Sacramento Family Court Report Archives: Judge Jaime Roman, the Judge Pro Tem, and the Vexatious Litigant

Controversial divorce attorney and part-time Sacramento Superior Court judge Charlotte Keeley (R) leaves a family court hearing with client Katina Rapton. Keeley works as a volunteer judge in the same court.  

Judge Jaime Roman Controversy: Issues Vexatious Litigant Order Against Opposing Party for Part-Time Judge Divorce Attorney Charlotte Keeley Without Holding Required Court Hearing

Originally Published April 17, 2013

News Analysis & Opinion

The Sacramento Family Court News analysis team has been working overtime scrutinizing and trying to make sense of a controversial 20-page statement of decision issued on Nov. 14 of last year by Supervising Family Court Judge Jaime R. Roman. Click here for our initial report from 2012.

Roman's decision is now being challenged in both the Third District Court of Appeal, and in a federal class action lawsuit filed March 22 in U.S. District Court in San Francisco. It is certain that taxpayers will get a substantial bill for each case.

Court watchdogs contend Roman's order exemplifies the overt lawlessness that occurs weekly in family court, and the preferential treatment that full-time judges provide for-profit attorneys who also serve as temporary judges. 

The unprecedented ruling - which was made-to-order for Judge Pro Tem attorney Charlotte Keeley - rewrites California vexatious litigant law and procedure. Watchdogs hold Judge Roman responsible for putting taxpayers on the financial hook for the costs of yet another unnecessary appeal from family court, and the federal litigation.

In another pointless appeal caused by judicial misconduct, Judge Matthew J. Gary unsuccessfully attempted a similar rewrite of putative spouse law and in 2011 was reversed in full by the Third District Court of Appeal. Our analysis indicates that Judge Roman's order likely is headed for the same fate. 

Off-the-Rails at Conjunction Junction

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The confusing legal rationale of Judge Roman's 20-page decision is constructed from a series of allegedly consistent conjunctions conjoining components of the Family Code, Code of Civil Procedure, and court rules. For example, Roman writes at page six:

Judge Jaime Roman Disqualification for Bias: Verified Answer to Challenge for Cause from 2013

Read our Special Report: Sacramento County Family Court Operates as RICO Racketeering Enterprise, Charge Whistleblowers.

Judge Matthew Gary Serial Misconduct Saga: Court Watchdogs Stunned by Return of Controversial Judge-Clerk Team to Family Court

Court clerk Christina Arcuri with Judge Matthew Gary 

Sacramento Superior Court Presiding Judge Kevin Culhane has reassigned troubled Judge Matthew J. Gary - and his equally controversial clerk Christina Arcuri - to hear cases in the family law courthouse.

Under a cloud of controversy, in 2014 Gary and Arcuri were moved from a family law courtroom in the William Ridgeway Family Relations Courthouse on Power Inn Road to a probate/mental health law courtroom in the same courthouse. 

Court watchdogs assert that Gary and Arcuri are openly biased against self-represented litigants who cannot afford to hire an attorney, and who make up more than 70 percent of court users in family court. Court employee whistleblowers also allege that the pair have been engaged in an improper, long-term personal relationship for over ten years. The couple deny the claim.
   

After generating a number of complaints during the course of their assignment to the probate/mental courtroom, in 2015 Gary and Arcuri were again reassigned to hear trial and misdemeanor warrants and mental health hearings in Department 13 at the Gordon D. Schaber courthouse in downtown Sacramento. The pair reportedly also generated complaints in that assignment and have now cycled back to the family law courthouse, to Department 122. 

In their prior family court stint, Gary and Arcuri were involved in a string of scandals, including 

• Gary failing to disclose a conflict of interest involving his now-ex wife's software company.  
• A full reversal by the 3rd District Court of Appeal of a judgment issued by Gary in the Seaton divorce case. 
• Gary's premature removal from a family court supervising judge position by then-Presiding Judge Laurie Earl.
• Infighting after his removal as family court supervising judge, forcing the resignation of his successor, Judge Jamie Roman.   
• Gary's forced removal from a family law case ordered by San Joaquin County Judge Xapuri Villapudua. 
• The illegal in-court arrest of an indigent, self-represented, disabled family court parent, caught on a courtroom security video and subsequently leaked by a court employee whistleblower. 
• Failing to report alleged obstruction of justice crimes by a prominent family law attorney with a history of misconduct.  
• Issuing a series of allegedly illegal orders against an indigent, disabled parent who was self-represented because she couldn't afford to hire a lawyer.  
• Attempting to obstruct an appeal of orders issued by Gary. 
• Failing to report to law enforcement an alleged racketeering enterprise operating in the family court system. 

