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Despite outrage, federal judge are still going on a million dollar conference in Hawaii at taxpayer expense
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Serves up bits none judges lawyers and staff in the ninth Circuit Court our -- YEU bound and hide your -- Pressure from Republican senators isn't stopping their night conference a lavish tropical vacation that you will be pain for the price -- about a million dollars.
But news tonight news of the ninth circuit is feelings that heat senator Jeff Sessions is leading the charge against the court we spoke with him earlier tonight.
NSC is there thank did well looks like you -- hidden message -- appeals for the ninth circuit as to.
Next came to bishop conference because they've just announced they're canceling.
Well -- I think it was good that they reevaluated that they insisted on that they've been doing the right thing with these -- -- every year.
Four out of the last nine have been in Hawaii -- seven states in the circuit so I think that was a bit expensive.
So I do believe that this is progress I don't think it -- that it was on your program that it was discussed.
-- but this is progress and they need to look and respond to some of the other inquiries we've made to the conference too about how expensive it is.
Part now this COMSYS.
They first came on just by the -- executive -- -- that they've been on -- they've done every year but these are not mandatory and doesn't know -- requiring these circuits to hold these.
-- to -- is something that they did themselves there's.
And appropriation -- they can do it but.
They're not require.
Yet there authorize -- conference's.
And most of the circuits and not doing a conference every year now the ninth circuit has been having money every year they're the biggest and most expensive.
On conference -- his real good that they've changed.
But -- is not mandated.
We do not have enough money to fund this country we are in the worst financial cop -- crisis in -- nation's history.
Every department and agency and got to cut back and that includes the courts.
But there are a lot of other departments and agencies in denial about -- seriousness of my debt situation so I think it's just.
Going to be a constant battle all of us need to focus on how we can reduce wasteful wasteful spending on government.
At the risk of alienating every judge in the country and every lawyer who -- -- is frankly I think that they.
A waste of time if if you really want to achieve what they're seeking to achieve they can pick up the telephone.
They don't -- when they decide their cases themselves and what happens in the courtroom they don't need and consultation.
At a press on Hawaii but I probably I won't go as far as I do on that.
Well I have attended -- as the United States attorney.
And I've spoken conference is by yes I do think it is not a critical matter for the functioning of the courts.
And the courts are facing -- budgets already they'll get tighter in my opinion in the years to come.
And none these are the kind of things you have to ask yourself is this where we need to spend -- limited resources.
Chief Justice Roberts has said not said no to it and two justices of Supreme Court Justice Alito and Justice Kennedy are still going to attend the one.
That has not been canceled by the ninth circuit that's gonna happen a couple weeks in Hawaii.
Should the Chief Justice so waive his two associate justices often -- -- that.
The some bad signal.
Well the -- -- been sat on the Chief Justice perhaps the conveyed a wish that maybe next year they shouldn't have won I don't know.
-- he is -- frugal manager on the court and he doesn't know the court has got to watch it standing.
So I would hope that he would be an ally in the future and -- the -- of these conference.
US senator Grassley sent a letter off the ninth circuit.
In May asking specific answers about this August.
-- conference and the amount of money has suffered some some million dollars it's been spent taxpayer Mike -- exact number.
Are you satisfied with the response as -- about the ninth circuit as to what they're doing and why the spends money.
No we're not.
Senator grass and I -- I think reasonable questions one of fundamental questions we asked was let's see the contract that you have.
Nice say they can't embrace -- contract and therefore they have to go forward with this year's conference but we'd like to see -- And I'd go I mean they -- and they came in at them and should visit cancellation fee but not nearly as expensive as when it's gonna cost.
To have the conference.
Well that's true all but I do side that we're I think congress would be entitled to see the contract.
Then.
They court.
Executed with.
Taxpayer money funded by the United States congress so we've not gotten that in have been some of the questions we've asked.
That we really believe should be answered and have not been.
We get a letter today from Linda Lingle who was the Republican governor of Hawaii she's running for the United States and -- Republican Party.
And she sent -- human and -- Grassley.
About about sort of waving you off below critical.
These conferences -- -- yes she recognizes the financial impact of her state.
Well I guess -- being governor and sea -- to have.
Tourism in Hawaii and there advocating fart -- don't want to -- terrorism collapse of and I think overall this.
Judicial conference needs to ask themselves do they need to have it.
Four times out of nine years in Hawaii.
Now some of the other states would probably like to have conferences held in those states and would probably last six.
Instant I've taken this a big difference in your mind between conferences held -- Hawaii that are done by private enterprises.
And conferences held football YA on the taxpayer time I assume that there's a difference.
There that's a -- a difference maybe some private businesses have the money together.
Conferences every year and him more expensive locations but we don't this country is short on money.
We're borrowing forty cents of every dollar that we spent 40%.
On the one million dollar conference in Hawaii is borrowed money.
And it's not a healthy thing is not going to get better -- -- and -- in all of us are going to appetite now mail.
Well I say this for the next -- judicial conference of Monterey California so that you got that for us thank senator thank you.
