RACKETEERING-HONEST SERVICES FRAUD

Sacramento County Family Law Court Operates as RICO Racketeering Enterprise, Charge Whistleblowers

Hyperlinks throughout this special investigative report link to whistleblower leaked documents and other original source material.   

Whistleblowers allege that the family law division of
Sacramento Superior Court operates as a racketeering
enterprise similar to the Kids for Cash scheme uncovered
in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. 

The family court division of Sacramento Superior Court is controlled and operated by an illegal parallel government structure made up of local divorce lawyers who also work as part-time judges, court employees and clerks, and full-time judges, according to whistleblower leaked documents and court watchdogs. 

The shadow government is without the same transparency and accountability required of legitimate Judicial Branch agencies, and meets the legal definition of a criminal racketeering enterprise, whistleblowers charge.   

The alleged criminal organization reportedly has operated for more than 20 years under the direction of long-controversial Judge Peter McBrien, who has a prior Sacramento County criminal conviction and two misconduct convictions by the state Commission on Judicial Performance for violations of state judicial ethics laws. 

Court watchdogs assert that many current and former Sacramento County judges have direct or indirect ties to the corruption, including James Mize, Matthew Gary, Jaime Roman, Thadd Blizzard, Vance Raye, Tani Cantil-Sakauye, Thomas Cecil and Dave Sterling. 

Some judges were active participants or effectively facilitated the racketeering as accessories, while others - including virtually every judge assigned to the family law division over the last 20 years - knew or should have known that systemic lawbreaking, institutionalized socioeconomic bias, and criminal activity were occurring, yet turned a blind eye and failed to report the misconduct to oversight authorities, whistleblowers charge.  

Judge Peter McBrien quietly retired in 2014 and, due to his prior CJP misconduct convictions, is prohibited from continuing to work as a retired judge, according to former CJP prosecutor and current Lake County Superior Court Judge Andrew Blum.

But, using a loophole in state law and his local court administration contacts, before he retired McBrien arranged to be immediately rehired as a court commissioner by personal friend and Sacramento Superior Court Presiding Judge Robert Hight, according to a court employee whistleblower. Currently, McBrien remains on the bench in virtually the same role he maintained as a judge. 

As detailed later in this report, the alleged corruption is so pervasive that the family law division of Sacramento Superior Court was featured in the 2014 documentary film Divorce Corp. The movie documented family court corruption throughout the United States and designated Sacramento County as one of the most corrupt family courts in the nation. 

Rubber-Stamped Court Orders

The 2014 documentary film Divorce Corp designated Sacramento County as
one of the most corrupt divorce and family law courts in the United States.

Court whistleblowers assert that divorce lawyers in the organization receive preferential treatment, "kickbacks," and other forms of compensation from judges, court employees and clerks because they volunteer to work as part-time judges and run the family court settlement conference program on behalf of the court.

The kickbacks usually consist of "rubber-stamped" court orders issued when the attorneys file motions while representing clients in court. 

Court records show that the reciprocal quid pro quo agreement also includes the rubber-stamped denial, and even summary denial of motions filed by opposing parties, and especially unrepresented opposing parties who are indigent or disabled, or both. 

The orders consistently are contrary to established law, and the rulings go far beyond the boundaries of, and cannot be attributed to the exercise of judicial discretion. The orders themselves often are deliberately structured without facts, law, or findings, effectively making any potential appeal futile under two legal principles called the "doctrine of implied findings," and the "presumption of correctness."

The orders clearly are illegal as a matter of law, according to court reform advocates, "outsider" attorneys, and the law practice reference publications used by judges and lawyers. SFCN has posted examples of the orders online at Scribd and other document publishing sites. Order links are provided throughout this report.

Court case files also indicate that in some cases, judges simply ignore the requests in motions filed by pro pers, or even collude with judge pro tem attorneys to block the motions from being heard.
  

Shooting Fish in a Barrel

The Sacramento County Bar Association openly
acknowledges its unorthodox relationship with
the family law division of Sacramento Superior Court.

Statistical case sampling data compiled by Sacramento Family Court News reveals that, when compared to other counties, Sacramento County has a significantly higher proportion of family court divorce cases where only one side has an attorney, despite state laws mandating a "level playing field" - meaning both sides have a lawyer - where the marital community income and assets make legal representation economically feasible. 

An important component of the alleged racketeering scheme is keeping pro per parties disadvantaged by preventing them from obtaining counsel. Oral and written requests for attorney fee funds are one of the most often denied, or ignored, motions made by pro pers.

Whistleblowers emphasize that it is hard to overstate the significance of this specific benefit provided under the reciprocal agreement between judges and judge pro tem attorneys. Divorce lawyers liken winning cases against pro per parties to shooting fish in a barrel. Both state and federal courts have long mocked and derided attorneys who represent themselves in court as having a "fool for a client," especially in emotionally charged divorce cases. 

Published decisional law makes clear that if lawyers - who have formal education and training in the law - are fools for attempting to represent themselves in court, indigent and disabled family court pro pers with no education or training in the law have virtually no chance of prevailing against an experienced family law attorney. 

Yet this manifestly unfair power imbalance goes unacknowledged, and is in fact facilitated by many Sacramento Family Court judges, according to whistleblower leaked court records and court reform advocates. 

Racketeering Scheme Targets Divorce Cases Where Only One Side Has a Lawyer  

Most of the demonstrably unlawful orders are issued against indigent, or financially disadvantaged "pro per" parties without an attorney. Many pro per litigants - who make up over 70 percent of court users - also are disabled.

In most cases, pro pers - who have little or no knowledge of family law - are unaware that the orders issued against them are illegal. In addition, court clerks and employees are trained or encouraged to intentionally, and illegally mislead unrepresented parties about their appeal rights. Pro pers who do attempt to file an appeal are forced to navigate a gauntlet of unlawful obstructions erected by court employees and trial court judges, and most eventually give up.

Further handicapping pro pers, when representing clients in court judge pro tem lawyers are allowed to obstruct an opposing parties' court access and ability to file documents through the court-sanctioned misuse of vexatious litigant law and Family Code case management law, according to whistleblowers and court records. The illegal litigation tactic effectively deprives pro per litigants of their constitutional right of access to the courts, a violation of federal law.

In exchange for acting as sworn temporary judges, operating the settlement program and reducing the caseload and workload of judges and court employees, the attorneys also receive preferential trial scheduling, an unlawful "emolument, gratuity or reward" prohibited by Penal Code § 94.

The ultimate consequences of the systemic divorce court corruption include one-sided divisions of community property, illegal child custody arrangements and the deprivation of parental rights, and unlawful child and spousal support terms.

Court reform advocates also assert that the racketeering enterprise enables rampant fee churning and unjust enrichment by judge pro tem divorce lawyers, results in pro per financial devastation, homelessness, and imprisonment, and has caused, or contributed to at least two child deaths.

Years of illegal, pay-to-play child custody orders have resulted in the formation of several Sacramento-based court reform and oversight organizations, including Fathers 4 Justice, California Protective Parents Association, and the Family Court Accountability Coalition. The same family court watchdog group phenomenon has not occurred in any other county in the state.

During three days of sworn testimony at his Commission on Judicial Performance misconduct prosecution, Judge Peter McBrien inadvertently revealed aspects of an alleged RICO racketeering enterprise operating in the Sacramento County family court system.

