motion to recuse 6.10
DESCRIPTION
Request to Appellate Dept Panel to Self Recuse due to Violation of Judicial Ethics CodeTRANSCRIPT
Appellate Division No. 70
LOS ANGELES SUPERIOR COURT
APPELLATE DIVISION
ANTHONY GROSSMAN No. BV 028930Appellant Van Nuys, Case No. 10B01962
PRO VALUE PROPERTIES, INC.,Appellee
v.JUDGE CHRISTINE EWELL, LOS ANGELES COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT
Respondent_____________________________________________________________________APPELLANT’S OBJECTION TO ENTIRE PANEL OF JUDGES PRESENTLYASSIGNED TO DEPARTMENT 70 AND REQUEST TO SELF RECUSE PURSUANTTO CANON 3E(3) OF THE CALIFORNIA CODE OF JUDICIAL ETHICS (SELFRECUSAL); DECLARATION OF MARTIN S FRIEDLANDER, ESQ; POINTS &AUTHORITIES IN SUPPORT THEREOF.
MARTIN S FRIEDLANDER, ESQ. State Bar No. 36828ANTHONY C. GROSSMAN, ESQ., State Bar No. 175408
10350 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 603Los Angeles, Ca. 90024
Tel. No. 310 435-1510Fax No. 310 278 7330
Attorney for Appellant ANTHONY GROSSMAN
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TO THE HONORABLE PRESIDING JUDGE AND ASSOCIATE JUDGES OF THE
APPELLATE DIVISION OF THE LOS ANGELES SUPERIOR COURT
I OPENING STATEMENT
A. On May 20, 2011 I personally filed a MOTION to enjoin Judge Christine Ewell from
conducting any conference whatsoever due to lack of jurisdiction pursuant to CRC Rule
8.837 (d)(4). I specifically relied on the pre filing of the record provisions permitting
motions to enable Judge Jewell to defend herself from the disciplinary requests to
accord her the “due process” which she did not accord my client Anthony Grossman. I
requested an immediate stay. After practicing in California since 1965 in the Appellate
Courts of this State I know the difference between a Motion and a Petition for a Writ of
Prohibition. If I wished to file a Petition for a Writ of Prohibition I would have filed one.
She conducted the hearing, without my presence, and was handed this Panel’s Order
of May 24, 2011 denying the Petition and Refusing to do its Required Duty to Report
Judge Jewell and placed the burden on Grossman to do so.
Judge Jewell’s order of Certification specifically referenced that she did not open the
envelope containing my Motion to this Court. I personally marked that envelope
personal and confidential “for Judge Jewell’s eyes” to avoid her any embarrassment of
having the filing clerk open the envelope and make my claims the subject of discussion
among the entire Van Nuys Courthouse. Judge Jewell intentionally refused to open that
envelope even after opposing counsel handed her this Panel’s Order which referenced
her ethical violations. This further evidences my charges against Judge Jewell that she
refused to accord any due process to Mr. Grossman and her personal dislike for me
because I challenged her in a lawful and appropriate manner, in pleadings, and not in
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open court. She just doesn’t care. This Panel has covered up Judge Jewell’s violations
of law and the Canons by its own actions, which we claim are also violations of due
process and the Canons of Ethics. By converting the Motion to a Writ Proceeding this
court avoided its Judicial Responsibility and in so doing it violated the Canons of Ethics
for which it should self recuse since a litigant is not empowered to file a Motion to
Recuse an Appellate Judge as we would if it was a Trial Judge. “Swept under the Rug”
Instead, this Appellate Panel, against my wishes, converted my motion for an
Injunction and to Require this Panel to cite Judge Jewell to the California Commission
of Judicial Performance, which was a Judicial Duty under the Canons of Ethics cited in
my Motion, to a Petition for a Writ of Prohibition and directed me to file a Complaint to
the Commission. This Panel violated the Canon of Judicial Ethics by converting my
Motion to a Writ Proceeding and evaded their Mandated duty to self report their own
violations and Judge Jewell’s violation of the Canons of Judicial Ethics.
