A Spotlight on SCBA Affiliates - Sacramento County Bar Association
A Spotlight on SCBA Affiliates - Sacramento County Bar Association
A Spotlight on SCBA Affiliates - Sacramento County Bar Association
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July/August 2011<br />
www.sacbar.org<br />
SACRAMENTO<br />
COUNTY BAR<br />
ASSOCIATION<br />
MAGAZINE<br />
A <str<strong>on</strong>g>Spotlight</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong><br />
<strong>SCBA</strong> <strong>Affiliates</strong><br />
A Chat with the<br />
Chief Justice<br />
Tani Cantil-Sakauye<br />
ABAS Ninth Annual<br />
Wine Tasting
Aswe<br />
head into the dog days of summer with<br />
panting breaths and lolling t<strong>on</strong>gues, <strong>SCBA</strong><br />
members everywhere are undeterred and hard at work.<br />
June Coleman and company (Co-Chair Angela Lai and<br />
Committee Members Herb Bolz, Carrier Bushman, Jeff<br />
Levine, Vasilios Spyradakis, Helene Friedman, Jas<strong>on</strong><br />
Schaff, Julia Reeves and Lori Okun) are working hard putting<br />
together another spectacular Bench-<strong>Bar</strong> Recepti<strong>on</strong>.<br />
This year’s Recepti<strong>on</strong> will be held at the California<br />
Automobile Museum and feature the sweet sounds of<br />
Martini Crush, a local jazz ensemble that specializes in the<br />
classic jazz renditi<strong>on</strong>s of the ‘30s, ‘40s, and ‘50s. If you<br />
enjoy a little swing with your food and favorite liquid<br />
refreshment, you will not want to miss it.<br />
Our friends at ABAS and Women Lawyers of<br />
<strong>Sacramento</strong> are also working hard <strong>on</strong> their annual fundraisers.<br />
ABAS will be hosting its 23rd annual golf tournament<br />
at the Turkey Creek Golf Club in Lincoln <strong>on</strong> Sunday,<br />
September 11th. All proceeds will benefit ABAS’ Law<br />
Foundati<strong>on</strong> and Legal Services of Northern California’s<br />
summer law clerkships. Having played Turkey Creek a<br />
time or two myself, there’s probably no prettier public<br />
course in the area, especially when it winds its way through<br />
the more forested secti<strong>on</strong>s of the back nine. But watch out<br />
for that approach shot <strong>on</strong> No. 10. Gobble-gobble.<br />
Women Lawyers are hosting their 18th annual Artfest in<br />
the splendor of the Vizcaya the evening of Wednesday,<br />
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF<br />
Jack Laufenberg - editor@sacbar.org<br />
STAFF EDITORS<br />
Larry Duran<br />
Heather Cline Hogans<strong>on</strong><br />
SACRAMENTO LAWYER POLICY COMMITTEE<br />
Larry Duran<br />
Sams<strong>on</strong> R. Elsbernd<br />
Helene Friedman<br />
David Graulich<br />
Coral Henning<br />
Yoshinori H.T. Himel<br />
Jack Laufenberg<br />
2 SACRAMENTO LAWYER JULY/AUGUST 2011<br />
COURTHOUSE STEPS<br />
steps@sacbar.org<br />
SURFING FROM RIVER CITY<br />
Coral Henning (916) 874-6013<br />
chenning@saclaw.org<br />
ADVERTISING - EVENTS<br />
MEMBER CLASSIFIED ADS<br />
Michelle Bender (916) 564-3780 x200<br />
recepti<strong>on</strong>@sacbar.org<br />
DESIGN AND LAYOUT<br />
MaryBurroughsStudio.com<br />
MJBgraphicdesign@aol.com<br />
Editor’s Message<br />
Staying Busy,<br />
Staying Cool<br />
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR<br />
Carol Prosser<br />
OFFICERS<br />
Michael Levy - President<br />
June Coleman - 1st Vice President<br />
Stephen Acquisto - 2nd Vice President<br />
Jean-Pierre Francillette - Secretary<br />
Treasurer<br />
BOARD OF DIRECTORS<br />
DIRECTORS AT LARGE<br />
Carrie Bushman<br />
Roberta Lars<strong>on</strong><br />
S<strong>on</strong>ia Fernandes<br />
Theresa La Voie<br />
Richard Miadach<br />
Lori Okun<br />
William Schuetz<br />
Sabrina Thomas<br />
Michael Wise<br />
SACRAMENTO LAW FOUNDATION<br />
Stephen Duvernay,<br />
saclawfoundati<strong>on</strong>.org<br />
By Jack Laufenberg<br />
September 15th. Proceeds from Artfest will help fund<br />
WLS’ charitable grants and law school scholarships. The<br />
stately c<strong>on</strong>fines of the Vizcaya offerthe perfect backdrop for<br />
a warm summer evening of good food, good friends, and<br />
good art. And as any<strong>on</strong>e knows who has ever attended the<br />
Artfest before, nobody does it better than WLS. Nobody.<br />
It is with a mixture of joy and sadness that I have to bid<br />
farewell to a friend and colleague, Senior Deputy<br />
<strong>Sacramento</strong> City Attorney Larry Duran. Larry, a founding<br />
member of the <strong>SCBA</strong>’s Diversity Summer Fellowship<br />
Program that has been providing work experience for<br />
minority and other disadvantaged first-year law students<br />
since 1990, and a l<strong>on</strong>g-time c<strong>on</strong>tributor and staff editor of<br />
this august periodical, is leaving the City Attorney’s Office<br />
to accept a positi<strong>on</strong> as an Administrative Law Judge in<br />
