Superior Court of Fresno Cnty. v. Pub. Emp't Relations Bd.

*163 In this original proceeding, the Superior Court of Fresno County (Court) challenges a decision by the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) that certain Court personnel rules and regulations (Personnel Rules) violate the Trial Court Employment Protection and Governance Act (Trial Court Act) ( Gov. Code, § 71600 et seq. ) 1 and, thus, constitute unfair practices. The initial administrative proceedings were brought by Service Employees International Union Local 521 (Union) after Court adopted new Personnel Rules affecting *558 Union members. Respondent PERB is a quasi-judicial agency of the State of California charged with administering the provisions of the Trial Court Act. (§ 71639.1.) Union, the real party in interest, is and at all relevant times has been the "recognized employee organization" representing employees of Court. (§ 71691, subd. (h).)

The Personnel Rules in question prohibit Court's employees from (1) wearing clothing or adornments with writings or images, including pins, lanyards and other accessories; (2) soliciting during working hours for any purpose without prior Court approval; (3) distributing literature during nonworking time in working areas; and…