Accordingly, we Request this entire Panel to disqualify themselves pursuant to
Canon 3 (E) (3) of the Code of Judicial Ethics. In that regard I remind this Panel that if
they refuse to disqualify themselves, they will be violating the Canons of Judicial Ethics
which I will report to the Committee, and they will be denying Mr. Grossman “Due
Process of Law” and will commit reversible error, that will entitle Mr. Grossman to file a
Direct Appeal to the Court of Appeal, since it is the Appellate Department that is
committing the error, not a Court of Limited Jurisdiction.
Appellant requests this entire panel to disqualify themselves and assign this entire
appeal to the Court of Appeal to be joined with a pending Appeal in Grossman v
Schloss, B228800 dealing with SLAPP Motions and the error of the Trial Court in not
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Consolidating the Unlawful Detainer case with the Main Case that Grossman filed. We
have cited that error in our Cross Appeal. The present status of the Appeal in B228800
is that the record has been filed and a Notice was sent that Schloss had to file his
opening brief within 40 days from June 1, 2011. The record in the Pro Value case is
ready to be filed but was held up due to Judge Jewell’s failure to timely Certify a
Statement on Appeal.
B. Our unlawful detainer statutes, which Appellant believes to be unconstitutional, is
the culminating end to a non judicial sale process that has been marked with fraud,
perjury, and other revolting crimes committed by the financial industry against the
homeowners of this nation. The major offenders have signed consent decrees and the
50 State Attorney Generals are pursuing these offenders for financial and other relief
for these tortuous acts.
Homeowners expect, and the law demands, that Judicial Officers, governed by
the Canons of Ethics, exact justice, follow the law, and refrain from just “rubber
stamping” what has preceded the wrongdoing. Judicial officers are required to follow
the same law as the litigants. The judiciary does not get a free ride. If the trial judge
exceeds its authority under the law, that is an abuse of power which has consequences,
such as a “reversal” and a citation to that judicial officer for disciplinary proceedings.
The appellate courts are both empowered and mandated to do that under the law and
under the Canons of Judicial ethics.
The word “must” is mandatory not discretionary. Judge Ewell had no choice but
to comply. Rule 8.387 (f) (1) states that; “If the trial judge does not make any correction
or modifications to the proposed statement under (d) (4) and does not order either the
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use of an official electronic recording or the preparation of a transcript in lieu of
correcting the proposed statement under (d) (6), the judge “must” promptly certify the
statement.”
The word “promptly” may not be construed to file her own “PROPOSED
STATEMENT ON APPEAL” May 10, 2011. Judge Ewell was mandated to act promptly
from March 28. 2011. Counting the days between March 28, 2011 and May 10, 2011 (a
period of 42 days) Must is defined by the dictionary as “Something that is absolutely
required or indispensable: “ (The Free dictionary) There is no definition of “Must” in
Black’s law Dictionary. There is no definition of “promptly” in Black’s Law Dictionary.
The adverb “promptly” is defined as; “promptly - with little or no delay; "the rescue
squad arrived promptly". Forty Two days is not promptly. Judge Ewell has thus
violated the Canons of Judicial Ethics of California. This will be discussed in the
Memorandum of Law. The CRC does not grant any authority for Judge Ewell to issue
any “PROPOSED STATEMENT ON APPEAL” . Judge Ewell is only given authority to
make “corrections or modifications” to the Appellant’s Proposed Statement. Judge
Jewell waived her right to do so. That “waiver” has consequences. She lost her
jurisdiction to correct or modify.
DECLARATION OF MARTIN S FRIEDLANDER
I, Martin S Friedlander, do hereby declare under penalty of perjury under the
laws of the State of California, based upon his personal first hand knowledge that the
following facts, not conclusions of law, are true and correct.
1. I am an attorney duly licensed by the State of California since 1965 to practice law in
this state. I have also been licensed by the State of New York since 1963. I have
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practiced law in the federal courts of California, New Mexico, New York, Mississippi,
and Texas. I have practiced law in the States of New York, Oregon, Arizona, New
Mexico, Texas, and other states either in pro se or pro hac vice status. I have tried over
100 jury and non jury trial in various jurisdictions. I have published opinions in the
appellate courts of California including its Supreme Court, the 9 Circuit and 5 Circuit.th th
2. I am and was the attorney for Grossman in the proceedings before Judge Ewell and
other Judges in this UD case. I tried the UD case as a bench trial due to the fact that we
were wrongfully denied a jury trial, irrespective of Judge Jewell’s contentions. Judge
Jewell may only state facts not conclusions in her statement. She may not “gut” the
appellant’s appeal.