Violations of State and Federal, Criminal and Civil Laws, with Predicate Acts

The alleged criminal conduct also deprives victims of their state and federal constitutional rights, including due process, equal protection of law, access to the courts, and the fundamental liberty interest in the care, management and companionship of their own children, according to several "outsider" attorneys. 

Court watchdogs charge that the settlement conference kickback arrangement between the public court and private sector attorneys constitutes a racketeering enterprise which also deprives the public of the federally protected right to honest government services.

The alleged federal crimes also include the theft, misuse, or conversion of federal funds received by the court, predicate acts of mail or wire fraud, and predicate state law crimes, including obstruction of justice, child abduction, and receipt of an illegal emolument, gratuity, or reward by a judicial officer (Penal Code § 94).

With the help of court employee whistleblowers, Sacramento Family Court News has partially reconstructed the framework of the alleged criminal enterprise that, in scale and scope, rivals the Kids for Cash court scandal in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, and the Orange County Superior Court case-fixing corruption scheme recently exposed by the FBI.

Settlement Conference Program Quid Pro Quo Arrangement

3rd District Court of Appeal Presiding Justice Vance 
Raye is the co-architect of the current Sacramento 
County Family Court system. Click here for details. 

The current day Sacramento County Family Court system and judge pro tem attorney operated settlement conference program was set up in 1991 by Judge Vance Raye, Judge Peter McBrien and lawyers from the Sacramento County Bar Association Family Law Section, according to the sworn testimony of McBrien at his 2009 Commission on Judicial Performance misconduct prosecution.

Click here to read the transcript of the controversial judge's testimony.  

In his own testimony during the same proceedings, local veteran family law attorney and judge pro tem Robert J. O'Hair corroborated McBrien's testimony and attested to McBrien's character and value to Sacramento County Bar Association Family Law Section members. Click here to view this excerpt of O'Hair's testimony. To view O'Hair's complete testimony, click here.

Judge Vance Raye is now the Presiding Justice of the 3rd District Court of Appeal in Sacramento, the court responsible for hearing appeals from Sacramento Superior Court. The appellate court has been embroiled in a number of controversies surrounding the review of Sacramento family court cases.

In 2012, troubled Sacramento County Judge James Mize, - a personal friend of McBrien - further privatized family court services and expanded the ability of ostensibly "volunteer" temporary judge lawyers to earn kickbacks and other preferential treatment with his so-called "One Day Divorce Program."

Court watchdogs charge that the system was designed to, and does serve the needs and financial interests of family law lawyers at the expense of the 70 percent of family court users who cannot afford representation.

Reducing the Caseload and Workload of Judges and Court Staff in Exchange for Kickbacks

Unrepresented "pro per" litigants who can't afford a lawyer report that temporary judges use coercion and deceptive tactics during mandatory settlement conferences.

One objective of the allegedly illegal public-private partnership is to significantly reduce the caseload, and workload of full-time judges by having private sector lawyers - instead of judges or court staff - operate the settlement program, according to watchdogs. 

At the settlement conferences, judge pro tem attorneys pressure divorcing couples to settle cases so they won't use the trial court services, including law and motion hearings, ordinarily required to resolve a contested divorce.

In many cases, two lawyers - one acting as a temporary judge - with social and professional ties team up against an unrepresented pro per to compel one-sided settlement terms. Accounts of coercive and deceptive tactics are common.

In sworn testimony during his judicial misconduct prosecution by the Commission on Judicial Performance, Judge McBrien inadvertently revealed that an incredible 90 percent of cases assigned to his courtroom settled. "And so I, frankly, have a very light calendar on law and motion mornings," the judge added.

Under the quid pro quo agreement, in exchange for reducing the workload of judges and court staff, as opportunities arise the temporary judge attorneys are provided reciprocal kickbacks, gratuities, or emoluments when representing clients in court. The issuance and receipt of the reciprocal benefits violates several state and federal criminal, and civil laws.

Reciprocal benefits include the issuance of demonstrably illegal court orders that have ignored, and even authorized criminal conduct by judge pro tem attorneys and their clients, including criminal child abduction.

In one case, a judge ordered the illegal arrest and assault of a disabled pro per to benefit the opposing, part-time judge attorney. A court employee whistleblower leaked a courtroom security video of the incident. The judge pro tem lawyer subsequently was caught on court reporter transcript defending the judge and lying about the arrest and assault, portraying the disabled victim as being at fault.

The consistent, statistically impossible in-court success rate of judge pro tem attorneys has provided them prominence, client referrals, wealth, and a substantial monopoly on the Sacramento County divorce and family law business. Whistleblowers point out that this benefit of the alleged criminal organization also implicates consumer protection and antitrust laws, including the California Unfair Business Practices Act.

Racketeering Scheme Immunizes Members from Government Oversight and Accountability

Government whistleblowers allege that Sacramento Family Court corruption results in the misuse of federal funds, deprives the public of the federally protected right to honest government services, and deprives unrepresented, disabled, and financially disadvantaged court users of their civil rights.

The quid pro quo arrangement also involves what whistleblowers assert is a reciprocal protection racket that conceals the organization from discovery by law enforcement agencies and state oversight authorities, including the Commission on Judicial Performance, responsible for judge misconduct, and the State Bar Association, responsible for attorney accountability and discipline. 

Case audits conducted by SFCN show that judge pro tem attorneys routinely violate state law, court rules, and attorney ethics rules, but are never reported to the State Bar, or assessed fines, penalties or "sanctions" by full-time judges as required by state law.

Pro pers who attempt to report judge pro tem attorney misconduct to the State Bar are told they need a court order from a judge before a disciplinary investigation against an opposing attorney can take place. There are no known instances where a judge issued such an order.

Court records leaked by whistleblowers also indicate that the under quid pro quo agreement, judges effectively shield attorneys from criminal investigation and prosecution for alleged crimes, including witness intimidation, child abduction, filing counterfeit documents, and violations of state and federal civil rights laws.

On the other hand, at the request of cartel attorneys, pro per litigants are routinely punished by judges with illegal fines, draconian financial sanctions, and other types of punishment to discourage them from returning to court, and to coerce them to accept settlement terms dictated by the opposing judge pro tem lawyers.

Attorneys provide judges reciprocal protection by not reporting the judicial misconduct, Code of Judicial Ethics violations, and criminal conduct committed by full-time judge cartel members. And the lawyers do more.

To help conceal and ensure the continuity of the enterprise, on the rare occasion when full-time judges do face investigation by the Commission on Judicial Performance, members of the cartel provide false, misleading, or otherwise gratuitous character witness testimony and other forms of support for the offending judge. 

The testimony and support is designed to, and does reduce or eliminate potential punishment by the CJP, ensuring judge members remain on the bench.

Racketeering Conduct of Court Clerks, Supervisors and the Family Law Facilitator

In this case, a court clerk illegally "unfiled" a notice of appeal
filed by an indigent, disabled pro per litigant.

The racketeering activity includes startling coordination, kickbacks, and pattern and practice misconduct by court clerks, supervisors, and the Family Law Facilitator office. 

Court clerks routinely refuse to file legally sufficient paperwork for pro per parties, while at the same time filing legally insufficient, and even counterfeit paperwork - which they are required by law to reject for filing - for judge pro tem attorneys.

