Washington D.C. — The International Executive Board of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) unanimously declared its support for Judge Sonia Sotomayor, President Barack Obama’s nominee for the Supreme Court, and promised to help secure her confirmation by the Senate.

“President Obama’s nomination of distinguished Appeals Court Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court is the right move for our nation,” said AFSCME President Gerald McEntee.  “Judge Sotomayor is exactly the kind of experienced, capable and fair jurist the working men and women of this nation need to serve on our highest court.”

Sotomayor is a graduate of Princeton University and Yale Law School.  She was a prosecutor and private attorney before being appointed as a federal judge by President George H.W. Bush in 1992 (and confirmed by the Senate).  In 1997 she was named to the appeals court by President Bill Clinton. She would bring more federal judicial experience to the bench than any Supreme Court justice in 100 years.

“Judge Sonia Sotomayor has worked to preserve the rights of workers to receive fair pay, health benefits, and to be free of workplace discrimination,” said McEntee. “The Senate should promptly confirm Judge Sotomayor to the Supreme Court.”

Here is the full text of the AFSCME resolution:

JUDGE SONIA SOTOMAYOR

WHEREAS:

President Barack Obama has nominated Judge Sonia Sotomayor to serve as a Justice on the U.S. Supreme Court; and

WHEREAS:

Judge Sonia Sotomayor has outstanding educational credentials; including being valedictorian of her high school class, winning a scholarship to Princeton University, and earning a law degree at Yale University, where she served as editor of the Yale Law Review; and

WHEREAS:

Judge Sotomayor has served with distinction as a litigator, prosecutor, trial court attorney and U.S. appellate judge and possesses more federal judicial experience than any of the current members of the Supreme Court and than any Justice in the last century prior to their nomination to the high court; and

WHEREAS:

Judge Sotomayor has been consistent and fair in her interpretation of labor laws and has worked to preserve the rights of workers to receive fair pay, health benefits, and to be free of workplace discrimination; and

WHEREAS:

Judge Sotomayor has demonstrated a commitment to civil liberties and equal justice under the law, and has a record that shows that she is fair minded and that she has an understanding of the struggles of working people in this country; and

WHEREAS:

Judge Sotomayor’s nomination  marks a milestone, as the first Hispanic and the first woman of color to be nominated to the high court, thereby fulfilling President Obama’s promise to add diversity to the Supreme Court; and

WHEREAS:

AFSCME has consistently supported judicial nominees in the U.S. Senate who have a history of protecting the rights of all Americans.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That AFSCME strongly support the confirmation of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court and that AFSCME work to secure the confirmation.

June 2, 2009

1%:  It’s my money and I want it now!

Yes, we won the arbitration.  No, the County is not appealing the ruling of the arbitrator.  But when are we going to see the money?   Good question.  I can tell you that last week, Council 31 approved the revised pay grid that was sent by the County in light of the arbitration which includes the 1% salary adjustment and that pay grid was sent to the Comptroller last week for implementation.  I don’t have a date certain for when it will appear on our checks and if I did, they probably would blow that date anyway.  So you are waiting just like me and it’s our money and we want it now.

Summer Party

Our Local will be having its annual summer celebration at a new location this year: NAVY PIER BEER GARDEN.  This location is very convenient via public transportation.  The Local leadership encourages everyone to use public transportation to avoid unnecessary legal and financial complications.

Here are the details: Wednesday, July 29, 2009 6pm to 10 pm. Members and Law Clerks are free but you need to send a $10.00 refundable check for each member or clerk attending to the Local Secretary, Amy Thompson, at 26th St. (HTF) and you must do it by July 22, 2009 (read deadline).  The checks should be made payable to “The Jack Carey Memorial Scholarship Fund”. When you arrive at the party, you can choose to claim your check or you can donate it to the memorial scholarship.  If you don’t show up, there is no refund.

By the way, here is the policy on guests, who are not members and not clerks:  the non-refundable check you send in to reserve and admit your guest must be made payable as above but the amount is $25.00.

See you at the pier.

