The Sacramento Bee – “California’s AG could receive $25 million to fight Trump. Attorney union has concerns.” This article, published by the Sacramento Bee, discusses what the California Attorney General’s Office may do with the funds it is expected to receive from the state to fight legal battles it anticipates will arise with the Trump Administration. CASE President, Timothy O’Connor, was featured in the article, highlighting the potential for the attorney general’s office to hire outside counsel to handle these cases that should be handled by state attorneys:
“The union representing state attorneys has concerns about how the California Attorney General’s Office could spend the $25 million it is expected to receive to prepare the state for anticipated legal fights with the incoming Trump administration.
Gov. Gavin Newsom immediately called for a special session to boost the Justice Department’s budget days after Donald Trump won a second term. The proposed budget increase is before lawmakers now.
After the attorney general’s office hired a private law firm to help take on big oil companies, the union fears that the state might tap outside counsel to handle other, high-profile cases against Trump.
The labor group already unsuccessfully disputed the contract with a private law firm hired in 2023 to work on a “monster” climate change lawsuit, but the state attorneys’ union said it would challenge any future attempts by the Justice Department to contract with private firms.
‘If we see any hiring of outside counsel for the Trump cases, we’re going to go after each and every one of them,’ said Timothy O’Connor, the president of the union, the California Attorneys, Administrative Law Judges and Hearing Officers in State Employment.
Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office said it would not disclose potential legal strategies in sharing how the money would be spent.”
To read the article in full, click here.
CASE’s Ice Hockey Series Is Here! The CASE Board is pleased to invite you to an exclusive series of winter socials at the ice rink – just for CASE Members and their families. We are inviting members to join us at games across the state. For a discounted price of $30, you will get the chance to participate in a great tradition and build camaraderie with your fellow CASE Members. Here is the schedule:
San Jose Sharks vs. Nashville Predators: Thursday, January 23, 2025 at 7:30pm – LIMITED AVAILABILITY
Los Angeles Kings vs. Dallas Stars: Friday, February 7, 2025 at 7:30 pm – SOLD OUT
San Diego Gulls vs. Bakersfield Condors: Saturday, March 1, 2025 at 6:00pm
Anaheim Ducks vs. New York Islanders: Sunday, March 9, 2025 at 6:00 pm – SOLD OUT
Tickets are limited, so buy yours today at https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/case-hockey-events-3832383?just_published=true
If you are unable to purchase tickets, as they may sell out, please reach out to Katherine Regan at kregan@calattorneys.org as soon as possible, as additional tickets may be obtained.
Victory for CASE Members at Office of the State Public Defender. CASE secured a huge win for members at OSPD who were informed last year that they would have to pay back thousands of dollars each due to a retirement contribution deduction error through no fault of their own.
Over the last several years, OSPD inexplicably applied erroneous retirement classification codes to our attorneys there, and only discovered the error after an audit. During some years, our members overpaid their retirement contributions, but for most years, the State was withdrawing less than the amount they were supposed to. As a result, our members were told that they owed anywhere from $1,500 to $4,500 and were told they had to pay it back or face wage garnishment through future payroll deductions.
The members contacted CASE, and we filed a grievance on their behalf. We relied on a provision of the Government Code that specifies that errors of this type, made without the employee’s knowledge, are not subject to recoupment. However, OSPD rejected that argument and insisted our members repay the missing contributions. CASE then filed a petition with the CalPERS board, asking them to follow the law, and CalPERS agreed with CASE that the error was not the fault of the employees, and they should not be required to repay the amounts. While CASE was disappointed that OSPD management not only had no interest in following the law, but also had no interest in seeking clarification from CalPERS, CASE is pleased that CalPERS correctly interpreted the law, saving our members thousands of dollars of improper reimbursement charges that OSPD was planning on imposing.
CDTFA Telework Arbitration Decision. CASE filed a grievance against CDTFA for denying CASE’s request to allow our CDTFA members the ability of maximum telework. The grievance was arbitrated over several days, with closing briefs submitted at the beginning of October 2024. Unfortunately, the arbitrator denied the grievance. The arbitrator in this matter sided with the arbitrator in the Franchise Tax Board matter and the decision states that requests for telework should have been submitted as individual requests. CASE disagrees with this decision and is considering possible next steps. To view the arbitration decision in full, click here.
MOU Suggestion Box. While we are still a few months away from the next round of bargaining, it’s never too soon to collect ideas for future negotiations. You have access to our MOU Suggestion Box, a place for members – and ONLY members – to contribute ideas for new or improved benefits and MOU terms at any time. We are, of course, aware of the need for the Governor to address continuing salary lags (both within the unit and between state service and local government jobs), so we are hoping to collect your ideas on non-salary MOU items. To complete a suggestion card, click here. (password: membersmatter22).