Panel's Chair Says Judges Made Strong Case for Raise
The New York Law Journal by Joel Stashenko - July 22, 2011
The chairman of the judicial pay commission said yesterday that the state's judges have raised valid concerns about the personal toll of having gone more than 12 years without raises, and about the threats to the quality of state courts that the pay drought has created. William C. Thompson Jr., the former New York City comptroller, said several judges who spoke at the hearing of the Commission on Judicial Compensation (NYLJ, July 21) on Wednesday "passionately" expressed their desire to continue in public service on the bench in spite of going since 1999 without salary increases. "But at the same time, they want to...sustain a middle-class lifestyle," Mr. Thompson told the "Capitol Pressroom," a government and political interview show broadcast on several public radio stations in the state. "That only seems fair." Mr. Thompson also said that turnover in the judiciary has increased from about 5 percent to about 10 percent, according to information gathered by the commission and that New York citizens should be concerned whenever experienced judges are leaving the bench, or talented lawyers do not seek judicial posts because of the pay situation. "The average citizen should be concerned," Mr. Thompson said. "You want to make sure you have the best and the brightest, the strongest judiciary possible." Governor Andrew M. Cuomo appointed Mr. Thompson to head the seven member commission, which has until late August to recommend pay adjustments for judges through March 31, 2016. The proposal will have the force of law, unless the Legislature seeks to prohibit the increases. Mr. Thompson noted the gloomy assessment yesterday of the state's finances by state Budget Director Robert Megna and of the state's ability to afford pay raises starting on April 1, 2012. But Mr. Thompson said Mr. Megna was doing his job by providing his analysis of the budget and that the state's ability to pay for salary hikes must be one factor the commission takes into consideration. "I think the budget director laid out the fiscal condition in the state and how difficult things are now here," Mr. Thompson said. "We have to factor all of that in as we make decisions on the level of compensation and the state's fiscal situation is one of the things that we have to factor in, definitely." Mr. Thompson said yesterday he believes Mr. Cuomo is "committed" to a judicial pay raise. "I think Governor Cuomo is committed to this," Mr. Thompson said.
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Friday, July 22, 2011
Judicial Pay Commission Boss Says Judges Made Strong Case for Raise
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See Video of Senator John L. Sampson's 1st Hearing on Court 'Ethics' Corruption
The first hearing, held in Albany on June 8, 2009 hearing is on two videos:
Video of 1st Hearing on Court 'Ethics' Corruption
The June 8, 2009 hearing is on two videos:
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32 comments:
Mr Cuomo picked the pannel at the hearing. 3 of the 7 members of the pannel are lawyers. Lawyers that they and the law firms that they involved with go before the same judges that they are deciding to give them pay raises. Cuomo and Thompson parade of lawyers and judges one after the other to say how badly they are being paid. One person was saying that including pay raises that they should bring back the COLA. That is cost of living Allowances. Who in this day and age gets "cost of living Allowances? While Cuomo is cutting things like libraries he wants to take care of his lawyer friends and judges because they are lawyers also. Robert Megna, Budget directer made a god argument why they should not get pay raises. He had charts and solid number to back his point. The panel went after him and he was unfazed. One of the panel members in true lawyer fasion tried to twist it so that the raise would look small compared to the rest of the N.Y state budget. Mr Megna was not tricked by the
1st year law student trick. Megna was able to answer that proving the panelist wrong. He pointed out nobody figures out budget raises compared to the total state budget of new york. The Budget Director clearly one that argument.
Lawyers and Judges used fuzzy math to justify why they need raises.
What they did not say is that everyone wants a pay raise. they just were not able to explain were the money was going to come from.
If The Gov. wanted to hold a real hearing he should have held it in Manhattan. Manhattan has more people and more judges. Instead they held the Cuomo and Thompson show in a place with a much smaller population. I think everyone that testified was from N.Y.C. A hearing should have been held in N.Y.C. More notice should have been given. Cuomo takes advice from the Budget director when he wants to cut services. When Cuomo wants to take care of his friends that helped him get elected a bad economy and dwindeling revenue no longer a problem.