3. All of the facts set forth in the Introduction are true based on my personal knowledge.
4. All of the facts set forth in Plaintiff’s Proposed Statement on Appeal are true based
on my personal knowledge.
5. Judge Ewell was 42 days late in violation of the rules of the CRC. She has not
honored the word “must” nor has she acted “promptly” as the words “must” and
“promptly” are defined by the dictionary.
6. Judge Ewell was the Chief Asst Trial Attorney, Crimes Division, for the US Attorney
office in the USDC for the Central District of California. She served as an assistant US
Attorney appointed by the Bush administration when Bush was President. Judge Ewell
was appointed as a Superior Court Judge by Governor Schwartznegger and not elected
to office. As Chief Assistant US Attorney, and a graduate of Harvard Law School, Judge
Ewell was well versed in California and Federal Procedure, especially trials, both jury
and non jury, and the dignity of the Courts as one of the pillars of American Society and
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Justice. Most Civil Right cases involving the due process and equal protection clauses
of the 14 amendment are filed and tried in Federal Court under the Civil Rights act.th
7. Appellant’s proposed statement on appeal cites a violation of due process of law by
refusing to conduct a trial with witnesses taking the witness stand. In all my years of
practicing law I have never observed a trial being conducted from the counsel table.
Judge Ewell admits that to be a fact. She cited no rule of court or case supporting this
deviation from standard trial procedure throughout the United States. “She just did it her
way”. Her way is not supported by law or due process.
8. CCP Sec. 1176 (a) mandated Defendant/Appellant to first direct a petition for a Stay
of the judgment pending appeal “to the Judge before who it was rendered. The
judgment was rendered by Judge Ewell who was transferred to another Department in
Van Nuys. I made approximately three telephone calls to Judge Ewell’s courtroom clerk
to ask Judge Ewell when she could set this motion for an Ex-Parte hearing before her
as she was the Trial Judge. I read the code section to Judge Ewell’s clerk, who told me
on two separate occasions that Judge Jewell would not hear the motion for a Stay and
that Grossman should schedule the motion in Dept. P before Judge Shimer, who was
not the Trial Judge. Judge Ewell’s clerk hung up the telephone on me after the last and
final attempt. Judge Ewell, knowingly and willfully refused to follow the Code in order to
avoid exercising her discretion to either deny or grant the Stay on the merits. That was
a total abdication of her duties as a Trial Judge in the Los Angeles County Superior
Court and a violation of her judicial ethics, which is but a “mere” example of Judge
Ewell’s decisions both before, during and after the trial. She absolutely refused to
exercise any discretion, which is the worst abuse of discretion that a Judge can make.
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9. Grossman then scheduled an ex parte motion before Judge Shimer as directed by
Judge Ewell. In refusing to hear the motion, Judge Shimer apologized to Grossman for
Judge Ewell’s conduct. This conduct by Judge Ewell left Grossman without a remedy in
the Trial Court due to the proper judge refusing to act and another Judge recognizing
that he did not have the power to act.
10. The Writ of Possession was served by the Sheriff and Grossman was forced to
move out on Tuesday, December 14, 2010 leaving him homeless. But for his mother
paying the rent he would be living on the street or in his car as so many thousands are
now doing because of the fraudulent foreclosures now plaguing this country. This
“misconduct” by a judicial officer had terrible consequences. Grossman was required to
file a “fee waiver” in order to file the Notice of Appeal. Grossman’s sole remedy for a
stay of execution pending his appeal from the judgment in the UD action is to seek a
stay from the trial judge. However, the trial judge has refused to hear the motion for
stay, on Petitioner by the Respondent Court.
11. The appellant is Anthony Grossman (“Grossman”), who is the Defendant in that UD
proceeding entitled Pro Value Properties v. Anthony Grossman LASC No. 10B01962
filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, Northeast District in Van Nuys (“UD Case”).
