SURVEY: Remote Civil Court Proceedings

Dear OCEA member,

Thank you to everyone who attended our “Negotiations 101” Training earlier this month. If you were unable to make it, we will soon send out a video version of the training so all OCEA members can better prepare for MOU negotiations.

Besides negotiations preparation, OCEA and our legislative allies have been working on multiple items in Sacramento that will impact local Court operations. One important item is ​our fight against the attempt to move to remote proceedings. During the pandemic the Judicial Council, County Superior Court systems, judges, advocates, and other groups embraced non-traditional ways of conducting Court business remotely; however, the expanded use of remote proceedings emboldened those who have consistently regarded technology as a “fix all” for issues facing the Courts. See the email we sent on this issue HERE!

Last year OCEA standing together with other unions and Court advocacy groups ​successfully lobbied for ​legislation to create a working group that will develop recommendations to the Legislature and Governor that creates a statewide framework for remote civil court proceedings and Court Reporter availability in the workforce.

Orange County Court Reporter Aimee Skochko has been appointed by Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye to serve as a member of this working group! Aimee has been a CRRA Board Member since 2016; an OCEA Steward; a member of the MOU Negotiations Team; and an important voice for OCEA members in our legislative advocacy in Sacramento. Aimee will represent the California Court Reporters Association in her role, but she also understands that remote civil court proceedings impact all workers. Access to justice is a team effort, and your feedback on this important issue is critical!

OCEA WANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU! If you have feedback on remote civil court proceedings, please let us know. How does it impact your job? How does it impact the community? You can provide your ​opinions by clicking HERE!

Complete the Remote Work Survey TODAY!

In Solidarity,

OCEA

Publication Date: June 16, 2022