John Chiv: First, she wasted Deputy DA Schaffer's time twice, now she is wasting Deputy DA Whitney Timm's time instead of making a ruling any other judge would without multiple continuances

Apr 18, 2024

First, she wasted Deputy DA Schaffer's time twice, now she is wasting Deputy DA Whitney Timm's time instead of making a ruling any other judge would without multiple continuances

First, Judge Joyce Hinrichs put off remanding stalking and criminal threats suspect Analia Martinez twice; unneccesarily and wasted time making the DA file paperwork twice. Now, an OR/bail hearing and trial setting for alleged molestor Steve Boudreaux scheduled for yesterday was continued to 4/22 and set before Retired Judge Christopher Wilson. Once again Judge Joyce Hinrichs asks people to file written pleadings. Boudreaux is charged with 7 counts and 4 special allegations. With pervs getting arrested every day in Humboldt; both these Deputy DAs have their hands full with serious cases, preliminary hearings, trials and CAST interviews.

More unneccessary continuances because Judge Hinrichs is lazy. She can come up with any selective legal basis like notice and the pleadings being "two inches thick" but in Humboldt courts, none of these "rules" are consistently applied. Anyone who practices in any court in California is shocked at the way Humboldt courts operate.

Judge Hinrichs is the one creating the backlog by multiple, useless continuances. I keep checking on multiple cases day after day, week after week, because they are continued by the court. I am not going to rehash her mismanagement for the nth time. Humboldt courts grants oral requests for continuances, defendants are remanded without written pleadings. Everyone's workload has increased because of Judge Hinrichs: the DA, the court staff, law enforcement, anyone having to check on court cases multiple times.

Judge Steven Steward recently did 5 trials back to back, Judge Timothy Canning recently did two trials back to back. This in addition to their regular calendars. Every other judge is getting their work done despite busy calendars. That statement does not include Gregory Kreis because juvenile cases are confidential and the courtroom is closed.

Instead of the DA's blanket disqualification of Judge Kelly Neel who is a judge who preps and works hard; the DA should have done that to Judge Hinrichs. Since I don't see DA Stacey Eads but see Deputy DA Roger Rees running around the second floor acting like he is the DA, why doesn't he gather all the people at the DA's office who got Judge Neel transferred from criminal law by disqualifying her on case after case and start disqualifying Judge Hinrichs instead?

Send Judge Hinrichs back to family law where she can hide again and bring back Judge Neel so criminal cases can get called and handled efficiently. Retired Judge Wilson knows the law and isn't afraid to read paperwork or make decisions judges do every day in court. Law enforcement is doing their job. It is judges like Hinrichs who fail to keep the public safe and allow defendants like Steve Boudreaux and Analia Martinez to take advantage of the legal system. I don't see all those supposed "law and order" keyboard warriors piping up and holding Judge Hinrichs accountable and that includes the Ingomar Club crowd that hangs out with Judge Hinrichs at the Arkley Christmas party. This was years ago when I made the mistake of thinking at least some of those people cared about this community.