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.