Showing posts with label ADR. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ADR. Show all posts

Monday, December 3, 2012


Opinion: State’s judge selection undemocratic

November 29, 2012
ADVERTISEMENT
In a democracy like ours, should lawmakers be selected democratically? Not according to the Journal-World (“Court, politics,” Nov. 23), which wants some of our state’s most important lawmakers selected in a deeply undemocratic process that makes the votes of some residents count far more than the votes of others.
The lawmakers in question are our state’s appellate court judges.
Judges are lawmakers? Yes. Judges have routinely made law throughout our country’s history and even earlier, going back to England. This judge-made law, called the “common law,” has generally worked well and continues today to govern thousands of cases including those involving contracts, property rights and bodily injuries.
Common law rules differ from state to state. States with more liberal judges tend to have more liberal common law, while states with more conservative judges tend to have more conservative common law. The political leanings of appellate judges, rather than trial judges, are especially important because appellate judges have much more power over the direction of the law.
In short, the appellate judges of Kansas, like those of other states, are tremendously important lawmakers. What is unusual about the lawmaking judges of Kansas is how they are selected. None of the other 49 states uses the system Kansas uses to pick its two appellate courts. And for good reason, because the Kansas system is a shockingly undemocratic way to select lawmakers.
At the center of the Kansas system is the Supreme Court Nominating Commission; most of the members of this commission are picked in elections open to only 10,000 people, the members of the state bar. The remaining 2.8 million people in Kansas have no vote in these elections.
This violates basic equality among citizens, the principle of one-person, one-vote. The current system elevates one small group and treats everyone else like second-class citizens.
Kansas lawyers tend to be fine people but they’re not superheroes. They don’t deserve more power than lawyers have in any of the other 49 states. In a democracy, a lawyer’s vote should not be worth more than any other resident’s vote.
So the problem is not that Kansas has a nominating commission but how that commission is selected. As Washburn law professor Jeffrey Jackson wrote, democratic legitimacy “would appear to favor a reduction in the influence of the state bar and its members over the nominating commission because they do not fit within the democratic process. Rather, the more desirable system from a legitimacy standpoint would have a greater number of the commission’s members selected through means more consistent with the concept of representative government.”
Bar groups in Kansas claim that this violation of our democratic principles is the only way to get competent judges. But the bar provides no evidence that judges selected in lawyer-favoring systems are better than judges selected in the more open and democratic appointment systems used by a dozen other states. Kansas should follow those states’ lead so that our state’s courts can have democratic legitimacy as well as professional competence.
— Stephen J. Ware is a professor in the Kansas University School of Law.

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Post Election 2012 - keep it Real


Since the election Tuesday several things are happening. On Wednesday, the Stock Market was so thrilled with facing another four years of Obamanomics that it fell 313 points. If nothing is resolved by Jan. 1 and the Bush era tax cuts are allowed to stop, the economy is expected to suffer, so some investors are already selling while the Stock Market is relatively high and before it plunges further down. Boeing, revealed their plans to restructure their defense division.  Those plans include reducing management jobs by 30%, consolidating several of their business divisions to save money and to shut down their facilities in California. In Las Vegas, one business owner believed he was left with no choice but to lay off 22 of his 114 employees because of Obama’s victory.  He said that his costs of running a business and having to pay more in taxes and health insurance costs due to Obamacare left him no alternative. A Utah coal company owned by a vocal critic of President Barack Obama has laid off 102 miners. The layoffs at the West Ridge Mine are effective immediately, according to Utah American Energy Inc., a subsidiary of Murray Energy Corp. They were announced in a short statement made public Thursday; two days after Obama won re-election. The Fiscal Cliff is not January 1 as everyone claims, but it was November 6, 2012. We are already seeing the first few rocks tumbling down the face of the cliff and believe me, there is a lot more to come and when it does, we will find ourselves buried beneath it with little hope of getting out.

Who are the ones that are truly unwilling to compromise? It’s Obama and the Democrats. They have said it’s their way or no way. The legislation they passed, they did not allow debate and now we have “THEIR” legislation in place.  And like old times, the media is already taking the liberal side and laying the blame on Republicans for not compromising. January 1, 2013 is being referred to as the Fiscal Cliff.  If nothing is done, the tax breaks enjoyed by all of us will end and we will see a significant decrease in our take-home pay.  Additionally, there will be forced massive spending cuts in the federal government, some of which will not be beneficial such as in the Defense Department. There is one thing that hasn’t changed at all and that is the unwillingness of the Democrats to compromise and then blaming Republicans for the same.

