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  • 00-11-17 First Rampart Trial (2000) - Conduct of Rampart Judge Jacqueline Connor - Los Angeles Times

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    Los Angles, August 9 – complaint was filed with US Attorney Office, Central District of California, by Human Rights Alert (NGO) and Joseph Zernik, PhD, against Judge Jacqueline Connor and others at the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, for Public Corruption and Deprivation of Rights at both the Civil and Criminal Divisions of the Court. The complaint alleged that Judge Jacqueline Connor was a leader of racketeering at the Court. Moreover, the complaint claimed unique public policy significance, since Judge Connor was a key figure in the Rampart scandal (1998-2000) – the largest corruption scandal of the justice system in the history of the United States and a key event in history of the Los Angeles justice system. Furthermore, such judge, alleged as key figure in racketeering, imposed, according to media reports, capital punishments on criminal Defendants at the Court. At the Civil Division - the complaint detailed the leading role of Judge Jacqueline Connor in conduct of pretense litigation in Samaan v Zernik (SC087400), opined as real estate fraud by the Court, and alleged as perversion of justice and racketeering from the bench. Others named as perpetrators in the case included, but were not limited to: Judge Allan Goodman, Judge John Segal, Judge Linda Hart-Cole, Judge Terry Friedman, Supervising Judge Gerald Rosenberg, and Presiding Charles McCoy, Judge (ret) Gregory O'Brien Judge (ret) Patricia Collins, and Clerk John Clarke - all of the Los Angeles Superior Court, and Attorney David Pasternak – former President of the Los Angeles County Bar Association and also former President of Bet Tzedek (“The House of Justice”) – a prominent Los Angeles Jewish charity. Multiple judges of the Court colluded in the presiding in the case with no Assignment Orders, and the Clerk of the Court, John A Clarke, refused to certify the case as litigation of the Superior Court of California. All fees collected by the Clerk were designated in the Register of Actions (California civil docket) as “Journal Entry”, whereas in other cases of the Court such fees were designated as “Filing Fees”, “Motion Fees”, “Stipulation Fees”, etc. Presiding Judge Charles McCoy and Clerk of the Court John A Clarke refused to disclose the ultimate designation of the funds. Accountancy texts consider misuse of “Journal Entry” as a cardinal sign of high-level financial management fraud. No judgment was ever entered in the case and no writ of execution was ever issued. Regardless, Attorney David Pasternak forcibly took possession of real property on behalf of the Superior Court. He then proceeded to issue on behalf of the Court Grant deeds, which were opined by Fraud Expert as “fraud being committed”. The complaint provided evidence of void, false on their faces, and deliberately misleading court minutes, orders, and judgment, which were routinely issued by Judge Jacqueline Connor in the case, which were never authenticated by Clerk of the Court, but which were nevertheless inserted in the court file, and acted upon by Judge Connor, as if they were valid court records. Two events were listed as particularly notable evidence of the alleged fraud and perversion of justice by Judge Jacqueline Connor in the case: a) On June 6, 2007, Judge Connor conducted an ex parte proceeding in a dark courtroom, where Countrywide Financial Corporation was permitted to appear under false party designation of “Non Party” with a fraudulent request for a gag/protective order. In such off the record, off the calendar proceeding Judge Jacqueline Connor issued a ruling, which was represented in court as a valid court ruling, and was later acted upon by Judge Connor as such. However, in the Register of Actions (California civil docket) Judge Connor recorded the proceeding as “Proceeding not recorded”, Countrywide’s paper, which was filed on that date was eliminated from the court file, and no minutes were ever entered. b) On September 10, 2007, Judge Connor r