MVP

You probably received a letter by now from the Local written by Local Vice President, Brendan Max urging your participation in the People program at the MVP level of $4.20 per pay period.  We have had an excellent response and ask those of you who have not yet responded to do so because your participation in our political action committee ensures that our voice is heard by politicians who determine the funding level for our salaries and benefits.

Golf Outing

Thanks to Dave Figura (MDD) who is chairing our golf outing committee.  Dave is searching for a good date and location for the outing.  A date and location will be posted as soon as it is available.

Rosa Silva

Congratulations to sister Rosa Marie Silva, who was recently elected as president of the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois.  Rosa, we are all very proud of your accomplishment and wish you a very productive term!

Contract Negotiations

Difficult contract negotiations between the union and the County of Cook continue and we will update the members via email bursts as circumstances warrant.  Not getting the emails?  Stay in the know by sending us your name and worksite via email to board@cookcountypd.org

Jack Carey Memorial Scholarship

And finally, please put September 1, 2009 on your calendar.  That’s the day 100 of you will be partying and watching the Cubs play the Astros at Wrigley Field.  Tickets are selling now for the two hour party and night game at a discounted price of $85.00 until June 30th.  The prices go up to $100 dollars after that.  Sox fan?  Just send money.  Thanks for supporting the scholarship that benefits law clerks who clerk at our office!

In Solidarity,

K.S. Galhotra,

President, Local 3315

Sisters and Brothers:

A number of you have contacted various local officers asking about election results.  Please be patient, our diligent and meticulous election chair, Christa Petty,  is conscientiously attempting to gather and tabulate the results from the various work sites.  As soon as we have the information, it will be made available to all.

Thank you for voting and also for your continued patience.

In Solidarity,

K.S. Galhotra

President, Local 3315

It was reported on May 6, 2009 in the Chicago Sun Times that an inmate in Division 5 was being treated for a confirmed case of the swine flu.  More information regarding the H1N1 (Swine Flu) is available from the Centers for Disease Control.

Judge Murphy denied the motion to withdraw from the Tony Cole VOOP case.  Read the Sun Times article.

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Megan Tomlinson, a second year law student at Loyola University Chicago School of Law was selected as the winner of the Summer 2009 Jack Carey Memorial Scholarship.  She is the 22nd winner of the scholarship which was increased to $2500 earlier this year.  Three scholarships are given out by the committee each year and the fund was created in 2002 as a memorial to Jack Carey, former President of the Cook County Public Defenders Association.

Megan holds a B.A. from Loyola in Psychology and graduated magna cum laude.   Megan is currently clerking for Judge Solganic of the Circuit Court of Cook County’s Law Division.  She previously clerked in the Legal Resources Division of our office with Lester Finkle and Harold Winston.  Her work on the Alton Logan case inspired her to co-found the post-exoneration clinic at Loyola which helps provide legal services to individuals who are attempting to reenter society after being released from prison after being wrongfully convicted.

The next fund raiser for the scholarship is scheduled for September 1, 2009.  Like last year, it’s the Astros playing the Cubs in a  night baseball game with a two-hour exclusive party preceding the game at Wrigley Field in the patio area overlooking Clark and Addison.  Put it in your calendar and get your check in the mail because tickets are going to go fast!

Check out the flyer.

Dear Members:

Please note the following information regarding the upcoming Local Election to be held on 5/5/09.

Nominations for local union executive board positions were held on April 2nd.  The following members, upon receiving the only nomination for the position, were automatically elected to that position:

President (2-year term) – Bob Galhotra

Vice President (2-year term) – Brendan Max

Recording Secretary (2-year term) – Amy Thompson

Treasurer (2-year term) – Tim Leeming

A secret ballot election will be held for the three Executive Board Member positions and the three Trustee positions on May 5th.  The nominees for these positions are:

Executive Board Member Nominees:

Tom Stovall

Monique Patterson

Richard Porter

Bruce Mosbacher

Joe Gump

Trustee Nominees:

Paul Bellendir

Arleen Floren

Kevin Ochalla

Beatriz Santiago

Robyn Haynes