Full Disclosure Network®
"the news behind the news"

Sunday, May 31, 2009

Judicial Benefits & Court Corruption: Powerful Friends Support Judges Bid To Keep Double Benefits (Video 7 min)


Los Angeles, CA The Full Disclosure Network® presents a seven minute preview video featuring excerpts from Part 3 and 4 from an on going series entitled “Judicial Benefits & Court Corruption.” These two new episodes feature Sterling Norris, Judicial Watch attorney, whose 2008 successful lawsuit found the L.A. County’s payments of double benefits to Judges was unlawful. (Sturgeon vs County of Los Angeles).


The San Diego Appellate Court decision in favor of the Judicial Watch lawsuit was upheld when the Supreme Court refused to hear it. However, in this series Norris describes the behind the scenes court maneuvers conducted by the California Judiciary that is apparently determined to retain the illegal benefits, while serving as employees of the State of California.


Here are few of the points made by Norris in the two new episodes:



  • Failure of California Judges to disclose receipt of payments from counties either to the parties involved in lawsuits or on their economic interest disclosures.

  • In the last ten years each of the 600 Judges in L.A. have received $350,000 in illegal payments.

  • L.A. Superior Court hired a lobbyist for $60,000 to sponsor SBX211 legislation. Has the Superior Court hired lobbyists before?

  • SBX211 (part of the Feb. 2009 Budget Bill) legalized retroactively the judicial double benefits and

  • SBX211 provided retroactive criminal and liability immunity from prosecution to the Judges and County officials involved in the payments of public money. Norris asks why? They must have thought crimes were involved.

  • Have the L. A. Superior Court ever intervened in any other lawsuit, as they have with this issue of double benefits?

  • Judicial mind-set and integrity questioned as the battle over wages escalated.

  • Legal and law enforcement forces step forward to fight for judicial double benefits, ignore conflict and judicial bias potential

  • Major forces on record defending double benefits to Judges: L.A. District Attorney Steve Cooley, County Public Defender, All Bar Associations, big law firms who appear before the Judges. Norris asks, did the Court stop to think about a resulting bias and prejudice?

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Saturday, November 01, 2008

Video News Blogs On Hot Topics Move to Cable TV: Sunday & Monday

Los Angeles, CA. The Full Disclosure Network® (FDN) presents "the news behind the news" in a Special Cable TV Series featuring six short Video News Blogs covering Hot Topics, to debut on 45 cable channels starting this week end.

WATCH ON L.A. CABLE CHANNEL 36
Nov 2nd Sunday 8-9 p.m. Part 1-2
Nov 3rd Monday 4-5 p.m. Part 1-2

WATCH NOW ONLINE

The series features national and local authorities who hold strong opinions on the issues addressed and in which they are directly involved and knowledgeable.

David Hernandez, Civic Activist, S F Chamber
Bill Rosendahl, L. A. Council, Frmr Cable Exec.
David Brewer, Superintendent L.A.U.S.D.
Monica Garcia, Pres. L A Unified Board of Ed
Guy Mahula, Chief Exec Facilities Division, LAUSD

George Buzzetti, Los Angeles City Activist
Keith Richman, Former Calif State Assemblyman
Geri Ann Hazlet, Superior Court of L.A.
Sandi Gibbons, Spokesman Office of L.A.D.A.
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
Ed Reyes and Jose Huizar, L.A. City Councilmen
Kevin DeLeon, California State Assemblyman
Gloria Molina, L.A. County Supervisor
Gabrieleno-Tongva Tribal Council Leaders
Althea Shaw, Aunt of murder victim Jamiel Shaw Jr.
Steve Ipsen President, Assn. of Deputy District Attorneys

The Full Disclosure Network® has been produced by twice nominated, Emmy Award winning host Leslie Dutton and Producer T. J. Johnston. In 2002 the Full Disclosure® special series "L. A.’s War Against Terrorism" was recognized by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences with a local Emmy Award for a public affairs, informational series. Channels and airtimes can be found on the website.