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    Los Angles, August 9 – complaint was filed with US Attorney Office, Central District of California, by Human Rights Alert (NGO) and Joseph Zernik, PhD, against Judge Jacqueline Connor and others at the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, for Public Corruption and Deprivation of Rights at both the Civil and Criminal Divisions of the Court. The complaint alleged that Judge Jacqueline Connor was a leader of racketeering at the Court. Moreover, the complaint claimed unique public policy significance, since Judge Connor was a key figure in the Rampart scandal (1998-2000) – the largest corruption scandal of the justice system in the history of the United States and a key event in history of the Los Angeles justice system. Furthermore, such judge, alleged as key figure in racketeering, imposed, according to media reports, capital punishments on criminal Defendants at the Court. At the Civil Division - the complaint detailed the leading role of Judge Jacqueline Connor in conduct of pretense litigation in Samaan v Zernik (SC087400), opined as real estate fraud by the Court, and alleged as perversion of justice and racketeering from the bench. Others named as perpetrators in the case included, but were not limited to: Judge Allan Goodman, Judge John Segal, Judge Linda Hart-Cole, Judge Terry Friedman, Supervising Judge Gerald Rosenberg, and Presiding Charles McCoy, Judge (ret) Gregory O'Brien Judge (ret) Patricia Collins, and Clerk John Clarke - all of the Los Angeles Superior Court, and Attorney David Pasternak – former President of the Los Angeles County Bar Association and also former President of Bet Tzedek (“The House of Justice”) – a prominent Los Angeles Jewish charity. Multiple judges of the Court colluded in the presiding in the case with no Assignment Orders, and the Clerk of the Court, John A Clarke, refused to certify the case as litigation of the Superior Court of California. All fees collected by the Clerk were designated in the Register of Actions (California civil docket) as “Journal Entry”, whereas in other cases of the Court such fees were designated as “Filing Fees”, “Motion Fees”, “Stipulation Fees”, etc. Presiding Judge Charles McCoy and Clerk of the Court John A Clarke refused to disclose the ultimate designation of the funds. Accountancy texts consider misuse of “Journal Entry” as a cardinal sign of high-level financial management fraud. No judgment was ever entered in the case and no writ of execution was ever issued. Regardless, Attorney David Pasternak forcibly took possession of real property on behalf of the Superior Court. He then proceeded to issue on behalf of the Court Grant deeds, which were opined by Fraud Expert as “fraud being committed”. The complaint provided evidence of void, false on their faces, and deliberately misleading court minutes, orders, and judgment, which were routinely issued by Judge Jacqueline Connor in the case, which were never authenticated by Clerk of the Court, but which were nevertheless inserted in the court file, and acted upon by Judge Connor, as if they were valid court records. Two events were listed as particularly notable evidence of the alleged fraud and perversion of justice by Judge Jacqueline Connor in the case: a) On June 6, 2007, Judge Connor conducted an ex parte proceeding in a dark courtroom, where Countrywide Financial Corporation was permitted to appear under false party designation of “Non Party” with a fraudulent request for a gag/protective order. In such off the record, off the calendar proceeding Judge Jacqueline Connor issued a ruling, which was represented in court as a valid court ruling, and was later acted upon by Judge Connor as such. However, in the Register of Actions (California civil docket) Judge Connor recorded the proceeding as “Proceeding not recorded”, Countrywide’s paper, which was filed on that date was eliminated from the court file, and no minutes were ever entered. b) On September 10, 2007, Judge Connor r

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    00-11-17 First Rampart Trial (2000) - Conduct of Rampart Judge Jacqueline Connor - Los Angeles Times