             It’s easier and cheaper to take over the GOP. Starting a viable third party or just take over an existing political party? I have been hearing the same rhetoric for more than 30 years. The establishment stock is down when it comes to the Republican establishment, and it’s ripe for a takeover. Most Conservatives despise the Republican Establishment (as I do), but they haven’t offered a viable alternative except in principle. Viability is important for people who do not have an ideological dog in the fight which is where a majority of Americans are. People support winners. If you can’t or will not grasp this point, then you better find a different line of work.

             I firmly believe that many (maybe most) third-party people don’t want a real change in the political landscape because they know they couldn’t make it work. We split or water down the platforms even more which confuse the already blind electorate and they don’t have the skills, knowledge, or the work ethic to make the fundamental changes that are needed to turn things around and the clock is working against them. Some are content to watch it all burn and then believe that a new political Phoenix will rise from the ashes and a desperate world will call on them to show the way to salvation. It’s not going to happen. If it burns, it’s taking us with it. Sorry folks, but that’s not the way it works. It doesn’t work in politics like it doesn’t work in medicine, fixing cars, building a house, learning a new language, designing a sky scraper, or learning to play a musical instrument. It’s hard work. Talk does not build a building. The majority of people do not devote that amount of time to politics, but it shows us that change is not magical. It doesn’t drop from the sky after wishing, bitching, and hoping. It takes a lot of hard work and determination. Are you up to the task?

There are plenty of things to take away from this election and a clear understanding of just the pure numbers:
In 2008 McCain/Palin vs. Obama/Biden - 132,653,958 voters turnout rate of 61.6%
In 2012 Romney/Ryan vs. Obama/Biden - 118,782,374 voters
We were (Down - 13,871,584) voters. 10 million less Obama voters. We lost the popular vote by a difference of 2,899,844, less than the 3 million that stayed home and didn't vote.

              The Democrats removed God from their platform and supported pro-Abortion while the Republican platform reflected a pro-Life position yet 50% of the Catholics voted for BHO. In comparison 78% of White Evangelical Christians voted for Romney. What does this tell us? The Obama team ran on no vision for the future other than more of the same. High unemployment, 47 million people on food stamps, Middle East is in shambles, cover ups, and the Federal government trying to impose its will on states and the Republican Party could not win at the National level – WHY?

                Ready???? Women are the biggest voting block in the United States. The media wants to paint Sarah Palin as a “polarizing individual” – to whom? The statistics at the National level are more than clear. Unless the Republican Party can “PHYSICALLY” get away from White male leaders only and make sure the ticket cross’s gender and ethnic lines, the war on women, the isolation tag on minorities is going to stick. Sarah Palin brought out the women in 2008 and the conservative base voters with her strong conservative values. When we continue to allow the media and the establishment to keep bringing Moderate (all be it bright and experienced) individuals to the front of the pack, the party will continue to fade at the NATIONAL level where building a platform that cross’s ethnic and gender gaps is imperative because these individuals have simply been unable to articulate their message into these groups. The Republican Party/Tea Party continues to gain and have success at the State level and lower where the ethnic and gender gaps are being crossed at a rapid pace but when it comes to the National level it is a miserable failure. Even the State levels can garner way more support if the leaderships were changed.  

                There is simply no argument to the fact that they have to be experienced for the job knowing what we have at the current President and the Vice President, these two are the joke of the World, making us the laughing stock of the World. I would also even consider going back to the last 3 Democratic Presidents (Carter, Clinton, and Obama) and extending that argument. Romney needed to have either a women or a minority on the ticket that was staunchly conservative to rally the base and the other voting blocs – he failed miserably. We could not even get voters out after the last four years of the start of Armageddon. You may not want to accept this but this is the world we live in.

                America's voters – 73% White, 13% Black, 10% Latino, 3% Asian. Women make up 55% of the voting electorate and when they vote 56%-41% Democrat or 67%-31% Democrat that are un married to the Democrat Party we lose every time. Even with Blacks voting 93% Democrat and Latino voting 75% Democrat. The numbers are the numbers – either we change the menu or you get served the same meal!

Sunday, September 23, 2012

September 22, 2012 "The Problem"


The Problem our Legal System


September 22, 2012
Legislators and friends,

The Solution: State Legislation

            It is inherent in the nature of the state that sovereignty must be, Absolute and Perpetual. No Governing body or power can be absolute, unless it is by the people. Every Congressman or woman knows that the states are sovereign and it is their sovereign duty to protect our fundamental rights from all enemies to the Constitution and Republic foreign, domestic and that includes the Judicial Branch and the Federal government.
            We have plenty of people that have combined forces that have drafted state legislation ideas that will fix many of these problems. This is a conservative process, conservative approach and lastly it’s exactly what our founders put in place to protect our Sovereignty and our civil rights as a society.  The State has to be sovereign in its ability to guarantee the best interests of its own citizens!
            The Constitution is but a piece of paper to these people. It has to be a living breathing document that brings life into our hearts and minds. This is an intense peril to our Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness, and the voters are demanding changes – real changes are needed and the Legislature needs to act on it appropriately! Problems in the family court and Juvenile system will persist until judges and other court officials are held accountable for following the law.