New York State Budget Director Reports A $ 2+ Billion Deficit That Must Be Considered Before Judges' Pay Raised 40% Or More
"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others," or judges deserve wage increases BUT you don't. Or, New York's headed to default and the Judge's pay increase could be the final straw.
New York State must learn that the bond market punishes prodigal State spending, whether it's a Country or New York State. "Early on Thursday morning, after seven hours of talks, Germany and France reached a common position on a second bailout of Greece but details of the accord were not revealed."
While in Albany on 7/20/2011, New York State Budget Director, Robert Megna, told the Commission on Judicial Compensation that New York State has a 2+billion dollar deficit already and although the judges might demand, want or deserve more, New York State has run out of money. The Commission heard lots of self-serving praise of NYS judges by lawyers and the judges themselves and how they needed or deserved a large raise. And, the Commission heard of rampant corruption by NYS judges which was ignored both at the Appellate level and in the Court of Appeals and was covered up by the New York Commission Judicial Conduct headed by Robert Tembeckjian.
Near the end of Commission testimony, T. Finnan from CuomoTARP told the Commission that the NY State's deficit is more likely to be $5+ billion as a minimum. With the judges expecting a raise to $194,000 to $220,000, Mr. Finnan pointed out the Governor claims only $170,050. Mr. Finnan noted the Budget Director's earlier testimony about a $2+ billion deficit was just the beginning of the increasing deficit this year for NYS. T. Finnan continued his testimony which paralleled his written submission copied below: Some States have Surpluses While Cuomo Heads to Default With His Commission Considering 61% Raises For NY Judges on 7/20 Remember when, Gov. Cuomo, said he would cut his $179,000 salary by 5% to $170,050 and that he intended to reduce other salaries of the governor's staff, including the governor's secretary, counsel, director of state operations, counselor and chief of staff. Well things have changed and NY judges want $220,836 and Cuomo wants a commission of hacks to decide. On Wednesday, July 20, 2011, the Commission to raise judges' pay will hold the only hearing.
Here's what they need to hear. Will judicial raises be the straw that breaks the camel's back? Cuomo has created another committee to do the dirty work of giving judicial raises of up to 61%, while Cuomo hides behind them grinning. While some States have budget surpluses, such as Indiana having $1.2 billion dollars, New York has smoke and mirrors hiding default or bankruptcy. The Cuomo budget revenue predictions were all smoke without any fire and the $4.3 billion dollars expected in increased revenue has vanished with the smoke. Earlier this year, the Cuomo Medicaid Redesign Team created smoke promising Medicaid savings, when all it did was to replace last year's NY State Medicaid expenditure of $13.8 billion with a cap on this year's expenditure at $15.1 billion, while forgetting that NY won't have the federal stimulus of $5.9 billion received last year. Meanwhile Cuomo has used mirrors to divert attention from the recommendation of Chief Administrative Judge Ann Pfau to the 2011 Commission on Judicial Compensation to increase judicial pay up to 61%. Cuomo needed the mirrors to not upset his negotiations with the peons, aka ordinary employees of NY State, to freeze wages for three years in a tentative, five-year contract agreement with Public Employees Federation.
In the Cuomo allegory of Animal Farm, Napolean, aka Andrew, will explain to the other lesser animals that "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others," or judges deserve wage increases BUT you don't. Judge Pfau goes on to spout about Fairness, Objectivity, Regularity and finally about Institutional Integrity. But what Judge Pfau forgot was common sense. New York State has run out of money, people are leaving the State because the taxes are too high and the employment possibilities shrinking. While President Obama calls for shared sacrifice, NY Judges demand a 61% pay hike.
The answers to the Judge Pfau's pleadings are:
1. Fairness must extend to all those lesser earning peons who don't want to pay Judges more and receive less for themselves. Fairness to the People is restitution made to victims of judicial corruption.
2. Objectively, the peons don't trust the courts and its scandals and know why the reported 129,000+ complaints to ExposeCorruptCourts.blogspot.com were ignored.
3. The only Regularity in New York is more taxes, more corruption, more greed, more debt, and more people leaving the State.