Southern California. Larry has d<strong>on</strong>e more for the<br />
<strong>Sacramento</strong> legal community more quietly than any<strong>on</strong>e I<br />
know. I missed his going-away party due to a professi<strong>on</strong>al<br />
commitment that ran l<strong>on</strong>g. But I didn’t want to miss the<br />
opportunity to thank him, publicly, for his many years of<br />
service to the <strong>SCBA</strong> and this great legal community. Good<br />
luck, Larry. As I told you <strong>on</strong>ce before, you’re the proof that<br />
nice guys d<strong>on</strong>’t always finish last.<br />
Stay cool, <strong>Sacramento</strong>. Stay cool.<br />
AFFILIATE REPRESENTATIVES<br />
Asian <strong>Bar</strong> Associati<strong>on</strong> (ABAS)<br />
Grace Arupo<br />
<strong>Bar</strong>risters’ Club<br />
Jas<strong>on</strong> Schaff<br />
Capitol City Trial Lawyers<br />
Jack Vetter<br />
Federal <strong>Bar</strong> Associati<strong>on</strong><br />
Alex Medina<br />
Hellenic Law Associati<strong>on</strong> of<br />
<strong>Sacramento</strong> (HELLAS)<br />
Vasilios Spyridakis<br />
LaRaza<br />
Michael Terhorst<br />
Le<strong>on</strong>ard M. Friedman <strong>Bar</strong> Associati<strong>on</strong><br />
Avi Glikman<br />
Saint Thomas More Society<br />
of <strong>Sacramento</strong> (STMS)<br />
Herb Bolz<br />
<strong>Sacramento</strong> Lawyers for<br />
the Equality of<br />
Gays and Lesbians (SacLegal)<br />
Sarah Asplin<br />
South Asian <strong>Bar</strong> Associati<strong>on</strong><br />
Shama Mesiwala
SACRAMENTO<br />
COUNTY BAR<br />
ASSOCIATION<br />
MAGAZINE<br />
Table of C<strong>on</strong>tents<br />
V O L U M E 1 1 1 , N U M B E R 4 • J U L Y / A U G U S T 2 0 1 1<br />
COURT NEWS<br />
7 Updates from the PJ –<br />
35 Federal District Court Seeks Additi<strong>on</strong>al Volunteer Neutral Evaluators<br />
LITIGATION<br />
8 View from the Civil Bench – “D<strong>on</strong>’t Spit <strong>on</strong> Me” and Other Words of<br />
Wisdom from 50 Years of Court Reporting<br />
SPOTLIGHT ON AFFILIATES<br />
14 Le<strong>on</strong>ard M. Friedman <strong>Bar</strong> Associati<strong>on</strong><br />
16 ABAS Law Foundati<strong>on</strong>’s Ninth Annual Wine Tasting Marks a Year<br />
of Historic Progress<br />
18 South Asian <strong>Bar</strong> Associati<strong>on</strong> of <strong>Sacramento</strong> Celebrates its Third Anniversary<br />
20 <strong>Sacramento</strong>’s St. Thomas More Society<br />
THE CHIEF JUSTICE<br />
24 A Chat with the New Chief Justice<br />
COMMUNITY SERVICE<br />
22 Law Foundati<strong>on</strong> Awards $5,000 Grant<br />
34 VLSP Partnership Helps Protect Juvenile Records<br />
SECTION & AFFILIATE NEWS<br />
28 <strong>Bar</strong>risters’ Club Update<br />
DEPARTMENTS<br />
2 Editor’s Message<br />
4 President’s Message<br />
12 Law Library News<br />
13 Surfing from River City<br />
<strong>Sacramento</strong> Lawyer welcomes letters and article suggesti<strong>on</strong>s from readers. Please e-mail them to editor@sacbar.org. The <strong>Sacramento</strong> <strong>County</strong> <strong>Bar</strong> Associati<strong>on</strong> reserves the right to edit<br />
articles and letters sent in for publicati<strong>on</strong>. Please c<strong>on</strong>tact <strong>SCBA</strong> 916-564-3780 x200 for deadline informati<strong>on</strong>, fax 916-564-3737, or e-mail recepti<strong>on</strong>@sacbar.org. Web page: www.sacbar.org.<br />
Caveat: Articles and other work submitted to <strong>Sacramento</strong> Lawyer become the copyrighted property of the <strong>Sacramento</strong> <strong>County</strong> <strong>Bar</strong> Associati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
Returns of tangible items such as photographs are by permissi<strong>on</strong> of the Executive Director <strong>on</strong>ly, by pickup at the <strong>SCBA</strong> office <strong>on</strong>ly.<br />
Wiley Manuel <strong>Bar</strong> Associati<strong>on</strong><br />
Dale McKinney<br />
Women Lawyers of <strong>Sacramento</strong><br />
Jamie Errecart<br />
COMMITTEE / SECTION<br />
REPRESENTATIVES<br />
Lawyer Referral and Informati<strong>on</strong><br />
Service (LRIS)<br />
D<strong>on</strong> Hansen<br />
C<strong>on</strong>ference of Delegates<br />
Andi Liebenbaum<br />
Indigent Defense Panel (IDP)<br />
Kevin Adams<strong>on</strong><br />
Secti<strong>on</strong> Representative<br />
Daniel Yamsh<strong>on</strong><br />
Voluntary Legal Services<br />
Program (VLSP)<br />
Victoria Jacobs<br />
SECTIONS<br />
Administrative Law<br />
Tim Morgan<br />
Alternative Dispute Resoluti<strong>on</strong><br />
Ken Malovos<br />
31 Courhouse Steps<br />
35 Calendar<br />
35 Index to Advertisers<br />
Appellate Law<br />
Brend<strong>on</strong> Begley<br />
Bankruptcy &<br />
Commercial Law<br />
Kenrick Young<br />
Business Law<br />
B.J. Susich<br />
Children’s Counsel<br />
Diane Wasznicky<br />
Envir<strong>on</strong>mental Law<br />
Darcie Houck<br />
