Thank you so much for this appeal. Judges get all sorts of perks, while there staff get ZERO to 2% raises and NO PERKS.
It is common knowledge among employees and their labor/union attorneys - that LA County Superior Court is one of the worst bargaining entities in the whole state. About 10 months ago, California Certified Court Interpreter Employees (new employees as of 2003) went on a 6-week strike over no raises for over 6 years and no step increases for cost of living.
Presiding Judge Stephen Czuleger waged a bitter battle against them and blamed the lack of interpreters in hundreds of cases that were postponed or not interpreted on the callousness of interpreters. He stated to State Senator Gloria Romero that there would be no raises, despite having an ever increasing interpreter budget that has been untapped for over 2 years. In fact, he promised interpreter jobs would be cut - and they have.
Judges should not be above the law or more privileged than they already are. I am sure this supplemental income was obtained by Judge Czuleger himself or his lobbyist. In any case, we employees are tired of watching everyone at the top benefit. There is so much waste in the LA County budget!
When a new judge moves into a courtroom, he usually gets his pick of carpeting, chairs, furniture. If that judge leaves in 4 mos., the new judge has the carpet of his choice installed and new furniture again ordered. However, the interpreters and clerks must strike and wage labor actions to get any increases. It is disgusting.
Sat, 02/28/2009 - 7:20pm — a citizen (not verified)
I completely agree with the previous comment. It is a shame that LA Superior Court allows this raise to judges. Court Interpreters have been fighting to have a reasonable raise for years and have tried to raise awareness about their profession. Judges already enjoy a good benefit package, but it seems it is not enough... millions of dollars, that are needed for schools, special programs or simply for raises to other court employees are now going to the greedy pockets of the same individuals who profess to be on the right side of the law. This is not the time to give a raise to judges... they already have lots of perks and they don't have to explain and present a doctor's note when U call in sick because you have been overworked by the same judges...
It is a travesty of the judicial system. Give a raise to the cleaning man/woman who cleans the judge chamber!!!
In every Corruption case against the LA County , judge Gutman sided with LA county. This is not fair and this judge should be out . Please take a look at people comments in the internet about the corrupt judge Paul Gutman and his dirty role in cases against the LA County. Thank you
I have been in a suit for 7 years in the superior court and it is clear to me the judges do the county bidding. When the judge reads the appellet court ruling and says " vacate do'nt not mean vacate". Well you get the picture. Thank you watch
This issue was also presented in L.A County in 2001-2003
the appeal courts reversed the lower courts decision and the parties to the case went back to the lower court and the lower court did nothing- when it was before the Appeals court for the second time they reversed their own decision. I have seen the paperwork with my own eyes ! We cannot let the decision go to Appeals ! You may contact me if you need further information about the case in 2001-2003. KEEP up the good Work !!!!
It is clear that the BOS of LA county and the county counsel office are corrupt. It is about time to recall this board and take supervisors Yaroslavsky and Molina out of office. Enough is Enough
Thank you Judicial Watch. As court employees, we always knew that judicial salaries and benefits were very generous, but to learn that some of those benefits were actually violating California's Constitution is a real eye opener.
Judicial Assistants are the court employees who manage the courtroom. They receive NO perks and if lucky a 2% yearly raise.
They are responsible for taking care of their judges, managing the courtroom, running an efficient calendar and making sure all cases, orders, custody paperwork, state prison packages etc. are properly and timely processed while serving the public, attorneys and all outside agencies.
Before a document goes to a judge, a Judicial Assistant must review it. They are the glue that holds the courtroom together. They have to see the larger picture and make sure that everyone is doing their job to make things smoothly (ie: Court Reporter, Bailiff, Courtroom Assistant). They DO NOT manage any of those people but are RESPONSIBLE for making sure that everything is running smoothly. In other words they are in charge of the COURTROOM but no one reports to them.
While a Court Reporter may pick up her machine and leave the courtroom as soon as the judge is off the bench, the Judicial Assistatns work load is just beginning. Also, because of the strength of the court reporters union, reporters actually own the court record. So when a reporter goes to her office to work on transcripts that an attorney would like to purchase, that reporter is just supplementing his or her income. Transcript work gives reporters tens of thousands of dollars extra a year in income.
The Judicial Assistant works on county time, on county equipment and does not receive any extra compensation for anything done associated with the Court, all the while watching reporters come in late, leave early and earn at least 40K more a year.
Judicial Assistants are given a couple hundred dollars a month to purchase health care and are NOT allowed to participate in the flexible 10/80 work week (as do management or clerks at the lower level in the clerk's office). Like I said - NO perks.
Judicial Assistants have the most pathetic bargaining unit in the state and a weak ineffective union.
Judicial Assistants NEED OUTSIDE HELP as their union does nothing to help them. The job gets increasingly worse each year. I pray that someone who is able to actually help this group will step forward to energize it because the people who are involved now are not getting anything tangible accomplished that actually has a positive impact on the members.