Grossman is also an attorney at law licensed to practice before all of the courts of the
State of California, and has associated in as co-counsel to Petitioner’s attorney of
record, Martin S. Friedlander, Esq. Mr. Friedlander is also Grossman’s step-father.
Grossman contends that he is the “owner” of the real property located at 19221
Sherman Way #29, Reseda, CA 91335 (“Subject Property”) notwithstanding the
scurrilous attempts by Loan Servicer, Pro Value, their attorneys, and others to “steal” it
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from him through an improper and unlawful foreclosure of the Subject Property.
12. The Appellee is Pro Value Properties, Inc. (“Pro Value”), who is the Plaintiff in the
above referenced UD proceedings. Grossman has steadfastly contended that Pro
Value “unlawfully” claims title due to a “rigged” non-judicial trustee’s sale conducted by
Bayview, which is not in the “chain of title.” Title and Standing are the issues in
Grossman v. Bayview and Pro Value v. Grossman. Pro Value took with both actual
and constructive notice and is therefore not a BFP for value, notwithstanding Judge
Ewell’s misstatements to the contrary. There was no court reporter present for these
proceedings and the anticipated dispute between court and counsel as to what
happened; what evidence was admitted and rejected; as well as the inferences to be
raised from the same is now before this appellate court. Judge Jewell and I can never
resolve our differences in the facts. I can only meet fabrication with truth. Fortunately,
Judge Jewell did not comply with the time constraints imposed on her by the California
Rules of Court, and she has lost all jurisdiction to fabricate a Statement on Appeal. Due
to the fact there was no court reporter it is her word against mine and my word is under
oath and hers is not. The law does not permit me to put Judge Jewell on the witness
stand to examine her under oath.
Summary evictions are akin to pre-judgment attachments which have been
declared to be unconstitutional when there is no “prior” hearing. UD actions are
summary in nature where the defendant may not cross-complain with limited abilities to
try title with shortened discovery and trial dates, with witnesses in the State of Florida
where Bayview is located.
13. Prior to trial in the UD case, Grossman sought and was erroneously and improperly
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denied a jury trial in the action. Therefore, on September 23, 2010, a bench trial
commenced in Dept. P of Respondent Court, before Judge Christine Ewell. Trial
proceeded for three days and completed on September 28, 2010.
14. On October 15, 2010, Judge Ewell issued a proposed statement of decision
following trial, finding judgment for Pro Value. On October 27, 2010, Grossman filed
Objections to the Court’s Proposed Statement of Decision. On November 13, 2010,
Judge Ewell issued a ruling overruling Grossman’s objections to the proposed
Statement of Decision, and issued her final Statement of Decision which was a
codification of the proposed statement of decision. On the same date, and in line with
her statement of decision, Judge Ewell entered judgment in favor of Pro Value and
against Grossman, awarding Pro Value possession of the Subject Property as well as
holdover damages.
16. On December 2, 2010, Pro Value requested and Respondent Court issued a Writ of
Possession in favor of Pro Value and against Grossman for possession of the Subject
Property.
17. We request that this Panel take Judicial Notice of the Motion that I personally filed
on May 20, 2011 so that I do not have to repeat myself herein.
18. At the time I personally filed the MOTION I requested to speak personally to the
Supervising Clerk in Department 70. I even said hello to Judge Gregosian, who issued
the Order denying Grossman a Jury Trial, and was thus automatically disqualified. We
shook hands as gentlemen and we were very cordial to each other even after I
reminded him of his duty to disqualify himself.
19. The Supervising Clerk then came out and she and I reviewed the entire Motion. I
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pointed out to her that this Panel itself violated the Canons due to the fact they had
personal knowledge of Judge Jewell’s transgressions in refusing to hear Grossman’s
Motion for a Stay of Execution, in violation of the Statute. She made a note on a sticky
and attached it to the page of my motion that referred to my request. I discussed the
entire substance of my motion with her and she made sticky notes and attached them
to my motion. She even noted that she knows me from the past as an appellate lawyer.
She told me that she would bring my concerns to this Panel.
19. On May 26, 2011 Judge Jewell issued a Minute Order that is attached hereto as
Exhibit 1. I direct the Panel’s attention to a Statement of Judge Jewell in the Minute
Order.
