Bill Text: CA SCR126 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Chief Justice Ronald M. George.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2010-08-31 - Re-referred to Com. on RULES. [SCR126 Detail]
Download: California-2009-SCR126-Introduced.html
BILL NUMBER: SCR 126 INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Senators Corbett and Steinberg (Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Feuer) AUGUST 25, 2010 Relative to Chief Justice Ronald M. George Justice Center. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SCR 126, as introduced, Corbett. Chief Justice Ronald M. George. In honor of the service of Ronald M. George as the Chief Justice of California, this measure designates the Civic Center Complex, comprised of the Earl Warren Building and the Hiram W. Johnson State Office Building, located at the Civic Center Plaza in the City and County of San Francisco, as the Ronald M. George Justice Center. Fiscal committee: yes. WHEREAS, Ronald M. George has distinguished himself as an exceptional Chief Justice of California, responsible for achieving unprecedented improvements in the administration of justice in our state, and is acknowledged as a jurist dedicated to the rule of law, intellectual rigor, impartiality, integrity, and judicial excellence in all its forms; and WHEREAS, Since assuming office as California's 27th Chief Justice in 1996, Ronald M. George has provided visionary, inspirational, and collaborative leadership that has been pivotal in the transformation of California's court system into a truly statewide system with the unifying goal of equal access to fair and consistent justice for all in every venue in the state; and WHEREAS, Chief Justice George worked tirelessly with the Legislature, and successive Governors, as well as within the judicial branch, to maintain strong and cooperative working relationships that were essential to accomplishing the reforms that were central to the recognition and operation of our state judiciary. These efforts culminated in historic enactments resulting in state funding for the trial courts the unification of 220 municipal and superior courts into 58 trial courts, one in each county, and the transfer of California's court facilities from county to state ownership under the management of the judicial branch; and WHEREAS, Chief Justice George has fought to advance and protect full and equal access to a fair and impartial justice system by promoting statewide programs to serve the needs of all Californians, including those whose access may be limited by language, disability, cultural unfamiliarity, or a lack of resources to employ counsel. He has been a consistent voice for the unrepresented and for the fundamental importance of judicial impartiality and independence from inappropriate influences; and WHEREAS, Chief Justice George has been a driving force behind myriad branchwide initiatives, including self-help programs, pro bono services, education in fairness and cultural competency for judges and court staff, public funding for legal services, interpreter services, one-day or one-trial jury service, and plain English jury instructions. He has worked to promote the fair and respectful treatment of all, thereby increasing not only access to justice, but also the public's respect for the operation and integrity of the judicial branch of government; now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby designates the Civic Center Complex, comprised of the Earl Warren Building and the Hiram W. Johnson State Office Building, located at the Civic Center Plaza in the City and County of San Francisco, as the Ronald M. George Justice Center, in deep and lasting honor to the extraordinary and exemplary service of Chief Justice Ronald M. George as California's 27th Chief Justice; and be it further Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.