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In the interest of writing something positive about Idaho – I would like to say that this is a good thing – in case you missed it!

House panel votes to support bringing F-35 jets to Idaho

By Dustin Hurst
February 5th, 2010

According to some estimates, the planes would bring with them over $1 billion in economic impact and 3,000 jobs to the Gem state.

Unfortunately, “burn out” can come with anyone’s job and judges are not any different. They just shouldn’t publicize it – this is one of those “silence with dignity” issues.

The public holds them to higher standards and we want to believe they are on top of their game and we should expect them to be. They are paid well and the benefits they reap are well worth with it for them. In other words, if they don’t like it, they don’t need to apply for the job or quit – that is what most of us do or we suffer the “burnout” because we can’t afford to quit or we get fired. “Boo Hoo,” but I don’t possess a whole lot of empathy for judicial burnout and they certainly didn’t need a frigging handbook for it.

Judges in Idaho were graced with a special handbook this last year. It’s called The Judicial Family Handbook. It was created by the Judicial Wellness Committee which consists of a hand picked group of people by the Idaho Supreme Court. The book is just shy of 70 pages. Over 50 of those pages consists of  ”The Media Guide to the Idaho Courts.” which is also a website, here.

Like the Idaho Pork Report, this handbook can keep me going for days, however it’s taken me months to get it. I will begin with the last page which is a judge self test for “Early Warning Signs of Judicial Burnout” by Isaiah M. Zimmerman Ph.D. I have to admit it’s a dandy. Here are some of the T and F questions. It is from this magazine, Case in Point – page 5.

1. I delay in picking up the ringing telephone or in asking my assistant for messages.
2. I seem to glance at my watch a lot.
3. Holiday greetings and cards have become a nuisance.
4. My daydreams are increasingly concerned with money/security/sex and peace.
5. Only cases involving the wealthy, the powerful, or big corporations command my full attention.
6. I care little about the outcome of most trials
7. I cannot wait for the day’s work to end. I terminate proceedings a little early.
8. I find that 15 minutes is generally more than enough time for a 30-minute hearing.

You have to be able to answer below 8 True questions of the 25 to pass. Anything above 8 is considered borderline burnout or probably experiencing burnout.

It is important that the general public does not know about a judge who may be experiencing burnout. (It took me months to get this handbook.) That is probably one of the reasons the state of Idaho has provided our judges with a toll free number where their concerns can be shared out of state. We don’t know how much that is costing us yet, nor do we know just what this ‘Educational’ Judicial Family Handbook cost us or for that matter the cost of the wallet cards that were provided to the judges with contact information of the Idaho Judicial Assistance Hotline – 1-877-IDJUDGE of which I have been told that no formal contract has yet been completed.

It also has a copy of an article that tells us all about the judicial regions in the San Juan area and how judicial travel is affected. I am assuming this article is talking about California and not San Juan, Idaho? Then, let’s not forget that it also tells us “there will be judicial education opportunities for spouses” and “spousal programs.” Are we paying for those spousal “opportunities?”

Interestingly enough – if any judge for whatever reason falls victim to the press because of a conflict between the media and the courts or another issue – we have a Conflict Resolution Panel where they are allowed access to the judge and can mediate on behalf of the attorneys, judge, or journalist.

These folks have agreed to serve on that panel. I don’t know how they got there. The handbook did not tell us that.

Allen Derr, Fred Hoopes, Ron Schilling, Joan Cartan-Hansen, Deb Kristensen

But, in order to convene the Conflict Resolution Panel, you may have to contact any of those members or you can call:

Patti Tobias, Administrative Director of the Courts  OR Betsy Russell with the Washington Spokesman-Review.

More Entertainment:  I just read this great post from SCOIDblog. It’s about a judge and regular scheduled meetings at the Iron Horse Bar in Coeur d’Alene, ID. It’s juicy. Click the link provided at SCOIDblog. Too bad that judge didn’t get ”The Judicial Family Handbook” or did he? ;-)

The budget is a mess. According to CDA Press article written by Rick Thomas, our elected leaders are telling us this; “We’re still $450 million upside down,” Clark said. “We have problems, but we can solve them.”  

I find that remark incredibly concerning because I don’t think they can fix it, they are however, going to throw it back on the backs of the people. How are they going to do it? They are going to give us what we want. Politicians saw this coming, that is why they created the Idaho Efficiency Website, where citizens could offer suggestions regarding the economy and other ideas geared toward efficiency. 

Idaho Reporter.com tells us in their two part series how Idaho government is now listening and as a result the cutbacks that are going to happen are because the people requested this, NOT because the politicians overspent and agencies abused taxpayer money. Citizens call for salary cuts, district consolidation on governor’s website (Part 1 of 2)  Not all state employees deserve a pay cut, they work like dogs, like many of us. The folks getting the shaft by taking every other mandatory Friday afternoon off are low paying jobs, we are not picking on the high rollers who make the real money. However, we have now been formally ’engaged’ into the process so we feel part of the solution.

So, when it gets worse, be assured that the government will remind you that is what you wanted! God forbid, citizens start throwing rotten tomatoes at these incompetent buffoons who abuse are money to profit for their own personal gain and connected business networks. Those yahoos would do less damage if they would all just go back to their boats and fish, then hit a few rounds at the golf course, or shop for new shoes. 

Part 2 of the Idaho Reporter’s piece examines other citizenry answers like collecting revenue by legalizing pot, or consolidating all the colleges. Another answer is to increase taxes on alchohol, cirgarettes, candy, and bottled water. Taxing families that have more than three children is a favorite. Gad, there are people who want to raise the tax on gas by 25 cents to “FORCE” people to drive less. This is scary!

Personally, I think all drugs need to be legalized if you are over eighteen years old. It’s not my job to babysit adults and if they want to snort their bodies into oblivion, that’s their choice. It would solve the war on drugs and it would free up the jails regarding petty crimes. Additionally, keep the government out of taxing addictions or what people NEED like water and gas.

At this rate, if the legislature listens to some of these folks, except me, we are in  a bigger hole than before.

You never know, they might put a USE tax on toilet paper and force us to flush less often.

We need the government checkbooks online, so we can watch government’s spending habits. They need help because they cannot keep track of the spending on their own. We are in this mess because of their waste! Solutions to increase taxes will only hurt us more. Put the restrictions on government NOT the people.

P.S. My opinions are my own and do not necessarily reflect those in the sources of this post.