Read our Special Report: Sacramento County Family Court Operates as RICO Racketeering Enterprise, Charge Whistleblowers.

Sacramento Superior Court, California Judicial Branch Generate Controversy in 2016: Year in Review

Supreme Court Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye obstructs
State Bar reform.

Commission on Judicial Performance sues State Auditor to restrict
audit of the judge oversight agency. 

Commission on Judicial Performance whistleblower and court
watchdog Joe Sweeney jailed in alleged retaliation scheme. 

State Auditor Elaine Howle asserts authority over Commission on Judicial
Performance in CJP's bad faith litigation to restrict audit of the agency. 

Sacramento Superior Court Judge Jaime Roman prosecuted and
punished for judicial misconduct by the Commission on
Judicial Performance. 

Alameda County Superior Court Commissioner Taylor Culver
resigns to avoid prosecution for judge misconduct.

Commission on Judicial Performance Chairman Anthony
Capozzi faces criminal investigation. 

Santa Clara County Judge Aaron Persky cleared of wrongdoing in
Brock Turner sexual assault case. 

Read our Special Report: Sacramento County Family Court Operates as RICO Racketeering Enterprise, Charge Whistleblowers.

Sacramento Superior Court Controversy: Institutionalized Socioeconomic Bias by Family Court Judges Alleged in Federal Class-Action Lawsuit with Sacramento Plaintiff

Systemic socioeconomic bias by family court judges who misuse state vexatious litigant law against financially disadvantaged parents in child custody disputes is alleged in a federal class-action lawsuit filed by attorney Archibald Cunningham. 

Cunningham's rebuttal argument in the case at the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco on December 8, 2015 is recorded in the video above. The case was heard by circuit judges Alex Kozinski, Jay Bybee and Morgan Christen. To view video of the complete oral argument at the Sacramento Family Court News YouTube Channel, click here. 

Sacramento Family Court litigant Andrew Karres - who without a court hearing was summarily declared a vexatious litigant by Judge Jaime Roman - is a plaintiff in the case. Related SFCN coverage includes: 

• Judge Jaime Roman Designates Party Vexatious Litigant, Sanctions $2,500 and Makes 13 Other Rulings - Without Court Hearing Required by Law, click here. 
• Appeal Filed of Unprecedented Orders Issued by Judge Jaime Roman for Judge Pro Tem Charlotte Keeley,click here. 
• Controversial Order for Judge Pro Tem Attorney Charlotte Keeley by Judge Jaime Roman Challenged in Federal Class Action Lawsuit - Taxpayers Face Financial Liability, click here. 
• Judge Jaime Roman Misstates Law, Uses Overruled Case to Justify Vexatious Litigant and Other Orders Without Court Hearing, click here.  
• Judge Jaime R. Roman Vexatious Litigant Order for Attorney Charlotte Keeley Shows Judge Pro Tem Monopoly - Unfair Competition at Work, click here. 

For a complete list of all articles about the Karres case, click here. 

Sacramento Superior Court Controversy: 9th Circuit Oral Argument in Case Alleging Judge Jaime Roman Ruling Unconstitutional

Judicial Council chair and former Sacramento Superior Court Judge Tani Cantil-Sakauye is a defendant in a federal civil rights class action alleging systemic misuse of vexatious litigant law against family court parents in child custody disputes. 

Oral argument in Pierce v. Cantil-Sakauye will be heard this week in the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in San Francisco. The class action civil rights case challenges the use of state vexatious litigant law against family court parents involved in child custody disputes. The plaintiffs include Sacramento Superior Court litigant and parent Andrew Karres.

In 2012, without the court hearing required by law, Sacramento Superior Court Judge Jaime Roman issued an order declaring Karres a vexatious litigant.  The issuance of a vexatious litigant determination without a court hearing was, and is unprecedented, and the ruling remains controversial. 