Family Law<br />
Jeff Posner<br />
Health Care<br />
Brian Taylor<br />
Intellectual Property<br />
Glen Gross<br />
Labor & Employment Law<br />
Kristy Seargeant<br />
Probate & Estate Planning<br />
Brian McClay<br />
Real Property<br />
Gregory Forest<br />
24<br />
18<br />
Tax Law<br />
Scott Balbreath<br />
Worker’s Compensati<strong>on</strong><br />
Adam Vogt<br />
COMMITTEES<br />
Bylaws<br />
BJ Susich<br />
C<strong>on</strong>tinuing Educati<strong>on</strong> of the <strong>Bar</strong><br />
Daniel Yamsh<strong>on</strong><br />
Diversity Hiring and Retenti<strong>on</strong><br />
Linda Partmann<br />
Electr<strong>on</strong>ic Media<br />
Coral Henning / Heather Hogans<strong>on</strong><br />
Fee Arbitrati<strong>on</strong><br />
Jan Karowsky<br />
Judicial Review<br />
Philip R. Birney<br />
Judiciary<br />
Diane W. Wasznicky<br />
L<strong>on</strong>g Range Planning<br />
Bunmi Aw<strong>on</strong>iyi<br />
Membership<br />
Heather Candy<br />
Pictorial Directory<br />
Herb Bolz and Tina Poley<br />
<strong>Sacramento</strong> Lawyer Policy<br />
Jack Laufenberg<br />
<strong>Sacramento</strong> Lawyer (USPS 0981-300) is<br />
published bi-m<strong>on</strong>thly by the <strong>Sacramento</strong><br />
<strong>County</strong> <strong>Bar</strong> Associati<strong>on</strong>, 1329 Howe Avenue,<br />
#100,<strong>Sacramento</strong>, CA 95825. Issn 1087-8771.<br />
Annual subscripti<strong>on</strong> rate: $6.00 included in<br />
membership dues, or $24.00 for n<strong>on</strong>members.<br />
Periodicals postage paid at <strong>Sacramento</strong>,<br />
California. Postmaster: Send address changes to<br />
<strong>Sacramento</strong> Lawyer, 1329 Howe Avenue, #100,<br />
<strong>Sacramento</strong>, CA 95825. Copyright 1999 by the<br />
<strong>Sacramento</strong> <strong>County</strong> <strong>Bar</strong> Associati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
Each author’s commentary reflects his/her<br />
individual opini<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong>ly and not that of<br />
his/her employer, organizati<strong>on</strong> with which<br />
he/she is affiliated, or <strong>Sacramento</strong> Lawyer<br />
magazine, unless otherwise stated.<br />
JULY/AUGUST 2011 SACRAMENTO LAWYER<br />
3
President's Message<br />
Senate Bill Would Change State<br />
<strong>Bar</strong> Governance Structure By Michael J. Levy<br />
According to the first report of<br />
the State <strong>Bar</strong>’s Governance in<br />
the Public Interest Task Force, Senate<br />
Bill 163 would reduce the number of<br />
attorneys <strong>on</strong> the State <strong>Bar</strong>’s Board of<br />
Governors and modify their selecti<strong>on</strong><br />
process. Seventeen lawyers serve <strong>on</strong><br />
the 23-member Board of Governors –<br />
the State <strong>Bar</strong> President, 15 lawyers<br />
elected from the nine State <strong>Bar</strong> districts<br />
from across the state and <strong>on</strong>e<br />
lawyer elected by the California<br />
Young Lawyers Associati<strong>on</strong>. Six public,<br />
n<strong>on</strong>-attorney members are<br />
appointed to the Board, four by the<br />
Governor and two by the State<br />
Legislature.<br />
4 SACRAMENTO LAWYER JULY/AUGUST 2011<br />
Under the bill, the board would be<br />
reduced from 23 to 19 members. The<br />
number of attorney members would<br />
be reduced from 17 to 13, while n<strong>on</strong>attorney<br />
members would remain at<br />
six. Of the 13 attorney-members, six<br />
would be elected from new State <strong>Bar</strong><br />
Districts based <strong>on</strong> the six court of<br />
appeal districts. The other seven<br />
would be appointed -- five by the<br />
Supreme Court and two by the State<br />
Legislature. Thus, the attorney to n<strong>on</strong>attorney<br />
ratio <strong>on</strong> the Board would be<br />
reduced from 3 to 1 to 2 to 1, while<br />
the number of political appointments<br />
would increase from six to eight.<br />
The Governance Task Force did<br />
not reach c<strong>on</strong>sensus <strong>on</strong> these issues.<br />
The majority recommended maintaining<br />
a 23-member board, but the<br />
Supreme Court would appoint three<br />
of the formerly-elected attorneys. The<br />
minority recommended reducing the<br />
board to 15 members, with all nine<br />
attorney members being selected by<br />
the Supreme Court. Both Task Force<br />
proposals would maintain the six<br />
public members.<br />
Changing the ratio of attorney to<br />
n<strong>on</strong>-attorney members should raise<br />
questi<strong>on</strong>s about the Board’s relative<br />
expertise in the practice of law. While<br />
public perspective is invaluable, the<br />
rules under which we operate are<br />
ABAS 23rd Annual Golf Invitati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
At TURKEY CREEK GOLF CLUB<br />
Sunday, September 11, 2011, 7:30 a.m. Shotgun Start<br />
