Council Archives - Home Safety Tech Pros

BLM Resource Advisory Council to meet May 15

homesafetytechpros — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 04:07:27 +0000

REDDING, Calif. — The Bureau of Land Management’s Northern California District Resource Advisory Council will hold a virtual meeting via Microsoft Teams, Thursday, May 15, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Members of the public are welcome, and can register to participate. The council will hear public comments at 11a.m. A copy of the agenda is available online.

RAC members will hear overviews of current Executive and Secretarial orders, review and consider approval of Forest Service recreation site business plans, receive updates on BLM land tenure actions, and hear updates on BLM wild horse and burro management in northeast California. Council members will also hear updates from the BLM California state director and from managers of the Applegate, Arcata, Eagle Lake and Redding field offices.

All are welcome to address the council during the public comment portion of the meeting. A time limit could be set to accommodate all speakers.

The 15-member council is composed of varied public land interests including recreation, livestock grazing, timber and forest products, environmental organizations, wild horse and burro management, local government, the academic sector, state natural resource agencies and the public at large. It focuses on lands managed by the Northern California District, which includes land in far northwest Nevada. More information is available from BLM Public Affairs Officer Jeff Fontana, 530-260-0189.

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BLM Central California District to host virtual Resource Advisory Council meeting

homesafetytechpros — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 19:27:45 +0000

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — The Bureau of Land Management will host a virtual public meeting of the BLM Central California Resource Advisory Council (RAC) on Thursday, May 8, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The business meeting will be held via Microsoft Teams and will include a public comment period scheduled at 1:30 p.m. The business meeting agenda can be reviewed online.

The RAC will be updated on BLM programs and activities from the BLM Central California District and field offices. In addition, the RAC will receive presentations and make recommendations on fee proposals from the USDA Forest Service in the Inyo National Forest, the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, and the Los Padres National Forest.

“We are looking forward to sharing ongoing projects and priorities throughout the district. In addition, we welcome the National Forests and their business plan proposals,” said Central California District Manager Gabe Garcia. “By getting involved in these efforts, we all can help shape the future management of our public lands.”

Meeting participants must register through Microsoft Teams to attend. Upon registering, participants will receive an email including the meeting link and dial-in numbers. Participants may need to download the Teams app if joining via phone prior to the meeting. Here are some tips on how to use Microsoft Teams.

Public comments will be accepted during scheduled agenda items and public comments will be accepted at 1:30 p.m. Time for individual public comments may be limited due to the number of persons wishing to speak. Written statements to address the council maybe sent prior to the meeting to the BLM Central California District Office, Attention: RAC meeting comments, 35126 McMurtrey Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93308.

The 12-member council advises the Secretary of the Interior, through the BLM, on a variety of planning and management issues associated with BLM public lands in central California. The BLM maintains 38 chartered advisory committees throughout the West. Each citizen-based council consists of members from diverse interests in local communities, who assist in the development of committee recommendations by sharing their unique perspectives.

To learn more about the Central California RAC, visit online. Please contact the BLM for reasonable accommodations to participate. For specific questions, please contact BLM Central California District Public Affairs Officer Philip Oviatt at poviatt@blm.gov or 661-432-4252.

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Federal judge’s Columbia clerk boycott didn’t harm public confidence in judiciary, judicial council rules

homesafetytechpros — Sun, 13 Apr 2025 13:28:58 +0000

Judiciary

Federal judge’s Columbia clerk boycott didn’t harm public confidence in judiciary, judicial council rules

By Debra Cassens Weiss

April 10, 2025, 11:36 am CDT

Judge Stephen A. Vaden of the U.S. Court of International Trade responds to a question during a U.S. Senate hearing to examine his nomination to be the deputy secretary of the Department of Agriculture on April 8. (Photo by Mattie Neretin/Sipa USA/Sipa via the Associated Press)

A judge on the U.S. Court of International Trade did not violate ethics rules by refusing to hire law clerks who attended Columbia University, according to the judicial council of the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at Chicago.

