No reduction in services or changes for public, Humboldt Superior Court needs to come up with the funding; thanks to Humboldt County CAO for the detailed report

 

This item on the January 6, 2025 Board of Supervisors meeting affects everyone; some more than others. As someone who is daily and regularly at the Courthouse, has covered the County and the local courts unlike any other local media, knows what the Humboldt County Sheriff goes through to provide security for the courts, this is my feedback because no other local media has the guts to speak up for the People nor do they have the inside information I do and their useless publishers and owners don't speak up for the People. This also affects the livelihood of the four American Guard security guards who I know well and their families.

You can read the detailed four pages provided by the County Administrative Office. Since this agenda item is not posted until after hours on a weekend, I have emailed  the Humboldt Superior Court CEO Meara Hattan if she wishes to comment and I will do a separate follow up post but I don't expect her to respond on a weekend and nor should the public.

I have been critical of the County when it is appropriate but in this case, Humboldt County CAO is correct; the Courts are wrong. I agree with the County about the notice given by the Courts. 

Before this agenda item, no one knew about this issue. If the American Guard security guards knew; it has not affected their professionalism or the way they do their job.

The public should not suffer because of the Courts who could find the funds. They can start by justifying all these extra management/supervisory positions they have created and stop paying Tanya Ellis who runs self help, Gregory Kreis' wife 11,000 a month. That figure is according to a court document filed by Kreis in his divorce case with his ex-wife Brenda Elvine. So, if it is incorrect, the Humboldt Superior Court can provide Ellis' salary.

The Humboldt Superior Court does not list names; just positions. The Court CEO makes more than a Humboldt County Supervisor?

Most of the traffic in the Courthouse and the problems related to security are from people who come to the second floor. HCSO is already short staffed. They have extra help filling in as court bailiffs. It takes a certain personality to deal with the public and not everyone is suited for the security job. Closing the 5th street is inconvenient and will create a burden. Remote appearance was an utter failure during COVID because Humboldt Superior Court cannot use an efficient web system, an attorney was on Zoom in a small claims case at the same time as a longtime client arguing that case which I witnessed myself and you cannot do jury selection via Zoom.

I cover Utah Courts and have no issues. Granted I do that as media but there have been no issues with the public or the jail appearances by inmate remotely.

I have often made suggestions to the court about revenue that they have ignored. If they cannot be bothered to use funds properly or implement changes that generate revenue that other court systems use; that is not Humboldt County's problem's or the public's problem.

There are 20 computers in the self help office that only litigants can use; not public and not media. Yet, parties, especially from family law clog up the other computers on the second floor that attorneys, bail bond representatives, investigators and media should use. After I complained for years, two more computers were added. That does not help when LA companies want to do background checks and their researchers hog up computers all day long on a regular basis, ignoring the time limit. These LA companies are making a profit, they use the computers for free. There is no public interest in what they do and it is not related to anything with local courts and they should pay a fee. Humboldt Superior Court employees have to provide files, if necessary to these "researchers"and their salaries are being paid by the public and not these LA companies. This also impacts attorneys or media request for files because Humboldt Superior Court has a staff shortage.

The Board of Supervisors needs to stand their ground and if the public does not speak up, then don't whine if any of these changes are implemented. I don't expect the useless California Judicial Council to do anything. 

The information below is from an AI overview provided by Google. 

In California, the funding and responsibility for superior court security costs, including screening, are complex and shared between the state and counties, but ultimately the courts have limited control over the final budget allocation and generally cannot simply refuse to contribute to agreed-upon security costs.

Counties bear primary responsibility for funding most trial court security costs (including sheriff's services for security screening) through a revenue shift that occurred as part of the 2011 Criminal Justice Realignment.

The state provides funding to counties to support these responsibilities, primarily through an allocation of tax revenues.

The Judicial Council (the governing body of the California courts) manages and allocates the state's budget for the judicial branch, which includes funding for court operations and some aspects of security equipment and maintenance. 

The superior court's presiding judge and the county sheriff or marshal must develop a comprehensive, mutually agreed-upon annual or multiyear security plan and enter into an MOU specifying the level of security services and associated costs. The sheriff's proposed security expenditures are subject to the approval of the Judicial Council and the Legislature.

While courts have input into the security plan, actual security allocations are subject to approval and funding provided by the Legislature and managed by the Judicial Council. If a court refuses to contribute to security screening costs as outlined in the approved plan and budget, it would be in violation of established procedures and potentially state law.