Judicial Assistants more than likely do not have to pay for years of college, nor do they have to expend at least $15,000 in equipment/technology, not to mention thousands of dollars in upgrades, nor do they have to pay for yearly fees for technical support, printing costs, etc. I do agree that the responsibility a judicial assistant bears is a lot and it is appreciated by everyone, even though you may not realize it. A smoothly run courtroom is taken for granted a lot of the time, but I appreciate the work that you do to make the judge's and everyone's job easier. You make it seem effortless. Kudos.
Judicial Assistants during the last contract received a 10% raise. 4% in July 2007, 3% in July 2008 and 3% in July 2009.
Those raises are influenced with "Me too clauses," in other Unions contracts. (If one Union negotiated a larger raise then everyone would get that same raise).
Any Union is only as strong as the members who participate.
Judical watch, what happen? I understand the bill is on Arnold's desk for signature...............Do the COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES really have the money to pad the pockets of these Judges during this economic crisis? Of course the Board of Supervisors will go for it....Hell, how could they not, when they vote to increase their own salaries behind closed doors.
People you want to know what is wrong with the County of LA? We keep voting people into office who have their own agenda. This is sad....SHAME ON YOU STEINBERG. HOW MUCH DID THE JUDGES PAY YOU FOR THIS? YOUR HANDS ARE DIRTY...ALL EYES ON YOU.
PEOPLE WAKE UP....WE NEED TO START RECALLING THESE LIARS. THEY ARE PAID WITH OUR TAX DOLLARS.
TYPE OF BILL :
Inactive
Non-Urgency
Non-Appropriations
Majority Vote Required
Non-State-Mandated Local Program
Fiscal
Non-Tax Levy
LAST HIST. ACT. DATE: 02/20/2009
LAST HIST. ACTION : Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 9,
Statutes of 2009-10 Second Extraordinary Session.
COMM. LOCATION : SEN BUDGET AND FISCAL REVIEW
COMM. ACTION DATE : 02/14/2009
COMM. ACTION : Do pass as amended.
COMM. VOTE SUMMARY : Ayes: 22 Noes: 13 PASS
TITLE : An act to add Sections 68220, 68221, and 68222 to the
Government Code, relating to judges.
Subscribe via RSS
Comments
judges supplemental income
Thank you so much for this appeal. Judges get all sorts of perks, while there staff get ZERO to 2% raises and NO PERKS.
It is common knowledge among employees and their labor/union attorneys - that LA County Superior Court is one of the worst bargaining entities in the whole state. About 10 months ago, California Certified Court Interpreter Employees (new employees as of 2003) went on a 6-week strike over no raises for over 6 years and no step increases for cost of living.
Presiding Judge Stephen Czuleger waged a bitter battle against them and blamed the lack of interpreters in hundreds of cases that were postponed or not interpreted on the callousness of interpreters. He stated to State Senator Gloria Romero that there would be no raises, despite having an ever increasing interpreter budget that has been untapped for over 2 years. In fact, he promised interpreter jobs would be cut - and they have.
Judges should not be above the law or more privileged than they already are. I am sure this supplemental income was obtained by Judge Czuleger himself or his lobbyist. In any case, we employees are tired of watching everyone at the top benefit. There is so much waste in the LA County budget!
When a new judge moves into a courtroom, he usually gets his pick of carpeting, chairs, furniture. If that judge leaves in 4 mos., the new judge has the carpet of his choice installed and new furniture again ordered. However, the interpreters and clerks must strike and wage labor actions to get any increases. It is disgusting.
I completely agree with the
I completely agree with the previous comment. It is a shame that LA Superior Court allows this raise to judges. Court Interpreters have been fighting to have a reasonable raise for years and have tried to raise awareness about their profession. Judges already enjoy a good benefit package, but it seems it is not enough... millions of dollars, that are needed for schools, special programs or simply for raises to other court employees are now going to the greedy pockets of the same individuals who profess to be on the right side of the law. This is not the time to give a raise to judges... they already have lots of perks and they don't have to explain and present a doctor's note when U call in sick because you have been overworked by the same judges...
It is a travesty of the judicial system. Give a raise to the cleaning man/woman who cleans the judge chamber!!!
LA County Judge Paul Gutman
In every Corruption case against the LA County , judge Gutman sided with LA county. This is not fair and this judge should be out . Please take a look at people comments in the internet about the corrupt judge Paul Gutman and his dirty role in cases against the LA County. Thank you
All Hail the CONSTITUTION
"...thanks to our lawsuit, taxpayers in LA could save up to $21 million a year."
Thank goodness for Judicial Watch!
Signed,
A More Content California Citizen
try sueing the county in superior court
I have been in a suit for 7 years in the superior court and it is clear to me the judges do the county bidding. When the judge reads the appellet court ruling and says " vacate do'nt not mean vacate". Well you get the picture. Thank you watch
AGAIN
This issue was also presented in L.A County in 2001-2003
the appeal courts reversed the lower courts decision and the parties to the case went back to the lower court and the lower court did nothing- when it was before the Appeals court for the second time they reversed their own decision. I have seen the paperwork with my own eyes ! We cannot let the decision go to Appeals ! You may contact me if you need further information about the case in 2001-2003. KEEP up the good Work !!!!