1.         All court proceedings need to be video recorded, and all parties shall have the right to do their own recording of all proceedings.
[Judges and attorneys get away with lies, concealing the voice deflection of their comments, and falsifying court transcripts; this will be a tool to make them more accountable while protecting the fundamental rights of the parties.]
           
2.         Each elected official and every government employee in the state, including all federal elected officials and federal employees operating in the state, shall be required to sign a Contract with the Citizens of the State and the United States that requires them to be honest at all times and defend the fundamental rights protected by the Constitution and Bill of Rights.
[This Contract makes all elected officials accountable to the people; they are essentially accountable to no one at this time.  Violation of the Contract will be presented to a Special Grand Jury.]
           
3.         Judges must address all points raised by all parties in every court decision with a clear explanation with citation to determining facts, statutes, and case law.
[One of the dishonest/corrupt techniques used by judges is to ignore the issues, facts, and law.  By forcing judges to address the issues, facts, statutes, and case law on each issue in their orders, judges will either treat the parties fairly or expose themselves for all to see.  When judges violate this provision, an aggrieved party will now have the ability to take the matter to a Special Grand Jury.]
           
4.         Appellate judges must address all points of error in every appellate decision with a clear explanation with citation to determining facts, statutes, and case law.
[Appellate judges are even more dishonest than lower court judges when it comes to ignoring the issues, facts, statutes, and case law.  By forcing judges to address the issues, facts, statutes, and case law, judges will either treat the parties fairly or expose themselves for all to see.  When judges violate this provision, an aggrieved party will now have the ability to take the matter to a Special Grand Jury.]

            5.         Judges must insist that people tell the truth in court with extreme consequences for those who don't.
[There are rules that will make the legal process infinitely different, fair and less expensive.  Judges must honor and enforce the rules.  It is one of the only ways to get witnesses and attorneys to be more honest.]
           
6.         Perjury is a cause of action that will be allowed in a civil suit with an automatic jury trial.
[Currently, people can lie repeatedly in court, and those damaged by the perjury have no recourse, and judges do nothing.  Citizens need the ability to seek damages against witnesses in court who commit perjury. DS’s state the “bar” is entirely too high and that is why they never charge this offense.]

            7.         Attorneys must go by the letter of every law and every professional rule.  Judges must subject attorneys to onerous consequences for violations.
[There are rules that will make the legal process infinitely better and less expensive.  Judges must honor and enforce the rules.  It is one of the only ways to get attorneys and judges to be honest.]

            8.         Attorneys who violate their Code of Professional Conduct shall be referred to a Special Grand Jury.
[Attorneys are a big part of the problem with the legal system.  If they followed their Code of Professional Conduct, the legal system would be much different, and the expense of litigation would be dramatically reduced.  Accountability by an independent Special Grand Jury should have amazing impact.]

            9.         "Motion practice" must be minimized.  Judges must hold conferences and allow attorneys and pro se parties to communicate important issues directly to judges. 
[In federal courts especially, judges avoid all contact with the attorneys and parties.  They force the parties to file motions, responses, and replies to motion after motion.  This runs up massive legal fees and provides infinite opportunities for misconduct and mistreatment of the parties.]

            10.        Judges may not dismiss a case or enter summary judgments when a jury trial has been requested.
[Judges corrupt the judicial process by depriving parties of a jury trial.  Juries must make the decisions in legal matters -- not judges.]

            11.        All family court, juvenile and CINC trials shall be by jury.
[Family court abuse and corruption is one of the most widely-criticized.  Judges and their friends involved in the family court process create a situation ripe for injustice and corruption.  We must remove the judges from this life-altering process for so many people.  Let a jury of local citizens with their own families make these serious decisions.]

            12.        All court cases involving the government or a government employee must be trials by jury, and summary judgments will not be allowed in such cases to avoid the prejudice of a government employee judge having bias for another government employee.
[Bias must be protected against at all costs.  It is only human nature for us to "protect our own."  This must no longer be allowed.]

            13.        Judges may not ignore or change the rules of civil procedure. 
[Judges may favor one attorney or party over another by selectively ignoring the rules or independently making their own after-the-fact rules.  There are rules, and everyone must adhere to them.  Judges must not be given the power to deprive a party or attorney of the protections and requirements of published rules.]

            14.        All orders must be signed by the judges involved.
[In many cases, the judges do not sign the orders.  There is no way to know if the judges actually participated in the decision.  Every order must be signed by the judges involved to prove that they participated in the decision and to make the orders valid. They must list out their ruling per Rule 165 as to the legal foundation for the finding]
           
15.        All court decisions shall be published. 
[Courts do not publish many of their orders.  This keeps others from seeing their wrongdoing and mistakes.  By publishing every decision, judges will have to do a better job, and they will be exposed to criticism by other judges and attorneys who identify their mistakes.]