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Sunday, June 15, 2008

L A DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY TARGET OF ETHICS COMPLAINT IN JAMIEL SHAW MURDER CASE: Video News Blog (8 min)

Los Angeles, CA Is the prosecution guilty of ethics violations in the Jamiel Shaw murder case? Full Disclosure Network® presents an eight minute Video News Blog featuring family members of murdered high school football star, Jamiel Shaw, II who was gunned down just three doors from his home. Police have arrested Pedro Espinosa, an illegal alien gangbanger who was released early from L.A. County jail after serving four months for weapons charges and assault on a police officer.

Appearing in the video are the victim’s aunt Althea Shaw and father Jamiel Shaw,Sr. describing why the family members have filed an Ethics Complaint with the State Bar and District Attorney's Office against the Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Michele Hanisee. Also providing background on the State Bar complaint process is former Co-Chair of the State Bar Disciplinary Committee Deputy D A Steve Ipsen.

A few days prior to his re-election, District Attorney Steve Cooley removed the Deputy DA Michele Hanisee from the case. This also followed Mr. Shaw Sr.’s appearance on radio talk shows to expose the fact that she had been pressuring the family to stop speaking out against LAPD’s Special Order 40, “the don’t ask, don’t tell” policy that prevents police officers from asking individuals if they are in the country legally and Mr. Shaw said she told them she was going to describe the victim as a gangbanger because she needed a motive for the murder. According to law enforcement authorities Jamiel Shaw, II had no police record, never been arrested and has never had contact with school police or been suspended from school.

This Video News Blog on the Shaw’s complaint is also featured on the YouTube Channel along with other videos that are available for sharing. Full Disclosure® will be providing periodic updates on the case and following the progress on the “Jamiel’s Law” campaign to revise Special Order 40.

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Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Los Angeles District Attorney, & Superior Court Refuse to Deport Illegal Gangs: Watch Internet Video News Blog (3 min)

Los Angeles, CA -- The L.A. County District Attorney and the L. A Superior Courts have declined immigration enforcement actions such as deportation of criminal alien gang members, as a matter of policy.

The Full Disclosure Network® is releasing a three minute Video News Blog, featuring statements from the official spokespersons for the Superior Court and the District Attorney's office who tells Full Disclosure that "our prosecutions don't have anything to do with immigration policy".

Much like the Los Angeles Police Department's Special Order 40 "don't ask, dont' tell" policy, the Los Angeles Superior Court spokeswoman, Geri Ann Haslet states their policy is "we do not treat undocumented persons any differently than anyone else".

The Full Disclosure Network® Video News Blog provides insight into the hands off policy of local law enforcement and the courts where illegal criminal aliens apparently have equal rights and protections under the law. This Video News Blog is featured on the Full Disclosure Network website at http://www.fulldisclosure.net/ and is to be featured on 45 cable television channels as part of a Video News Blog Special Series.

Steve Ipsen, President of the Association of Deputy District Attorneys, who is a critic of the hands off immigration policy, told Full Disclosure that "illegal alien gang members who are released from jail, on probation in Los Angeles County, must have the approval of the District Attorney's office and in fact are ordered by the Courts to stay in the United States and to obtain employment".

Following the March 2, 2008 murder of a popular high school football star, Jamiel Shaw, II, a criminal gang member by the name of Pedro Espinosa, was arrested for the crime. Espinosa had been early released from L. A. County jail after service four months on assault and weapons charges.
Neither the District Attorney’s office or the Courts raised any questions as to whether or not he should be removed from the country. The L. A. County Sheriff’s Department failed to notify Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) that Espinosa was in the country illegally.

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Friday, May 16, 2008

Distric Attorney Corruption?: Two Views On DA Cooley's Record On Cable TV LA 36 Sunday & Monday


Los Angeles, CA Is it a co-incidence that it has been almost 20 years, since the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office prosecuted a big dollar, white collar crime? Or could it be there are no more big corruption cases or major crimes committed by powerful and prominent people in Los Angeles?

