Judge David Yaffe has not been reporting income he receives from Los Angeles County on Form 700

December 18, 2008

By AHRC News Services

Homeowners and their lawyers have been reporting to AHRC for years that California State Court judges are:

• constantly ignoring laws and evidence favoring their cases
• writing "Unpublished" opinions against them that defy the facts, laws and logic
• depriving them of justice
• saddling them with fraudulent or void judgments and stripping them of their assets, jobs, freedom and property
• stripping homeowners the right to the courts by falsely declaring them "vexatious litigants" for simply defending themselves against frivolous lawsuits by rogue lawyers
• stripping homeowner advocate lawyers of their license to earn a living as a lawyer if they vigorously represent homeowners

Richard Fine, a former Federal prosecutor has also had to confront such judicial tactics at the Los Angeles Superior Court. Richard uses his legal and investigative skills to fight back. He also continues to share his work with the public on AHRC.

Following is Richard's Complaint to the Enforcement Division of the California Fair Political Practices Commission on Judge David Yaffe dated December 18, 2008

PERSON WHO ALLEGEDLY VIOLATED THE POLITICAL REFORM ACT

David Yaffe
111 North Hill Street
Los Angeles, California 90012
Telephone: (213)974-5881

PROVISION OR PROVISIONS OF THE POLITICAL REFORM ACT ALLEGEDLY VIOLATED:

Judge David Yaffe, is a Los Angeles Superior Court judge and a state elected official under Article Vl § 16 of the California Constitution.

Under Article Vl § 17 of the California Constitution and the Code of Judicial Ethics, judges cannot have other employment (other than teaching).

Under the Political Reform Act. Govt. Code § 87200 and § 82030(b)(2) as interpreted by Regulations of the FPC, the judges must report all income on the Form 700 except salary from a federal or local government to whom the judge provides services. The Los Angeles Superior Court judges are State employees and do not provide services to Los Angeles County.

Since approximately 1988, Los Angeles County has paid "local judicial benefits" to Los Angeles Superior Court judges in the form of "Mega Flex" benefits which can be taken in cash, a "professional development allowance" in cash and cash contributions to the judge's 401(K) retirement account. In 2007, these payments amounted to approximately $46,338.00 per judge or 21 million for the judges of the Los Angeles Superior Court.

Judge Yaffe's Form 700 filing show that Judge Yafe has not reported such Los Angeles County payments. The Los Angeles County Registrars's office in a phone conversation informed me that no Los Angeles Superior Court has reported such payments on their Form 700.

On October 10, 2008, the California Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate Distict.Div. One, held that the payments from Los Angels County to the Los Angeles Superior Court judges violated Article Vi § 19 of the California Constitution in the case of Harold P. Sturgeon v County of Los Angeles (Certified for Publication) Case No. D050832, LASC No. BC 351286

DESCRIPTION OF FACTS CONSTITUTING ALLEGED VIOLATION AND HOW YOU HAVE PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE THAT IT OCCURRED

Failure to report payments from Los Angeles County on Form 700 Statement of Economic Interest for any year. Form 700s do not show such income. Neither Judge Yafe nor any other Los Angeles Superior Court judge perform services for Los Angeles County as they are State Elected Constitutional officers and employees of the State of California.

Their compensation is set by the State Legislature pursuant o Article Vi § 19 of theCourt judges has been held to be unconstitutional and to violate Article Vl § 19 in the case of Harold P. Sturgeon v. County of Los Angeles (Certified for Publication), 10/10/08 California Court os Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, Div. One Case No. D050832, LASC No. BC 351286.

Form 700s at Los Angeles County Registrars/Clerk's Office do not show Los Angeles County payments.

NAME AND ADDRESS OF POTENTIAL WITNESSES

Los Angeles County Registrar
12400 Imperial Highway
Norwalk, CA 90650

Telephone: (800)815-2666