Odd Fellows Valediction | Davis Odd Fellows Lodge #169

/odd-fellows-valediction

  • Commission on Judicial Performance
    455 Golden Gate Ave.
    San Francisco, CA 94102

    RE: COMPLAINT AGAINST YOLO COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT JUDGES DAVID ROSENBERG AND DAVID REED

    To whom it may concern:

    In lieu of using a form complaint, this communication serves as an official judicial misconduct complaint against Yolo County Superior Court judges David Rosenberg and David Reed for violations of Canons of Judicial Ethics due to their (and their respective spouses, Lea Rosenberg and Sheryl Cambron) involvement with an entity known as Davis Odd Fellows, which discriminates on the basis of religion in violation of Canon(2)(C).

    GENERAL BACKGROUND:

    Yolo County Superior Court judge David Rosenberg (AKA Dave Rosenberg) and his wife Lea Rosenberg are heavily involved in an entity known as “Yolo Lodge 169 Independent Order Odd Fellows and Davis Rebekah Lodge” ( which also advertises itself as Davis Odd Fellow / David Rebekah Lodge/ and other related entities).

    The operation owns various pieces of real estate which are leased to various business establishments in the City of Davis, California. As will be shown in future complaints, there is more than meets the eye here, as overall transactions involving Davis Odd Fellows appear to involve suspicious and secretive financial transactions, racketeering, income tax fraud, and related acts of misconduct.

    Over the years, both the Rosenbergs (David and Lea) and Judge Reed and his wife (Cheryl Cambron - an attorney employed by Yolo County) have been extensively involved in this organization. At various times, Rosenberg/Reed/Cambron served as president and vice-president interchangeably.

    Presently, Dave Rosenberg is also the membership committee chairman (see: http://davislodge.org/how-to-join ).

    Anyone who is interested in becoming a member must be sponsored by another member and must be “loyal to his or her country and believes in a Supreme Being, the creator and preserver of the Universe, is eligible for membership.” (See http://davislodge.org/how-to-join )

    Additionally, the Odd Fellows Valediction reads as follows: “I AM AN ODD FELLOW: I believe in the Fatherhood of God, and the Brotherhood of Man.” (See: http://davislodge.org/odd-fellows-valediction)

    MISCONDUCT:

    As mentioned above, both Judge Rosenberg and Judge Reed are judges of the Yolo County Superior Court and both are members and directors of Davis Odd Fellows. As such they must adhere to the canons of judicial ethics.

    Canon 2(C) reads: “A judge shall not hold membership in any organization that practices invidious
    discrimination on the basis of race, sex, gender, religion, national origin, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. This canon does not apply to membership in a religious organization or an official military organization of the United States.”

    The Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) in general, and the Davis Odd Fellows in particular, are not “religious organization” per se (ie, churches). Rather they are considered a fraternity. (See: http://www.ioof.org )

    Davis Odd Fellows describes itself as follows:

    "The Davis Odd Fellows Lodge was chartered in 1870 and currently has over 200 members, making it one of the largest Odd Fellows Lodges in the nation. The Odd Fellows Lodge is a fraternal order, dedicated to community projects of all kinds. The Davis Odd Fellows put on Taste of Davis, Breakfast with Santa, Breakfast with the Bunny among other community events and projects. The Lodge also hosted the “DogtoberFest” which raised funds to purchase a new K-9 for the Davis Police Department, and set a Guinness World Record for the longest single line of bicycles which raising over $15,000 for the Davis Schools during the “World’s Greatest Bicycle Parade.”

    In that David Odd Fellows owns real estate which it rents to the highest bidder, it qualifies as a “business establishment” which must comply with statutory and constructional bodies of California law protecting the civil rights of its citizens.

    In view of the foregoing, both Odd Fellows members Judge Rosenberg and Judge Reed should be disciplined for their involvement in the organizations, as it is clear that Davis Odd Fellows is not a “religious organization.” The improper involvement is particularly heightened for Judge Rosenberg, the membership committee chairman, who via his position requires that all new members believe in a “Supreme Being” and the “Fatherhood of God.”

    Thank you for you time and attention to this matter.