In some cases, judges and court clerks work in tandem to prevent pro per parties from filing documents at court hearings for the benefit of judge pro tems, deliberately creating an incomplete and inaccurate trial court record in the event the pro per files an appeal.

Court records show that clerks also deliberately withhold and delay the filing of time sensitive pro per documents until after filing deadlines have expired.

Family Law Facilitator staff provide pro per litigants with false information designed to conceal state law violations by court clerks and supervisors. Judges regularly provide attorneys with written legal advice and "bench tips." When pro pers ask facilitator staff for similar information, they are told that facilitator employees are prohibited from giving legal advice. 

Alleged Racketeering Whistleblower Evidence Catalog

Court reform and accountability advocates assert that the local family law bar - through the Family Law Executive Committee or FLEC - continues to control for the financial gain of members virtually all aspects of court operations, and have catalogued documented examples of judge pro tem attorney preferential treatment and bias against unrepresented litigants and "outsider" attorneys, including:

* Divorce Corp, a documentary film that "exposes the corrupt and collusive industry of family law in the United States" was released in major U.S. cities on January 10, 2014.

After a nationwide search for the most egregious examples of family court corruption, the movie's production team ultimately included four cases from Sacramento County in the film, more than any other jurisdiction. 

* Judge pro tem attorneys Charlotte Keeley, Richard Sokol, Elaine Van Beveren and Dianne Fetzer are each accused of unethical conduct in the problem cases included in the movie. 

Divorce Corp, chronicling Sacramento Superior Court corruption,
is now available on Netflix. 

The infamous Carlsson case, featuring judge pro tem attorney Charlotte Keeley and Judge Peter McBrien is the central case profiled in the documentary, with Sacramento County portrayed as the Ground Zero of family court corruption and collusion in the U.S. Click here for our complete coverage of Divorce Corp.

* After representing a client in Sacramento Family Court, San Francisco attorney Stephen R. Gianelli wrote "this is a 'juice court' in which outside counsel have little chance of prevailing...[the] court has now abandoned even a pretense of being fair to outside counsel." Click here to read Gianelli's complete, scathing account. 

* Judge Thadd Blizzard issued a rubber-stamped, kickback order in November, 2013 for judge pro tem attorney Richard Sokol authorizing an illegal out-of-state move away and child abduction by Sokol's client, April Berger. The opposing counsel is an "outsider" attorney from San Francisco who was dumbfounded by the order. 

Click here for our exclusive report, which includes the complete court reporter transcript from the hearing. Click here for our earlier report on the unethical practice of "hometowning" and the prejudicial treatment of outsider attorneys.

* Whistleblower leaked court records indicate that Sacramento Bar Association Family Law Executive Committee officer and judge pro tem attorney Paula Salinger engaged in obstruction of justice crimes against an indigent, unrepresented domestic violence victim. The victim was a witness in a criminal contempt case against a Salinger client. 

The circumstances surrounding the obstruction of justice incident also infer collusion between Salinger and controversial Judge Matthew J. Gary. For our complete investigative report, click here.

*Two "standing orders" still in effect after being issued by Judge Roland Candee in 2006 override a California Rule of Court prohibiting temporary judges from serving in family law cases where one party is self-represented and the other party is represented by an attorney or is an attorney. The orders were renewed by Presiding Judge Laurie M. Earl in February, 2013. Click here for details.

* Sacramento Family Court judges ignore state conflict of interest laws requiring them to disclose to opposing parties when a judge pro tem working as a private attorney represents a client in family court. Click here for our exclusive investigative report. Click here for a list of other conflict of interest posts.

* Family court policies and procedures, including local court rules, are dictated by the SCBA Family Law Executive Committee for the financial benefit of private sector attorneys, and often disadvantage the 70 percent of court users without lawyers, according to family court watchdogs and whistleblowers. F

Divorce attorney and temporary judge Charlotte Keeley (R)
and her client Katina Rapton of Mel Rapton Honda leave a
 court hearing. Keeley reportedly has billed Rapton more than
 $1 million in connection with a child custody dispute. 

For example, in sworn testimony by Judge Peter McBrien before the Commission on Judicial Performance, McBrien described seeking and obtaining permission from FLEC to change a local rule. Click here and here. 

* In November, 2012 Sacramento Family Court Judge Jaime R. Roman issued a rubber-stamped, kickback order declaring a family court party a vexatious litigant and ordering him to pay $2,500 to the opposing attorney, both without holding the court hearing required by law. 

The opposing attorney who requested the orders is Judge Pro Tem Charlotte Keeley. The blatantly illegal orders resulted in both an unnecessary state court appeal and federal litigation, wasting scarce judicial resources and costing taxpayers significant sums. Click here for our exclusive coverage of the case. 

* Judge Matthew Gary used an unlawful fee waiver hearing to both obstruct an appeal of his own orders and help a client of judge pro tem attorney Paula Salinger avoid paying spousal support. Click here for our investigative report.

* An unrepresented, disabled 52-year-old single mother was made homeless by an illegal child support order issued by Judge Matthew Gary for SCBA Family Law Section attorney Tim Zeff, the partner of temporary judge Scott Buchanan. 

The rubber-stamped, kickback child support order, and other proceedings in the case were so outrageous that the pro per is now represented on appeal by a team of attorneys led by legendary trial attorney James Brosnahan of global law firm Morrison & Foerster. For our exclusive, ongoing reports on the case, click here.

* Judge pro tem attorneys Richard Sokol and Elaine Van Beveren helped conceal judge misconduct and failed to comply with Canon 3D(1) of the Code of Judicial Ethics when they were eyewitnesses to an unlawful contempt of court and resisting arrest incident in Department 121. 

Both Sokol and Van Beveren failed to report the misconduct of Judge Matthew Gary as required by state law. Van Beveren is an officer of the SCBA Family Law Executive Committee. Click here for our exclusive report...

* ...Four years later, Sokol and Van Beveren in open court disseminated demonstrably false and misleading information about the unlawful contempt of court and resisting arrest incident. The apparent objective of the judge pro tem attorneys was to discredit the victim of Gary's misconduct, trivialize the incident, and cover up their own misconduct in failing to report the judge. For our follow-up reports, click here. 

In 2014, a video of the illegal arrest and assault was leaked by a government whistleblower. Click here for details. Watch the exclusive Sacramento Family Court News video below: 

   

* In 2008 controversial family court Judge Peter J. McBrien deprived a family court litigant of a fair trial in a case where the winning party was represented by judge pro tem attorney Charlotte Keeley. In a scathing, published opinion, the 3rd District Court of Appeal reversed in full and ordered a new trial. 

6th District Court of Appeal Presiding Justice Conrad Rushing characterized McBrien's conduct in the case as a "judicial reign of terror."  McBrien subsequently was disciplined by the Commission on Judicial Performance for multiple acts of misconduct in 2009. Click here to read the court of appeal decision. Click here to read the disciplinary decision issued by the CJP. 

* Judge pro tem attorneys Camille Hemmer, Robert O'Hair, Jerry Guthrie and Russell Carlson each testified in support of Judge Peter J. McBrien when the controversial judge was facing removal from the bench by the Commission on Judicial Performance in 2009. 

