Bar Court’s Remke to head FPPC
State Bar Court Presiding Judge Joann
M. “Jodi” Remke was named last month as the new chairwoman of the Fair
Political Practices Commission, which enforces the state’s government ethics
and campaign finance laws.
Remke, 48, has been a judge on the
court since 2000 and its presiding judge since 2006. California is the only
state in the country with independent professional judges dedicated to ruling
on attorney discipline cases.
"I thank the governor for this
opportunity to guide and shape discussion and actions to improve and encourage
public trust in the process of government," Remke said in a statement
issued by the commission. Remke succeeds Ann Ravel, who was appointed to the Federal
Election Commission by President Barack Obama last June.
Gov. Jerry Brown’s
announcement of Remke’s appointment last month sparked a flurry of media
coverage by The Sacramento Bee and Los Angeles Times, among other news
outlets. A date for the transition had not been set as of April 30.
The announcement also
prompted State Bar Court officials to reopen its judicial appointment
application process, Chief Administrative Officer Colin Wong said. The court will accept
applications for a presiding judge and a review judge position through May 12.
The Supreme Court will
appoint one review judge and one presiding judge later this year. Each will be
based either in Los Angeles or San Francisco. The application and details about
the positions are available on the State Bar Court website.