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“And then lastly I wanted to inform the council that I had the privilege to speak
with the new chair of the Strategic Evaluation Committee, Judge Charles Wachob of Placer
Superior Court. And he assures me that the SEC is on track, and that they are hopeful
to submit their report to the council in April for our consideration.
The Chief Justice appointed this Strategic Evaluation Committee last March to conduct
an in-depth review of the Administrative Office of the Courts and to make recommendations
to the council based on its review. The council has not been a part of the committee’s
deliberations. We’re not members of that particular committee and nor has anyone from
the AOC. We do not know and I do not know what the committee may ultimately recommend.
But I do know is that the committee has interviewed members of the judicial branch, justice partners
from our justice partners system from throughout the state and that they have collected detailed,
detailed information from all key stakeholders as well as from the AOC.
An interim report submitted to the Chief Justice in January was posted on our website and shows
the considerable breadth and depth of the committee’s activities.
The SEC committee will provide their report to the judicial council. And the chief justice
has directed that the report will be submitted to the executive and planning committee.
We will then set aside a time and a schedule for the council to review and study the recommendations.
As is the practice of the judicial council in reviewing important and critical reports,
we will establish a plan and a process for vetting the report within the judicial council,
within the branch, and then we will discuss and review that and make recommendations at
an upcoming judicial council meeting.
I know that the Chief and the Council deeply appreciate the work of the committee members
and the service they are doing for the branch. I especially want to acknowledge Judge Wachob
and co-chair Judge Brian McCabe of Merced Superior Court for agreeing to chair the committee
following the departure of Justice Scotland. And again, I know that the Chief and the Council
deeply, deeply appreciate the work of the committee members and the service they are
providing to the judicial branch, and we look forward to receiving their report in April.”