As sworn temporary judges aware of McBrien's misconduct, each was required by Canon 3D(1) of the Code of Judicial Ethics to take or initiate appropriate corrective action to address McBrien's misconduct. Instead, each testified as a character witness in support of the judge. 

In the CJP's final disciplinary decision allowing McBrien to remain on the bench, the CJP referred specifically to the testimony as a mitigating factor that reduced McBrien's punishment. Click here. Court records indicate that Judge McBrien has not disclosed the potential conflict of interest to opposing attorneys and litigants in subsequent appearances by the attorneys in cases before the judge. Click here for SFCN coverage of conflict issues.

* Judge pro tem attorneys Terri Newman, Camille Hemmer, Diane Wasznicky and Donna Reed were involved in a proposed scheme to rig a recall election of controversial Judge Peter J. McBrien in 2008. 

The plan involved helping McBrien defeat the recall by electing him "Judge of the Year" before the November election. Click here for the Sacramento News and Review report. 

* Judge pro tem attorney Robert J. O'Hair testified as a character witness for controversial Judge Peter J. McBrien at the judge's second CJP disciplinary proceeding in 2009. Paula Salinger, an attorney at O'Hair's firm, Woodruff, O'Hair Posner & Salinger was later granted a waiver of the requirements to become a judge pro tem. 

A family court watchdog asserts the waiver was payback for O'Hair's testimony for McBrien. Click here to read our exclusive investigative report.

* In cases where one party is unrepresented, family court clerks and judges permit judge pro tem attorneys to file declarations which violate mandatory state court rule formatting requirements. The declarations - on blank paper and without line numbers - make it impossible for the pro per to make lawful written evidentiary objections to false and inadmissible evidence. 

Click here for our report documenting multiple state court rule violations in a motion filed by SCBA Family Law Section officer and temporary judge Paula Salinger. To view the pro per responsive declaration objecting to the illegal filing click here, and click here for the pro per points & authorities. 

* Family court clerks and judges allow judge pro tem attorneys to file a fabricated "Notice of Entry of Findings and Order After Hearing" in place of a mandatory Judicial Council Notice of Entry of Judgment FL-190 form. The fake form omits critical appeal rights notifications and other information included in the mandatory form. Click here for our exclusive report. 

* Sacramento Family Court temporary judge and family law lawyer Gary Appelblatt was charged with 13-criminal counts including sexual battery and penetration with a foreign object. The victims were clients and potential clients of the attorney. 

The judge pro tem ultimately pleaded no contest to four of the original 13-counts, including sexual battery, and was sentenced to 18-months in prison. Court administrators concealed from the public that Appelblatt held the Office of Temporary Judge.Click here to read our report.

* Judge pro tem and SCBA Family Law Section attorney Scott Kendall was disbarred from the practice of law on Nov. 24, 2011. 

Kendall was disbarred for acts of moral turpitude, advising a client to violate the law, failing to perform legal services competently, and failing to keep clients informed, including not telling a client about a wage garnishment order and then withdrawing from the same case without notifying the client or obtaining court permission. 

Court administrators concealed from the public that Kendall held the Office of Temporary Judge. Click here to view our report.

* Judge pro tem attorneys Nancy Perkovich and Jacqueline Eston in 2008 helped Donna Gary - the wife of Judge Matthew J. Gary - promote and market ClientTickler, a client management software program for attorneys. The judge reportedly has never disclosed the conflict of interest as required by the Code of Judicial Ethics. Click here for our exclusive report on the controversy.

* In February, 2013 the website of family law firm Bartholomew & Wasznicky cut off the public from the only online access to The Family Law Counselor, a monthly newsletter published by the Sacramento Bar Association Family Law Section. 

Lawyers at the firm include judge pro tem attorneys Hal Bartholomew, Diane Wasznicky and Mary Molinaro. As SFCN has reported, articles in the newsletter often reflect an unusual, collusive relationship between SCBA attorneys and court administrators and judges. Click here for our report.

* Family court reform advocates assert that judge pro tem attorneys obtain favorable court rulings on disputed issues at a statistically improbable rate. The collusion between full-time judges and judge pro tem attorneys constitutes unfair, fraudulent, and unlawful business practices, all of which are prohibited under California unfair competition laws, including Business and Professions Code § 17200, reform advocates claim.

* Unfair competition and the collusion between judges and judge pro tem attorneys ultimately results in unnecessary appeals burdening the appellate court system, and other, related litigation that wastes public funds, exposes taxpayers to civil liability, and squanders scarce court resources.

* Watchdogs point out that the court operates what amounts to a two-track system of justice. One for judge pro tem attorneys and another for unrepresented, financially disadvantaged litigants and "outsider attorneys." 

Two-track systems are prohibited by the Code of Judicial Ethics, according to the Commission on Judicial Performance and the California Judicial Conduct Handbook, the gold standard reference on judge misconduct. Click here for articles about the preferential treatment given judge pro tem attorneys. Click here for examples of how pro pers are treated.

* The Sacramento County Bar Association Family Law Section is led by an "Executive Committee" ("FLEC") of judge pro tem attorneys composed of Chair Russell Carlson, Vice Chair Elaine Van Beveren, Treasurer Fredrick Cohen and Secretary Paula Salinger. Three of the four have been involved in legal malpractice litigation, violations of the Code of Judicial Ethics, or as a defendant in federal civil rights litigation. Click here to read SFCN profiles of the Executive Committee members. Click here for other articles about FLEC. 

* Judge pro tem attorneys are by law required to take or initiate corrective action if they learn that another judge has violated any provision of the Code of Judicial Ethics, or if a lawyer has violated any provision of the California Rules of Professional Conduct. 

Family court watchdogs assert that temporary judges regularly observe unethical and unlawful conduct by family court judges and attorneys but have never taken or initiated appropriate corrective action, a violation of the judge pro tem oath of office. 

To view the applicable Code of Judicial Ethics Canons, Click here. For a Judicial Council directive about the obligation to address judicial misconduct, a critical self-policing component of the Code of Judicial Ethics, click here.

Sacramento Superior Court Temporary Judge Program and Roster

For information about the role of temporary judges in family court, click here. For official Sacramento County Superior Court information about the Temporary Judge Program click here. 

Using public records law, Sacramento Family Court News obtained the list of private practice attorneys who also act as judge pro tems in Sacramento Family Law Court. Each lawyer on the list below is currently a temporary judge, or was a temporary judge in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 or 2013. SFCN cross-checked each name on the Sacramento County judge pro tem list with California State Bar Data. 

The first name in each listing is the name that appears on the Sacramento County judge pro tem list, the second name, the State Bar Number (SBN), and business address are derived from the official State Bar data for each attorney. The State Bar data was obtained using the search function at the State Bar website. 

For-profit, private sector lawyers who also hold the Office of Temporary Judge:

Sandy Amara, Sandra Rose Amara, SBN 166933, Law Office of Sandra Amara,1 California Street, Auburn, CA 95603.

Mark Ambrose, Mark Anthony Ambrose, SBN 141222, Law Offices of Mark A. Ambrose, 8801 Folsom Blvd. Ste. 170, Sacramento, CA 95826. Ambrose unethically advertises himself as a temporary judge.

Kathleen Amos, Kathleen Swalla Amos, SBN 112395, Attorney at Law & Mediator, 206 5th Street, Ste. 2B Galt, CA 95632.