“The Court indicates that it is in receipt of an unopened envelope, stamped
received 5-23-2011. The envelope is addressed to “Judge Christine Jewell” from
Martin S Friedlander, Attorney at Law. The Court notes that the envelope is
postmarked 5-20-2011 and has not been opened. In response to the Court’s
statement, counsel for Plaintiff notifies the Court of an Order from the Appellate
Division, case number BV028930 filed on 5-24-2011 by the Defendant.”
20. Judge Jewell does not state that she read this Panel’s Order of 5/24/2011, but the
docket in Van Nuys reflect that the 5/24/2011 order was filed. I can only assume Judge
Jewell read it since it was delivered to her and wound up being filed and docketed.
21. Other than Judge Jewell’s statement that she neither opened my envelope
addressed to her or read it. The envelope was sealed by me with sticky, not paste,
which can be opened and the integrity of the envelope remains in tact. I would wish to
put her under oath and cross examine her on that statement. It also means that Judge
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Ewell totally ignored the second paragraph of this Panel’s Order of 5/24/2011 about her
alleged “ethical violations” reportable to the Commission. I would have though that
Judge Ewell’s curiosity as a former chief prosecutor would have caused her to open the
envelope to see what ethics charges I raised against her.
22. Then, on May 27, 2011, the day AFTER the hearing on 5/26/2011, Judge Jewell
issued her Order Concerning Appellant’s Proposed Statement on Appeal to which she
attached an “Engrossed Settled Statement on Appeal” (Exhibit 2) This means that
Judge Jewell had an opportunity to open my envelope after the hearing on 5/26/2011
and read my Motion contained therein. I know that she read it because she made a
change to her statement on lines 6-11 of P. 2, since my motion referenced the fact that
she had no personal knowledge due to a different judge hearing the motion. She thus
“covered” all her bases, in further “fabrication” of the true facts. I personally believe that
Judge Jewell is unethical and should have been cited by this Panel to the Commission.
This Panel violated its Mandate under the Canons to report Judge Jewell to the
Commission.
23. I do not believe that my client Grossman will be accorded Due Process of Law if this
Panel does not self-recuse, and thus will be committing Judicial error by a non-limited
court which is directly appealable to the Court of Appeal. I again request this Panel to
Self Recuse and issue an order sending it up to the Court of Appeal.
I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing testimony is true and correct under
the laws of the State of California.
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Executed on June 10, 2011 at Los Angeles California
_____________________________
Martin S. Friedlander.
MEMORANDUM OF POINTS AND AUTHORITIES
INTRODUCTION
Judges, especially appellate judges who usually bask in anonymity, are very
much in the news these days. The topic du jour is recusal. No court or judge enjoys a
safe harbor from publicity in this arena. Whether it is the United States Supreme Court,
(1) the federal district bench, (2) a state supreme court, (3) or a county court, (4) public
scrutiny is rigorous. In most cases, the issue is not an actual conflict of interest or a
claim of actual bias, but rather the appearance of potential bias in hearing a case where
a judge's impartiality is perceived to be in doubt. It is an examination of this
circumstance, which is generally cast as "the appearance of impropriety," that prompts
this introduction. In my view, the appearance standard fosters public confidence in the
judiciary and augments judicial independence. Based on this Panel’s conduct as
aforesaid “there is an appearance of impropriety” which requires each of the three
members of the Panel to Self Examine based on the objective test.
I. EVOLUTION OF THE CANONS OF JUDICIAL ETHICS
Although the notion of formal canons of ethics for judges in the United States is a
phenomenon of the early twentieth century, the concept of impartiality derives from
ancient law. Under the Roman Code of Justinian, a party who deemed the judge "under
suspicion" was permitted "to recuse him before issue joined, so that the cause go to
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another." The principle of invoking recusal for "suspicion" of bias was carried through in
disqualification statutes in civil law countries. In the common law system, however, the
buck literally stopped where the judge had a direct financial interest, as that was the
only basis for disqualification. In the United States, since 1792 recusal has been
required where judges have a financial interest in a case or where they previously
served as an attorney.
