SACRAMENTO FAMILY COURT JUDGES MEMORIALIZED BY FAMOUS EDITORIAL CARTOONIST IN DIVORCE CASE

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

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.

Commissioner Peter McBrien Misconduct Prosecution by the Commission on Judicial Performance: Records Catalog

• Judge Peter McBrien misconduct Commission on Judicial Performance prosecution documents catalog. 

• Judge Peter McBrien Sacramento County criminal prosecution documents catalog. 

• Sacramento News and Review: A view to kill for. 
• Sacramento News and Review: Peter McBrien articles catalog. 

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

Judge Matthew J. Gary Involved in Fatal Traffic Collision with Cyclist - CHP Incident Report Questioned

Truck Driven by Judge Matthew Gary Collides with 66-year-old Female Cyclist - Inflicts Fatal Head Injuries 

UPDATE: The Sacramento Bee has published an investigative report about the questions surrounding this incident: click here. 

The California Highway Patrol has issued a press release announcing a fatal traffic incident involving Judge Matthew Gary: 

On November 2, 2015, at 8:05 am, Margaret Bengs-McReynolds (66) of Carmichael was riding a bicycle eastbound Fair Oaks Blvd., south of Kenneth Ave., and crossing the roadway from the west curb. Matthew Gary of Sacramento was driving a 2014 Toyota Tundra southbound Fair Oaks Blvd., south of Kenneth Ave. at a speed less than 35 mph.

Bengs-McReynolds failed to clear the traffic lane by lane and as she reached the two-way left turn lane, she was struck by the front of the Toyota Tundra. Bengs-McReynolds was knocked to the ground and struck her head. She was transported to Mercy San Juan Hospital where she succumbed to her injuries on November 4, 2015. Bengs-McReynolds was not wearing a helmet.

Mr. Gary was wearing his seat belt and did not sustain any injuries as a result of this collision.

A court employee whistleblower and several family court watchdogs have questioned the CHP account of the incident and suggest the press release may reflect a whitewash because of Gary's status as a superior court judge. 

To continue reading, click Read more >> below: 

Judge Robert Hight Controversy: "Lifetime Porker, Lying Loser" Says National Court Watchdog Group

Sacramento Superior Court Presiding Judge Robert C. Hight Earns Recognition by Committee to Expose Dishonest and Incompetent Judges

Judge Robert Hight has received an unfavorable
review by a national court watchdog group.

A national court watchdog group has published an unflattering report about Sacramento County Presiding Judge Robert Hight.  

"The state of California presented Robert Conner Hight with a law license in 1972. Since receiving his law license, Bobby has had his significant snout firmly implanted in the public trough for the past 43 years (1972-2015).

Prior to ascending to the bench, Bobby worked at the Dept. of Fish and Game and the California Lands Commission. It's apparent that no self-respecting law firm in the Sacramento area was about to offer Bobby a good paying job," begins the profile. 

The Hight report was recently published by The Committee to Expose Dishonest and Incompetent Judges, Attorneys, and Public Officials, a national government whistleblower website with over 1.3 million visits. 

Height earned the distinction for his 2009 testimony during the Commission on Judicial Performance misconduct prosecution of Judge Peter McBrien. Hight testified for the McBrien defense team as a character witness. "What kind of Judge would voluntarily testify as to the good character of a convicted criminal?," the Committee report reads.      

To read the full report click here. To view Sacramento Family Court News articles about Judge Hight, click here.

The Committee previously published profiles of other Sacramento County judges, including

• James Mize, click here. 
• Shellyanne Chang, click here.
• Kevin McCormick, click here.      
• Peter McBrien, click here, here, and here. 

Related articles from Sacramento Family Court News:

• Alleged Sacramento Superior Court racketeering enterprise involving judges and attorneys. 
• Divorce Corp documentary film detailing family court corruption.
• Part-time judge attorneys provided kickbacks and preferential treatment by court employees and full-time judges.    

Sacramento County Family Court Controversies Spark Worldwide Interest

SFCN Readership Data Reveals Interest in Sacramento Family Court News and Controversy Spans Globe

This map from Google Analytics color codes the readership of Sacramento Family Court News by country and frequency. 

