GOP Senators Compare Planned Ninth Circuit Conference in Hawaii to 'Vacation'

Updated 3:33 p.m.

Two top Republican senators on the judiciary and budget committees are questioning the cost of the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference planned for Hawaii in August, saying “the program reads more like a vacation than a business trip to discuss the means of improving the administration of justice.”

Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) sent a letter Friday to Chief Judge Alex Kozinski, asking for information on the cost of conferences in the past as well as this year’s Aug. 13-16 conference in Maui. The letter asks Kozinski to explain why the Maui venue would be better than simply teleconferencing.

“A judicial circuit court should be capable of using technology to share information without requiring a trip to an island paradise,” Grassley, the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said in a written statement. “The taxpayers can’t sustain this kind of spending, and they shouldn’t have to. The court should re-examine whether this is the best use of tax dollars.”

The senators fail to mention that Hawaii is part of the Ninth Circuit, which covers nine western states and two Pacific island territories. Information on the court’s website states that attendees will include judges from the Ninth Circuit, as well as federal district and bankruptcy courts; representatives of the federal bar practicing in these courts; court staff; and special guests, according to a flier posted on the court’s website.

This year's program features presentations on social media, mobile computing and data mining on the Internet, recent findings in sentencing policy, and anti-trust issues in the world of sports law, the flier states. Supreme Court justices Anthony Kennedy and Samuel Alito Jr. will also attend.

The senators point out in the letter that attendees have the option of staying at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa for $230 to $250 per night, meaning that just accommodations for the estimated 700 participants would me more than $500,000.

And the senators also highlight a list of activities not related to court administration: sport fishing, a golf tournament, yoga, surfing lessons, stand-up paddle board lessons, a Latin-style Zumba dance program, a tennis tournament, a day trip tour of Maui and a catamaran snorkel trip. “While the site makes clear that government funds are not used for any recreational or sporting activities and that court-related matters will be substantively covered, the program reads more like a vacation than a business trip to discuss the means of improving the administration of justice,” the senators state in the letter.

The Ninth Circuit spent more than $657,000 on travel-related costs for the 2010 conference, which was also held in Maui, the letter states.

The senators asked for financial information from the 2008-2011 conferences, including a detailed list of all “swag” – gifts and other items received for attending – that has which attendees got what items and how much those items cost.

A spokesman for the Ninth Circuit said in a written statement this afternoon that costs for lodging and air travel to attend the conference are similar to those found at mainland venues, and any sporting and recreational activities are paid for by individuals and are not reimbursable.

Judges and other attendees take seriously their obligation to participate fully in the conference, the spokesman said. The Ninth Circuit is "fully aware of its responsibilities as a steward of public funds," he said, and the conference is authorized by law.

Otherwise, the spokesman said, the Ninth Circuit is reviewing the letter, and a response to the senators will be forthcoming.

Comments

[Adidas Bounce]

tks for your sharing. MA, ME, NH and RI -- includes Puerto Rico -- and our judges go there in January to confer.

[chokanson]

Kozinski should send them a reciprocal "inquiry," in his classic style. The courts is a co-equal branch of government and should not have to answer like subordinates.

[Wade Coye]

Monitoring such discretionary spending is obviously heightened after the GSA debacle, which was blatantly excessive. However, on this one I do not think its a mere coincidence that Republican law makers are going after the Ninth Circuit (the most liberal circuit). Also, lets remember that every big company and law firm offers competitive benefits like paid vacations. If we want to retain some of the brightest minds in the country, there should be some perks, although government tax dollars are at a premium these days. We need to find the balance between the GSA bonanza and not allowing public employees any enjoyable professional conferences.

[Pete in SD]

This is such a silly partisan tempest in a teapot it would be funny if it were not true.

By the way - what was the cost in paper and ink (plus postage) of those letters?

This was a waste of taxpayer money and if I'm paying your salary I expect you guys to legislate not speculate.

[Thomas A. Barnes]

Steve, you and David just don't get it. Grow up, pay your bills and tell the readers of your snide comments how many government checks and programs you are benefitting from that we are helping to pay for. The new $5T debt that Obama has rung up since 2009 is the problem....spending money that we don't have. This country was broke BEFORE Obama took office but he has made it worse instead of better, especially with type of help he is getting from the Nith Circuit Court. Let politics take a back seat and deal with the facts, please. If you have more than opinions regarding Sessions and Grassley, put your facts where your mouths are.

Wounded Vet

[eli b]

Wait until one of these guys notices that the First Circuit -- MA, ME, NH and RI -- includes Puerto Rico -- and our judges go there in January to confer.

[Bill Spohrer]

Last time I checked, California was also in the 9th Circuit.

[David Humphrey]

I would love to read how Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Jeff Sessions (R-Ala) spend our tax money...wonder if they voted for the bail out. It amazes me that Republicans are so fiscally responsible when a Democrat is President, but let company's like Black Water run crazy when no one is watching!

Thanks for looking out for the tax payers boys! You are the best :(

[Steve]

Do these Senators and their committees apply similar published scrutiny to conventions and related travel and "activities" expenses incurred by members of both houses of Congress, paid for with governmental dollars or (maybe more frightening) private constituent or lobbyist dollars? As far as the Judicial Conference is concerned, are government dollars paying specifically for the Zumba, surfing, etc. activities?