The first formal judicial ethics code in the United States came about through an
American Bar Association project: the Committee on Judicial Ethics, headed by Chief
Justice Taft. The Canons were adopted in 1924, ironically in response to the conflict
presented by Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis serving both as a federal judge and as
the Commissioner of Baseball while attempting to clean up the Chicago Black Sox
baseball betting scandal. The original thirty-four canons were broad and wide ranging
and included the principle that remains in the code today--a judge should avoid both
impropriety and the appearance of impropriety. With respect to disqualification, the
standard was a subjective one--whether a judge should withdraw in a particular case
was in the eyes of the beholder, the judge.
The first major overhaul of the Canons came in 1972. The admonition to avoid
actual impropriety as well as the appearance of impropriety remained in the Canons,
but the disqualification provision was radically revamped. The standard changed from a
subjective to an objective one, that is whether a judge's "impartiality might reasonably
be questioned." Despite another round of revisions in 1990, the appearance and
disqualification language remained the same. The key change in 1990 was to replace
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"should" with "shall" to reflect the mandatory nature of the standards.
Today the appearance concept is imbedded in two separate canons. Canon 2 reads,
"A judge shall avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety in all of the judge's
activities." Canon 3E(1) on disqualification provides that "[a] judge "shall disqualify
himself or herself in a proceeding in which the judge's impartiality might reasonably be
questioned."
Canon 3E(1) goes on to list separate instances in which disqualification is
required because of (a) personal bias/prejudice or personal knowledge; (b) prior
service as a lawyer in the matter; (c) economic interest; and (d) close personal
relationship of relatives or parties to a proceeding. For federal judges, virtually the same
restrictions are contained in a federal statute.
For a discussion of the provisions of Canon 3E(1) and related case law, see
generally Leslie W. Abramson, Judicial Disqualification under Canon 3 of the Code of
Judicial Conduct (2d ed. Am. Judicature Socy. 1992). For a discussion of the
relationship between Canons 2 and 3, see U.S. v. Microsoft Corp., 253 F.3d 34, 113
(D.C. Cir. 2001) ("The District Judge's repeated violations of Canons 3A(6) and 3A(4)
also violated Canon 2"); In re Charge of Judicial Misconduct, 47 F.3d 399, 400 (10th
Cir. Jud. Council 1995) ("The allegations of extra-judicial comments cause the Council
substantial concern under both Canon 3A(6) and Canon 2 of the Judicial Code of
Conduct."). Tumey v. Ohio, 273 U.S. 510 (1927). In re Murchison, 349 U.S. 133, 136
(1955).
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The provisions of Canon 3E also help the public understand the judiciary's
responsibilities. Until recently, justices in California's appellate courts were not bound by
the recusal provisions of the Canons. As the California Supreme Court stated when
adopting the provisions for appellate justices,
[t]he new provisions spell out in greater detail for the benefit
of the courts and the public the consideration a justice of the
Supreme Court or the Courts of Appeal should take into account
in determining whether he or she should recuse or disqualify
himself or herself from deciding or hearing a matter.
See Ignazio J. Ruvolo, California's Amendment to Canon 3E of the Code of
Judicial Conduct Requiring Self-Recusal of Disqualified Appellate Justices--Will it be
Reversible Error not to Self-Recuse? 25 Thomas Jefferson L. Rev. 529, 540 (2003)
A. Judge Jewell’s violations of the Canons of Judicial Ethics.
The Preamble to the Canons of Judicial Ethics states that: “Our legal system is
based on the principle that an independent, fair, and competent judiciary will interpret
and apply the laws that govern us. The role of the judiciary is central to American
concepts of justice and the rule of law. Intrinsic to this code are the precepts that
judges, individually and collectively, must respect and honor the judicial office as a
public trust and strive to enhance an maintain confidence in our legal system. The
judge is an arbiter of facts and law for the resolution of disputes and a highly visible
member of government under the rule of law.”
The Preamble further states that: “The Code governs the conduct of judges and
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judicial candidates and is binding upon them. Whether disciplinary action is appropriate,
and the degree of discipline to be imposed, requires a reasoned application of the text
and consideration of such factors as the seriousness of the transgression, whether
there is a pattern of improper activity, and the effect of the improper activity on others or
on the judicial system.”