Gary Appelblatt, Gary Michael Appelblatt, SBN 144158, 3610 American River Drive #112, Sacramento, CA 95864. Appelblatt was disbarred by the State Bar on Sept. 24, 2010 after being convicted of sexual battery against clients. Click here for our exclusive report. Appelblatt is a graduate of McGeorge School of Law.

Beth Appelsmith, Beth Marie Appelsmith, SBN 124135, 1430 Alhambra Blvd. Sacramento CA 95816.

Bunmi Awoniyi, Olubunmi Olaide Awoniyi, SBN 154183, Law Office of Bunmi Awoniyi a PC, 1610 Executive Ct. Sacramento, CA 95864. Awoniyi unethically advertises herself as a temporary judge. Awoniyi was appointed a Superior Court Judge in December 2012 and holds court in Department 120 of Sacramento Family Court.

Alexandre C. Barbera, C. Alexandre Barbera, SBN 70071,915 Highland Point Drive, Ste. 250 Roseville, CA 95678.

Group photo featuring active Sacramento Family 

Court Judges Peter McBrien, James Mize, and - 

noted as missing - current Judge Matthew Gary 

and current commissioner Scott Harmon, with 

private sector, judge pro tem attorneys Jill Barr,

 Claire Buckey, Robert O'Hair, and Mary Molinaro.

 Source: Sacramento Lawyer magazine.

Jill L. Barr, Jill L. Barr, SBN 124143, Hemmer & Barr, 555 University Ave, Ste. 125, Sacramento CA 95825.

Hal Bartholomew, Hal David Bartholomew, SBN 52996, Bartholomew & Wasznicky LLP, 4740 Folsom Blvd, Sacramento CA 95819. In 2012, Bartholomew unethically advertised that attorneys at his firm were temporary judges. 

After SFCN reported that his firm was in violation of the Code of Judicial Ethics, Bartholomew came into compliance. 

In February, 2013 the website of Bartholomew & Wasznicky cut off the public from the only online access to The Family Law Counselor, a monthly newsletter published by the Sacramento County Bar Association Family Law Section.

Click here for our report. Click here for SFCN coverage of the Bartholomew and Wasznicky law firm, and here for posts about Hal Bartholomew. 

James Bayse, James Harvey Bayse Jr., SBN 176191, Law Office of James H. Bayse Jr., 455 University Ave, Suite 201, Sacramento, CA 95825.

Paul Brimberry, Paul L. Brimberry, SBN 105074, 2100 Northrop Ave., Suite 100, Sacramento CA 95825.

To hold the Office of Temporary Judge, lawyers must sign this oath. This is the oath of family law attorney Charlotte Keeley.

Ronald Britt, Ronald Joseph Britt, SBN 60664, Law Offices of Ronald J. Britt, 9988 Niblick Drive, Ste. 3 Roseville, CA 95678.

Scott J.Buchanan, J. Scott Buchanan, SBN 42533, 2609 Capitol Ave., Sacramento, CA 95816.

Claire Buckey, Claire Margaret Buckey, SBN 90798, 2233 Watt Ave, Ste 296, Sacramento, CA 95825.

Judy Burger, Judy Lea Burger, SBN 198203, 2377 Gold Meadow Way, Gold River, CA 95670.

Steve Burlingham, Steven Richard Burlingham, SBN 88544, Gary, Till & Burlingham, 5330 Madison Ave., Ste F, Sacramento, CA 95841. In 2012, Burlingham unethically used his judge pro tem status for promotional purposes. After SFCN reported that he was in violation of the Code of Judicial Ethics, Burlingham came into compliance. Click here for SFCN coverage of the attorney.

Sally Callahan, Sally K. Callahan, SBN 57891, 1730 Capitol Ave Sacramento CA 95811.

Mary Campbell, Mary Root Campbell, SBN 139802, Law Office of Mary R. Campbell, 8880 Cal Center Drive, Suite 400, Sacramento, CA 95826.

Russell Carlson, Russell William Carlson, SBN 181843, Carlson & Gevelinger 2020 Marconi Ave., Sacramento CA 95821. Carlson is Chair of the Executive Committee of the Sacramento County Bar Association Family Law Section.Carlson testified as a character witness for controversial Judge Peter J. McBrien when the judge was facing removal from the bench by the Commission on Judicial Performance in 2009. Click here to read Carlson's testimony, posted exclusively by SFCN.

As a sworn temporary judge aware of McBrien's misconduct, Carlson was required by Canon 6D(1) of the Code of Judicial Ethics to take or initiate appropriate corrective action to address McBrien's misconduct. Instead, he testified as a character witness in support of the judge. In the CJP's final disciplinary decision allowing McBrien to remain on the bench, the CJP referred specifically to Carlson's testimony as a mitigating factor. Click here. Click here for Carlson's profile, and here for other SFCN coverage of the lawyer.

Judith Clark, Judith Hersh Clark, SBN 105086, The Ryan Law Group, 2379 Gateway Oaks Drive, Ste 100 Sacramento CA 95833.

Fredrick (Rick) Cohen, Fredrick S. Cohen, SBN 143407, Law Offices of Fredrick S. Cohen, 601 University Ave., Ste 222 Sacramento CA 95825. In 2012, Cohen unethically used his judge pro tem status for promotional purposes. After SFCN reported that he was in violation of the Code of Judicial Ethics [pdf], Cohen came into compliance.

Cohen also has twice been sued in federal court by financially disadvantaged, unrepresented family court litigants. Click here to view the 2009 lawsuit filed by Igor Chepel. After Chepel voluntarily dismissed the case, Cohen and the other defendants in the case requested an order for $17,000 in attorney fees.

The federal magistrate judge assigned to the case scoffed at the request and suggested that Cohen and the other defendants had lied about submitting a waiver of service, which was required to make the attorney fees request viable. Click here to view the June, 2011 court order denying the attorney fees request.

In 2010, Cohen was sued again, along with a family court mediator and her supervisor by Heather DeLuz. Click here to view the DeLuz lawsuit. The case was dismissed for technical reasons, including quasi-judicial immunity, and Deluz's claims were never heard on the merits. Click here to read the February, 2011 order dismissing the case.

Cohen is Treasurer of the Family Law Executive Committee of the Sacramento County Bar Association Family Law Section. Click here for our profile of Cohen, and here for other articles about the attorney.

Robbin Coker, Robbin Michelle Coker, SBN 179196, Coker & Associates 2300 N Street, Suite 1 Sacramento CA 95816.

San Francisco attorney Stephen R. Gianelli describes his experience with Sacramento Family Court, judge pro tem attorney Charlotte Keeley, and the "settlement conference" program run by the temporary judges. Gianelli called the court a hopelessly corrupt "juice court" that "has now abandoned even the pretense of being fair to out-of-town counsel." Click here to read Gianelli's complete account.

Sharon Cooper, Sharon Vinnie Cooper, SBN 133012, 8880 Cal Center Dr Ste 400, Sacramento, CA 95826.

Mark Cudney, Mark David Cudney, SBN 109285, Gaffaney Cudney et al LLP, 4120 Cameron Park Drive #300 Cameron Park, CA 95682.

Kristine Cummings, Kristine Suzanne Cummings - SBN 173563, 3336 Bradshaw Rd Ste 140 Sacramento, CA 95827.