$115 PER-GOLFER ENTRY FEE INCLUDES<br />
GREEN FEE, GOLF CART, RANGE BALLS, LUNCH, AWARDS<br />
Hole Sp<strong>on</strong>sorships: $155 (individuals), $260 (firms of 5 or more).<br />
Proceeds benefit: ABAS Law Foundati<strong>on</strong> Scholarship Fund<br />
Legal Services of Northern California summer law clerkships<br />
For entry form, sp<strong>on</strong>sorship and informati<strong>on</strong>, c<strong>on</strong>tact:<br />
Jerilyn Paik, Esq., Golf Committee Chair<br />
ABAS Law Foundati<strong>on</strong><br />
555 University Ave., Suite 235, <strong>Sacramento</strong>, CA 95825<br />
Teleph<strong>on</strong>e: 916.568.1222, Fax: 916.568.1881<br />
Golf@ABASLawFoundati<strong>on</strong>.org
often technical and nuanced. Indeed<br />
the very level of zeal with which we are<br />
duty-bound to advocate differs<br />
depending up<strong>on</strong> whether we are a<br />
prosecutor or defender, civil litigator<br />
or administrative attorney. The board<br />
as a whole must maintain the requisite<br />
Changing the<br />
balance of power<br />
<strong>on</strong> the board could<br />
affect everything<br />
from attorney<br />
discipline to the<br />
compositi<strong>on</strong> of the<br />
Judicial Nominees<br />
Evaluati<strong>on</strong><br />
Commissi<strong>on</strong>, and<br />
the level of<br />
influence that<br />
political pressures<br />
may be brought<br />
to bear <strong>on</strong><br />
these processes.<br />
understanding of our professi<strong>on</strong>al<br />
obligati<strong>on</strong>s in order to properly govern<br />
the legal professi<strong>on</strong>.<br />
Changing the ratio of attorneys<br />
selected by lawyers and the Judiciary,<br />
versus by the Governor and<br />
Legislature should raise separati<strong>on</strong> of<br />
powers c<strong>on</strong>cerns. Unlike other occupati<strong>on</strong>s,<br />
the legal professi<strong>on</strong> is an integral<br />
part of the state’s judiciary. “In<br />
California, the power to regulate the<br />
practice of law, including the power to<br />
admit and to discipline attorneys, has<br />
l<strong>on</strong>g been recognized to be am<strong>on</strong>g the<br />
inherent powers of the article VI<br />
courts.… This is necessarily so. An<br />
attorney is an officer of the court and<br />
whether a pers<strong>on</strong> shall be admitted or<br />
disciplined is a judicial questi<strong>on</strong>.” (In<br />
re Attorney Discipline System (1988) 19<br />
Cal.4th 582, 592.) Changing the balance<br />
of power <strong>on</strong> the board could<br />
affect everything from attorney discipline<br />
to the compositi<strong>on</strong> of the<br />
Judicial Nominees Evaluati<strong>on</strong><br />
Commissi<strong>on</strong>, and the level of influence<br />
that political pressures may be<br />
brought to bear <strong>on</strong> these processes. It<br />
is not clear that these c<strong>on</strong>sequences<br />
have been fully evaluated.<br />
Missing from all of this debate<br />
about governance structure is the Task<br />
Force’s statutory missi<strong>on</strong>: How does<br />
changing the compositi<strong>on</strong> and selecti<strong>on</strong><br />
of the Board of Governors help in<br />
“ensuring that protecti<strong>on</strong> of the public is<br />
the highest priority in the licensing, regulati<strong>on</strong>,<br />
and discipline of attorneys”? (See<br />
Bus. & Prof. Code § 6001.2.) Other<br />
than a couple of anecdotes over the<br />
last five years, no <strong>on</strong>e can seem to<br />
identify where the Board of Governors<br />
has failed in its business or operati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
to maintain the public protecti<strong>on</strong>, or<br />
how these changes will improve it.<br />
The <strong>Sacramento</strong> <strong>County</strong> <strong>Bar</strong><br />
Associati<strong>on</strong> is establishing its own<br />
Governance Committee. Its charge<br />
will include m<strong>on</strong>itoring the Task<br />
Force’s activities, undertaking its own<br />
research <strong>on</strong> improving attorney governance,<br />
and helping the Sac <strong>Bar</strong> ensure<br />
that Task Force recommendati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
remain cognizant of the need to maintain<br />
an independent Judiciary in order<br />
to supervise a legal professi<strong>on</strong> that can<br />
remain true to its ultimate duties of<br />
public protecti<strong>on</strong>.<br />
Enjoy your summer!<br />
Michael J. levy<br />
JULY/AUGUST 2011 SACRAMENTO LAWYER<br />
5
6 SACRAMENTO LAWYER JULY/AUGUST 2011
Governor Jerry Brown’s proposed<br />
“realignment” of state<br />
and local resp<strong>on</strong>sibilities for lowlevel<br />
fel<strong>on</strong>s (n<strong>on</strong>-violent, n<strong>on</strong>-sex<br />
offense and n<strong>on</strong>-Three Strike cases)<br />
is a creative plan, reflecting the<br />
Governor’s flair for thinking outside<br />