The effect of Judge Jewell’s improper activity was to cause the Sheriff to execute
on the Writ of Possession and forcibly remove Anthony Grossman from his home. The
effect of this panel’s denial of the writ was to permit Judge Ewell’s unlawful activities to
be enforced by the Sheriff. The failure of this panel’s not citing Judge Ewell to the
Commission was to permit this pernicious Judge to remain sitting on the bench in Van
Nuys as a judicial officer, with the imprimatur of this appellate panel. The message sent
to this Judge Ewell was that she “got away with it and will continue to get away with it.”
This is not the message that the judiciary should transmit to our citizens.
All we requested was that this panel or a panel of the Court of Appeal cite this
Judge Ewell and this panel to the Commission for investigation and the imposition of
discipline, if any. It failed to do so. We have strong doubts that this panel is not impartial
and therefore cannot accord Grossman the required procedural due process of judicial
review of the Trial Court’s errors of law and fact. This Panel “passed the buck” and
refused to do its duty. That satisfies the objective test of impropriety and bias. The
message sent by this Panel to the Undersigned is that it is merely a “Rubber Stamp” of
eviction judgments. AG Kamala Harris has commenced an investigation of foreclosure
and eviction improprieties according to her Public Press Releases. We have
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FORECLOSURE AND EVICTIONS RUN WILD that has destroyed the fabric of
California society. Grossman seeks vindication and I seek both vindication and
discipline.
CANON 1
A JUDGE SHALL UPHOLD THE INTEGRITY AND INDEPENDENCE OF THE
JUDICIARY. On several occasions I told Judge Ewell’s Clerk that Judge Ewell should
not permit the “contract” eviction attorneys to sit in the “jury box” as that conveys the
impression to the poor and uneducated that the lawyers suing them will be members of
the jury. If there is no room for these “contract attorneys” to sit, then proper
arrangements should be made.
Over my strenuous objection Judge Ewell conducted a “bench” trial from the
counsel table. She has admitted this fact. There is no rule of law to permit such a
transgression from hundreds of years of jury trials in this country and England where
the common law derived. This practice deviated from every rule of law in the United
States. Judge Ewell was not empowered to set up her own “convenient” system. This is
a trial not an arbitration. It diminishes the public confidence in the judicial and impaired
me, Grossman’s counsel” to give him my best defense. Judge Ewell cited no rule or
practice to support her “convenience” The law is set up for the public and not for the
convenience of the judiciary.
CANON 2
A JUDGE SHALL AVOID IMPROPRIETY AND THE APPEARANCE OF
IMPROPRIETY IN ALL THE JUDGE’S ACTIVITIES.
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She showed a complete disrespect for the law. To an outside observer and to a
Trained Litigator such as the undersigned who has tried cases in many jurisdictions
throughout the United States, gave me the impression that these were the very acts by
the Judiciary that were being tried and condemned in Nuremberg after WWII. My
stepson is a lawyer, not a piece of human trash. These acts of Judge Ewell soured
Mr. Grossman that he has expressed to me that he wishes to quit because there
is no justice if Judges like Judge Ewell are permitted to dispense injustice. My
stepson needs to be reassured that our justice system is alive and well and not
just an aberration as to Judge Jewell.
CANON 3
A JUDGE SHALL PERFORM THE DUTIES OF JUDICIAL OFFICE
IMPARTIALLY AND DILIGENTLY.
(B) (1) A judge shall hear and decided all matters assigned to the judge except those in
which he or she is disqualified. She was required to hear the motion for the Stay of
Execution. She refused. Violation. She was never diligent when it required the Judge
to act. She totally disregarded the Rules in that regard.
(2) A judge shall be faithful to the law regardless of partisan interests, public clamor,
or fear of criticism, and shall maintain professional competence in the law. A bench trial
from counsel table is a violation. Must means must and not to satisfy her convenience
Promptly means immediately and not when she gets around to doing it. If UD cases
are to be handled in an expedited manner, the Judge is equally responsible to expedite.
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(3) A judge shall require order and decorum in proceedings before the judge. Bench
trials at counsel table over the objection of defense counsel, is neither decorum or
order. Telling defense counsel to “shoosh” and to preclude defense counsel from
objecting or putting the lie to the bench is neither order or decorum. A judge
manufacturing facts such as “notice and an opportunity to be heard” is professional
misconduct to cover up her judicial error when pointed out to her on several occasions.