4. The NY Court Institution is a joke. The Chief Judge is charged with crimes. The Center for Judicial Accountability documents the huge New York Judicial Corruption and says,“[no] mechanisms are in place and functioning to remove judges who deliberately pervert the rule of law and any semblance of justice and whose decisions are nothing short of ‘judicial perjuries’, being knowingly false and fabricated. Such judges, willfully destroying the lives of countless New Yorkers, the wellbeing of our state, and our democracy as a whole, are unworthy of their current salaries and benefits – being paid by hardworking New Yorkers.”
This Commission on Judicial Compensation is just another Cuomo "slight of hand" to divert blame from him and legislators. What should the commission do about judicial raises in New York? Don't give any raises. New York Debt per person including local debt is $24,195. For a family of four that is about $97,000. link The State will run out of money this year. Borrowing will become impossibly expensive. Cuomo claims he should get only $170,050 to be Governor. Greece is the harbinger of New York State to come. The anger of the People will turn on the greedy Judges and their enablers, including this commission. There is no money to pay these raises. Only fools or scoundrels reward failure and wastefully spend other people's money. For the sake and safety of the judges and yourselves, say, "judges, share the sacrifice; New York State is broke; the NY debt is already the largest in the USA; no raises, because the people and the ordinary NY State worker are not getting raises." This Commission on Judicial Compensation is just another Cuomo "slight of hand" to divert blame from him and legislators. What should the commission do about judicial raises in New York? Don't give any raises. New York Debt per person including local debt is $24,195. For a family of four that is about $97,000. link
The State will run out of money this year. Borrowing will become impossibly expensive. Cuomo claims he should get only $170,050 to be Governor.
Greece is the harbinger of New York State to come. The anger of the People will turn on the greedy Judges and their enablers, including this commission. There is no money to pay these raises. Only fools or scoundrels reward failure and wastefully spend other people's money. For the sake and safety of the judges and yourselves, say,"judges, share the sacrifice; New York State is broke; the NY debt is already the largest in the USA; no raises, because the people and the ordinary NY State worker are not getting raises."
The decision was made long ago how this would play out. Shelton Silver and his life-long friend/hack Jonathan Lippman will attempt to look like heroes to the judges, and Cuomo says yes, give them a raise but just not now because the state is broke (Cuomo wink/wink). And the Commission will give them all the money, but still no real ethics reform.
Comments 2 to 5 are copied from my blog by Anonymous. My blog post is at
http://cuomotarp.blogspot.com/2011/07/new-york-state-budget-director-reports.html
no real ethics reform.
then cut a deal, judges get a raise and the payola rates are cut by 50% with the Financial Crisis we are in, it seems only fair!
no real ethics reform.
then cut a deal, judges get a raise and the payola rates are cut by 50% with the Financial Crisis we are in, it seems only fair!
Just issue a license to steal
http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2011/07/21/the-case-against-law-school
The Case Against Law School
THE NATIONAL SECURITY PROBLEM OF CORRUPTION
The United States was founded as a Constitutional Republican Democracy. It only works when people are free to do business with one another, speak their minds freely, and when there is accountability for one's actions.
Unfortunately, America as a free constitutional republican democratic form of government has been corrupted, subverted and dragged down by special interest groups, lobbying agencies, the balkanization of its people into opposing and militant groups, and its instruments and agents of administration have been perverted by money and bureaucratic red tape.
Being honest, hardworking, and truthful no longer will guarantee you success in business or in relationships.
You must now also become a politician and professional ass-kisser to survive in the United States, by allying yourselves with, and essentially selling your soul to, the powers that be in this country, ie.whoever has the most money and influence over the Courts, the Government, and the different governmental and private agencies regulating our daily life, etc.
If you are unfortunate enough to live in any of the major cities of the United States this has now become an unfortunate but essential component of life - people in rural areas still know what freedom feels like.
The true enemies of today's society are anyone who falls into BOTH of the following categories: (1) they dominate or head a militant or balkanized "group" within the United States of America, such as feminists, racists, bigots, sexists, fundamentalists; and (2) belong to another entity, far larger and greater than the first "group," but with interests that are often at odds with the aims, goals, aspirations, and directions of the United States of America.
If you are unfortunate enough to clash with one of these "enemies," then your world is over unless you immediately bend over, suck in your pride, become a political whore, stifle your freedom of speech and own opinions, and take it up the proverbial ass.