the bureaucratic box. If adequately<br />
funded, the realignment could significantly<br />
improve California’s criminal<br />
justice system by providing effective<br />
community sentencing opti<strong>on</strong>s to<br />
reduce both recidivism and needless<br />
pris<strong>on</strong> commitments.<br />
However, the realignment currently<br />
proposes to put courts in the business<br />
of c<strong>on</strong>ducting parole hearings.<br />
This would mean increased state costs<br />
and a heavy draw against already<br />
insufficient judicial resources. The<br />
court’s central resp<strong>on</strong>sibility – trying<br />
cases – would suffer. Civil litigants in<br />
particular would feel this impact.<br />
Part of the still gestating 2011-<br />
2012 Budget, the realignment legislati<strong>on</strong><br />
(AB 109; Stats. 2011, c. 15),<br />
declares:<br />
Criminal justice policies that rely<br />
<strong>on</strong> building and operating more pris<strong>on</strong>s<br />
to address community safety c<strong>on</strong>cerns<br />
are not sustainable, and will not<br />
result in improved public safety.<br />
California must reinvest its criminal<br />
justice resources to support community-based<br />
correcti<strong>on</strong>s programs and<br />
evidence-based practice that will<br />
achieve improved public safety<br />
returns <strong>on</strong> this state’s substantial<br />
investment in its criminal justice system.<br />
(Pen. Code § 17.5.)<br />
In short, the Governor proposes<br />
greater use of community sentencing<br />
opti<strong>on</strong>s proven effective in reducing<br />
Court News<br />
UPDATES FROM THE PJ: Criminal Justice<br />
Realignment: Good News and Bad (A Political Commentary)<br />
By Judge Steve White, Presiding Judge<br />
of the <strong>Sacramento</strong> <strong>County</strong> Superior Court.<br />
recidivism for low-level offenders,<br />
instead of costly pris<strong>on</strong> commitments.<br />
The Community Correcti<strong>on</strong>s<br />
Partnership (Pen. Code § 1238 et seq.)<br />
would thus provide state funding to<br />
Criminal justice<br />
policies that rely<br />
<strong>on</strong> building and<br />
operating more<br />
pris<strong>on</strong>s to address<br />
community safety<br />
c<strong>on</strong>cerns are not<br />
sustainable, and<br />
will not result<br />
in improved<br />
public safety.<br />
local probati<strong>on</strong> departments for<br />
greater use of “evidence-based” programs<br />
– programs dem<strong>on</strong>strated to<br />
reduce recidivism when ordered based<br />
up<strong>on</strong> an assessment of each offender.<br />
This would be very important for<br />
<strong>Sacramento</strong> <strong>County</strong>, where the Board<br />
of Supervisors has drastically cut funding<br />
for probati<strong>on</strong> supervisi<strong>on</strong>.<br />
<strong>Sacramento</strong> <strong>County</strong>’s Chief<br />
Probati<strong>on</strong> Officer recently advised the<br />
court that these cuts prevent probati<strong>on</strong><br />
from performing its statutory duties.<br />
Nearly 25,000 offenders currently <strong>on</strong><br />
probati<strong>on</strong> in <strong>Sacramento</strong> <strong>County</strong> are<br />
unsupervised. No <strong>on</strong>e is m<strong>on</strong>itoring<br />
them to assure compliance with court-<br />
ordered c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s of probati<strong>on</strong>: no<br />
visits by probati<strong>on</strong> officers, no searches,<br />
and no drug tests. The <strong>Sacramento</strong><br />
<strong>County</strong> Grand Jury c<strong>on</strong>cluded that<br />
these budget cuts have “devastated”<br />
<strong>Sacramento</strong>’s probati<strong>on</strong> department,<br />
leaving 96 percent of adult probati<strong>on</strong>ers<br />
and 86 percent of juvenile offenders<br />
in our county unsupervised.<br />
The Board of Supervisors’ decisi<strong>on</strong><br />
to virtually eliminate probati<strong>on</strong> supervisi<strong>on</strong><br />
in <strong>Sacramento</strong> <strong>County</strong> severely<br />
limits the court’s sentencing opti<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
Assume the court is sentencing a<br />
young pers<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>victed of a residential<br />
burglary committed to support a serious<br />
drug habit. The court has two<br />
choices: grant probati<strong>on</strong> with no<br />
supervisi<strong>on</strong>, or send the defendant to<br />
pris<strong>on</strong> where he will receive no drug<br />
treatment or job training. Neither<br />
opti<strong>on</strong> protects the public’s safety, or<br />
efficiently uses taxpayer dollars.<br />
By funding community correcti<strong>on</strong>s<br />
programs successful in addressing<br />
substance abuse and antisocial<br />
behavior, the Community Correcti<strong>on</strong>s<br />
Partnership will provide courts more<br />
