Presiding Judge Colleen Toy White stated: “We are pleased that Chief Justice George has recognized the experience, talent and dedication of Executive Officer Mike Planet. His years of service to the Ventura County and courts throughout the nation will be of great benefit to the California Judicial Council.”Supervising Family Law Judge John R. Smiley said: “Mike Planet’s selection and appointment to the Judicial Council is a marvelous endorsement for him and for the Ventura Superior Court. Given the few seats on the council designated for Court Executive Officers, this selection underscores the success of Mike’s leadership work throughout the state and his commitment to service on behalf of the courts.”Michael Planet has a long history of service to the public and the judicial branch. He became the Superior Court’s executive officer in 2001. He was assistant staff director of the American Bar Association (1981-1984), deputy court administrator and judicial administrator of the Superior Court of Arizona, Maricopa County in Phoenix (1984-1991), and court administrator of King County Superior Court in Seattle (1991-2001).Planet is presently a member of the California Court Clerks Association, the National Association for Court Management, and the Urban Court Managers Network. He has been active in a variety of Judicial Council committees, including the Trial Court Budget Working Group, the Collaborative Justice Courts Advisory Committee, the Kleps Awards Committee, the California Court Case Management System Steering Committee, the Collaborative Court-County Working Group on Enhanced Collections, and the Court Executives Advisory Committee. Planet has authored numerous articles on judicial administration and the legal system.
Superior Court Executive Officer Michael D. Planet appointed to the Judicial Council of California
July 04, 2007
Santa Paula News
Chief Justice Ronald M. George has named Ventura Superior Court Executive Officer Michael D. Planet as one of three new appointees to the Judicial Council of California.
Chief Justice Ronald M. George has named Ventura Superior Court Executive Officer Michael D. Planet as one of three new appointees to the Judicial Council of California. He will serve a three-year term beginning September 15, 2007.The Judicial Council is the policymaking body of the California courts, the largest court system in the nation. Under the leadership of the Chief Justice and in accordance with the California Constitution, the council is responsible for ensuring the consistent, independent, impartial, and accessible administration of justice.In recent years, the council has taken a leadership role in the unification of the state’s municipal and superior courts, state funding of the courts, the ongoing transfer of trial court facilities from the counties to the state, jury system reforms, and numerous other initiatives to make the courts more effective in responding to the needs of Californians.The Judicial Council consists of 14 judicial members appointed by the Chief Justice, four attorney members appointed by the State Bar Board of Governors, one member from each house of the Legislature, and eight advisory members. Terms on the council are staggered, with one-third of the council’s membership changing each year.Members of the council are selected through a nominating procedure designed to attract applicants with diverse backgrounds and experience from throughout the legal system and the state. The council’s Executive and Planning Committee solicits nominations and applications and then forwards the names of three nominees for each council vacancy to the Chief Justice for consideration. The committee gives added consideration to persons who have served on Judicial Council advisory committees or task forces.
