Who Knew Underneath Those Judicial Robes were Board Shorts and Bikinis!

The annual gathering of federal judges from the 9th Circuit, one of 13 federal circuits, took place at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa last week. The tab for this 3-day conference is going to be about $1M in taxpayer funds.

The conference was described by judges as a “valuable opportunity to exchange ideas, discuss circuit issues and professionally bond.”

In the working world where people pay their own way, the struggling economy has curtailed trips but companies have still found a way to exchange ideas and discuss issues. It’s called www.gotomeeting.com. Piña coladas not included.

As for bonding, since when do we need camaraderie between judges? I understand schmoozing to land accounts but bonding isn’t necessary to build case loads. 

Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, in his opening remarks at the conference, called the conference and their choice of the Hyatt Maui, “prudent.”

Browse www.maui.hyatt.com and it is anything but. The ‘breathtaking,’ ocean-front resort and spa is surrounded by 40 ‘lush’ acres where guests ‘frolic’ in the ‘water playground.’ There are ‘lavish’ spas for ‘pampering,’ a ‘priceless’ art gallery and ‘delectable’ restaurants.

I’ve been to Maui. Maui was the first time I saw a single restaurant entrée priced in the triple digits. Prudent? No way.

Further defending the audacious choice of Maui, Kennedy then said, “There is a loveliness, even a loneliness in the Pacific that makes it fitting for us to search in quiet for the elegance and the beauty of the law.” I hope this epiphany occured after the Luau.

The British have a perfect quip for sentences like this: “You’re taking the piss, right mate?”

If west coast judges needed a lonely, quiet place to contemplate the beauty of law, the Best Western in El Centro could have delivered for a lot less than $333,000 per day.

Making this Hawaiian trip all the more ironic is starting in September, San Diego courts are closing some courtrooms and business offices because of budget problems. Did they discuss that in the Jacuzzi?

The Hyatt Regency in Maui has four room rates: Best Available Rate, AAA Member, Senior/AARP and Government. Government rate?

Does the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa host so many government conferences, it’s its own category?

How much more, “Let them eat cake,” or in this case, pineapple, behavior are Americans going to put up with from their representatives?

Government agencies seem able to slash military, police, fire and teacher budgets but haven't been able to take the Draconian step of slashing their Hilton budgets.