In a press release they said:

 ”The proposed cuts to the judicial branch are both devastating and disheartening. They will seriously compromise the public’s access to their courts and our ability to provide equal access to justice throughout the state. I am calling for an emergency meeting of the Judicial Council in three days so we can analyze what this means for the branch and how we can go forward together in preventing the harm these cuts will bring to our residents. It’s my responsibility as Chief Justice to ensure that all Californians have a justice system that supports and protects their rights.”

 –Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye

 ”The Governor’s announced budget cuts to the judicial branch will be difficult, if not impossible, for the branch to absorb. Over the past three years we have played our role in reducing the cost to govern, cutting programs and services, having funds redirected to support the state’s general fund needs. And now, we in the judicial branch must come together to not only resist these proposed cuts, but to come up with solutions that will permit us to serve and protect the rights of the public as best we can under these dire circumstances.”

 –Justice Douglas Miller, Chair of the Executive and Planning Committee, Judicial Council.

 ”The judicial branch is at an extremely critical juncture.  Appellate courts cannot absorb additional cuts and continue to fulfill their constitutional mandate.  Our courts exist to protect the fundamental rights of all Californians.  We cannot turn litigants away simply because money is scarce. ”

 --Administrative Presiding Justice William R. McGuiness,  First District Court of Appeal

 ”I respect the challenges faced by the Governor and the Legislature during this Great Recession.  But the Judicial Branch is a co-equal branch of our government and must receive an adequate level of funding to do our job.  Trial courts have taken four straight years of cutbacks – we simply cannot sustain another year of cuts without erosion of our ability to provide timely and full access to the public.  People with small claims cases, renters and landlords who seek help, family law disputes, contract cases, personal injury cases, property disputes, people with claims against the government – all will be impacted.”

  –Judge David Rosenberg, Judicial Council member and Chair of the Trial Court Presiding Judges Executive Committee

 ”The situation is dire and getting worse. While some courts have already laid off hundreds and closed courtrooms, most of the courts in the state are limping along. The message I’ve been communicating in Sacramento is “Everything may seem OK on the surface, but the cumulative impact of these cuts is unsustainable over time.”  Well, there appears to be a new round of cuts coming, and it’s beyond unsustainable.  The entire civil justice system as we know it is in peril. All courts are going to feel the pain, even those that have managed well so far.”

 –Jon Streeter, President of the State Bar of California

 ”Our state judiciary is being economically starved to death. We’re at a point where it’s reasonable to ask whether recovery is even possible.”

 –Joseph Dunn, Executive Director of the State Bar of California

 ”California citizens who use the courts have been placed in a tidal wave without a life boat. Sadly, they and their constitutional rights are being washed away.”

 –Niall P. McCarthy, attorney and Co-Chair of the Open Courts Coalition.

 ”The Governor’s massive cuts to our state court budget threatens to shut the lights out on hundreds of courtrooms, locking out Californians from our justice system and eliminating the safest place for citizens to resolve their disputes.”

 –Paul R. Kiesel, attorney and Co-Chair of the Open Courts Coalition

See story at http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120419/A_NEWS/204190317

Leaders of the group are writing letters to Blaire about some church-goers at St. Joachim Parish in Lockeford who are backing Kelly even after a civil jury’s decision that favored the plaintiff.

According to SNAP, the parishioners’ public voicing of their opinions is insensitive to victims “and will likely deter others who may have seen, suspected, or suffered child sex crimes from coming forward.”

“It’s dangerous because it creates a hostile atmosphere where others who may have knowledge of this abuse, or other abuse, will be afraid to come forward,” said SNAP director, David Clohessy of St. Louis. “Bishop Blaire should step forward to rein in his flock and help them find ways to show support for their priest that don’t involve intimidating victims.”

“We want the truth to come out,” Clohessy said. “And if folks are too afraid to come forward then it will stay buried. We urge the bishop to do everything in his power to allow the justice process to continue without interruptions or tampering.”

His congregation largely continues supporting him, because they believe he is innocent of the claims.

Dr. Scott Jensen, an associate professor of psychology at University of the Pacific, said it’s a common occurrence for supporters of an accused person to remain loyal. The same goes for the proponent of any area or side, he said.

Jensen, who would not comment on the case specifically, spoke in general terms of examples of confirmatory bias, people’s tendencies to retain information that confirms their beliefs.

He cited various cases, including the popular former head coach at Penn State University Joe Paterno. Paterno, who is deceased, was fired after a grand jury found Paterno did not report to police that there was a claim former defensive Jerry Sandusky molested a 10 year old boy.

Paterno, a popular coach, received continued support from the public.

That’s not to say the defendant in any case is either guilty or not guilty, Jensen said.

But when it comes to the psyche of supporters, “it’s very hard to accept something that is inconsistent with very strong believes we have,” Jensen said.

“I’m not trying to suggest these people are wrong,” Jensen said. “My point is this is a very common reaction.”

Read the story at: http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120410/A_NEWS/204100325&cid=sitesearch

The law would eliminate California’s death penalty, and establish life in prison without the possibility of parole as the maximum punishment.

The coalition will announce its plans for the election at news conferences in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento and San Diego.

Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye has appounted Jody Patel as the new interim administrative director of the state Judicial Council.

The news comes hours after Cantil-Sakauye announced that Ronald Overholt resigned from the position.

Patel will take the helm Feb. 14. 

“I am honored to accept the appointment as Interim Administrative Director,” Patel said in a statement.  “I will provide my full support to the Chief Justice, the Judicial Council, AOC, and the entire judicial branch until a permanent Administrative Director is appointed.  When the permanent director comes on board, I hope that I can transfer to him or her a well-functioning organization and I will help in any way I can with the transition.”

Patel is the regional administrative director of the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC).  Before that, she was the executive officer for the Superior Court of Sacramento County from 2001–2006. 

“By making this difficult choice, I hope that my decision will help refocus attention on the critical issues at hand—budget restoration, the future of the branch, and the stability of the AOC.”

 Overholt said the economy has created unprecendeted challenges, including significant ongoing budget reductions and internal reorganizations.

“In the anxiety-generating climate of this fiscal crisis, the AOC’s role in serving the council to advance access to justice on a statewide basis has unfairly become an easy target,” he said. “Every organization has room for improvement, and where merited, the AOC has taken corrective action and is continuing to do so. Where issues raised have been without merit, we have worked hard to correct misinformation. ” 

Overholt said he will continue to work with the chief justice and the new interim director during the transition.

 ”I am proud to have served in a leadership role in the judicial branch¾as an administrator in superior courts, as a member of the Judicial Council, and as a chief executive of this outstanding public service organization,” he said.