ACCOUNT CREATED TO SUPPORT JUDGES.

Byline: Troy Anderson Staff Writer

The Los Angeles Superior Court Judges Association fund was created in 1960 with judges' personal contributions as a way to pay for judges to attend luncheons and other events.

At the time, Los Angeles County's chief administrative officer had taken the position that such expenses must be personally borne by county officials and judges, according to a report by Court Counsel Frederick Bennet.

In 1961, money from the fund was used to provide certificates and plaques to retiring judges. By 1967, judges were given engraved gold cuff links worth $60. Medallions and gold chains were added as alternatives later.

The fund was also used to furnish the judges' lounge and in the days before ATM machines, the fund was used to enable judges to cash personal checks.

Until 1997, the funds were maintained in a separate bank account and administered by court staff. Because the bank required a tax identification number, the county identification number was used.

Prior to 1991, the fund rarely had a balance or more than a few hundred dollars and did not exceed $5,000. But in 1991, since the county was not providing any money for the association, alternative means of funding were considered and additional programs and activities were added.

The court joined with the Los Angeles County Bar Association in providing ``walk-through'' programs for new attorneys. Training programs were developed and provided to family law facilitators and mediators, and funded through the fund, Bennett wrote.

Judges devoted time to writing articles for and participating as speakers at educational training seminars sponsored by the bar, which, in return, donated a portion of the program fees to the fund.