamasaki [from San Diego]
Court Executive Officer
Superior Court of California,
County of Santa Clara
Secretary
Judge Steven Jahr
Administrative Director of the Courts
Judge Steven Jahr
Administrative Director of the Courts
Members as of Feb. 8, 2013
Chair
Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye
Chief Justice of California
Supreme Court
Hon. Marvin R. Baxter
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court
Chair
Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye
Chief Justice of California
Supreme Court
Hon. Marvin R. Baxter
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
Hon. Douglas P. Miller
Associate Justice of the Court of Appeal
Fourth Appellate District, Division Two
Riverside
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
Hon. Douglas P. Miller
Associate Justice of the Court of Appeal
Fourth Appellate District, Division Two
Riverside
Agency that runs
California courts
'dysfunctional,' report
says
The report, ordered by California
Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye,
could undermine her attempts
to roll back budget cuts of
about $544 million.
May 30, 2012
By Maura Dolan
Los Angeles Times
The agency that runs the
California court system has
become "dysfunctional" and
bloated with high-salaried
bureaucrats and requires a major
overhaul, according to a report
ordered by California Chief Justice
Tani Cantil-Sakauye.
The 300-page report, which will be
presented to judicial branch
leaders next month, comes as the
courts are trying to stave off large
budget cuts from Sacramento.
Although ordered by Cantil-
Sakauye and written by a
committee she named, the highly
critical evaluation may undermine
the chief jurist's efforts to roll back
projected budget cuts of about
$544 million.
The committee of 11 judges said
the Administrative Office of the
Courts, the San Francisco-based
agency that runs the court system,
is overstaffed, "top-heavy" and
unwieldy. The office has strayed
from its required task of serving
the courts and become controlling,
deceptive and secretive, the
judges said.
"The top-level decision-making
process of the AOC became
insular, with a top-down
management style limiting input
from those within the organization,"
the report said. The judges cited
17 positions with maximum annual
salaries at or above $175,000,
"numerous positions" with salaries
in excess of $100,000 and a staff
attorney who was permitted to
telecommute from Switzerland.
The problems occurred during the
tenure of retired Chief Justice
Ronald M. George and retired
administrative office Director
William Vickrey, the report said.
During that time, new committees,
rules and programs were
established at the behest of the
Judicial Council, the courts'
governing body headed by the
chief justice, the report said. The
council failed to keep a close eye
on management and bureaucracy
as staffing swelled to 1,100,
according to the analysis.
The report recommends greater
oversight by the Judicial Council, a
restructuring of the bureaucracy,
regular internal audits, staff cuts
and possible relocation of the
Administrative Office of the Courts
from pricey office space in San
Francisco to Sacramento.
Cantil-Sakauye acknowledged that
the report contains "hard
criticisms" and noted that
downsizing and restructuring are
already occurring. She said
staffing will be down to 860 by
June 30 because of ongoing
layoffs.
The Alliance of California Judges,
a dissenting group that has
complained about the court
bureaucracy, called the evaluation
"an A to Z indictment of an out-of-
control organization." The group
said the report confirmed what the
Alliance has been saying for
years: "The AOC is broken at its
very core and has been allowed to
run itself … for well over a decade."
California courts
'dysfunctional,' report
says
The report, ordered by California
Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye,
could undermine her attempts
to roll back budget cuts of
about $544 million.
May 30, 2012
By Maura Dolan
Los Angeles Times
The agency that runs the
California court system has
become "dysfunctional" and
bloated with high-salaried
bureaucrats and requires a major
overhaul, according to a report
ordered by California Chief Justice
Tani Cantil-Sakauye.
The 300-page report, which will be
presented to judicial branch
leaders next month, comes as the
courts are trying to stave off large
budget cuts from Sacramento.
Although ordered by Cantil-
Sakauye and written by a
committee she named, the highly
critical evaluation may undermine
the chief jurist's efforts to roll back
projected budget cuts of about
$544 million.
The committee of 11 judges said
the Administrative Office of the
Courts, the San Francisco-based
agency that runs the court system,
is overstaffed, "top-heavy" and
unwieldy. The office has strayed
from its required task of serving
the courts and become controlling,
deceptive and secretive, the
judges said.
"The top-level decision-making
process of the AOC became
insular, with a top-down
management style limiting input
from those within the organization,"
the report said. The judges cited
17 positions with maximum annual
salaries at or above $175,000,
"numerous positions" with salaries
in excess of $100,000 and a staff
attorney who was permitted to
telecommute from Switzerland.
The problems occurred during the
tenure of retired Chief Justice
Ronald M. George and retired
administrative office Director
William Vickrey, the report said.