            16.        The votes of each judge involved in a decision shall be made part of the public record.
[When multiple judges are involved, the parties and the public deserve to know how each voted.]

            17.        Judges must adhere to sentencing guidelines.
[There must be rules, and the place for a judge in the process is to go by the rules.  We must minimize interpretation and freedom for judges to do whatever they want, because that is what has made our judicial system so unfair and corrupt.]

            18.        Campaign contributions are not allowed for funding judicial campaigns.
[Campaign contributions create the perfect opportunity for corrupting the judicial system.  Elections for judges should be done with no contributions of any type allowed.]

            19.        There shall be no requirement of a legal degree and legal experience for judicial positions in cities, counties, and states.
[Lawyers are a big part of the problem with the legal system.  Lawyers as judges come to the position with a built-in prejudice for their friend attorneys and may have a bias against attorneys they faced.  If the participants in a case go by the rules and the law, any intelligent person can serve as judge.  It is unfair to limit judge positions to attorneys.]

            20.        Parties may represent themselves in all legal proceedings in the State.  Corporations, Limited Liability Companies, Partnerships, and other legal entities may also be represented by an officer of the corporation in legal proceedings, and representation by an attorney shall not be required.
[Statutes say that parties may represent themselves, but all of the attorneys involved in the law-making and judicial processes have twisted the intent of the law to force legal entities to spend zillions of dollars on attorneys.  Pro se parties (those individuals who represent themselves) are generally discriminated against by judges, and this must not be allowed.  Allowing legal entities to represent themselves will save billions of dollars in legal fees and will dramatically reduce the costs of operating the judicial system.]

            21.        A spouse may represent his or her spouse in legal proceedings if there is a properly executed power of attorney granting such right.
[Once again, judges ignore the law and refuse to allow an individual to be represented in court by someone pursuant to a power of attorney.  This must be stopped.  When a power of attorney grants a person to handle legal matters, it must apply to anyone in any legal matter, especially litigation.]

            22.        All pro se parties shall be given the ability to make electronic filings, if they choose. 
[In most courts, only attorneys are allowed to file electronically.  This also enables them to file just before midnight on a due date.  Pro se parties are forced to print everything, and they have to file by the time the clerk's office closes (usually 5 pm or earlier).  This inflates the cost for pro se parties, increases the costs of judicial personnel, and gives an unfair advantage to the attorneys.  Pro se parties should take online training on how to use the electronic filing system, and they should have the option to save money and time by filing electronically.]

            23.        Pro se parties now represent approximately one-third of all parties in lawsuits. Each county in the State will establish an office with at least one staff attorney to assist pro se parties at no charge. Anybody can help or assist another party even a non lawyer.
[Pro se parties usually cannot afford attorneys.  Some courts provide assistance, but most don't.  One-third of the citizens involved in the legal process must be helped.]

24.        Each county shall have grand juries, and citizens will be able to directly present charges of government misconduct and corruption to a Special Grand Jury. 
[Article of Amendment V of the Bill of Rights gives grand juries the power to deal with judicial and government wrongdoing through the power of Presentment.  Not all states have county grand juries, but they are needed in every state in every county.  Where grand juries do exist, government officials may block a citizen's access to the grand jury, and this will be fixed through this clause.] 

A complaint for criminal conduct of a judge may be brought directly to the Special Grand Jury upon all the following prerequisites: (1) an affidavit of criminal conduct has been lodged with the appropriate prosecutorial entity within ninety (90) days of the commission of the alleged conduct; (2) the prosecutor declines to prosecute, or one hundred twenty (120) days has passed following the lodging of such affidavit and prosecution has not commenced; (3) an indictment, if sought, has not been specifically declined on the merits by a county Grand Jury; and (4) the criminal statute of limitations has not run.  Investigative grand juries may compel evidence and subpoena witnesses; may compel production of documents filed under seal; may inspect records, documents, correspondence, and books of any department, agency, board, bureau, commission, institution, or authority of the state or any of its political subdivisions; and may require the production of records, documents, correspondence, and books of any person, firm, or corporation which relate directly or indirectly to the subject of the investigation being conducted by the investigative grand jury. Each Special Grand Jury shall have exclusive power to retain non-governmental advisors, special prosecutors, and investigators, as needed, who shall serve no longer than one year, after which term said officers shall be ineligible. Notwithstanding the one year, a special prosecutor may be retained to prosecute current cases in which they are involved through all appeals and any complaints for judicial misconduct. 
[This provides terms for the implementation of this clause.]

