Municipal Court Judge Gayle Guynup

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a tune for cinema counting the eighties with Rich McGlinchy coming up next. That way. Now, the Sonoma County Public Information Office presents Cinema County in the eighties with your host rich McGlinchy. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. And

welcome to this edition of Sonoma County in the eighties. Oh, no. I program tonight. We're gonna be talking Teoh, a woman who has visited with us. Think once before we're gonna be talking to the residing judge of Roane County Municipal Court. Her name is Dale. Growing

up. It was nice to have you back. Thank you. Yeah. Been a couple of years. Such we talk to you? Yes. Yeah, very. Actually. Program a lot of comments. Good. We had to have you back. Uh, you are the presiding judge of Admissible Court for 1986.

Uh, what are your current responsibilities? Okay. The presiding judge is the judge that deals with the public response to the complaints, schedules, vacations for his of her colleagues. Actually, does all the unpopular things have to go to budget and hear what are cuts are, um, but

in addition of the presiding judge has a normal work assignment this year on the civil judge. We have six judges in the commissioner, and we rotate our assignments at least annually. And there's one department out of the seven that here civil. There's three jury trial problem

departments the South County Pelham in Sonoma, the Criminal Calendar Department. And so, for this year I'm hearing civil cases, which would be civil disputes under $25,000 in municipal court. Yet due to the absence of one of my colleagues recently in illnesses of others ah, good show

the time I am covering criminal caseloads for absent judges, uh, by way of explanation, which we didn't make earlier. We should have probably background on Gail Gail was appointed by Jerry Brown to Minister Projet shipments Sonoma County and was the first female missed court judge on

the Cinema County bench and has done amazingly fine job. I think three of the time do you want to enlarge a little bit more on the duties of the presiding judge. I think it I have found it very interesting being the presiding judge because obviously went

to law school to learn law, not to be a administrator and ah, business executive. But we, um, generate about $3.8 million in revenues. We have approximately 100 employees working for us, and you have a judge without any real expertise in the area, all of a sudden

thrown in to manage, supervise and make policy decisions. And because this year has been a probably difficult fiscal year for everyone in county service, it's been, um, let's say, tense and challenging as a presiding judge going through the budget process because obviously crime is increasing as

the organization of the county, um, it's upward upwardly spiralling. So it's been a major time commitment on my part, trying to design programs to save money, generate sums from other sources. During the budget, we were cut in it initially $212,000 overnight we came up with a

suggestion by a tax surcharge on parking. There would generate another quarter $1,000,000 that now has been approved so It's been a year where we've been looking for ways to increase our revenue so weaken operate more effectively, but without impacting the, um county any more than we

already do. We have started on a much more frequent basis. Assessing poet defender fees, court costs, trying to take the defenders that come into the system, make them pay for the various services they receive were, um, using attorneys as judges sitting pro TEM Jennings. Incredible service

the community. About 45 lawyers. We've invited to participate as Pro TEM judges. They they come into the here almost all of our small claims cases. Well, um, you mentioned that the court does generate funds and you mentioned some of this. Now, in a recent report to

the Board of Supervisors, you indicated the possible We were talking at that time about the seventh Municipal Court Judge, which we would talk about that a little later or seeking for later on. But you mentioned in that particular port a number of areas in which the

I mean it's boat generates fun. Do you want to elucidate those again? Are numerator them, if you will. But I mentioned it. Yeah, well, from the public, I mean, but what areas you generated way generate the most income through the find. The direct finds we assess

in criminal and traffic cases when I do a mass calendar on a given morning particularly have to give a speech at noon because this is the good public relations gesture. You calculate how much jail time, how many dollars you falling on what I would consider a

good morning meeting. A busy morning. You will assess over $20,000 in fines, several years in jail commitments and usually 1200 plus hours of volunteer work. And in addition of that, restitution or anyone who is has been damaged in the crime itself and with the money we

contribute, um Blues eight. It's either 809 $100,000 to the Road fund for the benefit of County 2.5 $1,000,000 goes directly back into criminal justice. We make substantial contributions more than half a $1,000,000 a year, Teoh the alcohol programs in the county, and we significantly fund the

law library. All right, run of the new projects that are underway in your quarters. Depression in jail, The projects currently underway include establishing an arbitration program to try to expedite cases, but probably more importantly, right now, there is not much of a civil backlog. We have

been able to keep very current but projecting the physical limitations. The future we want have arbitration program in place, which would again utilized lawyers as judges or arbitrators without compensation. And we believe that in the next few years it would save at least 1/2 a judicial