The latest readership data compiled by Sacramento Family Court News and Google Analytics shows that the SFCN site has been viewed by readers in 61 countries. In addition to 12,559 visits from throughout the United States, the site has had 226 visits from Sweden, 79 from Canada, 56 from Australia and 52 from the United Kingdom. Readers also have logged on from Turkey, Qatar, Israel, South Korea, Russia, Pakistan and France. SFCN's worldwide visitors have made nearly 45,000 page views.

To view the complete, country-by-country data, click Read more>> below. 

Divorce Lawyers RoadDog Satire: Special Holiday Edition Sunday Funnies - Sacramento Family Court Rare, Collectible Internet Memes

RoadDog Commemorates Fourth of July with Collector's Edition Series of Family Court Meme Posters

Sacramento Family Court watchdogs and whistleblowers have
documented that the court effectively is operated by and for
 the Sacramento County Bar Association Family Law Section.

Sunday Satire by RoadDog

No lie: Civics was RoadDog's favorite class in high school. The Fourth of July is the Dog's favorite holiday. In recognition of the fact that the Sacramento Family Court system is most def not like what RoadDog learned about the Judicial Branch of government in high school civics, the Dog has commissioned a special commemorative series of family court meme posters. High school civics teachers are encouraged to download, print and thumbtack the posters to the classroom bulletin board to help students gain a reality-based understanding of how the real world Judicial Branch functions. 

To collect the full set, click Read more>> below...

Judge Sharon A. Lueras Targeted in Protest Supporting Jessica Hernandez and Exposing Family Court Bias Against Parents Without Lawyers

Judge Sharon Lueras and Family Court Indifference To Unrepresented Parents Targeted in Protest Supporting Jessica Hernandez

Protester at demonstration supporting family court victim Jessica Hernandez and charging Judge Sharon Lueras with aiding and abetting the hatchet murder of Jessica's 9-year-old son, Matthew. 

UPDATE: A UC Davis graduate student has started a petition at Change.org to ask the California State Auditor and Commission on Judicial Performance to investigate Judge Sharon Lueras for misconduct in connection with the deaths of Ryder Salmen and Matthew Hernandez. To view the petition, click here.

A group of family court reform advocates yesterday held a demonstration outside the Sacramento County Main Jail courthouse where an arraignment was held for Phillip Hernandez. Hernandez is charged with the Feb. 26 hatchet murder of his 9-year-old son, Matthew. Jessica Hernandez, Phillip's ex-wife, asserts that Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Sharon Lueras bears responsibility for Matthew's death. Last November, Jessica filed papers in family court seeking custody of her son because his father was back on drugs, acting irrationally and posed a threat to their two children. In court, Jessica was self-represented because she couldn't afford an attorney.

To continue reading, click Read more>> below:

Judge Sharon Lueras Misconduct: Lueras and SCBA Family Law Section Divorce Attorneys Targeted In Family Court Reform Group Demonstration

Judge Sharon Lueras Protest by Family Court Reform Group Seeks to Raise Awareness of Systemic Problems

Jessica Hernandez at the March 9 funeral of her son Matthew.  In November, 2012 Sacramento Family Court Judge Sharon Lueras denied Jessica's request for custody of her two sons. 

UPDATE: A UC Davis graduate student has started a petition at Change.org to ask the California State Auditor and Commission on Judicial Performance to investigate Judge Sharon Lueras for misconduct in connection with the deaths of Ryder Salmen and Matthew Hernandez. To view the petition, click here.

A family court reform group will hold a demonstration on Thursday, March 14 outside the Sacramento County Main Jail at 651 I Street. The event is scheduled to coincide with a jailhouse court hearing for Phillip Hernandez, who is charged with the Feb. 26 murder of his 9-year-old son, Matthew. The Sacramento Family Court watchdog group asserts that oversight and accountability of judges and court employees is nonexistent and contributed to the death of Matthew Hernandez. 

The group has documented that some judges misuse child custody and visitation orders as a way to punish a parent, and as a method of churning legal fees for favored attorneys and mediators, rationales which are prohibited by state law. With the help of courthouse whistleblowers, the watchdogs also have cataloged an assortment of institutionalized family court problems including judicial misconduct, undisclosed conflicts of interest, preferential treatment of attorneys who also serve as temporary judges, employee misconduct, and systemic mismanagement by Court Executive Officer Chris Volkers and family court Director of Operations Julie Setzer. 