            25.        Special Grand Juries shall be responsible to ensure that government officials are honest above all else.   The Special Grand Jury shall require active investigation of politicians for corrupt behavior.
[This is essential if we are to minimize corruption.  The power must be in the hands of the citizens.]

            26.        All judicial misconduct complaints will be handled by a Special Grand Jury.   The judicial system will cease “policing” itself.  All judicial complaints will be made public. 
[Expecting judges to discipline their friends (fellow judges) is not at all right.  Complaints are also kept confidential.  A Grand Jury composed of citizens from the county will ensure fair consideration of the issues.  Making the complaints public will allow others to see the complaints that have been made, and it should serve as a deterrent to those who might commit misconduct.]

            27.        All attorney misconduct complaints will be handled by a Special Grand Jury. The association of attorneys (Bar Association) will cease being the sole means of “policing” attorneys. All attorney complaints will be made public. 
[Just as with judges as discussed immediately above, expecting the association of attorneys to discipline their members isn't the independent way that complaints should be handled.  Citizens probably are not aware that the Bar Association is nothing but an association; it isn't a government entity.  Attorneys do massive damage to people, and the way to minimize this is to make attorneys accountable to a jury of citizens from the county.] 

            28.        Judges may be removed from office for cause.  Cause shall include deliberate violation of law, fraud, conspiracy, intentional violation of due process of law, deliberate disregard of material facts, using erroneous law, ignoring valid precedents, judicial acts without jurisdiction, blocking of a lawful conclusion of a case, or any deliberate violation of the Constitutions of the State or the United States and the Bill of Rights as well as dishonesty.
[The reports of proven judicial corruption nationwide are staggering; the scary part is all the corruption that the judges are able to hide.  The only way to keep judges honest is to have a Grand Jury and the power to remove judges for cause.]

            29.        Complaints about foreclosure fraud may be presented to a Special Grand Jury.
[Foreclosure fraud is a form of government-assisted corruption.  Those in danger of losing their biggest asset need help and fast.  We the people need to protect them.]

            30.        Parties may present claims of attorney misconduct, judicial misconduct, clerk's office misconduct, and law enforcement misconduct to a Special Grand Jury.
[Attorneys, judges, judicial staff, clerks of court, and law enforcement all commit misconduct, and a Special Grand Jury provides the independent tribunal that the citizens need.]

            31.        Complaints about Child Protective Services (CPS) and other state agencies may be presented to a Special Grand Jury.
[Government corruption may take place in any agency.  CPS is an area where abuse is often alleged.]
            32.        It shall be a child's right to be raised by his parent(s), free from government intrusion; have an attorney of his choice; be heard in court personally; be allowed to report abuse and know that the system will protect them; be protected from mental and physical abuse by guardians as well as the judicial system; and receive justice.
[Currently, the way children and their families are treated by the judicial system is a crime in and of itself.  We the people must protect families and the children.  These rights must be mandated because the existing system is hopelessly broken.]

            33.        No child may be taken from family without evidence and a hearing.
[Children are being removed from their homes at the whim of people.  This life-altering decision must first be made in court and decided by a jury.  We cannot allow families to be torn apart by people who should have no authority to take such serious action.]

            34.        All children deserve to live a childhood free from abuse, exploitation, and government interference during custody litigation.
[Custody litigation is devastating to many.  The children must be protected not damaged by the system.]

            35.        The statute of limitations shall be eliminated in cases of sexual assault against children.  The statute of limitations shall be eliminated in cases of perjury and fraud upon the courts.
[Laws must not be used to deprive citizens of recourse for wrongdoing.]

            36.        Judges must recuse themselves in specific circumstances, including if they are party to a lawsuit with a litigant.  Bias can be demonstrated by actions in a lawsuit. All complaints of judicial bias will be resolved by a Special Grand Jury if a party chooses to pursue the matter after a judge refuses to recuse himself/herself.
[One of the areas of great abuse by judges is their refusal to recuse themselves.  Once again, if judges went by the rules, the system would be fair...but they don't.  Judges rarely recuse themselves when outsiders would feel the judge has bias that should require them to recuse themselves.  Judges must be encouraged to abide by the rules and the intent of the recusal process, and if they fail to recuse themself three times when a Special Grand Jury says they should have, they should be removed from office.]