position a year, which would be saving over $35,000 not including the staff time, it would say. In addition of that, we are trying to implement a formal mechanism for the recovery of court costs and council fees and expert witness fees. Now we do that as part

of the sentencing proceeding and yet to be more successful in assessing someone's financial ability to repaid accounting to actually collect the sums we need. Teoh, um, have a financial officer in place to do that. We're putting together the the documents and the procedures for that. The

current time. Well, you mentioned that there was a shortfall in the funding in this year's budget process. What was that shortfall and how did you more or less make that up in this year's budget. We haven't well, but there's your reduced. Something like $200,000 reduced 112,000

we appeal to. It gave the county 250,000. They gave us back 41. So they're very clever. Taking are really if you're not getting it there and that that's great. Uh, is the municipal court adequately staffed? No, I think that we have incredibly dedicated group of individuals.

I don't just refer to judges. I think that our our clerks division, which is directly under the court, did a fantastic job. We've been through so many major transitions the last few years in terms of of the increase changing caseloads, many changes in terms of personal.

The court, Um, probably, most significantly, the changed automation itself, that we have gone online computer and, um, their statistics that demonstrate that if you call someone, have an answering machine that half the public hangs up on the individual cause they're so frightened and, um, familiar the

technology and resentful of it. So what we've done is we've taken a group of people who had no prior training and automation, and they've been incredible transition in terms of putting all our files and dispositions into the computer with and creating calendars, which much which very

much expedite our workloads. I, uh, have you requested additional positions we have. We recently requested 1/7 judicial position for January of 1988 and the reason for January 1988 is the jail. If all purser answered will be online by that time, there's a new courtroom in the

jail for an additional judge, and we felt that this would be again showed our sensitivity to the county's physical limitations that we would wait till that time, Put the judge in place in that new facility, current Judicial Council statistics. And they assess our workloads and our

needs and a comparison. Other Light counties shows that we should have a 10.8 judicial positions, and we have six judges in a commissioner now. So right now we're significantly below that level and dealing with board supervisors. I believe they would concur they to acknowledge there's a

current need Four additional judges, but because of fiscal limitations, have not funded additional positions. In response our request, they have agreed to the seventh position in April of 88 thinking, giving the jail that more flextime terms of completion. But they placed limitations. They would have to

pass an additional resolution for funding, which I feel makes it very illusory. Yet it was important step for the board to take because it's hope that the governor will sign trial court financing. Why that date? The position would be in place and will be funded through

trial court financing. I think there's such a pressing need. There should be a commitment to the position locally, regardless of what happens with state trial. Court financing indicated that in your report to the board, and I thought very effectively, and you indicated also that there is

a move afoot for the state to provide a certain amount for court as of believe 88 something like 87 88. It wasn't 1/2 $1,000,000 record or something like that. That is he and anticipated cost for court. Now that solidly in a judge's salary goes to all

the turn, its staff, the court, the dis returning, the poet defender, the physical plan itself. But see the bill is in place and that the concept has passed but hasn't been funded. It's only question now when will be fun? And the governor has given us many

things he wants us to do in terms of, um, making the system more cost effective before it's funded. And I personally believe that after the election it may in fact be funded. But we have no way of predicting what's in the governor's mind. If it is,

and we approve the Senate judge now, we'd be aligned for whatever that amount. Yes, good moving right when a pause right here for our station to bring the public a public service announcement, after which presiding judge of the Municipal Court Gail went up and I will

return, we'll talk more about municipal court. But first, these messages. This year, $2 million of federal jobs training funds will be spent. Incident accounting to prepare eligible individuals for work in electron ICS construction, agriculture and landscape healthcare in office occupations, thes training programs and others are

managed by the Private Industry Council, or P. I. C. P. I see is the local organization, one of 500 across the United States that is responsible for utilizing federal funds to assist disadvantaged and jobless county residents in qualifying for in finding jobs in private business. If

you're interested in learning a job skill or an employer in need of skilled workers, contact the Private Industry Council Message Center in Sebastian Pool at a 291882 and employers make sure to ask about the potential state and federal tax credits again. The message Center number to

call is 8 to 91882 Uh, Welcome back, ladies and gentlemen, to a very special edition of cinema count in the eighties, we have the pleasure of talking with the presiding judge of the cinema kind of municipal court, and that is Gail going up. She has been

the presiding judge since start of this year, but she has been a minister court judge since. What date? January 4 years, so whatever for, you know, maybe two or 33456 And she's done a splendid job. She has been the presiding judge this year and hasn't made

certain innovations and made certain changes and has worked very, very well with short shifts. Do we might meant to that? Gail, are you establishing a new court department off site by your present. Yes, when the last judge was appointed last December, believing that we didn't have

a courtroom for him. And since there's nothing new about a since January, I haven't had a courtroom since I was a civil judge, and it's much more difficult. Teoh transport crippled offensive people holding court in a little fountain up there. It's actually come to that move.