Donna DeCuir, Donna Threlkel DeCuir - SBN 121715, 7509 Madison Ave SBN 101 Citrus Heights, CA 95610.

Carol Delzer, Carol Francine Delzer - SBN 140588, Family Law Center, A Prof Corp 1722 Professional Dr Sacramento, CA 95825.

Nancy DiCenzo, Nancy Patricia DiCenzo - SBN 104357, Law Office of Nancy P. DiCenzo, Inc. 701 Fulton Ave Ste A Sacramento, CA 95825.

Anthony Dick, Anthony S Dick - SBN 39060, Dick & Wagner
797 University Ave Sacramento, CA 95825.

Denise Dirks, Denise Lee Dirks - SBN 142284, Law Ofc Denise L Dirks Rocklin 65 Commerce Center, 6516 Lonetree Blvd Rocklin, CA 95765.

Frank Dougherty, Frank E Dougherty - SBN 180990, Attorney at Law 650 University Ave Ste 100 Sacramento, CA 95825.

Gregory Dwyer, Gregory Ward Dwyer - SBN 84355, Law Ofc Gregory Dwyer 650 University Ave Ste 100 Sacramento, CA 95825.

Noel Edson, Noel Marie Edson - SBN 109298, 1420 River Park Dr 2nd Fl Sacramento, CA 95815.

Jacqueline Eston, Jacqueline Marie Eston - SBN 176215, 2100 Northrop Ave. Sacramento, CA 95825.

Family law lawyers Jackie Eston and Nancy Perkovich also hold the Office of Temporary Judge. In this photo from the Sacramento Business Journal, the attorneys endorse a client management software program sold by Donna Gary, wife of full-time Sacramento Family Court Judge Matthew J. Gary. Family court watchdogs charge this is an example of the rampant cronyism between for-profit, private sector attorneys and taxpayer-paid, public sector judges. Source: Sacramento Business Journal

Dianne Fetzer, Dianne Marie Fetzer - SBN 191834 Law Ofc Dianne M Fetzer 455 University Ave SBN 201 Sacramento, CA 95825.

Isaac Fischer, Isaac Lee Fischer - SBN 220806 Maredyth and Fischer, LLP 1430 Alhambra Blvd Ste 100 Sacramento, CA 95816.

Eldora Ford, Verla Eldora Ford - SBN 109306 LAW OFFICE OF V. ELDORA FORD 1325 Howe Ave Ste 104 Sacramento, CA 95825.

Jerry Glazebrook, Jerry Marshall Glazebrook - SBN 127980 Law Office of Jerry Glazebrook 9833 Fair Oaks Blvd Ste B Fair Oaks, CA 95628.

David Grotewohl, David Philip Grotewohl - SBN 99731 Dave Grotewohl & Associates 1430 Alhambra Blvd Ste 100 Sacramento, CA 95816.

Jerry Guthrie, Jerry L Guthrie - SBN 29844 Guthrie & McCaleb 3650 Auburn Blvd SBN B100 Sacramento, CA 95821.Guthrie testified as a character witness on behalf of controversial Judge Peter J. McBrien when the judge was facing removal from the bench by the Commission on Judicial Performance in 2009. Click here to read Guthrie's testimony, posted exclusively by SFCN. 

As a sworn temporary judge aware of McBrien's misconduct, Guthrie was required by Canon 6D(1) of the Code of Judicial Ethics to take or initiate appropriate corrective action to address McBrien's misconduct. Instead, he testified as a character witness in support of the judge. In the CJP's final disciplinary decision allowing McBrien to remain on the bench, the CJP referred specifically to Guthrie's testimony as a mitigating factor. Click here.

Carla Harms, Carla D Harms - SBN 221588 Law Ofc of Gary R. O'Dell 2220 Douglas Blvd Ste 200 Roseville, CA 95661.

Camille Hemmer, Camille Heath Hemmer - SBN 113026 Law Ofc Camille H Hemmer 555 University Ave Sacramento, CA 95825. Hemmer has twice rotated through each officer position on the controversial Sacramento County Bar Association Family Law Executive Committee or FLEC, most recently as chair in 2008. 

In 2012, Hemmer unethically used her judge pro tem status for promotional purposes. After SFCN reported that she was in violation of the Code of Judicial Ethics, Hemmer came into compliance. In 2008, Hemmer was involved in a proposed scheme to rig a recall election of controversial Judge Peter J. McBrien. 

The plan involved helping McBrien defeat the recall by electing him "Judge of the Year" before the November election. The following year, Hemmer testified as a character witness for McBrien when the judge was facing removal from the bench by the Commission on Judicial Performance. Click here to read Hemmer's testimony, posted exclusively by SFCN. 

As a sworn temporary judge aware of McBrien's misconduct, Hemmer was required by Canon 6D(1) of the Code of Judicial Ethics to take or initiate appropriate corrective action to address McBrien's misconduct. Instead, she testified as a character witness in support of the judge. 

In the CJP's final disciplinary decision allowing McBrien to remain on the bench, the CJP referred specifically to Hemmer's testimony as a mitigating factor. Click here. Hemmer is a graduate of McGeorge School of Law. For our complete coverage of attorney Camille Hemmer Click here.

Joseph Hoffman, Joseph Andrew Hoffman - SBN 173484 Hoffman & Hoffman 2600 E Bidwell St Ste 240 Folsom, CA 95630.

Marc Hughes, Marc Lowell Hughes - SBN 163909 Hughes Law Group 2150 Capitol Ave SBN 100 Sacramento, CA 95816.

Vincent Jacobs, Harold Vincent Jacobs - SBN 50813 Hiroshima Jacobs Roth & Lewis 1420 River Park Dr 2nd Fl Sacramento, CA 95815.

Mark Johannessen, Mark Fredrik Johannessen - SBN 110777 Family Law Center 1722 Professional Dr Sacramento, CA 95825.

Michael Jonsson, Michael Alan Jonsson - SBN 166976 1333 Howe Ave Ste 212 Sacramento, CA 95825.

Patrick Keegan, Francis Patrick Keegan - SBN 128006 Keegan & Myers 6542 Lonetree Blvd Rocklin, CA 95765.

At the Commission on Judicial Performance prosecution of
Sacramento County Judge Peter McBrien, CJP officials acknowledged
that as a temporary judge, divorce attorney Charlotte Keeley was
considered an "insider." Source: CJP hearing transcript.

Charlotte Keeley, Charlotte Leigh Keeley - SBN 88904 1451 River Park Dr SBN 244 Sacramento, CA 95815. Keeley has been the subject of controversial court rulings and protests at her office. 

Keeley is a graduate of McGeorge School of Law. For SFCN coverage of attorney Charlotte Keeley, click here.

Scott Kendall, Scott Michael Kendall - SBN 166156 PO Box 582883 Elk Grove, CA 95758. Judge pro tem attorney Scott Kendall was disbarred from the practice of law on Nov. 24, 2011. 

Kendall was disbarred for acts of moral turpitude, advising a client to violate the law, failing to perform legal services competently, and failing to keep clients informed, including not telling a client about a wage garnishment order and then withdrawing from the same case without notifying the client or obtaining court permission. 

Click here to view the State Bar case which resulted in the disbarment of temporary judge Scott Kendall. Kendall is a graduate of McGeorge School of Law. For our report on the disbarment of Scott Kendall, click here.