In an April 8 decision, the council dismissed the complaint against Judge Stephen A. Vaden, one of 13 federal judges who participated in the boycott and explained why in a letter to the school.

Law360, Reuters and the Volokh Conspiracy have coverage.

President Donald Trump has nominated Vaden to be the deputy secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Reuters reports. A U.S. Senate panel had a hearing on his nomination Tuesday.

The judges had refused to hire law clerks who attended Columbia University or Columbia Law School because of the university’s handling of disruptions caused by pro-Palestinian protesters. Columbia has become “an incubator of bigotry,” the judges said in their letter to Columbia, and the judges have lost confidence in the institution.

Vaden’s boycott and his signature on the letter do not harm the integrity of the judicial office, do not harm public confidence in the judiciary, and do not cast doubt on his impartiality, the judicial council said.

“A judge may refuse to hire law clerks from a law school or university that has, in the judge’s view, failed to foster important aspects of higher education, like civility in discourse, respect for freedom of speech and viewpoint nondiscrimination,” the opinion said.

The chief judge of the U.S. Court of International Trade had transferred the ethics complaint against Vaden to the 7th Circuit’s judicial council for review. The person who filed the ethics complaint is in prison for his role in firebombing and vandalizing Jewish synagogues.

Vaden was represented by the First Liberty Institute, a nonprofit conservative legal organization, and Lisa Blatt of Williams & Connolly.

Judicial councils have also tossed ethics complaints against 11 of the other 12 boycotting judges, including, apparently, two federal appeals judges: Judge James C. Ho of the 5th Circuit at New Orleans and, according to Reuters, Judge Elizabeth L. Branch of the 11th Circuit at Atlanta.

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Public Meetings of the California Desert District Advisory Council

homesafetytechpros — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 22:36:51 +0000

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The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.

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Oldest federal judge could help end her suspension: Council

homesafetytechpros — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 04:23:28 +0000

U.S. Circuit Judge Pauline Newman (YouTube).

A judicial counsel battling against the nation’s oldest sitting federal judge says that she could potentially end the suspension she is fighting — if only she would cooperate with the investigation into her mental health.

As Law&Crime has previously reported, U.S. Circuit Judge Pauline Newman, 97, was placed on temporary suspension after complaints about her demeanor and actions at work sparked an investigation. Her judicial colleagues reported concerning behaviors including delays in the judge’s work and habitual confusion, and the circuit launched an investigation into the judge’s mental health.

Newman did not cooperate with the investigation. The Committee on Judicial Conduct and Disability ultimately made a finding based on what it called “overwhelming evidence” of Newman’s memory loss, lack of comprehension, and confusion, and directed the judge to undergo a 30-45 minute interview with a neurologist and a full neuropsychological examination.

Newman refused, and the committee responded with a suspension order that blocked Newman from receiving any new case assignments. Newman sued Chief Circuit Judge Kimberly A. Moore and all the other Federal Circuit judges on the committee. She was represented in the lawsuit by New Civil Liberties Alliance (NCLA), a public-interest law firm linked to conservative backers that focuses on the so-called “administrative state.”

U.S. District Judge Christopher R. Cooper, a Barack Obama appointee, threw out most of Newman’s lawsuit in February, then dismissed the entire case on the pleadings in July. In his 15-page ruling, Cooper did not focus the factual allegations against Newman. Rather, the ruling was confined primarily to rejecting the legal challenges Newman had raised to the Judicial Conduct & Disability Act itself.

Newman appealed in July, and has also argued for the unsealing of documents related to the investigation, accusing the judicial counsel of trying to “control a media narrative” about her mental health.

On Thursday, the Judicial Council of the Federal Circuit filed a brief opposing Newman’s appeal of the district court dismissal. The council says that Newman’s claim — that the suspension is unconstitutional — doesn’t hold up.

After noting that the only legal question “properly before this Court” is whether the Judicial Conduct and Disability Act is “facially constitutional,” the council says that Newman’s challenge to the act is “meritless.”