We have held court. Some days we start out in the board room, then we go across the street to jury deliberation room. Then we end up in the afternoon and another judge's courtroom of He's finished for the day and it's been real difficult, yet it has

worked. It was civil. You have some flexibility. But the board gave us the funds, the authorization to lose space off site, and I call it the Penthouse court rule. I probably shouldn't call it that, but we have a part of the fourth floor of the Crocker

Building downtown, where the civil court will be located and probably more significant for your viewers, the entire clerical division of the court for civil and small claims, which means that after mid September you will not be able to file a civil pleading for miss record at

the courthouse main complex will have to be downtown. It is not just a temporary move. We anticipate anticipate being there indefinitely. It's a very nice facility. It also is a great gift. Us at the time. When are complex, is totally torn up between asbestos removal and

the new jail construction that we're downtown, where there's a new parking facilities where I mean, let me ask a question that what would you think that will really cause a lot of confusion, though, for the public in general. Uh, well, I'm not certain enough for the

attorneys they will know. But for the public in general, to be suddenly directed downtown for any filing and that sort of thing, there's certain days where we have mass calendars. And for the first several weeks, I'm takin you to continue to call those mass calendars a

to the courthouse and then scheduled the hearing throughout the rest of the week. Down at the Crocker Building. Litigants will be notified in advance of the changes. They won't show up in all aside and be shuffle away. I do agree with you in terms of walking

in with your papers. Initially, it may lead to some confusion people having to take that extra trip. But we're planning a ribbon cutting ceremony and a lot of publicity, So we're gonna do our best so that it's not inconvenient. That's very important. I think that you

will advise to do that, to publicize that move, and we'll be glad to help here but publicized that move any way you can, so that makes it more convenient. Our biggest problem. Not so. I don't know the courts. True, the court, but in local county government

is sort of throwing the public a curve and not and not seeing that they're sufficiently notified. And then they come in and they really get. And we get a lot of, uh, did you planning role in this year's conditional contested judicial races? I played a role

in that I was actively involved and are we have ethical canons and the Onley contested race. The only type of political race that we can be involved in is additional race general. It's unethical for us to take positions or get involved in other races, but with

judicial races where the judge would have information that would be relevant to the public. Um, we are advised that we can be involved. Probably this year's when the toughest personal years I've had, because it was very, very difficult. Um, I was. It was easy decision, as

I felt very strongly that things had to be said and then I should be involved. And yet, whenever you are speaking out against a calling, you realize that it's going to have an incredible impact on the workplace, that it's gonna have some negative impact in terms

of how the public views the the bench overall and that and a certain sense, it appears you're politicizing the judiciary. Yet what you're really trying to do is to make sure that the right information gets out so the voting public can make intelligent decision. So, along

with a few of my other colleagues, I did publicly endorse Mr Tansil, who's running against Judge Byrne, and I actively opposed Judge Burns reelection because I personally felt by taking objective standards set forth by the American Bar Association and um, our own ethical canons. I felt

that Judge Burn wasn't confident to sit of the jurist, and I know That's a harsh, harsh thing to say. But I felt so strongly that even though it probably could have very negative repercussions to May politically since I to have to run for election, I felt

compelled to do it. And yet I found it to be one of the more. Um um, guess intense experience I've had. I felt that, um, is very necessary, but very controversial. What had to be a trying decision to make, too? I mean, on your port, I

go, you were convinced that you were correct. I mean, you had to evaluate all the aspects of it which you have here and talking about the ramifications. Have you noticed any significant changes in court business over this past four years? You've been in a courtroom very

much so being part of the mechanics, just this very little time off the band that the workload is so increases very little flex time. More significantly, I know when law enforcement officers come to me to sign search warrant and a review it that the level of

crime has definitely escalated. Recently, we were signing a warrant Where the this where you're going in where there is believed to be a drug lab that the place had been mined land mines or defendants with submachine guns. And we're sending our law enforcement officers in tow

just terrible situations. And, um, I'm not suggesting they were under stressed four years ago, but it's just escalated. The sophistication of a crime and the weaponry involved is indeed shocking. So they had me want changes your opinion in the last four years. Uh, I owe Interrupted