LA County corrupt Board of Supervisors
It is clear that the BOS of LA county and the county counsel office are corrupt. It is about time to recall this board and take supervisors Yaroslavsky and Molina out of office. Enough is Enough
Corruption
One of the attorneys rats working for the LA county against his clients , the big , fat rat attorney Michael Baltaxe.
Can you say kooky ?
Can you say kooky ?
Judicial Assistants
Thank you Judicial Watch. As court employees, we always knew that judicial salaries and benefits were very generous, but to learn that some of those benefits were actually violating California's Constitution is a real eye opener.
Judicial Assistants are the court employees who manage the courtroom. They receive NO perks and if lucky a 2% yearly raise.
They are responsible for taking care of their judges, managing the courtroom, running an efficient calendar and making sure all cases, orders, custody paperwork, state prison packages etc. are properly and timely processed while serving the public, attorneys and all outside agencies.
Before a document goes to a judge, a Judicial Assistant must review it. They are the glue that holds the courtroom together. They have to see the larger picture and make sure that everyone is doing their job to make things smoothly (ie: Court Reporter, Bailiff, Courtroom Assistant). They DO NOT manage any of those people but are RESPONSIBLE for making sure that everything is running smoothly. In other words they are in charge of the COURTROOM but no one reports to them.
While a Court Reporter may pick up her machine and leave the courtroom as soon as the judge is off the bench, the Judicial Assistatns work load is just beginning. Also, because of the strength of the court reporters union, reporters actually own the court record. So when a reporter goes to her office to work on transcripts that an attorney would like to purchase, that reporter is just supplementing his or her income. Transcript work gives reporters tens of thousands of dollars extra a year in income.
The Judicial Assistant works on county time, on county equipment and does not receive any extra compensation for anything done associated with the Court, all the while watching reporters come in late, leave early and earn at least 40K more a year.
Judicial Assistants are given a couple hundred dollars a month to purchase health care and are NOT allowed to participate in the flexible 10/80 work week (as do management or clerks at the lower level in the clerk's office). Like I said - NO perks.
Judicial Assistants have the most pathetic bargaining unit in the state and a weak ineffective union.
Judicial Assistants NEED OUTSIDE HELP as their union does nothing to help them. The job gets increasingly worse each year. I pray that someone who is able to actually help this group will step forward to energize it because the people who are involved now are not getting anything tangible accomplished that actually has a positive impact on the members.
Judicial Assistant/Court Reporter
Judicial Assistants more than likely do not have to pay for years of college, nor do they have to expend at least $15,000 in equipment/technology, not to mention thousands of dollars in upgrades, nor do they have to pay for yearly fees for technical support, printing costs, etc. I do agree that the responsibility a judicial assistant bears is a lot and it is appreciated by everyone, even though you may not realize it. A smoothly run courtroom is taken for granted a lot of the time, but I appreciate the work that you do to make the judge's and everyone's job easier. You make it seem effortless. Kudos.
Judicial Assistant/Pay
Judicial Assistants during the last contract received a 10% raise. 4% in July 2007, 3% in July 2008 and 3% in July 2009.
Those raises are influenced with "Me too clauses," in other Unions contracts. (If one Union negotiated a larger raise then everyone would get that same raise).
Any Union is only as strong as the members who participate.
JUDICAL WATCH DROPPED THE BALL
Judical watch, what happen? I understand the bill is on Arnold's desk for signature...............Do the COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES really have the money to pad the pockets of these Judges during this economic crisis? Of course the Board of Supervisors will go for it....Hell, how could they not, when they vote to increase their own salaries behind closed doors.
People you want to know what is wrong with the County of LA? We keep voting people into office who have their own agenda. This is sad....SHAME ON YOU STEINBERG. HOW MUCH DID THE JUDGES PAY YOU FOR THIS? YOUR HANDS ARE DIRTY...ALL EYES ON YOU.
PEOPLE WAKE UP....WE NEED TO START RECALLING THESE LIARS. THEY ARE PAID WITH OUR TAX DOLLARS.
CURRENT BILL STATUS
MEASURE : S.B. No. 11 (2nd Ex. Sess.)
AUTHOR(S) : Steinberg.
TOPIC : Judges: employment benefits.
+LAST AMENDED DATE : 02/14/2009
TYPE OF BILL :
Inactive
Non-Urgency
Non-Appropriations
Majority Vote Required
Non-State-Mandated Local Program
Fiscal
Non-Tax Levy
LAST HIST. ACT. DATE: 02/20/2009
LAST HIST. ACTION : Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 9,
Statutes of 2009-10 Second Extraordinary Session.
COMM. LOCATION : SEN BUDGET AND FISCAL REVIEW
COMM. ACTION DATE : 02/14/2009
COMM. ACTION : Do pass as amended.
COMM. VOTE SUMMARY : Ayes: 22 Noes: 13 PASS
TITLE : An act to add Sections 68220, 68221, and 68222 to the
Government Code, relating to judges.