Judicial Independence on Trial with Judge’s Recall
A judge’s recall moves forward as another test to California’s judiciary and a challenge to judicial independence. Judge Aaron Persky will face voters in a recall election now that enough signatures have been certified to present his recall to voters. A light sentence delivered by Persky against Stanford swimmer Brock Turner for rape of an […]
NFIB Unveils 2017 Legislative Voting Record
Last week, the National Federation of Independent Business/California, the voice of small business in California, unveiled our annual voting record for each Senator and Assemblymember in the State Capitol. Each year, NFIB/CA identifies and lobbies on bills which would have the most significant impact, either positive or negative, on small businesses. Based on their vote on these critical […]
Grading the Nunes Memo
As a partner in one of the largest law firms in the state, I receive many memoranda from junior attorneys or clerks on various legal subjects. The memoranda are important because we need to rely on the quality of the research and analysis. They also are a tool to make decisions about hiring and advancement. […]
California’s OPEB Crisis
Everyone has heard about pension costs but few have heard about the other retirement cost that’s burdening California governments and schools. “OPEB” — “Other Post-Employment Benefits” — are a form of deferred compensation, just like pensions. The principal OPEB benefit is a promise to cover post-retirement health costs. Because government employees in California may retire before they are covered […]
Sex harassment document dump isn’t enough
Getting legislative leaders to release records about sexual harassment by legislators and their staffers was like pulling teeth without anesthesia. It took months of pressure from women who work in and around the Capitol and had demanded an end to the pervasive culture of bad behavior and from news media, but it finally happened last […]