The court operates a two-track system of justice for the financial benefit of a cartel of Sacramento County Bar Association family law attorneys who represent the 30 percent of family court litigants who can afford an attorney, while the 70 percent of court users who are unrepresented are relegated to second-class status, according to the group. The demonstration will take place beginning at 8:00 a.m. 

Judge Sharon A. Lueras Misconduct: Child Custody Order Results In Memorial Service For Matthew Hernandez

An overflow crowd attended the memorial service for Matthew Hernandez. Many children at the service wore Spider-Man masks, Matthew's favorite superhero.

Matthew Raymond Hernandez

July 27, 2003 - February 26, 2013

UPDATE: A UC Davis graduate student has started a petition at Change.org to ask the California State Auditor and Commission on Judicial Performance to investigate Judge Sharon Lueras for misconduct in connection with the deaths of Ryder Salmen and Matthew Hernandez. To view the petition, click here.

Click here for our full coverage of the Jessica Hernandez case. 

Click here for our expanded coverage of the Matthew Hernandez memorial service.

Hon. Sharon A. Lueras Misconduct: Matthew Hernandez Funeral Services Announced by Mom Jessica Rose Hernandez

Funeral Services for Matthew Hernandez to be Held Saturday March 9 

Jessica, Matthew, and Phillip Hernandez. Source: KXTV News10.

Jessica Rose Hernandez has announced that funeral services for 9-year-old Matthew Hernandez will be held on Saturday, March 9 at Victory Outreach Church in South Sacramento:

Matthews services will be held this Saturday 10 am at Victory Outreach 6555 44th Street Sacramento, the burial will follow at St. Marys Cemetary 6700 21st Ave. Sacramento. Afterwards we are returning to Victory Outreach for the repass to celebrate his life. We will be having a potluck as well and having an open mic to share stories and memories of my precious baby. I would like Saturday to be all about MATTHEW and ONLY about the joy of his life so please respect that and save the negative aspects of the case and situation for later ((there's a time and a place)) and keep this day sacred for me. All are invited. Thank you 1 Love ♥

Click here to read our complete coverage of the Matthew Hernandez case.

UPDATE: A UC Davis graduate student has started a petition at Change.org to ask the California State Auditor and Commission on Judicial Performance to investigate Judge Sharon Lueras for misconduct in connection with the deaths of Ryder Salmen and Matthew Hernandez. To view the petition, click here.

Sacramento Superior Court Scandal: RoadDog Announces Sacramento Family Court 2012 Public Service Awards - Sunday Funnies

Sacramento Superior Court Clerk Wins RoadDog Efficiency In Government Award, Facilitator Locks 1st Runner Up Spot

Sunday Satire by RoadDog

Court Executive Officer Chris Volkers and other court supervisors
are invited to the annual RoadDog Family Court Public Service
Awards ceremony held at the Dante Club in Sacramento.

P.R. Brown, my esteemed colleague on the news and analysis side of the newsroom, has recently published a series of articles that some readers may have found unsettling. 

Court administrators flagrantly ignoring state law, the Family Law Facilitator dispensing less-than-accurate advice to indigent, unrepresented litigants, family court judges concealing conflicts of interest, and an appeals unit clerk unlawfully rejecting appeals by lawyer-less, financially disadvantaged litigants. And the ongoing Color of Law series is particularly compelling. Bravo, P.R. Brown. 

But while these muckraking revelations may disturb the Constitution-huggers among our readership, RoadDog's exclusive access to the Sacramento Family Court News newsroom allows the Dog to go behind the news to retrieve the exposé within the exposé. A superficial review of the meticulously documented facts reported by P.R. Brown may convey to the gullible the impression of rampant illegality, cronyism, hometowning, fraud, corruption, malfeasance, willful omission to perform duty, and gross misconduct, incompetency and inefficiency. 

