California Bar Journal
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE STATE BAR OF CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 1998
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California Bar Journal

The State Bar of California


REGULARS

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Front Page - October 1998
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News
George calls court funding failure 'betrayal'
Court rejects rule to bare secrets
Chief justice, 3 associates seek retention from voters
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You Need to Know
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Opinion
Farewell to an independent bar
The last few gasps of a dues bill
A look toward the future
Getting leaner on our own
Justices and politics don't mix
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Letters to the Editor
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Legal Tech - Deconstructing computer leases
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New Products & Services
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MCLE Self-Study
Amending Irrevocable Trusts
Self-Assessment Test
MCLE Calendar of Events
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Discipline
Ethics Byte - Clients still have right to secrecy
8-year attorney, disciplined 11 times, is finally disbarred
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Service Awards
Neiman receives bar's top honor for helping others
13 attorneys, 2 law firms cited for pro bono efforts
Foundation presents 32 scholarships to California law school students
LA County Bar wins national recognition

NEWS

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George calls court funding failure 'betrayal'
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In a strongly worded statement, Chief Justice Ron George criticized the legislature for failing to fund a $50 million trial court modernization program, calling the lawmakers' action "no less than a betrayal of trust."

The money was caught up in a deal in which lawmakers sought to trade the fund for the governor's approval of a plan to pay 100 percent of trial court costs in California's smaller counties.

The modernization program was authorized by the 1997 Trial Court Funding Act, with monies to be earmarked for technology, education, case management and legal research for death penalty trials and complex civil litigation.

Trial courts in 49 California counties that unified their operations since the passage of Proposition 220 would have been eligible to apply for money from the special fund.

"The Judicial branch of government, and most significantly, the public served by the courts, have fallen victim to infighting between the other two branches of government on issues unrelated to the effective administration of justice," George said.

"This breach of faith is particularly incomprehensible in a year of bountiful revenue to the state."

George said he will seek to have the funding approved when the new legislative session begins.