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JUDGES AND RESEARCH STAFF FAR BUSIER THAN EVER IN LOS ANGELES SUPERIOR COURT

Compared to years past, performing research and  writing for Los Angeles Superior Court is much more  time consuming, complex and difficult.  The pace generally is very pressured, and involves long hours.  Some new law clerks have not lasted their full term, and there has been a relatively high employee turnover rate as to them, partly because of the pressures.  The causes of the more demanding work are many, and  not precisely quantified.  However, research staff of California trial courts have made some observations about how the nature of court research has evolved in recent times, as listed below:

  • The overall nature of complexity of cases has increased.  Generally, fewer matters in simple cases are handled, such as regarding garden-variety automobile accidents, in proportion to more complex ones, such as toxic-tort cases involving many parties.

  • Attorneys increasingly use a "shotgun" approach in their written or oral arguments, by asserting many issues, whether weakly, or strongly, advocated, in an apparent hope that the odds are that at least some of the arguments will prevail.

  • Attorneys increasingly are computer literate, and thus able to generate more case and statutory citations in support of points made, as well as more volumes of text in discovery, evidence and argument.

  • More attorneys engage in "extreme litigation," including by arguing for drastic results, or "pushing the envelope" in creatively interpreting laws, or even sometimes misrepresenting proof or authorities.

  • As to civil matters, there is a reduced number of courtrooms.  In the downtown Los Angeles courthouse, civil departments have been reduced from about 50 to 43, such that fewer people are working on more matters.

For dealing with such difficulties, Local 910 offers various suggestions, including increasing the pay of research attorneys and law clerks to be commensurate with the work, authorizing more judges and research staff, offering the new law clerks extended training programs, returning to a ratio of one research attorney or law clerk per judge (instead of half-time per judge), and vigorously enforcing rules of ethics against unprofessional behavior.
 


 

Vetoed Bill Regarding Limited Term Employees

A new proposed law for a second time came very close to becoming effective-- AB 1797, regulating California courts' use of temporary employees to do long-term work.  The bill was on the Governor's desk in late September, but vetoed on the last possible day, on 9/29/06.  According to the veto message, apparently the Governor was concerned that unionized employees would be encouraged to seek assistance from legislators when collective bargaining failed, and that the Superior Court would be committed to paying more regular employees before the funds were allocated,  The California Judicial Council again urged the veto of the legislators' approved bill.  Read a version of the bill now pending before the California Legislature.   Read a related story from our archives .

     

LOCAL 910 UNION TREASURER MEETS SECRETARY OF STATE

In the photograph shown below, California Secretary of State, Bruce McPherson, chats with Kevin Norte, the AFSCME Local 910 Treasurer, and Alternate Member of the County Central Committee of the Republican Party of Los Angeles for the 42nd Assembly District.  They conversed about the fall, 2006 elections, at a republican fundraiser, on Sept. 10, 2006.


UNION TREASURER MEETS SCHWARZENEGGER

On June 29, 2006, Kevin Norte, AFSCME Local 910 Treasurer, met California's Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and First Lady, Maria Shriver Schwarzenegger, at the event of the Log Cabin Republicans, held at the Hollywood Renaissance Hotel. Kevin is a judicial applicant, with a wide array of qualifications for that position, as reported at his personal web site, KevinMiguel.com.

Also, at the event, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger spoke.    The governor reaffirmed that he is "committed to being a Governor for all Californians." Further, the Los Angeles Times reported that the Governor announced to those in attendance, "'I can't promise we will always be of the same mind, but I can promise you I will always have an open mind.'"


AFSCME'S INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION RESULTS IN OVERHAUL

AFSCME union members gathered in Chicago to attend a convention held from August 7 through 11, 2006. Among the prominent speakers there were Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) and Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) shown in the photograph below. One goal was to adopt a plan known as the "21st Century Initiative" which includes new strategies voted for by union delegates and plans for political actions and expanded membership. More information is available from the AFSCME web site Press Room.

 

 

Local 910 Vice President Speaks To Judicial Council

Local 910 Vice President Michael Boggs, and other union representatives, often speak and give valuable input at the California Judicial Council. Read what they have said via the links below:
  Photo: Local 910 Officers & Court Research Attorneys

 

Executive Officer Of Los Angeles Superior Court On The Internet

Read and view scenic photos on the inspirational personal web pages of John Clarke, Executive Officer, recounting his road trip on a motorcycle to the destination of Alaska.

 

Public Employment Relations Board

Read  how the union  can file a charge of an unfair labor practice with the California Public Employment Relations Board (PERB), a quasi-judicial agency charged with administering collective bargaining statutes.

 

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© 2007 AFSCME Local 910  Legal Professional Unit