and better opti<strong>on</strong>s which should<br />
reduce recidivism and save taxpayers<br />
milli<strong>on</strong>s of dollars. That is the<br />
good news.<br />
Unfortunately, as part of shifting<br />
low-level fel<strong>on</strong>ies to community programs,<br />
the realignment also proposes<br />
that courts become the new “parole<br />
authority,” resp<strong>on</strong>sible for c<strong>on</strong>ducting<br />
parole revocati<strong>on</strong> hearings, determining<br />
discharge from parole, issuing<br />
warrants for parole violati<strong>on</strong>s, modifying<br />
c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s of parole and even<br />
hearing challenges to denial of good<br />
C<strong>on</strong>tinued <strong>on</strong> page 13<br />
JULY/AUGUST 2011 SACRAMENTO LAWYER<br />
7
ourt reporting is not for the faint of heart. It<br />
requires a unique skill, <strong>on</strong>e which reporters<br />
describe as the ability to tune their brains and ears, in<br />
coordinati<strong>on</strong> with their hands, to a frequency that<br />
enhances and records the myriad of voices in a courtroom.<br />
To secure state certificati<strong>on</strong>, each has to report at the minimum<br />
rate of 200 words per minute. <strong>Sacramento</strong> <strong>County</strong><br />
Superior Court reporters have clocked transcripti<strong>on</strong>s in<br />
excess of 340 words or more per minute. The later rates<br />
come with a number of problems, including the potential<br />
for dropped words or incorrect phrasing, as well as<br />
exhausti<strong>on</strong> and the need for more breaks. As you might<br />
imagine, at the top of the list of a court reporter’s pet<br />
peeves are the attorneys and witnesses who are speed talkers,<br />
particularly those for whom the words “slow down”<br />
has no meaning. They are followed by the gum chewers,<br />
pen clickers, those who mumble, and the attorneys who<br />
hover dangerously close to their stenowriters.<br />
“I have literally been …spit <strong>on</strong>, had my glasses<br />
knocked off, stepped or fallen <strong>on</strong>, elbowed in the<br />
back of the head, almost hit with a baseball bat<br />
during a dem<strong>on</strong>strati<strong>on</strong> and harpo<strong>on</strong>ed by a pointer<br />
stick when pregnant, and got a paper cut <strong>on</strong> my<br />
nose by an attorney handing a witness a document…”<br />
Kathy Ennis, Dept. 10<br />
I recently sat with three of the <strong>Sacramento</strong> <strong>County</strong>’s<br />
reporters as they collectively shared their stories <strong>on</strong> attorneys<br />
and the importance of making a good record.<br />
Collectively, they have over 50 years of experience reporting<br />
and preparing appellate transcripts <strong>on</strong> everything from<br />
auto accidents to death penalty cases. They have seen<br />
thousands of attorneys in acti<strong>on</strong>. Space does not permit<br />
sharing all of our c<strong>on</strong>versati<strong>on</strong>. One thing they all emphasize<br />
is keeping a safe distance from them during trial.<br />
Attorneys apparently forget where the court reporter is in<br />
the room and, <strong>on</strong> occasi<strong>on</strong>, reporters have had their glasses<br />
knocked off, their $5,000 machines knocked over, evidence<br />
spewed <strong>on</strong> them, and been hit with flying parts of<br />
exhibits. At a minimum, the equipment surrounding each<br />
reporter represents a pers<strong>on</strong>al $10,000 investment that<br />
they are understandably protective of. Here are some additi<strong>on</strong>al<br />
highlights of the c<strong>on</strong>versati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
Litigati<strong>on</strong><br />
VIEW FROM THE CIVIL TRIAL BENCH:<br />
“D<strong>on</strong>’t Spit <strong>on</strong> Me” and Other Words of<br />
Wisdom from 50 Years of Court Reporting By Judge Judy<br />
Holzer Hersher<br />
C<br />
This article represents the thoughts and opini<strong>on</strong>s of the author and should not be c<strong>on</strong>sidered court policy<br />
or the opini<strong>on</strong> of other trial judges. Comments should be addressed to hershej@saccourt.ca.gov<br />
8 SACRAMENTO LAWYER JULY/AUGUST 2011<br />
THE BASICS<br />
Attorneys should better prepare their witnesses about<br />
the importance of an accurate record. They should<br />
impress up<strong>on</strong> them, and practice if necessary, the need to<br />
speak loud enough to be heard and slow enough to be<br />
understood. It looks better to the jury if the attorney c<strong>on</strong>trols<br />
the pace of testim<strong>on</strong>y, adm<strong>on</strong>ishing his or her own<br />
witnesses to slow down or speak up, rather than the court<br />
reporter or the judge. Frequent interrupti<strong>on</strong>s by the latter<br />
impact the flow of the testim<strong>on</strong>y and may reflect poorly<br />
