Van De Kamp, 061584 CAAGO, AGO 84-305

• Case Date: June 15, 1984
• Court: California

JOHN K. VAN DE KAMP Attorney General JACK R. WINKLER Deputy Attorney General AGO 84-305 No. 84-305 California Attorney General Opinion Office of the Attorney General State of California  June 15, 1984          The COMMISSION ON CALIFORNIA STATE GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION AND ECONOMY has requested an opinion on the following question:          Does the Commission on California State Government Organization and Economy have authority to conduct studies and investigations of the administration and management of the courts in the judicial branch of state government?          CONCLUSION          The Commission on California State Government Organization and Economy has no authority to conduct studies and investigations on the administration and management of the courts in the judicial branch of state government except as they relate to the examination of present laws pertaining to continuing or permanent appropriations of public funds or the methods used in administering such laws.          ANALYSIS          We are asked whether the Commission on California State Government Organization and Economy (popularly referred to as "California's Little Hoover Commission" and hereinafter referred to simply as the "Commission") has authority to conduct studies and investigations of the judicial branch of state government. More specifically the question is whether the Commission has authority to investigate the administration and management of the state courts and the efficiency and economy concerns associated therewith. No investigation of the decisions made by the courts in particular cases is contemplated by the question.          The Commission is created by section 85011 which provides in part as follows:

"There is in the state government a Commission on California State Government Organization and Economy, hereafter in this chapter referred to as the "commission." The commission shall be comprised of thirteen members as follows: "(a) Nine members of the public, appointed for terms of four years pursuant to the provisions of this section. Not more than five of such members shall be registered as members of the same political party, and none shall hold public office in

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