In a Full Disclosure Network® two-part series Steve Ipsen, President of the Association of Deputy District Attorneys (L. A. County) and Albert Robles, Constitutional Attorney who serves as an elected member of the So. California Water Replenishment Board both contend that corruption is alive and well in Los Angeles County.
Watch this program on L. A. Cable Channel 36 as follows:
Sunday, May 18th 8-9 p.m.
Monday, May 19th 4-5 p.m.
Internet: Preview & Six Segments from links below

These two challengers running against incumbent L A County District Attorney Steve Cooley in the June 2008 election, point out that the current DA has refused to prosecute the rich and powerful while successfully lobbying for a $55,000 pay raise bringing his salary to $292,300, making him one of the highest-paid government officials anywhere. Steve Cooley declined to be interviewed for this program and refused to provide a videotaped statement on the issues raised.

Watch this seven minute preview from the series that is featured on 45 cable systems and the internet. The full two-part programs will be available for viewing (for a limited time up to the election) from the Full Disclosure website from the following links:
  • Preview-Summary (7:30 min)
  • Segment #1 (8 min)Candidates provide background on their careers and qualifications. They present a summary of issues for why they are running against the Incumbent DA Steve Cooley.
  • Segment #2 (8 min)Candidates discuss why Steve Cooley is not participating in the U. S. Department of Justice Gang Initiative and address the following issues:
    DA non-action policy on deporting illegal alien gang members
    Mexican Drug Cartels in City of Cudahy
    Impact of Criminal Defense lobby on DA prosecution policies
    DA Cooley's campaign contributions from Criminal Defense lobby

  • Segment #3 (8 min)Candidates describe the failures and demoralization of the DA's office, and of DA Investigators as body guards and chauffeurs for questionable personal activities.

  • Segment #4 (8 min)Both candidates noted the following:
    DA's refusal to prosecute pedophile priests in the Catholic Church
    DA's non-prosecution policies of powerful people, i.e. Board of Supervisors
    Called DA's pay raise "pay back" for looking the other way.
    Ethics Violation: Cooley called Jury members "stupid" following the Blake Verdict

  • Segment #5 (8 min)Candidates detail issue where there is Corruption in the DA's office:
    Belmont Learning Center scandal
    Criminal Defense Attorneys influence
    DA disbanded environmental crimes unit
    Manipulated cases by transfer of expert Deputies

  • Segment #6 (8 min)Video disclosure of how DA Investigators were used to conduct an unofficial and unauthorized investigation. Candidates describe DA's failure to investigate MacArthur Park beatings gross negligence at Martin Luther King Hospital.


Challengers Quotes on DA Cooley’s record:

Steve Ipsen:“The corruption that exists in the county that I'm aware of, that I can state here today is with the District Attorney's office.”“This DA doesn't deserve to be paid when he isn't doing his job.”
Albert Robles:“He has refused to prosecute the pedophiles and child molesters that work and still work in the Catholic Church”.“Steve Cooley takes untold amounts of money from the criminal defense sector”.

This series is featured on 45 cable systems starting May 14, 2008. A complete listing of channels and airtimes, by community can be found from this link.

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Saturday, April 12, 2008

LAPD, Feds Confused Over Illegals & Special Order 40: Exclusive Video Here (9 min)


Los Angeles, CA. — Full Disclosure Network® exposes the conflict between the Federal and State Justice systems over the “Special Order 40” policy and the names used to describe illegal immigrants, in a free video news blog.
This 9 min video is available on demand and features United States Attorney Debra Yang(2004) describing what the meaning of the word "status" is, as it relates to illegal immigrants working as security at Los Angeles International Airport.
Describing LAPD policy regarding illegal immigrants are :
LA Police Commission Presidents,
Rick Caruso (2003),
Edith Perez( 1998)
David Cunningham, III (2004)
LAPD Chief Bernard Parks (1998-2001)
INS District Director Richard Rogers. (1995)
Exclusive audiotaped messages (1998) from
Geri Ann Haslit L. A. County Superior Court and
Sandy Gibbons, Spokesperson for the L.A. County District Attorney

The video reveals the conflicts and differences of policy when using the words “undocumented, aliens, immigrants and person “out of status.”