Then you may have a chance of not losing your freedom, your business, your job, your children, your family, and your life.
I will let you all figure out who these enemies are.
The FBI, CIA, DOJ, local Police Departments, and all other law enforcement and protective agencies, which are charged with safeguarding and protecting all Americans in their Constitutional rights to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," have all been subverted and hamstrung by the enemies listed above, and although these agencies are mostly populated and staffed by well-meaning, initially idealistic, educated Americans, who took an Oath to uphold the U.S. Constitution, they are also, absolutely and totally powerless to do anything about it.
For many of them, it feels like they are stuck behind a thick unbreakable pane of glass, while watching a slow gruesome violent murder that is taking place - the murder of the United States of America.
And even they know that their bosses, in order to even get that job in the first place, are all bought and paid for and owned, lock stock and barrel, by the better funded sects of these "enemies" within the United States.
God help America.
START SHOOTING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THE FIX IS IN and we're the suckers
Yes you can say it again - the fix is in! Where is the money going to come from? The taxpayers of NY don't have it! So what are these theives going to do sue all of us? Why don't they put this issue on the ballot in November? Let the voters who have to pay the bills speak! The legal system would have their boat rocked!
that is because we have no jobs and the majority of the ones we have pay no taxes in the end, the collect more off the gov't.......
when Andy realizes we CAN become an independant State and support each other, support made in New York State, Made in USA
What is China going to do, sue us for not letting their product in here, go ahead, spend your money on tons of lawyers China, we don't have any to give you!
maybe we will all stop fighting over the pie that is not there!
Andy take a tax class, there is a majority of people who pay no Federal or NYS taxes!
Andy take a tax class, there is a majority of people who pay no Federal or NYS taxes!
How will Andrew Cuomo run for President when New York State is burning?
What Judge is worth a pay increase? I can't get a pay raise, I'm lucky I have a decent job. So people suck it up boys and girls and don't ask US to pay the bill for you.
@9:28 Prince Cuomo is the Roman (Italian)Emperor Nero reincarnated.
Aggrieved NY father who relocated to Arkansas who has been waiting for Federal Agents to Contact him as represented by the Owners - Operators of this Website over 2 years ago and who was told just a year ago to hold on, as the Owner-Operator of this Site emailed that he would get in touch by Monday ( back in Jan. 2010 ) commented today after reviewing just a few of the attorneys and witnesses at the Judicial Pay Compensation Commission:
"What is being done? Those 2 witnesses alone should show that this is not just 'disgrunted' litigants grieving NY. Does anyone care? Is anyone doing anything?"
Folks who have come to this blog were promised Real Action and Real Results from Washington, DC, yet in 2 years we have NO CONTACT info to follow up on.
If you have been mislead, misrepresented, misdirected by the owners / operators of this Website and wish to pursue related group action, please contact changecourtsnow@gmail.com.
Having a "Web page" to post criticism is not Real Action nor is it Real Results.
where are the feds? falling down and slipping and tripping on banana peels?
Same applies to www.sunnysheu.blogspot.com.
Where were the Feds there?
Sleeping on the job and offering up Sacrificial lambs?
Talk is cheap. actions speak louder than words.
Strong case for a pay raise my ars! I got your pay raise! You bastards get a pay raise and watch what happens in NYS! The people are fed up and not going to take it anymore!
William C. Thompson Sr. was a former appellate judge in Bklyn. and his wife was Bklyn. Sup. Ct. Justice Sybil Hart-Cooper. How does Cuomo think Jr. is capable of rendering a fair and unbiased opinion?
And can someone explain how giving them a raise makes them the "best and the brightest". As far as I could tell, most of them are either incompetent or corrupt. If I was not afraid of retribution, I would name names, I have documentary proof as I am sure many others do as well.
If the pay raises ensured that these clowns would not be corrupt, that cases would be decided on the law, then I would be all for them. The problem is they got paid too much 12 years ago.
There are plenty of the best and brightest who would be happy to work as public servants, with the perks and all, at the current pay scale. Just hire them.
