Capital Accounts is an occasional chronicle of the intersection of politics and legal policy in Sacramento.
“We’re thrilled Jerry Hill won,” Ernst said.
When the newly elected arrive at the Capitol for the new session in December, they’ll find a host of new committee chairs. Assembly Speaker Bass recently announced that she’s moving Judiciary Committee Chairman Dave Jones, D-Sacramento, to head of the Health Committee in six months. Replacing Jones will be Mike Feuer, a Los Angeles Democrat with a background in legal aid and high-profile cases.
Feuer served eight years as executive director of Bet Tzedek Legal Services. He also worked at Hufstedler, Miller, Carlson & Beardsley, and Morrison & Foerster in Southern California, where he was part of the plaintiffs team that secured a settlement in Williams v. California, which challenged the decrepit physical conditions, lack of qualified teachers, and inadequate number of textbooks found in some public schools. He also served six years on the Los Angeles City Council.
Feuer is married to Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Gail Ruderman Feuer and said he will be “particularly scrupulous” about avoiding any political conflicts.
“I’m going to be sure that there is not even the remotest issue of a hint of conflict of interest,” he said.
Feuer’s role will have him shaping bills affecting judicial pay and pensions, new judgeships, courthouse construction and many other things. The rule is that he can participate and vote on anything so long as it affects judges as a class and not just his wife.
Feuer said he isn’t ready to talk about plans for the committee yet, but expect to see him promote a progressive legal agenda — heavy on legal aid support — that’s not too different from Jones’ efforts over the last four years.
