In its brief existence from 2008 to 2010, CaliforniaALL collected close to $2 million, including a sub-rosa contribution of $780,000 from the State Bar of California Foundation.
Specifically, CaliforniaALL would award grants to entities which would increase minority participation in the "pipelines" that feed into industries such as finance, technology, and law.
Extensive research shows that CaliforniaALL awarded only one grant during its existence. The grant was for $100,000, and was issued to an educational facility in Orange County – specifically, U.C. Irvine School of Law headed by Erwin Chemerinsky.
GWEN MOORE
According to confidential sources, Ms. Gwen Moore, a current member of the State Bar Board of Governors, is under heavy scrutiny as a result of these matters.
Ms. Gwen Moore (Photo:Courtesy)
A prior FBI sting operation that targeted Gwen Moore; as well her familiarity with the California Public Utilities Commission ("CPUC") and utility companies, is being reviewed for potential leads and in order to become familiar with Moore's modus operandi.
Separately, sources maintain that Moore's agendas and politics are a source of concern, particularly as she presently serves on the RAD Committee.
According to one source, "While her actions to promote equality such as General Order 156 are certainly appreciated and understood, particularly in light of the persistent mistreatment of African-Americans in the U.S., I would tend to question her ability to remain impartial in matters which come before the BOG in general and the RAD in particular involving misconduct by minorities and/or close political allies from the Democratic party."
"Clearly, one substantial factor leading to the State Bar’s ethical and moral collapse was provided courtesy of individuals who fall into those two categories (i.e., minorities and/or close political allies from the Democratic party), including JoAnn Remke, Judy Johnson, Debra Murphy-Lawson, Patrice McElroy, Lucy Armendariz, Mike Nisperos, and – as we are learning through the latest revelations pertaining to her – Ruthe Ashley," the source added.
In particular, the source referenced JoAnn Remke's lengthy and persistent trail of misconduct, including the "60 Day Suspension Scandal" and the "Ronald Stovitz Scandal," and culminating in the egregious misconduct in matters relating to nationally-renowned lawyer's lawyer Philip Edward Kay.
SARAH E. REDFIELD
Per CaliforniaALL and Ruthe Ashley, in April 2007 three attorneys who were representing three separate governmental agencies (the State Bar of California, CalPERS, and CPUC) met at a San Francisco restaurant for a brainstorming session concerning how to further promote diversity in the California workforce. The three lawyers were Ruthe Ashley, Sarah E. Redfield, and Pete Arth Jr.
With a steadfast commitment, all three arrived for the "brainstorming session" without any notepads; they quickly improvised and resorted to recording notes on a paper napkin. According to Ashley, these notes were the cornerstones of CaliforniaALL. See an excerpt from CaliforniaALL's website below:
Urban legend notwithstanding, Ashley's version of events is slightly inaccurate, as Sarah Redfield (a visiting professor from New Hampshire who Ashley met at McGeorge School of Law) is not a member of the California Bar, and was not representing any governmental agency.
In actuality, Ruthe Ashley acted on behalf of both the State Bar California and CalPERS -- where she was at the time employed as a Diversity Officer. Pete Arth, an attorney with the CPUC, spoke on behalf of the CPUC. (It is worth noting that most of the donations later made to CaliforniaALL originated from utility companies such as Verizon and PG&E.)
Eventually, CalPERS, CPUC, and the State Bar of California endorsed in principle the creation of CaliforniaALL – a Section 501(c)(3) entity that would raise funds to be used to support a more diverse work-force in California.
Specifically, CaliforniaALL would award grants to entities which would increase minority participation in the "pipelines" that feed into industries such as finance, technology, and law.
In the meantime, with a green light to proceed with her plans and with the credibility of state agencies behind her, Ruthe Ashley marched on.
Ashley, however, wanted to maintain a low profile AND make it appear that her subsequent hiring was purely coincidental. As such, she delegated the task of forming the legal entity to be known as CaliforniaALL to Sarah Redfield and Victor Miramontes.
Papers were filed with both state and federal agencies to allow CaliforniaALL to operate as a tax exempt entity. Victor Miramontes listed himself as Chairman of the Board, and Sarah E. Redfield served as CaliforniaAll’s interim-executive-director for a period of 6 months. See below excerpt from CaliforniaALL's website:
Sarah Redfield, one of the three lawyers who met at the San Francisco restaurant and who acted as CaliforniaALL's Interim Executive Director was paid $157,763 while misclassified as an "independent contractor" in tax-returns submitted to the Internal Revenue Service.
See excerpt below from 2008 CaliforniaALL’s tax return.
Any argument that, in addition to her role as Interim Executive Director, Redfield was also paid for her role as a "consultant" will be defeated by assertions that CaliforniaALL and Ruthe Ashley made under penalty of perjury when they answered NO to question 28 in Form 990 of CaliforniaALL's 2008 tax rerurn.
"During the tax year, did any person who is a current or former officer, director, trustee, or key employee a) Have a direct business relationship with the organization (other than as an officer, director, trustee, or employee)"
See below:
TO BE CONTINUED