<strong>on</strong> both the witness and the attorney.<br />
During trial, attorneys often turn to the court<br />
reporter and direct him or her to read the witness’s<br />
answer or his/her questi<strong>on</strong> back. D<strong>on</strong>’t be surprised if<br />
you are ignored, they say. The court reporter is trained<br />
not to read back unless and until the judge requests it. A<br />
trial is not a depositi<strong>on</strong> and the court reporter <strong>on</strong>ly takes<br />
directi<strong>on</strong> from the court, even when the reporter’s time is<br />
charged to the parties in a civil trial. Adm<strong>on</strong>ishing the<br />
attorney regarding this may leave the impressi<strong>on</strong> that the<br />
attorney is ignorant of trial procedures or is being disrespectful<br />
of the court.<br />
Although self-evident, it is often forgotten. Attorneys<br />
should place themselves physically in the courtroom in<br />
such a way that they are not speaking with their back to<br />
the court reporter and the jury, both of which impact<br />
the accuracy of the record and what people in the courtroom<br />
hear and, truth be known, jurors’ impressi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
about them.<br />
They also advise that the typical record does not<br />
require a court reporter to prepare a word index, a c<strong>on</strong>cordance,<br />
and/or to provide a searchable disk. All these<br />
things are doable, but they require advance notice to the<br />
court reporter and usually an additi<strong>on</strong>al charge. Each of<br />
the reporters indicated that if, for example in a civil<br />
case, there is a word index already prepared from depositi<strong>on</strong>s,<br />
sharing those indexes at the beginning of the trial<br />
will allow the reporter to immediately build a word dicti<strong>on</strong>ary<br />
and trial index, making the record all the more<br />
useful to the attorneys during the trial and after.<br />
JURY SELECTION AND THE<br />
IMPORTANCE OF NUMBERS<br />
When attorneys pose a general questi<strong>on</strong> to a group of
jurors during voir dire, they often point to a juror to further<br />
c<strong>on</strong>verse without identifying the pers<strong>on</strong>. This leaves the<br />
record with an unidentified resp<strong>on</strong>ding juror. To the extent<br />
the answer might be important <strong>on</strong> appeal, there is an inadequate<br />
record to identify the pers<strong>on</strong>. The obvious recommendati<strong>on</strong><br />
is to identify any juror who resp<strong>on</strong>ds to a global<br />
questi<strong>on</strong> by name or number, and to remember to do so<br />
every time.<br />
A lot of numbers get discussed at trial, and different<br />
attorneys and witnesses mean different things when they<br />
use different phrases to identify them. For example, the<br />
phrase “twelve fifty” has been used to mean $12.50, 1,250,<br />
and/or 12,050. Street slang, as well as comm<strong>on</strong> usage<br />
often plays a role in how people express numbers. The<br />
recommendati<strong>on</strong> is to be clear when stating numbers. For<br />
example, rather than twelve fifty, say ‘twelve dollars and<br />
fifty cents.’ Clarity is particularly important during readback<br />
when jurors are c<strong>on</strong>sidering damages or the value of<br />
drugs or stolen items.<br />
DEFICIENT ORAL DESCRIPTIONS<br />
When an attorney or a witness refers to a chart or photograph,<br />
they often point to it while talking, i.e., “the<br />
defendant was standing here,” or “the impact occurred<br />
there.” This appears in the record parenthetically by the<br />
notati<strong>on</strong> “witness indicating.” “Here” and “there” means<br />
nothing <strong>on</strong> a cold written record and gives opposing counsel,<br />
jurors and others free reign to engage in subjective recollecti<strong>on</strong><br />
at read back and <strong>on</strong> appeal. It is the attorney’s job<br />
to provide an accurate and detailed oral descripti<strong>on</strong> for the<br />
record. D<strong>on</strong>’t wait for the court reporter or the judge to<br />
ask for an oral descripti<strong>on</strong> to remedy the deficiency, as it<br />
might never come.<br />
Just as importantly, with the increased use of Power<br />
Point and other types of sound or picture technology, attorneys<br />
have gotten lax in making an adequate record as to<br />
what is being shown to the jury. Making a good verbal<br />
record of the evidence is as important to the record in a case<br />
as bullet points shown <strong>on</strong> a screen are to a closing argument,<br />
they offer.<br />
THE EMOTIONAL WITNESS OR THE<br />
WITNESS FOR WHOM ENGLISH IS NOT<br />
THEIR FIRST LANGUAGE<br />
It is difficult to report a witness who is emoti<strong>on</strong>al. Often<br />
their answers to counsel’s questi<strong>on</strong>s are hard to understand<br />
