California Assemblyman Charles Calderon just doesn’t get it.
Even though women legislators and law groups chastised him last May for his comments about the appearance of California’s female Chief Justice, Amy Chance from the Sacramento Bee reports a more recent incidence of the legislator being politically tone deaf.
Calderon has authored AB 1208 which would make changes to the Judicial Council, chaired by the Chief Justice. Chance reports that Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye:
said she was not told in advance that the measure affecting the council she chairs would be introduced, and she said the version now awaiting action on the Assembly floor was never aired in committee.
. . . Calderon said it never occurred to him to call the chief justice before he introduced the bill. He said it also isn’t unusual for some changes to be made as bills move from one committee to another.
“It is incumbent upon a legislator to call a chief justice to tell them they are going to introduce a bill?” he asked. “I understand that she’s confused about the process because the Legislature isn’t the courtroom.”
Calderon already had his teachable moment last May, and he doesn’t appear to understand the decorum with which you engage a Chief Justice.
Let me spell it out: You don’t comment on her appearance. You don’t denigrate her intelligence. You do engage her and her office in discussions before introducing a bill.
Time for the Assemblyman to download Aretha Franklin’s classic hit: R…E…S…P…E…C…T.