To continue reading, click Read more >> below: 

Sacramento Family Court News Surpasses 100,000 Pageviews with Readers from 94 Countries - Top 10 Lists Published

Worldwide Interest In Sacramento Family Court Corruption and Controversy Generates 100,000 Pageviews at SFCN

The frequency of worldwide visits to Sacramento Family Court News are reflected in this map from Google Analytics.

Sacramento Family Court News has reached another readership milestone: 100,000 pageviews from visitors in 94 countries. The pageviews resulted from a total of 29,107 visits from readers in the United States, with additional visits from readers in 93 other countries, according to statistical data provided by Google Analytics. The Top 10 countries by number of visits are:

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Judge Jaime Roman Embroilment, Abuse of Authority Against Outside Attorney Suggests Judge Pro Tem Attorney Monopoly, Implicates Anti-Trust, Unfair Competition Laws

Divorce attorneys Sharon Huddle (R) and Charlotte Keeley face-off at a hearing before Judge John Winn. 

News Analysis & Opinion

For Roseville family law attorney Sharon Huddle, the Sacramento Family Court proceedings surrounding issuance of a controversial order designating her client Andrew Karres a vexatious litigant may be déjà vu all over again. Throughout the 20-page order, written by Judge Jaime R. Roman, Huddle and her client are demeaned, disparaged and ridiculed. 

The opposing attorney - Judge Pro Tem Charlotte Keeley - and her client, Mel Rapton Honda heiress Katina Rapton, are portrayed by Roman in the patently unlawful order as victims. For our complete coverage of the vexatious litigant order and the Rapton-Karres case, click here. 

Judge Jaime Roman Controversy: Issues Vexatious Litigant Order Against Opposing Party for Part-Time Judge Divorce Attorney Charlotte Keeley Without Holding Required Court Hearing

Controversial divorce attorney and part-time Sacramento Superior Court judge Charlotte Keeley (R) leaves a family court hearing with client Katina Rapton. Keeley works as a volunteer judge in the same court.  

News Analysis & Opinion

The Sacramento Family Court News analysis team has been working overtime scrutinizing and trying to make sense of a controversial 20-page statement of decision issued on Nov. 14 of last year by Supervising Family Court Judge Jaime R. Roman. Click here for our initial report from 2012.

Roman's decision is now being challenged in both the Third District Court of Appeal, and in a federal class action lawsuit filed March 22 in U.S. District Court in San Francisco. It is certain that taxpayers will get a substantial bill for each case.

Court watchdogs contend Roman's order exemplifies the overt lawlessness that occurs weekly in family court, and the preferential treatment that full-time judges provide for-profit attorneys who also serve as temporary judges. 

Judge James Mize Replaces Jaime Roman as Supervising Family Law and Probate Judge After Just Seven Months - Infighting Blamed

Judge James Mize was named "Judge of the Year" in 2009 by the
Sacramento County Bar Association. 

Sacramento County Superior Court Judge James M. Mize has been named as the Supervising Family Law, Probate and ADA Judge, effective April 8, 2013. 

The supervising judge position previously was held by troubled Judge Jaime R. Roman, who replaced Judge Matthew J. Gary just seven months ago.

Gary was involuntarily removed in September, 2012 under a cloud of controversy, and several months before the normal, calendar year rotation of the supervising judge position. 

Tani Cantil-Sakauye Defendant & Jaime R. Roman Implicated in Federal Class Action Lawsuit for Misuse of Vexatious Litigant Law

Controversial Order for Judge Pro Tem Attorney Charlotte Keeley by Judge Jaime Roman Challenged in Federal Class Action Lawsuit

Taxpayers Face Financial Liability

Supreme Court Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye is named as a defendant in this federal court litigation stemming from a vexatious litigant court order issued by Sacramento Family Court Judge Jaime Roman for Judge Pro Tem Charlotte Keeley.

SACRAMENTO FAMILY COURT NEWS EXCLUSIVE

A November, 2012 court order designating a Sacramento Family Court party as a vexatious litigant is being challenged in a landmark federal class action lawsuit filed yesterday in United States District Court in San Francisco. The controversial order was issued by family court Judge Jaime Roman at the request of temporary judge and veteran family law attorney Charlotte Keeley in a case with a long-running child custody dispute between Andrew Karres and Mel Rapton Honda heiress Katina Rapton. 