(4) A judge shall be patient, dignified, and courteous to litigants, jurors, witnesses,
lawyers, et al. She was not courteous to me by telling me to “shoosh” “to sit down and
be quiet” to prevent me from presenting an argument when she “sua sponte” made
orders after the 3 party witnesses filed objections, not motions. She lied when sherd
stated that she gave “notice and an opportunity to be heard” to cover up her
misconduct.
(7) A judge shall accord to every person who has a legal interest in a
proceeding...full right to be heard.” She denied me that right throughout her “sham” trial.
(8) A judge shall dispose of all judicial matters fairly, promptly, and efficiently. A judge
shall manage the courtroom in a manner that provides all litigants the opportunity to
have the matter fairly adjudicated in accordance with the law.” She violated each and
every of those provisions. She refused to hear the motion to stay execution; she
refused to adjudicate the constitutional defenses; she did not act promptly where the
rule called for prompt; She did not obey Must where the rule called for must. She
continues to assert jurisdiction over this case when she lost jurisdiction by not obeying
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the word must and promptly.
THE FOLLOWING CANON APPLIES TO THIS APPELLATE PANEL
Canon 3 (D)(1) provides that: “Whenever a judge has reliable information that another
judge has violated any provision of the Code of Judicial Ethics, the judge shall take or
initiate appropriate corrective action, which may include reporting the violation to the
appropriate authority.”
This court had reliable sworn testimony that Judge Ewell had violated the Code
of Judicial Ethics had a duty to take appropriate corrective action including reporting the
misconduct to the appropriate authority. This Panel did not do its duty. We want
attorney fees, damages, costs and a publication of this decision for guidance to other
judicial officers of their duties under the unlawful detainer statute. People in this county
are being thrown out of their houses due to fraudulent foreclosure and eviction judges
who “don’t give a damn” in rubber stamping evictions so that the fraudulent buyers can
use the eviction process to carry out their illegal activities with the imprimatur of “rubber
stamp” judges. We seek the ban of the use of “contract attorneys” to prosecute UD
cases. The counsel of record should not be permitted to delegate that duty to others.
Judge Ewell should have been cited to the Commission as this panel had full
knowledge of her transgressions. This Panel should have cited itself to the Commission
as the Petition for Writ of Mandate fully disclosed to this panel Judge Ewell’s refusal to
carry out her judicial duties by refusing to hear the motion for a Stay of Execution. Then
this Court should cite itself to the Commission for not issuing an OSC or a Writ
commanding a hearing on the motion for a stay of execution.
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This Panel has a duty to disqualify itself. One of the judges is disqualified
since he sat as a trial judge in the proceedings below and we contend that he
committed reversible error by not granting a jury trial.
This Panel has a duty to reject the “Engrossed Settled Statement on
Appeal” filed by Judge Jewell on 5/27/2011 as she was without jurisdiction to
render it as the Order was time barred. Failure to reject it would be reversible
error. Failure to self recuse would be reversible error. Failure to certify
Grossman’s Proposed Statement on Appeal would be reversible error.
In Caperton v A. T. Massey Coal Co., Inc. 129 S. Ct. 2252 (2009) the United
States Supreme Court was so sickened by the outrageous conduct of a Supreme Court
Justice of the West Virginia Supreme Court that it vacated a decision of Justice
Benjamin for receiving a $3 million campaign contribution from the CEO of Massey Coal
to avoid a $50 million liability of Massey Coal to Caperton on the grounds of violation of
procedural due process of law under the 14 Amendment. This is the same Masseyth
Coal that was responsible for the coal mine collapse in West Virginia causing many
deaths of miners a few years ago.
CONCLUSION
This Panel must self recuse itself. We suggest that this appeal be sent up to the
Court of Appeal where it may be joined with the pending appeal in the wrongful
foreclosure case.
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DATED: June 10, 2011 Respectfully submitted,
______________________
Martin S. Friedlander, Esq.10350 Wilshire Blvd.,Suite 603Los Angeles, Ca. 90024(310) 435 1519Attorney for Anthony Grossman, Esq.
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