During that time, new committees,
rules and programs were
established at the behest of the
Judicial Council, the courts'
governing body headed by the
chief justice, the report said. The
council failed to keep a close eye
on management and bureaucracy
as staffing swelled to 1,100,
according to the analysis.
The report recommends greater
oversight by the Judicial Council, a
restructuring of the bureaucracy,
regular internal audits, staff cuts
and possible relocation of the
Administrative Office of the Courts
from pricey office space in San
Francisco to Sacramento.
Cantil-Sakauye acknowledged that
the report contains "hard
criticisms" and noted that
downsizing and restructuring are
already occurring. She said
staffing will be down to 860 by
June 30 because of ongoing
layoffs.
The Alliance of California Judges,
a dissenting group that has
complained about the court
bureaucracy, called the evaluation
"an A to Z indictment of an out-of-
control organization." The group
said the report confirmed what the
Alliance has been saying for
years: "The AOC is broken at its
very core and has been allowed to
run itself … for well over a decade."
Judicial Council Members
(downloaded April 5, 2014)
Judicial Council Members group photo
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.
In Feb 2012, the Chief Justice announced the Liaison Program, assigning council
members to each of the state’s 58 trial courts and to each of the 12 divisions of the
Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC). A video playlist is available on the
California Courts YouTube channel and offers more than 35 liaison reports on
issues facing the state judicial branch.
Chair
Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye
Chief Justice of California
Supreme Court
Hon. Marvin R. Baxter
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
Hon. Douglas P. Miller
Associate Justice of the Court of Appeal
Fourth Appellate District, Division Two
Riverside
Trial Courts
Hon. Stephen H. Baker
Judge of the Superior Court of California,
County of Shasta
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. Teri L. Jackson
Judge of the Superior Court of California,
County of San Francisco
Hon. Gary Nadler
Judge of the Superior Court of California,
County of Sonoma
Hon. Mary Ann O'Malley
Judge of the Superior Court of California,
County of Contra Costa
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
Legislature
Hon. Noreen Evans
Member of the California State Senate
Hon. Richard Bloom
Member of the California State Assembly
State Bar
Mr. Mark Bonino
Attorney at Law
Ms. Angela J. Davis
United States Department of Justice
Office of U.S. Attorney
Mr. James P. Fox
Attorney at Law
Mr. Mark P. Robinson, Jr.
Attorney at Law
Advisory Members
Hon. Sue Alexander
Commissioner of the Superior Court of California,
County of Alameda
Hon. Robert A. Glusman
Judge of the Superior Court of California, County of Butte
Hon. James E. Herman
Judge of the Superior Court of California,
County of Santa Barbara
Hon. Morris D. Jacobson
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. 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. Brian C. Walsh
Presiding Judge of the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara
Mr. David H. Yamasaki
Court Executive Officer
Superior Court of California,
County of Santa Clara
Secretary
Judge Steven Jahr
Administrative Director of the Courts
(downloaded April 5, 2014)
Judicial Council Members group photo
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.
In Feb 2012, the Chief Justice announced the Liaison Program, assigning council
members to each of the state’s 58 trial courts and to each of the 12 divisions of the
Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC). A video playlist is available on the
California Courts YouTube channel and offers more than 35 liaison reports on
issues facing the state judicial branch.
Chair
Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye
Chief Justice of California
Supreme Court
Hon. Marvin R. Baxter
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
Hon. Douglas P. Miller
Associate Justice of the Court of Appeal
Fourth Appellate District, Division Two
Riverside
Trial Courts
Hon. Stephen H. Baker
Judge of the Superior Court of California,
County of Shasta
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. Teri L. Jackson
Judge of the Superior Court of California,
County of San Francisco
Hon. Gary Nadler
Judge of the Superior Court of California,
County of Sonoma
Hon. Mary Ann O'Malley
Judge of the Superior Court of California,
County of Contra Costa
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
Legislature
Hon. Noreen Evans
Member of the California State Senate
Hon. Richard Bloom
Member of the California State Assembly
State Bar
Mr. Mark Bonino
Attorney at Law
Ms. Angela J. Davis
United States Department of Justice
Office of U.S. Attorney
Mr. James P. Fox
Attorney at Law
Mr. Mark P. Robinson, Jr.