Right, more good points about how corrupted the NY system is. But what good does it do ANYONE to repeatedly post comments at a Blog with NO ACTION, NO RESULTs?
This Blog promised action, promised results. Told 2 upstate folks including a father who has had his children illegally taken into foster care and drugged against his wishes with anti-psychotic drugs at young age that Federal Agents would be contacting them.
That was 2 years ago. A year ago writes an email saying some definite info should be forthcoming.
NOW, for over a year, NO information to have accountability or to move any complaint further within the DOJ.
So what good is posting at a blog when there is NO State or Federal entity or forum to care or do anything about it?
This is what this Blog posted back in 2009 and STILL NO More info ever since:
Re: U.S. Department of Justice
April 20, 2009: We expect to have the name of a specific contact person soon, to whom information may be presented to regarding any complaint and/or information filed with any FBI agent, squad or regional office that needs re-review, reconsideration or special attention. Meanwhile, the address is: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Professional Responsibility, Room 3266, 950 Pennsylvania, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20530 --- Send us an email request and we will advise you directly once the contact information is made available.
**********************************
If you have been mislead or aggrieved even by this blog and its owners and operators and want to pursue group action, write to changecourtsnow@gmail.com .
Misled by a blog? LOL Who is this idiot? I can't understand these fools who attack fellow victims of judicial corruption and I want nothing to do with such people. I get a lot of good information from this blog but I understand it is a blog, as in b-l-o-g. Does anyone know the clown from Arkansas who's behind changecourtsnow@gmail.com?
Everyone on here understands that this is a B-L-O-G...but in past years there was representation that this blog administrator was in the business of working to correct NY JUDICIAL CORRUPTION..by contacting those of us who had litigation pending or where able to file litigation with proof of said corruption.
This blog made calls to homes and wrote articles all indicating that they had contacts and connections that were able to address the judical inequities going around this stste..that exist even more extensively today, than in 2007 and now we have these mediore and crooked judges who want to be paid $60,000 plus more....FOR THEIR CONTINUED CORRUPTION IN JUDICIAL MATTERS...REALLY OCA?
So the above writer is legitimate in his frustration and queries about this blog and their many mis-representations made to so many distraught vicitms .
When does a blog administration become any different than the entity it intends to expose... when they act similarly?
wait a minute, I have seen many judges moved around, sometimes even out of the courthouse in the last 10 years......
it just means they do not want to have these judges sued or anyone hurt because of it!
same technique used in corporations, once a rat is discovered they are moved laterally............
Message to Laughing at the Fools from July 26, 2011 at 8:10am:
Obviously you have clearly shown yourself as a FOOL and more since Only TRUE FOOLS make comments based upon LACK of Knowledge of Facts. Guess that would make you the ultimate Fool.
And yes, I have a truckload of information and documents on the father from Arkansas who JUST HAPPENED to have Received a MERIT COMMENDATION Award from a CABINET ( Yes, US Cabinet, like the WHITE HOUSE ) Level Official for Meritorious Conduct while in the Armed Services.
This of course happened Before the Father made his unfortunate mistake of moving to a corrupted upstate ny court system during King Pataki years.
And the BLOG OWNER just HAPPENED to have SPECIFICALLY Called to have a Message RELAYED to the FATHER that FEDERAL AGENTS would be contacting him but this has never happened. This came after a series of other events and representations by the Blog Administrator.
Calling someone to Tell them to Tell A Father Complaining of Corruption who already had INFO go to the LOCAL FBI in KINGSTON, NY that FEDERAL AGENTS would be contacting the Father is a Serious thing.
By the way, Laughing at Fools, what Award have you Ever Received in your entire life?
Meritorius Use of Toilet Paper?
No one said that Good Information does not Come from this Blog. No one has ever said that.
Apparently your dull empty Mind is too small to appreciate and understand things that are going on and have gone on.
That is your life.
They have a strong case, what a joke! This is a set up. We were sold out by Gov. Cuomo and they are all attorneys so there is a conflict!
UPSTATE NY CORRUPT BEYOND BELIEF
START SHOOTING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A rotating, anonymous people's commission on judical performance is what we need. JUDICIAL FOR THE PEOPLE AND BY THE PEOPLE!
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