    Uploaded by

    Human Rights Alert - NGO (RA)
    Los Angles, August 9 – complaint was filed with US Attorney Office, Central District of California, by Human Rights Alert (NGO) and Joseph Zernik, PhD, against Judge Jacqueline Connor and others at the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, for Public Corruption and Deprivation of Rights at both the Civil and Criminal Divisions of the Court. The complaint alleged that Judge Jacqueline Connor was a leader of racketeering at the Court. Moreover, the complaint claimed unique public policy significance, since Judge Connor was a key figure in the Rampart scandal (1998-2000) – the largest corruption scandal of the justice system in the history of the United States and a key event in history of the Los Angeles justice system. Furthermore, such judge, alleged as key figure in racketeering, imposed, according to media reports, capital punishments on criminal Defendants at the Court. At the Civil Division - the complaint detailed the leading role of Judge Jacqueline Connor in conduct of pretense litigation in Samaan v Zernik (SC087400), opined as real estate fraud by the Court, and alleged as perversion of justice and racketeering from the bench. Others named as perpetrators in the case included, but were not limited to: Judge Allan Goodman, Judge John Segal, Judge Linda Hart-Cole, Judge Terry Friedman, Supervising Judge Gerald Rosenberg, and Presiding Charles McCoy, Judge (ret) Gregory O'Brien Judge (ret) Patricia Collins, and Clerk John Clarke - all of the Los Angeles Superior Court, and Attorney David Pasternak – former President of the Los Angeles County Bar Association and also former President of Bet Tzedek (“The House of Justice”) – a prominent Los Angeles Jewish charity. Multiple judges of the Court colluded in the presiding in the case with no Assignment Orders, and the Clerk of the Court, John A Clarke, refused to certify the case as litigation of the Superior Court of California. All fees collected by the Clerk were designated in the Register of Actions (California civil docket) as “Journal Entry”, whereas in other cases of the Court such fees were designated as “Filing Fees”, “Motion Fees”, “Stipulation Fees”, etc. Presiding Judge Charles McCoy and Clerk of the Court John A Clarke refused to disclose the ultimate designation of the funds. Accountancy texts consider misuse of “Journal Entry” as a cardinal sign of high-level financial management fraud. No judgment was ever entered in the case and no writ of execution was ever issued. Regardless, Attorney David Pasternak forcibly took possession of real property on behalf of the Superior Court. He then proceeded to issue on behalf of the Court Grant deeds, which were opined by Fraud Expert as “fraud being committed”. The complaint provided evidence of void, false on their faces, and deliberately misleading court minutes, orders, and judgment, which were routinely issued by Judge Jacqueline Connor in the case, which were never authenticated by Clerk of the Court, but which were nevertheless inserted in the court file, and acted upon by Judge Connor, as if they were valid court records. Two events were listed as particularly notable evidence of the alleged fraud and perversion of justice by Judge Jacqueline Connor in the case: a) On June 6, 2007, Judge Connor conducted an ex parte proceeding in a dark courtroom, where Countrywide Financial Corporation was permitted to appear under false party designation of “Non Party” with a fraudulent request for a gag/protective order. In such off the record, off the calendar proceeding Judge Jacqueline Connor issued a ruling, which was represented in court as a valid court ruling, and was later acted upon by Judge Connor as such. However, in the Register of Actions (California civil docket) Judge Connor recorded the proceeding as “Proceeding not recorded”, Countrywide’s paper, which was filed on that date was eliminated from the court file, and no minutes were ever entered. b) On September 10, 2007, Judge Connor r

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    California | Local

    You are here: LAT Home > Articles > 2000 > November > 17 > California | Local

    Archive for Friday, November 17, 2000

    Rampart Trial Judge Not New to Spotlight


    By Carla Hall
    November 17, 2000 in print edition B-1

    Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Jacqueline A. Connor, who presided over the first trial of accused
    Rampart Division police officers, is neither fazed by nor unfamiliar with the harsh glare of the spotlight
    that seems to visit so many L.A. courtrooms.

    The 48-year-old judge was one of the first assigned to the court’s so-called long-cause program–which
    handles the city’s highest-profile cases on the 9th floor of the Criminal Courts Building. Entrance to
    courtrooms there requires passage through metal detectors.

    Local and national reporters covered the Rampart trial, the leading edge of an unfolding scandal that
    put about 70 Los Angeles police officers under suspicion. Connor’s colleague, Judge Lance Ito–who
    presided over the O.J. Simpson murder trial–occasionally stopped by.

