CJA President Urges Stronger Oversight by the Judicial Council Regarding AOC Salary Increases
Posted on: Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Today Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael P. Vicencia, president of the California Judges Association, urged the Judicial Council to take a greater oversight role in the pay structure of the Administrative Office of the Courts. Judge Vicencia told the Council that public confidence in Judicial branch was dependent on greater transparency and oversight.
In conjunction with Judge Vicencia's request, he sent the following letter to the Judicial Council.
December 15, 2009
Members of the Judicial Council:
The recent Daily Journal article Tough Times Aside, AOC Doles Out Raises, Perks has created a serious crisis of confidence in the Judicial Council's ability to provide proper oversight to the Administrative Office of the Courts. The California Judges Association's Executive Committee has reviewed the AOC's response to the article and believes strong action must be taken to address this issue.
This comes at a time when the state is mired in the worst financial crisis ever. For the first time in history all court houses are ordered closed a day every month, mandating every court employee take an unpaid day off from work. Citizens seeking access to judges for important legal business, including domestic violence restraining orders, are now turned away the third Wednesday of each month. Meanwhile, CJA's members voluntarily give up 5% of their monthly salaries to save taxpayer dollars. This sacrifice will yield over $90,000,000 to California's citizens this fiscal year.
With trial courts in such dire financial circumstances, it is unfortunate that the AOC is approving discretionary raises without the prior, public approval of the Judicial Council. As the elected members of the Judicial Branch, judges must take greater oversight of the bureaucracy of the branch. Judges must demonstrate their ability to be good stewards of the people's money.
CJA therefore urges the following course of action. First, all future raises and all upper management compensation must be publicly discussed and approved by the Judicial Council. These changes should be implemented as soon as possible but certainly no later than mid-January 2010. Second, I will ask CJA's Executive Board at its January meeting to urge all of its members to withdraw from the Voluntary Salary Waiver program in favor of a different plan. We will continue our financial belt-tightening to better the courts but CJA will suggest that each local court establish a non-profit entity into which judges will contribute 5% of their net salary.
CJA is proud of its working relationships with all stakeholders in California's court system, including the AOC. CJA will continue as a constructive partner, however, confidence in the branch is dependent on the action we take now.
Judge Michael P. Vicencia
President