The Full Disclosure® Video News Blog is moderated by Emmy Award winning host Leslie Dutton and demonstrates, with video clips, the dilemma faced by Federal and local law enforcement officials when implementing the “don’t-ask, don’t-tell” LAPD policy known as Special Order 40.

Video clips used in the Full Disclosure® Video News Blog were taken from full length interviews with law enforcement over the past sixteen years that have been featured on 45 cable systems and the internet website at http://www.fulldisclosure.net/

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Monday, August 13, 2007

L. A. District Attorney & Sheriff Politics Kill Gangs, Drugs & Immigration Conference

DISTRICT ATTORNEY STEVE COOLEY
FULL DISCLOSURE® IS SPONSORED BY THE CITIZENS PROTECTION ALLIANCE A NON-PROFIT, EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATION

Los Angeles, CA Organizers of the September 5-7th law enforcement training conference on “Gangs, Drugs, & Immigration” scheduled to be held at the Westin Los Angeles Bonaventure Hotel, have announced the event has been cancelled due to political infighting attributed to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office. This was to have been the first-ever law enforcement training conference sponsored by citizens for both prosecutors and law enforcement officers.
The scheduled instructors who were to conduct the training are top experts in their field and long-time POST certified instructors, recognized by the California Commission on Police Standards & Training (POST) and representatives from the Orange County District Attorney's Gang Injunction programs and Asian Gang Investigators. In addition, the U. S. Border Patrol was to make a presentation on border violence.
  • L.A. D.A. Office Interferes: "We were unable to muster support and cooperation from the Los Angeles Sheriffs Department (LASD) who had pledged to participate in the event,” claims conference organizer T. J. Johnston, Executive Director of the Citizens Protection Alliance. He said the problems started when the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office raised objections to the event.
  • Conflict With The L.A. County District Attorney? Johnston said the first indication of dissention came on June 21st when the CPA received an E-mail from Sheriff Leroy Baca’s staff raising the issue of a possible “conflict” with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office and the ADDA, another co-sponsoring organization. “The L. A. County Sheriff's Department (LASD) had pledged to promote the conference via their internal communication system known as ‘JDIC’, but once the L. A. County District Attorney’s conflict surfaced, Sheriff Baca's support quickly evaporated.” Johnston said

L.A.D.A.'s Interference Cited By CPA's Johnston:

  • “The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office contacted the California Commission on Police Officer & Training (POST), and in a series of email messages, falsely stated that the conference did not have the support of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and raised concerns about the 'legitimacy' of the seminar,” Johnston said.
  • Two District Attorney (automobile fraud) Investigators from the DA’s Commerce Office appeared at the CPA office on Friday, July 5th flashing badges to find out who provided the e-mail list of L A. District Attorneys regarding the sending out of the announcements of the law enforcement training conference. They claimed the taxpayer funded e-mail list was “private”.
  • The second week in July Baca’s Chief of Staff verbally notified the CPA that Sheriff Baca was withdrawing all support and participation from the event.
  • In addition to the CPA--a non-profit community organization--the four other organizations letters of support and co-sponsorship are listed here: Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, the California District Attorney’s Association and the Deputy District Attorney’s Association

"Even though the Orange County Sheriff and the two District Attorney’s Associations continued their co-sponsorship, LASD’s withdrawal effectively killed the conference by cancelling their support to obtain the POST credentials. Therefore the conference has been cancelled due to the D.A.'s interference and the LASD's unexplained withdrawal of their sponsorship and support." Johnston said. # # # #

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