The next few weeks should be pretty interesting for the entire state.
In case you haven't heard, and chances are you haven't, since the media don't seen to care, and they've been notified. In Feb. of 2009 the Caifornia senate rushed through a bill, SB-11 in like 2 days. And gov. Arnold signed it( he really needs an adviser) This "Bill" (which passed) essentially gives superior court judges "immunity" to everything. EVERYTHING. The court system as we knew it is gone. Basically the three branches of government are supposed to limit each others powers, but, when the three branches band together, to form a protective self governing entity, it changes the playing field.
This whole thing starts with a well known attorney, a good one, if you can believe that. This guy fought for the people, not against. He fought to keep people in their homes, he fought to keep kids from being ripped from their family's because of some false claim. He fought long and hard against homeowner associations, and the county, from stealing peoples homes for some insignificant fee, or lack of payment of a fee.
During his court battles he became aware that the Superior court judges hearing these cases were getting an illegal payment from the county, over and above their state salary, by a significant amount, and these cases they were presiding over were by law, "off limits" because of this "bribe" money given by the county. And, 99%of these cases were for the county, meaning the people that the country was suing, didn't get due process.
The Bill giving them 'immunity" was retroactive 12 years.It also gave them free rule of the legal system, without repercussion.
To the point that when this lawyer brought this to light, he was immediately disbarred, and he still had a case pending, so while continuing to uphold his part of representing his client, in a court of one of the judges that was named in the conflict of interest case, the judge had him thrown in county jail indefinitely, without bail, without a trial date, without contact with a lawyer or the outside world, denied a pencil and piece of paper to write the federal courts, and ask their help. And, he's not the first one, and wont be the last.
Basically, we have no justice system anymore, when judges can rule however they want, without any worry about getting in trouble, and even tell jurors what verdict to return, that's scary.