FOI Tip: Request training/travel records and then verify through e-mails

Judge Kelly A. MacEachern of Orange County, Calif., probably thought nobody would notice that she was paid to attend a weeklong class in San Diego but actually attended only part of it and instead spent time at Sea World, the San Diego Zoo and kayaking, according to a disciplinary report issued last month by the California Commission on Judicial Performance. But somebody did notice, and she got caught. The commission based its findings on e-mail records they were able to review that pieced together the series of events. MacEachern, a former county prosecutor, also was found to have lied under oath when questioned about the fibs, and she was removed from the bench (see summary at the Corruption Chronicles blog).

FOI Tip: Request all the travel vouchers and conference records kept by your local government agency (city, courts, school district, etc.), then verify whether the officials actually went, looking at the agency-issued credit card records for the same dates, e-mails regarding those people around the travel dates, and the program details of the training or conference. If a judge could have the gall to lie about such a petty little thing, imagine what other folks might be doing. All at taxpayer expense.