Katharine Killeen, Katharine Sharon Killeen - SBN 99371 California Department of Water Resources CA Energy Res Sched Division 2033 Howe Ave # 220 Sacramento, CA 95825.

Eleanor Lediard, Eleanor Lucille Lediard - SBN 119192 1901 P St Sacramento, CA 95811.

Jon Lydell, Jon D Lydell - SBN 166877 5050 Sunrise Blvd Ste C3 Fair Oaks, CA 95628.

Joan Maredyth, Joan Marie Maredyth - SBN 126725 Law Offices of Isaac L. Fischer 1430 Alhambra Blvd Sacramento, CA 95816.

Kevin Mendricks, J Kevin Mendricks - SBN 177501 Cinder Law Group 2360 E Bidwell St Ste 105 Folsom, CA 95630.

Mary Molinaro, Mary Christine Molinaro - SBN 148973 Bartholomew & Wasznicky LLP 4740 Folsom Blvd Sacramento, CA 95819-4426. In February, 2013 the website of Bartholomew & Wasznicky cut off the public from the only online access to The Family Law Counselor, a monthly newsletter published by the Sacramento County Bar Association Family Law Section. 

Molinaro is "Editor Emeritus" of the newsletter. Click here for our report on the controversy. Click here for our coverage of the Bartholomew and Wasznicky firm and here for posts about Diane Wasznicky.

John Munsill, John William Munsill - SBN 95705 12150 Tributary Pt Dr SBN 110 Gold River, CA 95670.

Sandra Myers, Sandra Rae Myers - SBN 166041 Keegan & Myers 6542 Lonetree Blvd Rocklin, CA 95765.

Terri Newman, Terri Diane Newman - SBN 125430 Law Offices of Terri D. Newman PO Box 2043 Loomis, CA 95650. Newman was involved in a proposed scheme to rig a recall election of controversial Judge Peter J. McBrien in 2008. The plan involved helping McBrien defeat the recall by electing him "Judge of the Year" before the November election. As of February 1, 2011, Newman became an inactive lawyer, according to State Bar data.

Gary O’Dell, Gary Ralph O'Dell - SBN 67013 Law Ofc Gary R O'Dell 2220 Douglas Blvd SBN 200 Roseville, CA 95661

Robert O'Hair, Robert James O'Hair - SBN 77624 Woodruff, O'Hair, Posner and Salinger Inc., 2251 Fair Oaks Blvd. #100, Sacramento, CA 95825. O'Hair has twice held every office on the Sacramento County Bar Association Family Law Executive Committee, according to his own sworn testimony. 

In 2009, O'Hair testified as a character witness on behalf of controversial Sacramento Family Court Judge Peter J. McBrien when the judge faced removal from the bench for misconduct by the state Commission on Judicial Performance. Click here to read O'Hair's CJP testimony. As a sworn temporary judge aware of McBrien's misconduct, O'Hair was required by Canon 6D(1) of the Code of Judicial Ethics to take or initiate appropriate corrective action to address McBrien's misconduct. 

Instead, he testified as a character witness in support of the judge. In the CJP's final disciplinary decision allowing McBrien to remain on the bench, the CJP referred specifically to O'Hair's testimony as a mitigating factor. Click here. 

Since 2004, O'Hair's firm - at which all four attorneys serve as judge pro tems - has been embroiled in a legal malpractice case alleging more than $1 million in damages against the firm and partner Thomas Woodruff. The case is ongoing with a tentative trial date in March, 2014. O'Hair is a graduate of McGeorge School of Law. Click here for SFCN coverage of attorney Robert O'Hair, and here for our reporting on Woodruff, O'Hair, Posner & Salinger Inc.

John O'Malley, John Peter O'Malley - SBN 196826 Downey Brand LLP 621 Capitol Mall 18th FL Sacramento, CA 95814-4686. O'Malley unethically advertises himself as a temporary judge.

A group of family court litigants and several attorneys assert that the collusion between Sacramento Family Court judges and administrators and the Sacramento County Bar Association Family Law Executive Committee violates federal laws. The group is drafting a formal complaint to the U.S. Department of Justice Public Integrity Section which reportedly will include allegations of honest services mail and wire fraud under 18 USC 1346. There have been a number of attorney-judge public corruption cases prosecuted by the federal government.  

Nancy Perkovich, Nancy Perkovich - SBN 88494 Perkovich Law Office 3425 American River Dr. Sacramento, CA 95864. Perkovich unethically advertises herself as a temporary judge. Click here for our coverage of attorney Nancy Perkovich.

Cary Peterson, Cary Lee Petersen - SBN 173406 915 University Ave. Sacramento, CA 95825.

Jeff Posner, Jeffrey J Posner - SBN 69291 Woodruff, O'Hair, Posner and Salinger Inc., 2251 Fair Oaks Blvd Ste 100 Sacramento, CA 95825. In 2012 Posner unethically used his judge pro tem status for promotional purposes. After SFCN reported that he was in violation of the Code of Judicial Ethics [pdf], Posner came into compliance. 

Since 2004, Posner's firm - at which all four attorneys also act as judge pro tems - has been embroiled in a legal malpractice case alleging more than $1 million in damages against the firm and partner Thomas Woodruff. The case is ongoing with a tentative trial date in March, 2014. Click here for other articles about Jeff Posner, and here for our coverage of Woodruff, O'Hair, Posner & Salinger Inc.

Donna Reed, [CURRENTLY INACTIVE] Donna Louise Reed - SBN 88712 Law Ofc Donna L Reed PO Box 576 Courtland, CA 95615. Reed was involved in a proposed scheme to rig a recall election of controversial Judge Peter J. McBrien in 2008. The plan involved helping McBrien defeat the recall by electing him "Judge of the Year" before the November election.

William Rolfe, William Clayton Rolfe - SBN 58150 Dopkins & Rolfe 815 University Ave Sacramento, CA 95825.

Katherine Sabo, Katherine Celene Sabo - SBN 179142 Law Ofc Katherine Sabo 1111 Howe Ave Ste 555 Sacramento, CA 95825.

Paula D. Salinger is a partner at the firm

Woodruff, O'Hair, Posner and Salinger.

Paula Salinger, Paula Dawn Salinger - SBN 221262 Woodruff, O'Hair, Posner, and Salinger Inc., 2251 Fair Oaks Blvd Suite 100 Sacramento, CA 95825. 

Salinger has been caught in several scandals including alleged obstruction of justice crimes against an indigent, unrepresented domestic violence victim, filing counterfeit documents in court, violating state laws and court rules, and unlawfully attempting to obtain a final divorce judgment while an appeal in the same case was pending.

In 2011, then-Presiding Judge Steve White authorized a controversial waiver enabling Salinger to prematurely assume the Office of Temporary Judge. Click here for our exclusive report. 

Since 2004, Salinger's firm - at which all four lawyers also serve as judge pro tems - has been embroiled in a legal malpractice case alleging more than $1 million in damages against the firm and partner Thomas Woodruff. Salinger is an officer of the Family Law Executive Committee of the Sacramento County Bar Association Family Law Section, and a graduate of McGeorge School of Law. Click here for the SFCN profile of Salinger, click here for our complete coverage of the attorney, and here for our reporting on Woodruff, O'Hair, Posner & Salinger Inc.