“Plaintiff’s facial constitutional challenge to the Act is meritless,” the brief says. “Plaintiff contends that the Act violates Article III on its face because it authorizes the temporary suspension of a judge from hearing new cases, which Plaintiff contends is equivalent to an unlawful removal without impeachment.”

The brief goes on:

In any event, a temporary suspension from hearing new cases is not equivalent to removal. The Act itself makes clear that Congress considered such time limited suspensions distinct from “removal” from office. By definition, a “temporary” diminution in duties is not a “removal.” And since 1980, when Congress crafted [the statute], federal law has made clear that the judicial office Plaintiff holds (like all circuit and district court judges) includes the possibility of a time-limited suspension from hearing new cases. That this condition on Plaintiff’s office has been triggered does not mean she no longer holds office at all.

The council goes on to say that Newman’s challenges “are not properly before” the appeals court — but that even if jurisdiction was proper, her arguments would fail. According to the council, Newman herself could end the suspension by simply cooperating with the investigation.

“Plaintiff has not been effectively removed from office,” the brief says. “The relevant judicial council orders could not be clearer that Plaintiff has been only temporarily suspended from new case assignments, subject to reconsideration if she ceases refusing to comply with the Special Committee’s investigation.”

“The keys to the suspension are in her pocket,” the filing adds.

Nor is Newman’s removal from the bench a certainty, the council argues.

“Even while her noncompliance continues, the suspension orders apply ‘on a temporary basis for a time certain,”” the filing says (citations omitted). “As the JC&D Committee agreed, a one-year suspension, subject to renewal, is an appropriate sanction, entirely in keeping with other suspensions for other misconduct. And the September 2024 renewal process made clear that renewals of Plaintiff’s suspension are far from automatic or open-ended. The Special Committee and Judicial Council carefully considered Plaintiff’s arguments that renewal was unwarranted in light of any changed circumstances before imposing a new, temporary suspension.”

Another of Newman’s arguments — that due process entitles her to transfer to another circuit’s judicial council — “fares no better,” the brief argues.

“Nothing in the Act itself suggests that transfers are ever compulsory, and the Chief Judge and Judicial Council concluded properly — as affirmed by the JC&D Committee — that the type of ‘exceptional circumstances’ that would justify a transfer under the Rules are not present here,” the file says (citations omitted). “That the subject judge is a circuit judge and thus a colleague of the chief judge’s, for example, or that the subject judge is dissatisfied with the decisions of her home circuit’s judicial council, cannot alone be sufficient.”

“Throughout these proceedings, which have featured multiple rounds of briefing and oral argument, Plaintiff has received far more process than the constitutional minimum guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment,” the council adds.

Newman was appointed in 1984 by President Ronald Reagan and was the first judge appointed directly to the Federal Circuit where she “served with distinction” for almost 40 years.

Elura Nanos and Chris Perez contributed to this report.

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BLM Northern California District Resource Advisory Council to hold virtual meeting

homesafetytechpros — Sat, 18 Jan 2025 05:41:50 +0000

REDDING, Calif. — The Bureau of Land Management Northern California District Resource Advisory Council will discuss a range of public land management topics in a meeting to be held virtually via Zoom on Wednesday, Feb. 5, beginning at 9 a.m. The council will hear public comments at 11 a.m.

Agenda topics include a presentation from the Forest Service on their administration of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, a status report on implantation of provisions in the BLM Northwest California Integrated Resource Management Plan, a discussion about wild horse management within the BLM Northern California District, suggestions about increasing wild horse adoption numbers and a status report on recent land acquisitions into public ownership. The council will also hear a report from the BLM California state director and from managers of the Arcata, Applegate, Eagle Lake and Redding field offices.

Members of the public can participate via Zoom. Meeting ID: 161 071 4713, passcode 446400. Participants can also telephone into the meeting by dialing 669-254-5252.

More information is available from BLM Public Affairs Officer Jeff Fontana, 530-260-0189.