The order blacklisted [pdf] Karres as a vexatious litigant [pdf] and raised eyebrows in the legal community because Roman issued the ruling without providing Karres the court hearing required under state law and the due process provisions of the state and federal Constitutions. 

The vexatious litigant designation severely restricts a litigants access to the courts by requiring them to get pre-approval from a presiding judge before they are permitted to file pleadings in any court in the state. Sacramento Family Court News in Nov. 2012 reported exclusively on Judge Roman's unorthodox order, which also is pending review by the Third District Court of Appeal in Sacramento. Taxpayers likely will now get two substantial bills in connection with the Keeley-Roman ruling. 

The state court appeal will cost the public between $8,500 and $25,500, according to recent appellate court decisions. The public cost of defending the federal case could be significantly higher. For several years, court watchdogs and whistleblowers have asserted that full-time judges give preferential treatment to judge pro tem attorneys. They charge that the Rapton-Karres case is one of several cases emblematic of judge-attorney cronyism and its effects, including the unnecessary use of scarce court resources and the financial burden on taxpayers. 

To continue reading, click Read more >> below: 

Judge Jaime R. Roman Misconduct: Orders Appealed in Divorce Attorney Charlotte Keeley Case - Temporary Judge Preferential Treatment Alleged

Appeal Filed of Unprecedented Orders Issued by Judge Jaime Roman for Judge Pro Tem Charlotte Keeley

Tuesday Document Dump

An appeal of orders issued without a court hearing by Judge Jaime Roman for Sacramento County Bar Association Family Law Section attorney and family court judge pro tem Charlotte Keeley was filed on Jan. 10. The appeal will cost the parties substantial sums and taxpayers between $8,500 and $25,500, according to recent appellate court decisions. Court watchdogs assert the case is an explicit example of the overt cronyism between full-time judges and temporary judges of the same court. Click here for the complete Sacramento Family Court News coverage of the case.     
   

Judge Jaime R. Roman Disregards State Law, Issues Vexatious Litigant, Sanctions, 13 Other Orders in Prohibited "Trial by Declaration"

Attorney Sharon Huddle appeared dumbfounded when Judge Jaime Roman abruptly cancelled a court hearing.

In a rambling, unorthodox 20-page statement of decision peppered with 73 footnotes, Sacramento Family Court Judge Jaime Roman designated family court party Andrew Karres a vexatious litigant, ordered Karres to pay $2,500 in attorney fee sanctions, and issued 13 additional orders at a brief court proceeding yesterday. 

All the disputed issues inexplicably were decided without oral argument and without the court hearing mandated by both the vexatious litigant and sanctions statutes. Virtually all rulings were against Karres and in favor of Karres' ex-wife, Mel Rapton Honda heiress Katina Rapton. Rapton is represented by veteran Sacramento County Bar Association Family Law Section attorney and family court judge pro tem Charlotte Keeley. 

Judge Laurie Earl Misconduct: SCBA Family Law Section Divorce Lawyers Notified Of Family Court Judge Matthew J. Gary Demotion - Public Left In Dark

Judge Laurie M. Earl Notifies Family Law Attorneys About Matthew Gary Demotion - Public Left Uninformed 

Judge Laurie M. Earl Sacramento Superior Court
Source: Sacramento Lawyer Magazine

As exclusively reported last month by Sacramento Family Court News, Family Court Judge Matthew J. Gary has been quietly demoted back to the rank-and-file. Gary's supervising judge title was stripped and given to Judge Jamie R. Roman.   

While family court attorneys were immediately notified of the leadership change through a lawyer-only LISTSERV, the public apparently was, and continues to be kept in the dark. The only publicly available clue about Gary's problems was an innocuous Sept. 7 order designating ADA judicial officers.  Instead of Gary, the ADA order signed by Sacramento County Superior Court Presiding Judge Laurie M. Earl listed Roman as the Family Court ADA Judicial Officer, a title that comes with the supervising judge designation. Judge Earl otherwise continues to conceal from non-lawyers the decision to replace Gary months before his term as supervising judge was scheduled to end, according to a court watchdog.

Court critic accuses Judge Earl of "Code of Silence Routine," and Earl's statement to Family Court attorneys...To continue reading, click Read more >> below: