HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Reso 2016-10 RESOLUTION 2016-10
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF CATHEDRAL CITY,
CALIFORNIA, URGING THE GOVERNOR, LEGISLATURE AND
JUDICIAL COUNCIL TO WORK TOGETHER TO REALLOCATE
JUDICIAL RESOURCES TO ENSURE EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE
FOR ALL CALIFORNIANS
Whereas, the population of Riverside County and San Bernardino Counties has
grown 37 percent over the last 15 years, but funded judicial positons have not increased
sufficiently to meet the increased need, resulting in lengthy delays for the residents of
these counties in accessing justice through their courts; and
Whereas, San Bernardino and Riverside Counties have two of the highest
caseload ratios per judge in the State; and
Whereas, the Chief Justice and Judicial Council, through modification of the
Workload Allocation Funding Model, have taken significant initial steps to promote equal
access to justice by creating a model to allocate funding more equitably to the trial
courts; and.
Whereas, according to the 2014 Judicial Needs Assessment, San Bernardino
County has a need for 57 additional judges, and Riverside County a need for 51
additional judges, more than any other counties in the State and ranked first and second
respectively, in terms of need; and
Whereas, in 2015, SB 229, which would have funded 12 additional judgeships in
California, including 4 in San Bernardino and 3 in Riverside County, was passed by the
legislature unanimously but vetoed by the Governor; and
Whereas, in his veto message, the Governor stated: "I am aware the need for
judges in many courts is acute- Riverside and San Bernardino are two clear examples.
However, before funding new positions, I intend to work with the Judicial Council to
develop a more system wide approach to balance the workload and the distribution of
judgeships around the state"; and
Whereas, the Governor's 2016-17 budget proposes to reallocate up to 5 vacant
judgeships and the needed staffing and security compliments needed to support them
to areas where workloads are highest.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, DETERMINED, AND ORDERED BY
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CATHEDRAL CITY, AS FOLLOWS:
That the Governor, Legislature, and Judicial Council are hereby urgently requested to
work together to create and implement an acceptable methodology which allocates
funded judicial positions, with funding for support staff and court security, where they
are needed most- most urgently in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties- so that all
California residents can enjoy equal access to justice.
PASSED, APPROVED, and ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council
of the City of Cathedral City held on this 9th day of March, 2016.
Stanley E. Henry, Mayor
City of Cathedral City, California
ATTEST:
1► I
Gary F. Ho ell, City C j-rk
City of Cathedral City, California
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
s �
Eric S. ail, City Attorney
I, GARY F. HOWELL, CITY CLERK of the City of Cathedral City, do hereby
certify that the foregoing Resolution was introduced and adopted at a regular meeting of
the City Council of the City of Cathedral City held on the 9th day of March, 2016 by the
following vote:
AYES: Council Members Aguilar, Carnevale and Kaplan; Mayor Pro Tem
Pettis and Mayor Henry
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
AgiAlM_
/ Gary F, Howell, CiToler 1/