Several paranoid, tin foil hat wearing readers have even suggested that the totality of the evidence reported by SFCN suggests that Sacramento Family Court operates as an organized criminal enterprise, meeting the elements required for a federal RICO prosecution. However, on closer inspection, and with supplemental facts purloined by RoadDog from the encrypted SFCN servers, the complete factual record reveals a dramatically different picture. 

To continue reading, click Read more >> below: 

Sacramento Superior Court Corruption: National Court Oversight Organization Designates William Ridgeway Courthouse Crime Scene

Lawless America Documentary Project Films Sacramento Family Courthouse as Crime Scene

From Lawless America

California Family Law & Divorce Lawyers: Sacramento Superior Court Family Relations Courthouse Declared Crime Scene by United Nations - Sunday Funnies

SCBA Family Law Section Divorce Attorneys and Judge Pro Tem Cartel Held Without Bail in U.N. Sweep

A United Nations peacekeeping force secures the William R. Ridgeway Family Relations Courthouse after declaring the entire facility an organized criminal enterprise and crime scene.

Sunday Satire by RoadDog

The United Nations today declared the Sacramento County William R. Ridgeway Family Relations Courthouse a crime scene. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon formally served Court Executive Officer Edward Pollard Christina Volkers a criminal indictment detailing by family court judges multiple violations of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

"The substandard conditions here in Sacramento County Family Court defy belief," Ki-moon said. "Almost all Third-World countries operate family court systems which ensure the basic human rights of litigants. This court does not come close to doing so. The rampant cronyism between Sacramento Family Court judges and attorneys associated with the Sacramento County Bar Association Family Law Section conclusively establishes that the court operates as an organized criminal enterprise," Ki-moon charged. "We have come to hold them accountable for their actions."

Click here for the full story...

Family Law Judges in Family Court Sacramento: Public Employee Salaries for Family Court Judges

Public Employee Pay for Sacramento Superior Court Family Court Judges

Salary Database: In 2011, Sacramento Superior Court Judges assigned to family court earned salaries of $169,289.

• Department 120: Judge Jaime R. Roman - Salary $169,289

• Department 121: Judge Matthew J. Gary - Salary $169,289

• Department 122: Judge Sharon A. Lueras - Salary $169,289

• Department 123: Judge James M. Mize - Salary $169,289

• Department 124: Judge Peter J. McBrien - Salary $169,289

• Department 125: Judge Eugene L. Balonon - Salary $169,289

Family Court Sacramento - State Law Now Protects Court Employee Whistleblowers

New Law Designates Court Rule Violations as Improper Governmental Activity, Protects Court Employees From Retaliation  

California State Auditor 
Whistleblower Hotline

Governor Jerry Brown yesterday signed into law Assembly Bill 1102. The bill updated and revised a number of Government Code statutes designating the functions and powers of the California State Auditor. In addition, a violation of a California Rule of Court by a state or court employee is now classified as an improper governmental activity equal to corruption, malfeasance, bribery, theft of government property, fraud, coercion, willful omission to perform duty, and similar types of misconduct.

The Supreme Court, Courts of Appeal, superior courts and Administrative Office of the Courts are now included in the California Whistleblower Protection Act "state agency" definition. Among other ramifications, the revised definition ensures that the protections of the Act extend to court employees. Under the Act, state employees who make complaints about improper governmental activities are protected from retaliation. Retaliation includes intimidation, the denial of appointment or promotion, a threat of adverse action, a poor performance evaluation, involuntary transfer, or any form of disciplinary action.

Court employees can report improper governmental activities to the State Auditor using the Whistleblower Hotline, by mail, or using an electronic form at the State Auditor website. Under a variety of state statutes, rules, and regulations, state employees who fail to report misconduct may themselves be guilty of misconduct and subject to discipline, job termination, or criminal prosecution. Employee conduct standards include Article 20 of the California Constitution, California Rules of Court rules 10.16, 10.17, and 10.670 and the Court Employee Code of Ethics. 

Court employees may be subject to criminal prosecution under several statutes, including Penal Code sections 470(c) and 470(d), which prohibit altering, corrupting, or falsifying documents. Failing to report a co-worker engaged in criminal conduct may expose a court employee to the same criminal prosecution as an accessory, for aiding and abetting, conspiracy, or under the natural and probable consequences doctrine.   
For the complete California Whistleblower Protection Act, click here.