    The scrutiny is continuing as Connor presides over a hearing this morning to determine whether there
    was jury misconduct during the Rampart trial. Three of the four officers were found guilty of
    conspiring to obstruct justice by fabricating evidence and framing gang members. A fourth officer
    was acquitted.

    Examination of Connor’s performance in the Rampart trial started early.

    It was discovered that in March 1997 she had written a glowing letter of commendation for then-police
    Officer Rafael Perez’s testimony during a kidnapping trial in her courtroom. Then, more than three
    years later, after Perez admitted to corruption, she quipped at an awards dinner in June that Perez’s
    lawyer–who was in attendance–should not come near her courtroom with his client.

    Both sets of comments raised eyebrows–especially as she began making pretrial rulings in favor of the
    accused officers. Some wondered if she should have recused herself from the case. Victor Chavez,
    the presiding judge of the Superior Court, said he saw no reason for her to step down.

    Connor would not comment on the Perez letter and said at the time through a spokesman that her bar
    dinner remarks were made in jest.

    For years, Connor was seen by defense attorneys as pro-prosecution. But during the Rampart trial, she
    was seen as favoring police–the defendants in this case.

    Printed for jz12345@earthlink.net 8/15/2008


    Those who have sat in her courtroom agree she is a tough-minded, decisive judge who prizes
    punctuality, moves proceedings along at a brisk pace and looks askance at lawyers who try to argue
    with her after she has made her rulings. She’s soft-spoken from her bench, forcing lawyers to lean
    forward as she verbally eviscerates them.

    “Once I’ve made up my mind, I don’t allow attorneys to go on indefinitely,” she told the Daily Journal in
    1994. “I make decisions. Isn’t that what I get paid for?”

    Connor is not squeamish about sentencing people to death. Last year, she presided over the capital
    trial of Glen Rogers, who was convicted of murdering a woman in Van Nuys. In a key decision,
    Connor ruled prosecutors could present details of two out-of-state killings connected to Rogers. Connor
    eventually sentenced him to death.

    Connor has a reputation for being respectful of jurors. She lets them submit written questions. In the
    Rampart trial, jurors asked dozens of questions, prompting defense attorney Harland W. Braun
    to remark Wednesday that some jurors had acted like advocates.

    Connor was born in Detroit but raised in Japan until the age of 16. Her father ran an import-export
    business. She speaks fluent Japanese and has said her years in Japan gave her a respect for age.

    She graduated from USC in 1973, and earned her law degree there in 1976. From 1977 to 1986 she
    was a deputy district attorney in Los Angeles where, among other things, she headed the sex
    crimes unit.

    She met her husband, James Bascue, when they were both prosecutors. They were married in 1980
    and have two sons.

    Connor was appointed a Municipal Court judge by then-Gov. George Deukmejian in 1986. Two years
    later, she was appointed by the governor to the Los Angeles Superior Court.

    Her husband was chief deputy under former Dist. Atty. Robert Philobosian. When Philobosian lost his
    reelection bid, Bascue left. He is now a Los Angeles Superior Court judge and in line to be
    presiding judge.

    Connor will continue to be watched through the sentencing of the convicted Rampart officers. She
    could send them to prison for up to four years, or she could set them free on probation.

    Related Articles
    z Ex-Prosecutor Defends Actions in Rampart Case Oct 18, 2000
    z Judge Ponders Arguments on Request for Rampart Retrial Dec 22, 2000
    z Rampart Decision Poses 1st Challenge for New D.A. Dec 28, 2000
    z Decision on Police Retrials Is Delayed Dec 23, 2000
    z Three Rampart Scandal Officers Get $15 Million Feb 10, 2006

    More articles by Carla Hall


    More articles from the California | Local section

    Printed for jz12345@earthlink.net 8/15/2008


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    Copyright 2008 Los Angeles Times

    Printed for jz12345@earthlink.net 8/15/2008

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