Subordinate Judicial Officers. Discipline. Legislative Constitutional Amendment.
	Argument in Favor of Proposition 221

OUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM CRIES OUT FOR REFORM.

YET, FEW KNOW APPOINTED COURT COMMISSIONERS COULD ARBITRARILY DENY A PARENT THE RIGHT TO VISIT WITH HIS OR HER OWN CHILD.

Unfortunately, newspaper reports of this kind of tragedy are all too common.

In one case, a court commissioner awarded custody to a father who was on probation for exhibiting himself in front of children. In another, a court commissioner gave custody of children to a parent with history of drug abuse, fraud, forgery, and violence.

Horror stories like this happen because our legal system lacks procedures to make appointed court commissioners accountable.

Why? Court Commissioners are lawyers, with friends, enemies and business interests in the community.

While most judges are elected, subject to recall and reviewed by the Commission on Judicial Performance, appointed court commissioners are overseen only by the single judge who appointed them.

This measure grants the Commission on Judicial Performance the authority to review complaints that appointed commissioners are biased, unqualified, prejudiced or incapable of rendering good legal decisions because of conflicts of interest.

The measure authorizes the Commission to discipline appointed commissioners who put law abiding Californians at risk by consistently making poor decisions.

Holding court commissioners accountable for bad decisions is one step towards making our judiciary fairer and more accountable to the public. The Family Guardian Network, the Judicial Council, and Los Angeles County Superior Court Juvenile Division testified in support of these reforms. Please join them in backing our efforts to remedy this injustice. VOTE YES ON PROPOSITION 221.

SENATOR TIM LESLIE
Vice Chair, Senate Judiciary Committee

PROSECUTORS APPLAUD SENATOR TIM LESLIE'S MEASURE TO MAKE CALIFORNIA'S COURTS MORE ACCOUNTABLE.

The provisions in Proposition 221 have strong support from both Republicans and Democrats. The measure passed out of the Senate on a 39-0 vote and passed the Assembly 72-1.

It is deplorable that court commissioners have the power to affect the lives and property of citizens, but, are not directly answerable to those same citizens.

This measure will ensure equal justice for all by giving authorities power to stop unqualified court commissioners from making decisions that could impact our lives.

VOTE YES ON PROPOSITION 221.

KATE KILLEEN
President, Women Prosecutors of California

THE INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF THE PERFORMANCE OF COURT COMMISSIONERS WILL STRENGTHEN OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. The exercise of power of court commissioners who determine the outcomes of juvenile delinquency and other court proceedings must be subject to objective review.

VOTE YES ON PROPOSITION 221.

GEORGE KENNEDY
President, California District Attorneys Association