Northern California District Office, 6640 Lockheed Drive, Redding, CA 96002

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BLM Central California District Resource Advisory Council to host virtual meeting

homesafetytechpros — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 23:21:19 +0000

EL DORADO HILLS, Calif. — The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Central California Resource Advisory Council (RAC) will discuss a range of public land management topics in meeting to be held virtually on Wednesday, Feb. 5, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. The business meeting includes a public comment period scheduled at 1:45 p.m. The business meeting agenda can be reviewed in advance.

Agenda topics include landscape restoration efforts and fuels reduction efforts at the Mother Lode Field Office. The RAC will also hear project and program updates from the BLM Central California District and field office managers. In addition, the USDA Forest Service will provide presentations and make recommendations on fee proposals for Inyo National Forest.

“We are looking forward to hearing about the restoration and fuels treatment work being done at various sites within the Mother Lode Field Office, projects throughout the Central California District, as well as projects from the US Forest Service,” said Central Coast District Manager Gabe Garcia. “By getting involved in these efforts, we all can help shape the future management of our public lands.”

Meeting participants must register in advance through Zoom. Upon registering, participants will receive an email, including the meeting link and dial-in numbers.

Public comments will be accepted during scheduled agenda items and public comments will be accepted at 1:45 p.m. Time for individual public comments may be limited due to the number of persons wishing to speak. Written statements to address the council maybe sent prior to the meeting to the BLM Central California District Public Affairs, Attention: RAC meeting comments, 35126 McMurtrey Ave. Bakersfield, CA 93308.

For specific questions, please contact BLM Central California District Public Affairs Officer Philip Oviatt at poviatt@blm.gov or 661-432-4252.

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Public Meetings: Northern California District Resource Advisory Council

homesafetytechpros — Wed, 01 Jan 2025 19:14:08 +0000

The Northern California District RAC will meet virtually February 5, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Pacific time (PT); participate in a field tour on May 14, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. PT and meet on May 15, 2025, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. PT; and participate in a field tour on September 17, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. PT and meet on September 18, 2025, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. PT. The May and September 2025 meetings will be held in-person, and a virtual participation option will be available.

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BLM to host California Desert District Advisory Council meeting and field tour December 6 -7

homesafetytechpros — Sat, 16 Nov 2024 04:08:23 +0000

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. – The Bureau of Land Management will host an in-person public meeting of the BLM California Desert District Advisory Council on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Express and Suites, 861 NV-160, Pahrump, NV 89048. The meeting is open to the public with a public comment period scheduled at 9:30 a.m.

The Desert Advisory Council meeting will include a presentation on the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area Business Plan fee proposal with an opportunity for public comment and a DAC vote, and a presentation and DAC vote on the U.S. Forest Service’s Angeles National Forest fee proposal. The five field offices and fire program will also report on their activities.

The meeting will include a virtual option via Zoom. Meeting participants must register in advance to attend in Zoom. Upon registering, participants will receive an email including the meeting link and dial-in numbers. The public will have the opportunity to address the Desert Advisory Council only during public comment periods and time for individual comments may be limited due to the number of persons wishing to speak. Written comments may also be emailed in advance of the meeting to kmiyamoto@blm.gov and will be recorded in the meeting minutes.

The BLM will host a field tour on Friday, Dec. 6, and visit public lands managed by the Barstow Field Office including Dumont Dunes Off-Highway Vehicle Area, the borehole at Tecopa Hot Springs, and sites in the Amargosa River watershed. The tour will also include a stop at China Ranch Date Farm. Members of the public are welcome on the field tour, but must provide their own transportation, meals, and water. To attend the field tour, please RSVP by Friday, Nov. 29 to kmiyamoto@blm.gov. The meeting agenda and field tour can be reviewed in advance.

Advisory councils, such as the Desert Advisory Council, provide advice and recommendations for BLM consideration on resource and land-management issues within the agency. These citizen-based councils consist of 10 to 15 members from diverse interests in local communities who assist in the development of committee recommendations that address public land management issues.

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Call for Nominations for the California Desert District Advisory Council, the Central California Resource Advisory Council, and the Northern California District Resource Advisory Council

homesafetytechpros — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 19:23:49 +0000

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