            37.        No immunities shall be extended to any judge in this State except as is specifically set forth in this Law.  The theory of judicial immunity is to protect judges from frivolous and harassing actions.  However, deliberate violation of law, fraud, conspiracy, intentional violation of due process of law, deliberate disregard of material facts, judicial acts without jurisdiction, blocking of a lawful conclusion of a case, or any deliberate violation of the Constitutions of Florida or the United States and the Bill of Rights and dishonesty are violations by judges that are not frivolous or harassing. A Special Grand Jury's responsibility shall include determining, on an objective standard, whether a civil suit against a judge would be frivolous and harassing, or fall within the exclusions of immunity as set forth herein, and whether there is probable cause of criminal conduct by the judge complained of.  Special Grand Juries shall also have the power to independently pursue charges against any government officials through the power of Presentment.
[Judges have manufactured claims of immunity for themselves using a case from the 1800's that is archaic and not really even applicable.  Judges must not be allowed to corruptly, maliciously break laws, ignore laws and the facts, andf abuse parties.  They must be held accountable for their wrongs just as each of us is held accountable.  If judges don't like this risk, then they should get real jobs like we all do.]

            38.        Should the Special Grand Jury find probable cause of criminal conduct on the part of any judge against whom a complaint is docketed, it shall have the power to indict such judge except where double jeopardy attaches. The Special Grand Jury shall, without voir dire beyond personal relationship, cause to be impaneled twelve special trial jurors, plus alternates, which trial jurors shall be instructed that they have power to judge both law and fact. The Special Grand Jury shall also select a non-governmental special prosecutor and a judge with no more than four years on the bench from a county other than that of the defendant judge. The trial jury shall be selected from the same pool of jury candidates as any regular jury.  The special prosecutor shall thereafter prosecute the cause to a conclusion, having all the powers of any other prosecutor within this State. Upon conviction, the special trial jury shall have exclusive power of sentencing (limited to incarceration, fines and/or community service), which shall be derived by an average of the sentences of the trial jurors.
[This procedure is essential for the effective implementation of this Law.]

            39.        No judge complained of or sued civilly shall be defended at public expense or by any elected or appointed public counsel, nor shall any judge be reimbursed from public funds for any losses sustained under this Law.
[Currently, the government office responsible for taking action against a judge is also the office that provides counsel to represent judges at the taxpayer's expense.  Judges should have to pay for their own legal counsel, or represent themselves, just as we the people have to do.]

            40.        Any judge or government official removed from office shall not thereafter serve in any government or judicial position.  Retirement for such removed officials shall not exceed one-half of the benefits to which such person would have otherwise been entitled. 
[We must cease giving outrageous benefits to those who commit wrongdoing.]

            41.        Attorneys and government employees will not be eligible to serve on a Special Grand Jury.
[Attorneys and government officials have an automatic conflict of interest and a natural bias for one of their own.  Attorneys may also be risking their careers due to reprisals from a judge or government official that they take action against.]
            42.        All Bar documents must be public record.
[Nothing in the legal world should be secret, especially complaints about participants in the legal process.]

            43.        The Model Code of Professional Conduct for attorneys shall become law, and the Bar Association will cease to have the authority to discipline attorneys except as members of their club. 
[There is a conflict of interest to have the association of attorneys disciplining their members for actions that affect citizens of the state.  The vast majority of problems with the legal system and dishonest and corrupt government officials are with attorneys.  Many attorneys ignore their so-called rules of conduct, and nothing is done about it.  By making law out of the rules they are supposed to operate by, the citizens will have a much better chance of a fairer legal system.]
           
44.        The Code of Judicial Conduct shall become law, and fellow judges shall cease to have authority to discipline judges. 
[There is a conflict of interest to have judges in charge of reviewing complaints against their fellow judges for actions that affect citizens of the state.  Many of the problems with the legal system and dishonest and corrupt government officials are with judges who are attorneys.  Many judges ignore their so-called code of conduct, and nothing is done about it.  By making law out of the Code they are supposed to operate by, the citizens will have a much better chance of a fairer legal system.]
            45.        All attorneys and judges must pass a competency exam on constitutional principles, particularly rights.
[States must ensure that qualified people are in place.]
           
46.        Impose requirements for bonds on all attorneys and judges, which they pay for out of their own pockets, and make it possible for their victims to file complaints reviewed only by the Special Grand Jury.
[This will clean up a lot of corruption and dishonesty.]
           
47.        This Law applies to federal courts as well as state, county, and local courts, because federal courts and federal judges are allowed to operate in the state as a guest of the state.
[Federal courts must not be allowed to operate in a dishonest or corrupt manner.  Federal employees functioning in our state must abide by our state's laws.]
           
48.        Corruption must be minimized in government. [The government has not been able to effectively deal with corruption in government.  We must put the power to deal with corruption into the hands of the people.  The provisions of this law are designed to do just that.]


Next week I will put together CINC issues! If for some reason you need to find out more on certain subjects please don’t hesitate to call or email me or visit our blog at http://kansasjudicialsystem-casemanagers.blogspot.com/




Saturday, September 1, 2012

News Letter 9-1-2012: Legislators and Friends, Kansas Judicial Reform (Senate and House)

September 1, 2012 
Legislators and friends, 

The 2013 session is just around the corner and there is plenty to discuss and even more to concern yourself with at this important time in our State’s history. If we are to make significant, positive changes to our communities and State, it will take strong leadership to change the current path so that we learn from our mistakes. Many of the mistakes we are making, we are making in procedural processes and in uninformed choices. We must end this to create a sustainable future for generations to come. 

