Jeremy Cortez manages LASC’s budgets, revenue and facilities – a job that’s nothing short of an E-ticket ride

Today we meet Jeremy Cortez (“Jere” to his colleagues), whose job is so enormous and central to the running of the Los Angeles Superior Court (LASC) that you will shake your head in disbelief that you have not before heard of him. His title is the giveaway: Chief Deputy of Finance and Administration. Supervising seven Senior Court Directors and approximately 250 other LASC employees, Jere has the principal responsibility, reporting directly to the CEO, David Slayton, for planning and execution of finance, budget, revenue, audit, facilities, contract administration, procurement, and public safety including security and emergency management operations for the LASC. (More things, too, but this is enough for today.)

Focus for a moment on the first three: finance, budget and revenue. Money stuff, right? When our eyes widen upon learning of the LASC’s one billion dollar per year operation, we are inhabiting Jere’s world. Budget: how much money will we need to meet our mission – calculated down to the penny among thousands of categories? Revenue: where does every last penny come from? (No, not all from Sacramento in a nice green bundle). Finance: how and when can it lawfully be spent? Example: Can a judge pinch-hit in an AB1058 family law child support court when a certified commissioner is out on vacation? Answer: nope; those dollars are legislatively earmarked “commissioners only.” When the CEO or PJ call with these questions, Jere is on the other end of the phone – with answers.

Amazing fact: Jere actually understands California’s byzantine budgeting process. The State of California Department of Finance website contains this telling topic sentence: “The budget process for California defies a simple concise definition.” One wonders, if they can’t do it, who can? Well, Jere can. His is a world of BCPs (budget change proposals, of course); holding his breath awaiting the Governor’s May Revise; and, bless his heart, year in and year out, with grace and patience, explaining to all who will hear that one time money does not mean money available only once. (“Defies a simple and concise definition,” remember?”)

What else? Four elevators and two escalators at the Mosk Courthouse are not working. Jere’s job. We need parking for jurors closer to the Spring Street Courthouse. Jere’s job. A water pipe burst in Van Nuys and six courtrooms are inundated. Jere’s job. We need to update the Continuation of Operations plans in the event a major earthquake closes multiple courthouses. Jere’s job. It’s April 2020 and we need 3,000 plexiglass shields installed immediately to reduce COVID risk in courtrooms and in the Clerk’s offices. Jere’s job.

Look, there he is, running down the hall. Let’s see if we can grab him.

Hey Jere, do you ever sleep?

(Laughs.) Every day is busy, that’s for sure. But we have a team of more than 250 professionals on the job in F&A [finance and administration]. Usually, I give guidance or approval for a decision and then get out of the way. This is no job for micromanagement and that’s not my style anyway.

You find yourself in an elevator in the courthouse with a curious member of the public who asks, “what do you do here?” The ride will take about 15 seconds. What’s your answer?

Well, assuming I’m not carrying 30 pounds of Excel spreadsheets, I would say to that person, “I mostly work behind the scenes to make sure our court can live up to its mission statement concerning fair, prompt, efficient and equal access to justice for our community. The court needs to be able to budget, fund, procure, and account. None of those are easily done and all require great skill and dedication from teams. And because it’s public resources involved, we need to be transparent and totally ethical. My job is to help a lot of other people who share these commitments do their jobs.” If I were carrying the spreadsheets, I would add that I am involved in recycling paper.

What brought you to the LASC and what jobs have you had along the way?

I’m 33 years into my career and by far my current job at the LASC is the “E” ticket (excuse the Disney-speak). Fresh out of Cal Poly Pomona as a young accountant, I first worked for the Los Angeles County Auditor-Controller Audit Division. Some years on, I learned of a budget analyst opening at the County Health Department. It would be a promotion. I got the job and for the next seven years was deeply engaged with the County’s personal health and community health centers’ finances. Then I decided to venture into the world of management and landed a position as Chief Financial Officer of the County Alcohol & Drug Program Administration. About that time I also then obtained a master’s degree in public administration from Cal State Northridge.

I still had an appetite for different experiences and challenges and in 2005, I was appointed as the CFO of County Mental Health and then the CFO of the newly-created Public Health Department. But after 11 years of that work, I was looking for new challenges which led me to join the Superior Court as the Chief Deputy of Finance and Administration. I’ve been here for seven years.

If it’s not too far into the weeds of CFO-world, how is your job and the court different from your County CFO jobs?

Well, as Chief Deputy for the Court, not only am I the lead financial executive over budget, expenditure, revenue/treasury collections operations and strategies but also oversee facilities, contracting, public safety and internal audit. So it’s a way bigger job; if I was looking for bigger challenges, I found them.

What do you think is the most misunderstood part of your job?

For sure it concerns the nature and sources of the LASC’s funding and the restrictions on how specified funds may be expended. Money available for one thing does not necessarily mean money available for everything, for example. This can be a source of frustration. Also, on the facilities side – which is one of our biggest challenges on account of the age and condition of many of our courthouses – the LASC is a tenant, not an owner. The Judicial Council of California and the County of Los Angeles are the landlords, and the LASC’s control over those premises is far more limited than most people think. Also a source of frustration sometimes. But that’s how it is.

What do you think most folks at the LASC don’t know about you?

Well, I love country and Latin music, and always want to dance. My two favorite songs are That’s My Job by Conway Twitty and Cats in the Cradle by Harry Chapin, both of which concern relationships between sons and fathers. I also love dogs, but lost my buddy, Flynn, a Jack Russell, this last year which has left a sizable hole in my heart.

If a management trainee sought your advice concerning making a career at the LASC and aspired to reach the Executive team, what advice would you give?

Be nimble, flexible, and stay true to yourself and your ideals. And internalize General George C. Marshall’s immortal insight: There is no limit to the good you can do if you don’t care who gets the credit.

Anything else?

Yes. I can’t say enough about the staff folks at F&A. Working with them, knowing them individually and seeing what we’ve accomplished is the most enjoyable part of my job. They are like family to me and I am very lucky to be among them.