Attorney at Law
Advisory Members
Hon. Sue Alexander
Commissioner of the Superior Court of California,
County of Alameda
Hon. Robert A. Glusman
Judge of the Superior Court of California, County of Butte
Hon. James E. Herman
Judge of the Superior Court of California,
County of Santa Barbara
Hon. Morris D. Jacobson
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. 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. Brian C. Walsh
Presiding Judge of the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara
Mr. David H. Yamasaki
Court Executive Officer
Superior Court of California,
County of Santa Clara
Secretary
Judge Steven Jahr
Administrative Director of the Courts
Blog posts re AOC
(Administrative Office of the Courts)
(Administrative Office of the Courts)
[Maura Larkins' comment: It does not surprise me a bit that the judge in the
following story was given an award for leadership. She has gained popularity by
doing what powerful people want. I think that a huge percentage of awards goes to
exactly this type of person.
We can search the archives of the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany and ancient
civilizations, but we destroy the records of the United States' justice system? This is
hard for me to believe. Are the documents really destroyed? Or are they sent to
the archives in Sacramento?]
Marin Judge Evidence Tampering
June 19, 2014
Kathleen Russell
info@centerforjudicialexcellence.org
...MARIN COURT CEO BLOCKED STATE AUDITOR WITH DOCUMENT
DESTRUCTION
Turner’s 2009 destruction of child custody mediation working files, which
were frequently subpoenaed when parents wanted to challenge a mediator’s
recommendation to the court about child custody, took place while she was
serving as a member of the Judicial Council of California.
The evidence destruction sparked a local public protest and a call for criminal
investigation. However, the Marin Court stated that the destruction took place with
the knowledge and approval of the California Administrative Office of the Courts
(the staff agency of the Judicial Council), and both the AOC and the Marin Court
argued that the destroyed documents were not “official court records.”
Read the 2010 local Marin news article about this here...
...Ironically, Turner was the recipient of the California Judicial
Council’s 2013 “William C. Vickrey Leadership in Judicial
Administration Award.” According to the Judicial Council, this award
honors individuals in judicial administration for “significant contributions to and
leadership in their profession.” In making the award to Turner, the Judicial Council
noted that she “has been a very active member of a working group improving trial
court records management.”...
CA: Will Complaint About Judge’s Evidence Tampering
Lead to Criminal Indictment? It Should.
centerforjudicialexcellence.org
July 10, 2014
The Marin Courts have engaged in questionable behavior for as long as anyone
can remember. The 2006 arrest of Marin’s top court official John
Montgomery on felony conflict of interest charges barely raised
an eyebrow. A 2009 shredding party orchestrated by current Marin Court Executive
Kim Turner, which delayed an official state audit of the Marin Family Court by more
than six months, was justified in a report from the Administrative
Office of the Courts (AOC)...
following story was given an award for leadership. She has gained popularity by
doing what powerful people want. I think that a huge percentage of awards goes to
exactly this type of person.
We can search the archives of the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany and ancient
civilizations, but we destroy the records of the United States' justice system? This is
hard for me to believe. Are the documents really destroyed? Or are they sent to
the archives in Sacramento?]
Marin Judge Evidence Tampering
June 19, 2014
Kathleen Russell
info@centerforjudicialexcellence.org
...MARIN COURT CEO BLOCKED STATE AUDITOR WITH DOCUMENT
DESTRUCTION
Turner’s 2009 destruction of child custody mediation working files, which
were frequently subpoenaed when parents wanted to challenge a mediator’s
recommendation to the court about child custody, took place while she was
serving as a member of the Judicial Council of California.
The evidence destruction sparked a local public protest and a call for criminal
investigation. However, the Marin Court stated that the destruction took place with
the knowledge and approval of the California Administrative Office of the Courts
(the staff agency of the Judicial Council), and both the AOC and the Marin Court
argued that the destroyed documents were not “official court records.”
Read the 2010 local Marin news article about this here...
...Ironically, Turner was the recipient of the California Judicial
Council’s 2013 “William C. Vickrey Leadership in Judicial
Administration Award.” According to the Judicial Council, this award
honors individuals in judicial administration for “significant contributions to and
leadership in their profession.” In making the award to Turner, the Judicial Council
noted that she “has been a very active member of a working group improving trial
court records management.”...
CA: Will Complaint About Judge’s Evidence Tampering
Lead to Criminal Indictment? It Should.
centerforjudicialexcellence.org
July 10, 2014
The Marin Courts have engaged in questionable behavior for as long as anyone
can remember. The 2006 arrest of Marin’s top court official John
Montgomery on felony conflict of interest charges barely raised
an eyebrow. A 2009 shredding party orchestrated by current Marin Court Executive
Kim Turner, which delayed an official state audit of the Marin Family Court by more
than six months, was justified in a report from the Administrative
Office of the Courts (AOC)...
| News, information and ideas about our education system by Maura Larkins |