Many of you have come out to serve on a few particular issues. Some may feel compelled to run or to serve our State, or our communities but the biggest reason has to be to move this State forward in a direction that is going to help our children succeed, allow the tax payers of this state to not be over burdened with tax bills that make them a slave to the government, and we want our business environment to thrive. 

But, there are two significant and polarizing issues that must be dealt with in Kansas to place it in the right direction. Many of you know that the tax reform legislation and budget issues are a priority but the two issues left to deal with (must be) addressed. School financing and Judicial reform, these two issue are independent but have also become joined as you have witnessed over the past few years and are becoming more “hand in hand”. It is my attempt to lay out the facts and provide you solutions as well as ideas on how to move forward on these issues. 

The issue I’m going to address this week is Judicial Reform. Judicial Reform is much easier now that the Senate and State legislatures has been reshaped. Without Tim Owens, John Vratil and Steve Morris blocking legislation, this moving target can now be hit! I’m using a map to illustrate the US Congressional districts and the significance of the bias in our courts today. 

Congressional District Number of registered Attorneys per district: 
clip_image001
1st 1,041  Tim Huelskamp, 1st congressional district  
2nd 2,207  Lynn Jenkins, 2nd congressional district  
3rd 4,238   Kevin Yoder, 3rd congressional district  
4th 1,791   Mike Pompeo, 4th congressional district 
Total 9,277 

To put this in perspective - 16 of the 20 judges come from Topeka, Kansas City and Olathe. 
There is not 1 attorney in District #1 on the bench which means "The Big First," the district that encompasses 69 counties in western and central Kansas (more than half of the state), making it the 11th largest congressional district in the nation doesn't have a single representational member on the state courts. In district #4 which encompasses 11 counties including the largest city - Wichita, and Sedgwick County is the 2nd largest county in the State only has 2 in that region. 

So the question then becomes how are the voters to be aware of the Judges in Topeka, when the majority of the state has no one there? There are plenty of cases coming from all areas of the state to be heard before the State court. It doesn’t take a constitutional amendment to create districts for both the Supreme Court and the Appellate Courts. This would be more viable to allow the selection process to come from those regions when vacancies came up. This also breaks up the Monopoly of Topeka and Washburn playing such a huge role in our courts selections. It certainly would give the voters in those regions of the state a chance to see and know what cases their judges were ruling on and how they ruled on that legislation or law. We need to balance the talent pool throughout the state.  

Changing the selection process of our State Judges? Senate Judiciary Chair Tim Owens said, he purposefully did not give the original bill a hearing because he feels strongly it’s an awful idea. The chairman also said, "I think this is the first time I did not hear a bill because I thought it was so bad. This is a terrible, terrible bill that’s hated by the courts; it’s an attempt to take over control of the courts."
http://www.kansasreporter.org/72446.aspx It doesn't matter whether the courts hate it or not, the legislature is the branch of government where all laws must originate, and this means “ALL” legislation or laws come through you, and you are to check and balance the other branches, even though your predecessors did not hold up to their end of that deal. We own this state – not 9,277 lawyers. This process is tainted and not in Kansas’s best interest! 

The lawyers should not have such extraordinary control over the selection of judges who will then rule on cases brought by the lawyers who gave them their jobs? No other state in the union allows the bar this kind of power over the selection of State Supreme Court justices. We hear a lot of talk today about the need for an "independent" judiciary. We need a State legislature bold enough to do what is needed and quit allowing the “special interest” of the Bar to stop this change. Put the Judicial back into their primary function INTERPRETING LAW! We need a state and legislative judiciary that is independent of the attorneys and their special interests, especially trial lawyers. 

Number of Kansas Bar member 9,277, Kansas population - 2,871,238, .0032% of the population in Kansas! 2012 Primaries – 3 attorneys left in the Senate Republican caucus. I challenge each and every “Conservative” to not allow a continuation of this process in the Senate. We have had Tim Owens and John Vratil and many other lawyers chairing the Senate Judiciary for entirely too long. There is no shortage of lawyers to confer with or advise for anyone sitting in that Judiciary Chair. 

Rep. Lance Kinzer has drafted HB 2101 last year, and Susan Waggle drafted SCR 1606 in 2006. These bills need to be debated and every possible dispute dealt with. These are starting points and I believe Rep. Kinzer (an attorney) has clearly proven him-self worthy, and unbiased to the challenge. Besides the selection process of our judges, the Supreme Court has become inept and over reaching in its capacity to function. Some of the mistakes have been made through Congress trying to give away its power. 

