March 20th, 2025 CASE Files
CASE Secures a Big Win for ALJs at DIR. CASE secured another big victory for members with the attached arbitration award, which finds that our ALJs at DIR who were denied their 4.5% SSA raises in 2023 are entitled to up to 14 months of back pay plus interest, which could amount to more than $8,000 for many members.
As this decision just came out, we do not yet have details on how quickly the State will implement the order, but we will share that information as soon as we know more.
It is always possible that the State will try to challenge this arbitration award in superior court, but we do not believe they have any legally cognizable grounds to do so.
In the meantime, it would be worthwhile for each ALJ who was denied their SSA to gather and hold on to your pay stubs from the relevant time periods, i.e. February 2023, July 2023, and July 2024. We want to ensure that all ALJs who are entitled to this award get the benefit.
CASE Secretary Wade DiCosmo and CASE Director Simon Hovakimian (both of whom are ALJs at DIR) led the fight on this battle, with Director Hovakimian providing important testimony on how the ALJs were unfairly denied their raise. CASE President Tim O’Connor (an Attorney at State Fund with no financial interest in the outcome) provided key testimony about bargaining that undermined the testimony of the State’s chief negotiator. The entire CASE Board ensured that all necessary and appropriate resources were deployed to put us in a position to be victorious.
Protect Telework Informational Picket. On March 12, CASE members, together with the California Association of Professional Scientists (CAPS) and SEIU Local 1000, gathered to protest the Governor’s recent executive order mandating that state workers return to the office four days a week.
CASE continues to engage with the media to elevate our collective voices regarding the Governor’s arbitrary mandate:
CapRadio: As state workers are called back into the office for more days, office capacity remains unclear
The Sacramento Bee: California state workers protest return-to-office order. ‘Four days? Come on.’
Big News Network: Newsom orders California state workers back four days a week
CapRadio: California state workers raise concerns about accommodations with new return to office mandate
CASE’s Sponsored Legislation. This year, CASE has introduced a bill to address the lack of competitive compensation for state attorneys and ALJs in State Bargaining Unit 2. The bill, SB 605, is authored by Senator Dave Cortese, a Democrat representing Senate District 15. SB 605 (Cortese) seeks to ensure this competitive compensation is realized by aligning the salaries of state attorneys and ALJs in BU 2 with those of public sector attorneys across California and would require CalHR to conduct an annual survey of salary structures and establish minimum salaries for attorneys and ALJs that meet regional and statewide averages. Implementation of the bill would be phased in over three fiscal years and is contingent upon a Budget appropriation.
The legislative process is just beginning for the 2025-26 session. As such, the bill is currently awaiting its first hearing in the Senate Labor, Public Employment & Retirement committee.
We will continue to keep you updated on the status of the bill as things progress.
Judicial Mentor Program. The Judicial Mentor Program (Appellate) is having a panel about what it is like to work at the Court of Appeal. It will feature Justice Dorothy Kim, among other justices. CASE encourages members to attend this event. To learn more, click here to view the event flyer.
CASE Baseball Is Back! The CASE Board is pleased to invite you once again to our exclusive series of socials at the ballpark – 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 American tradition and build camaraderie with your fellow CASE Members. As the series has sold out quickly, two additional games have been added:
Here is the current schedule:
- Atlanta Braves at Athletics on Thursday, July 10 at 6:05pm (Lawrence Butler Bobblehead Night)
- St. Louis Cardinals at Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday, August 4 at 7:10 pm, Field Level 45 (Roki Sasaki Bobblehead Night)
- New York Mets at San Francisco Giants on Sunday, July 27 at 1:05 pm, Lower Box 127 (Lou Seal Funko Pop Bobblehead Night)
Tickets are limited, so purchase yours today at: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/case-2025-baseball-series-4062323?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=creatorshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=odclsxcollection&utm-source=cp&aff=escb
Introducing CASE’s Inaugural Soccer Series! The CASE Board is pleased to secure tickets to upcoming soccer games across the state. We are inviting members to join us at our first game:
- Los Angeles Galaxy at Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday, May 31 at 7:30pm (Star Wars Night)
Tickets are limited, so purchase yours today at: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/case-2025-soccer-series-4137703?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=creatorshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=odclsxcollection&utm-source=cp&aff=escb
Governor Newsom Appoints CASE Member to a Judicial Appointment. Governor Gavin Newsom recently announced Superior Court Judge appointments. These appointments include one of our very own CASE members, William Shin, who has been appointed to serve as a judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Shin has served as a Deputy Attorney General at the California Attorney General’s Office since 2005 and as a Staff Judge Advocate and Deputy Staff Judge Advocate at the California Air National Guard since 2019.
Join us in congratulating your fellow CASE member on this great achievement!
CASE Is Back At the Bargaining Table. The CASE Bargaining Committee is currently hard at work negotiating a successor Memorandum of Understanding to the current 2022-2025 MOU that expires as of June 30, 2025. CASE initiated bargaining last month, which is earlier than in any previous bargaining cycle. To date we have had attended 9 bargaining sessions that have been held mostly in person. The highest priorities for CASE are negotiating salaries and working conditions, especially telework, in light of the Governor’s recent mandate. Sound strategy and the rules that govern bargaining do not permit disclosing the details of negotiations while efforts are underway, however, CASE will continue to share what information it can, as it is able to without jeopardizing dissemination of its strategy or allegations that it has violated the rules.
Ample data exists that supports Unit 2’s salary lag behind comparable public sector jobs at the city, county, and federal levels and the financial and other benefits of telework are well established. The Bargaining Committee will leverage that data and utilize firsthand accounts of the value you provide to the State of California as part of its proposals. CASE knows that the legal professionals of Bargaining Unit 2 routinely win big for the state in terms of trial and appellate court victories, settlements reached, levied fines, and collected fees. In addition to these monetary wins, CASE members are dedicated to fighting to secure fundamental rights, affordable health care, and justice for all Californians. Through their dedication and work our members also assure workplace safety and compliance with labor and other laws, benefitting both California workers and employers.
The Bargaining Team, like the CASE Board of Directors is an all-volunteer team. By the time bargaining finishes, the bargaining team has typically spent hundreds of hours and conducted no less than 35 sessions over several months negotiating the contract. This year’s bargaining term is expected to be no different. It is critical that all members encourage their colleagues to join the fight and support the Bargaining Committee in its efforts to improve benefits and salaries for us all. An increase in our membership enrollment would serve as a critical showing of our members’ commitment and engagement in the outcome of the important terms under negotiation and the CASE Board appreciates members assisting with its efforts and extensive time commitments.