Elliott Sevier, Elliot K. Sevier - SBN 62726 1430 Alhambra Blvd Sacramento, CA 95816.

Cheri Simmons, Cheri Lee Simmons - SBN 164415 PO Box 293435, Sacramento, CA 95829.

Gerald Singer, Gerald E Singer - SBN 78931 Singer & Assoc Law Office A Fathers Custody Center, Inc. 1329 Howe Ave Ste 216 Sacramento, CA 95825.

Carole Smith, Carole Ann Smith - SBN 179285 Law Office of Carole A Smith 777 Campus Commons Rd Ste 200 Sacramento, CA 95825.

Melanie Snider, Melanie Anne Snider - SBN 204199 Law Ofc Melanie Snider Esq 1111 Howe Ave Ste 555 Sacramento, CA 95825.

Sacramento County Family Court watchdogs assert that the rule of law and public confidence in the courts are compromised when family court judges - paid by the public - give private sector attorneys preferential treatment, often at the expense of unrepresented family court litigants who cannot afford counsel. 
Source: California Judicial Conduct Handbook 

Richard Sokol, John Richard Sokol - SBN 72739 Law Offices of Sokol & Bristow LLP, 1321 Howe Ave Ste 235 Sacramento, CA 95825. In 2009, Sokol was an eyewitness to the illegal arrest of disabled pro per litigant Robert Saunders by Judge Matthew Gary. As a sworn temporary judge, Sokol had a legal and ethical duty to report the judge's misconduct, but did nothing.

In 2013, Sokol was caught on court reporter transcript lying about the 2009 Saunders incident, and defending the judge responsible. In the same case in Nov. 2013, at the request of Sokol Judge Thadd Blizzard authorized an illegal out-of-state child abduction by Sokol's client, April Berger. Sokol also unethically advertises himself as a temporary judge. Click here for our coverage of attorney Richard Sokol. Sokol is a graduate of McGeorge School of Law.

Yasmin Spiegel, Yasmin Cogswell Spiegel - SBN 155038 1667 Oak Ave Davis, CA 95616.

Teresa Stanley, Teresa Ann Stanley - SBN 173581 Law & Mediation Office of Teresa A. Stan 13405 Folsom Blvd Ste 509 Folsom, CA 95630.

Helen Stockdale, Helen Sarett Stockdale - SBN 75089 3610 American River Dr SBN 112 Sacramento, CA 95864.

Myrlys Stockdale, Myrlys Laurette Stockdale - SBN 221373 Stockdale Law Firm, Inc. 3840 El Dorado Hills Blvd. Ste. 301, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762.

Carl Swain, Carl Bradford Swain - SBN 67749 815 University Ave Sacramento, CA 95825.

Janet Uthe, Janet Kosid Uthe - SBN 66469 Janet K. Uthe, Attorney a Law, 201 Riverside Dr Ste 2-D Box 15, Roseville CA 95678.

Maria Valdez, Maria Elida Valdez - SBN 171446 Law Ofc Maria E Valdez 2240 Douglas Blvd Ste 290 Roseville, CA 95661.

Elaine Van Beveren, Elaine Viola Van Beveren - SBN 135745 2233 Watt Ave Ste 296 Sacramento, CA 95825. In 2009, Van Beveren was an eyewitness to the illegal arrest of disabled pro per litigant Robert Saunders by Judge Matthew Gary. As a sworn temporary judge, Van Beveren had a legal and ethical duty to report the judge's misconduct, but did nothing. 

Since 2010, Van Beveren has been a defendant in federal litigation brought against her by family court watchdog and litigant Robert Saunders. Click here to view court records from the case. Van Beveren is Vice Chair of the Family Law Executive Committee of the Sacramento County Bar Association Family Law Section. Van Beveren is a graduate of McGeorge School of Law. Click here for the SFCN profile of Van Beveren, and here for other articles about the lawyer.

Stephen Wagner, Stephen James Wagner - SBN 67913 Dick & Wagner 797 University Ave Sacramento, CA 95825.

Margaret Walton, Margaret B. Walton - SBN 109458 700 University Ave Ste 130 Sacramento, CA 95825.

Vincent Ward, Vincent D. Ward Jr - SBN 88826 3600 Power Inn Rd Ste A Sacramento, CA 95826.

Melva Warriner, Melva Menzies Warriner - SBN 84335 2100 Northrop Ave Ste 100 Sacramento, CA 95825.

An attorney who deliberately deceives a judge or any party involved in a court case is subject to misdemeanor criminal prosecution under California law. Family court reform advocates assert that many attorneys routinely engage in intentionally deceptive tactics, and that the law goes unenforced by judges, prosecutors, and California State Bar Chief Trial Counsel Jayne Kim.

Diane Wasznicky, Diane Elizabeth Wasznicky - SBN 98285 Bartholomew & Wasznicky LLP 4740 Folsom Blvd Sacramento, CA 95819. In 2012, Wasznicky unethically advertised that attorneys at her firm were temporary judges. After SFCN reported that her firm was in violation of the Code of Judicial Ethics, Wasznicky came into compliance. 

Wasznicky also was involved in a proposed scheme to rig a recall election of controversial Judge Peter J. McBrien in 2008. The plan involved helping McBrien defeat the recall by electing him "Judge of the Year" before the November election. 

In February, 2013 the website of Bartholomew & Wasznicky cut off the public from the only online access to The Family Law Counselor, a monthly newsletter published by the Sacramento County Bar Association Family Law Section. Click here for our report on the controversy. Click here for our coverage of the Bartholomew and Wasznicky firm and here for posts about Diane Wasznicky.

Darrell Webster, Darrell Edwin Webster - SBN 99573 2390 Professional Dr Roseville, CA 95661.

Lisa Wible-Wright, Lisa Ann Wible SBN 114596 900 University Ave. Ste. 101, Sacramento, CA 95825.

Stephanie Williams, Stephanie Lynn Williams - SBN 196008 Stephanie L. Williams, Attorney at Law 1420 River Park Dr Ste 220 Sacramento, CA 95815.

Dennis Wilson, Dennis Mac Wilson - SBN 43877 Wilson Law Firm, A Professional Corp 1120 Iron Point Rd Ste 100 Folsom, CA 95630.

Joseph Winn, Joseph Richard Winn - SBN 91160 Law Offices of Winn & Winn 11231 Gold Express Dr Ste 108 Gold River, CA 95670. Winn unethically advertises himself as a temporary judge.

Judith Winn, Judith Kalenscher Winn - SBN 99584 Law Offices of Winn & Winn 11231 Gold Express Dr Ste 108 Gold River, CA 95670.

Thomas Woodruff, Daniel Thomas Woodruff - SBN 49869 Woodruff, O'Hair, Posner and Salinger 2251 Fair Oaks Blvd Ste 100 Sacramento, CA 95825. In 2004, Woodruff and his firm were named as defendants in a legal malpractice case alleging more than $1 million in damages. 

In 2010, Woodruff and the firm unsuccessfully attempted to have the suit dismissed. Click her to read the 12-page ruling denying Woodruff's motion for summary adjudication. The case is ongoing with a tentative trial date in March, 2014. Click here for SFCN coverage of attorney Thomas Woodruff, and here for our reporting on Woodruff, O'Hair, Posner and Salinger Inc.

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Author: PelicanBriefed 
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