Mr Money. Recently, a presentation of the board and the the filing rate has increased 43.3% over the last two years. There's additional 50 law force officers being added to the snow a county forces for this next year, and all of that is to combat crime. And

it definitely impacts the work rate as the increased jurisdictional limit effect in the court's workload. In January, the Legislature increased our limit from 15,000 to $25,000 and it's hard and in the short run, really to note that there have been many more trials this year than

previously, and I really made me a hard time to anywhere that's working through back load or reflection. Other jurisdictional limit But I think that it will the next few years become more and more prevalent, particularly because we don't have you often hear of counties where there's

such a civil backlog. You can't get to trial for a year. Two years were gonna get your trial, usually within six weeks. And because of that, um, there's not that much impact. I think it will encourage more people to file in this court and that your

sexual limit will, you know, leave us wide open for a increased number of cases. You went to law school in Southern California, right? Yes. Correct. Yeah. And you practice down there, I want you with No, I practiced the Sacramento, and then that's what was right. And

then you became a judge shortly after. Did you ever have any idea when you started to Teoh practice that you were going to become a municipal court judge? Was that one of your aims? It actually wasn't. Uh it wasn't I didn't think You know what, uh

what did you think when you got that phone call? Well, it wasn't quite as exciting as you're suggesting along the way. Towards the end of the time, I practice, I decided that I would submit line name for possible judgeship. So it was. It was the interest

that evolved in a few years into my practice. Um, yeah, it definitely was exciting. I know. Whatever. I didn't think it was for Rhyl in that Aziz, you probably recall it was New Year's Eve. I think that you want to tell everyone what you've often said

in speeches during that you were, she says. Gail had said in a piece of the press. Got better, Uh, jokingly, of course that Who else would you be? Fine home in a minute, Midnight on New Year's Eve. But I wasn't true. It'll Jerry Brown reported you

when you made a good appointment. And from your cohorts and Republican General, you've done a very, very good job. Uh, is the long term planning to meet the increasing demands of of the system itself? I would say not. I think, that we've been responsible members. The

public were responsible having long term general plans and environmental plans and some plans in terms of, you know, sewage, water, etcetera. But when it deals with managing people and crime and criminal justice, that hasn't been a concept in in our system of criminal justice, particularly on

the county level. And as I mentioned before, when law enforcement increases their forces significantly, that has a direct impact on the court. Um, and all those. We have a criminal Justice Council where we share information, but it's not a joint planning function. And yet there's a

group of us that have taken upon ourselves to try to re define the scope and direction of the Criminal Justice Council. And we're trying to work, to gather, to implement some both short range and long term planning goals. Uh, as an aside and a personal observation

you A couple years ago, you adopted a little daughter? Yes. How old is she known? How she doing? It's just 4.5. And she's great. Really? Now oh, gracious. Now we're down to about a couple of minutes, and one of the things What is your prognosis for

the overall? I guess you'd say Municipal court future and maybe anything else you want to add into that Well, I think that we're a wonderful situation in terms off. You have a very energetic, competent young bench and that we have all the right intentions with the

energy to see the sea. The things that you and I want accomplish accomplished. However, you have such an incredible workload and increasing workload because of crime. Now we're rural, sensitive to the various people that come before us. And we can take time toe lecture, a defendant

and really, you know, taking extra few minutes to focus on what his individual problems are and to make sure that victim receives her money for the injury caused. And this is a riel practicing for being on the bench of Snow. A county is a great experience

in that it's sophisticated as faras courts go, but the same time there's a rule individualized justice. And unfortunately, I feel there may be some tradeoffs in the years to come is that we're gonna have to reestablish our priorities a little bit, that we'll have to spend

much more time in felling proceedings and significant contested Mr Meter proceedings. We won't have as much time to say, Well, look, your blood alcohol was so high in this drunk driving, I think each year the rent a center, why don't you go to a A three

times a week. I don't think we'll be able to take the the additional moments we take here and there with individual offenders. I don't think that we still have the people that jump off the hill for bridge. Come in and we lecture them or the skateboarders.

I think that you'll see us and much more. Um, difficult, serious proceedings. And that will have to delegate war. The routine matters to commissioners of referees. You've been a splendid guests, as usual. Thank you for the invitation. You come back again to make maybe after your

years presiding. Judges over given overview. Ladies and gentlemen, our guest has been presiding judges on this court. Gael Greene up. My name is rich McGlinchey programs in home account in the eighties. I'll be back next week with another member of the county government, family or related

agencies. It's important to you and I kill that Good luck, Good health and good night. Sonoma County in the eighties is a production of the Cinema County Public Information Office. Okay, This program is being produced as a public service by total television. Rosen for Channel 22.

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