A quick review of our Constitution and its language. http://www.kslib.info/government-information/kansas-information/kansas-constitution.html 

Article Two: Legislative
1: Legislative power. The legislative power of this state shall be vested in a House of Representatives and senate.

Kansas Bill of Rights
1. Equal rights. All men are possessed of equal and inalienable natural rights, among which are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
2. Political power; privileges. All political power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority, and are instituted for their equal protection and benefit. No special privileges or immunities shall ever be granted by the legislature, which may not be altered, revoked or repealed by the same body; and this power shall be exercised by no other tribunal or agency.
 As it stands the legislature has turned over some of its duties to the Judiciary already. The Judiciary is writing Child Support guidelines and those guidelines are not being brought back to the legislature to vote on, amend or have a debate or public vetting of this process. Mind you these are only to be guidelines but I think the fact that every lawyer that argues in the State and every Judge that places parents in jail are using this formula and statute illegally.http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2011_12/statute/020_000_0000_chapter/020_001_0000_article/020_001_0065_section/020_001_0065_k/ .

The courts are also using their ability to use “guidelines” as means of writing law. This power is reserved only for the legislature. The courts have now been given legislative ‘immunity” and the courts have issued Rule 608 stating this “immunity”. Remember the #2 Kansas Bill of Rights? So this leaves the citizens of this state with no way of redress with the courts! This is painfully clear to the judges who are now serving this state. This has to be repealed and the judges must be listed to be recalled as well as is all state elected officials in every capacity, judges are no different. http://www.kscourts.org/rules/Rule-Info.asp?r1=Rules+Relating+to+Judicial+Conduct&r2=339 

Judicial Guidelines is a process that should be used to help prevent abuses by the lower courts, by clearing up any misinterpretation the lower courts may be using incorrectly. This process should help unclog the system and protect the citizens from activist judges. Yet the Kansas Supreme Court does not use the Judicial Guideline process in this manner. 

Case and Point 
https://docs.google.com/folder/d/0B8YFpjnLmmzzbTBFSUNUczFfRVE/edit?docId=0B8YFpjnLmmzzeTZFVUdVczBiOGM 

  1. https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B8YFpjnLmmzzbmJROEsxc3MxZE0/edit
  2. https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B8YFpjnLmmzzTlV3LTVXWTZOdTA/edit
  3. https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B8YFpjnLmmzzdmVwckE2anN4T1k/edit

All (3) cases the Judges abused their powers. (2) of the cases are “Case Management” cases and both are dealing with Due Process violations (THE SIMPLEST FORM OF OUR RIGHTS) and multiple over reaches of the “Case Manager’s” as well as other simple issues that most people take for granted yet the Judges failed in their delivery of the laws. The courts have stayed mute and rather than send out an Administrative Order or Guideline to clear these issues up for the lower courts and protect the citizens it would rather the system continue to create these problems. This is why Governor Bush vetoed this kind of legislation. However in a rather odd way on August 28, 2012 the courts issued an Administrative order all but repeating the changes in the new statutes for Case Management during the 2012 session http://www.kscourts.org/kansas-courts/supreme-court/administrative-orders/Admin-order-266.pdf .

Why not issue one for every law change in the State? Hard to justify or reason with this when you know there was a total disregard from the lower courts to fairly and justly provide their services on the above cases. There is no leadership in the Judicial Branch, at least nothing to the extent of correcting or preventing future mistakes of the courts. If the courts cannot issue these “Guidelines” or administrative orders in an appropriate manner worthy of discussion, then the legislature must make changes to the services and bring it in a professional manner that helps the process. 

Other issues that have to be addressed is coming up with a totally NEUTRAL Judicial Review Process, having Congress set up hearings for the Judge’s that simply ignore the laws and place citizens in harm’s way. Accountability in the branches is a must. 
The simplest way to review the legislation you are going to be asked to vote on is ask one question – Does it affect or interject the state or other agencies into our daily life? If it does you better think twice about whether we even need this law or process, and lastly don’t take the Judiciary’s statements at face value, make them produce real facts and clear evidence of any arguments to their positions. Studies by lawyers and Judges don’t qualify as a study when the user is silenced. 

Last week someone stated to you to be “bold”, and I would add to that “to be a Kansan, a parent, and a citizen that wants REAL solutions and changes to help move this State forward”. Hopefully this information will help you in creating a debate forum against your opponent. And maybe this will lead you to investigate the matter more. Either way, we must shed a light on a very dark area of our society and information is the key to that success. 

Next week I will put together the School issues which I have already started, and this should be quite a doozy! If for some reason you need to find out more on certain subjects please don’t hesitate to call or email me or visit our blog at http://kansasjudicialsystem-casemanagers.blogspot.com/ 

Chris Brown 
Email
316-644-8075