Two terminated as high court reorganizes

Thursday, Sept. 25, 1997 | 9:51 a.m.

Budget manager Jere Schultz was terminated from his job several weeks ago, and public relations officer Pam Graber will lose her job in October.

Chief Justice Miriam Shearing said Wednesday that Graber will be let go so the court can hire a lawyer to serve as assistant to the chief justice.

Graber had been hired by former Justice Thomas Steffen. But as a nonlawyer, Shearing and others said her job had been one of handling public relations.

"What the chief needs is an attorney," Shearing said. "Pam was fine in publicity."

Schultz's duties will be given to other employees within the Administrative Office of the Courts. He has taken a job with the state Budget Division.

Schultz served as budget manager during the legislative session when several lawmakers blasted Shearing, saying she tried to sneak pay increases for some justices into the court budget. The increase plan later was withdrawn.

The pay increases were hidden first in a budget line item for computers and later within an item calling for a Justice Court study.

But Shearing vehemently denied Schultz was being made a fall guy for the court's problems in the Legislature.

"That's ridiculous," she said. "He wasn't a fall guy for anything. He had nothing to do with it."

Schultz declined to criticize any members of the court or comment on his dismissal. Graber didn't return a call.

The court still hasn't replaced Don Mello, director of the Administrative Office of the Courts. Mello left in January.

Shearing blamed Mello for hiding the judges' increases within the court budget without her knowledge, but he said all justices knew of the increases.

A national search is under way to select a new director, Shearing said. More than 60 people have applied.

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