JULY/AUGUST 2011 SACRAMENTO LAWYER<br />
9
and can be misinterpreted. The same is true for a witness<br />
whose first language is not English. The court reporters<br />
suggest either that they ask their witness to repeat their<br />
answer, or ask them if they understood him or her to say<br />
“x”, so that the record is clear.<br />
QUOTING FROM DEPOSITIONS OR<br />
DOCUMENTS AND PROBLEM PRONOUNS<br />
While the rules in this area to help insure an adequate<br />
record seem obvious, they are often not followed. If, as an<br />
attorney, you are going to read porti<strong>on</strong>s from a depositi<strong>on</strong>,<br />
you should identify where the questi<strong>on</strong> starts and stops,<br />
and where the answer starts and stops. This should be d<strong>on</strong>e<br />
by stating “questi<strong>on</strong>” before reading the questi<strong>on</strong>, followed<br />
by stating “answer” before reading the answer. Otherwise,<br />
it is hard for the court reporter to know where <strong>on</strong>e begins<br />
and the other ends. Similarly, if an attorney is quoting from<br />
a document, it is important to make sure that he or she orally<br />
states where the quotati<strong>on</strong> begins and ends.<br />
The use of “he”, “she” and “they” can create a c<strong>on</strong>fusing<br />
record at best. Sometimes it is not clear, given the questi<strong>on</strong>ing,<br />
which ‘he’ or ‘she’ you are referring to. The reporters<br />
For more<br />
informati<strong>on</strong><br />
visit:<br />
www.sacbar.org<br />
10 SACRAMENTO LAWYER JULY/AUGUST 2011<br />
Litigati<strong>on</strong><br />
suggest that you get in the habit of asking the questi<strong>on</strong><br />
using the pers<strong>on</strong>’s name. It may seem obvious to the attorney<br />
that “he” or “she” refers to the pers<strong>on</strong> most immediately<br />
discussed. However, days or m<strong>on</strong>ths later, when the testim<strong>on</strong>y<br />
is read back in the jury room or <strong>on</strong> appeal, it may<br />
not be so obvious to the listener or reader.<br />
Fast-talking witnesses, late nights, daily transcripts<br />
and l<strong>on</strong>g trials, followed by more fast-talking<br />
witnesses and successive trials and inc<strong>on</strong>siderate<br />
trial attorneys, makes for a high-stress envir<strong>on</strong>ment.<br />
D<strong>on</strong>’t add to it, if you can avoid it.<br />
Michelle Madrid, Dept. 45<br />
DAILY AND APPELLATE<br />
RECORD PREPARATION<br />
When attorneys advise court reporters that they are going<br />
to require daily transcripts, at a minimum two court reporters<br />
are assigned to the trial. Typically, a lead reporter is established<br />
and that pers<strong>on</strong> communicates with all other reporters regarding<br />
the product, timelines and whether extensi<strong>on</strong>s will be filed<br />
with the appropriate Court of Appeal, should it come to that.<br />
This means a lot of late nights and early mornings during trial<br />
for each of the reporters, as they switch out during the day, and<br />
prepare the record for the following <strong>on</strong>e. A day’s worth of court<br />
proceedings typically results in 200 pages of transcript. That<br />
means each reporter is resp<strong>on</strong>sible for approximately 100<br />
pages turned around in less than 24 hours. In additi<strong>on</strong> to<br />
working <strong>on</strong> their own transcripts, the reporters have to work<br />
together, c<strong>on</strong>ferencing each evening regarding terminology,<br />
proper spellings, identificati<strong>on</strong> of exhibits, indexing, paginati<strong>on</strong>,<br />
the number of copies to be printed, the collati<strong>on</strong> and<br />
binding of the transcript, and so <strong>on</strong>. This is particularly challenging,<br />
especially when it comes to putting together the<br />
record for a court of appeal. In l<strong>on</strong>ger trials, it is not uncomm<strong>on</strong><br />
to have upwards of ten reporters working together.<br />
When a trial is over, and the attorney signals there will be<br />
an appeal, court reporters have a short window within which<br />
to prepare the transcript, unless granted an extensi<strong>on</strong> by the<br />
Court of Appeals, while they otherwise c<strong>on</strong>tinue their work<br />
during regular hours <strong>on</strong> the next trial or trials. 1 This is true,<br />
regardless of the length of the trial, i.e., whether it is 5 or 150<br />
days. Fast- talking witnesses, late nights, daily transcripts<br />
and l<strong>on</strong>g trials, followed by more fast-talking witnesses and<br />
successive trials and inc<strong>on</strong>siderate trial attorneys, makes for a<br />
high-stress envir<strong>on</strong>ment. (See, e.g., Malick v. C<strong>on</strong>tra Costa<br />
<strong>County</strong> Flood C<strong>on</strong>trol and Water C<strong>on</strong>servati<strong>on</strong> District (1982)<br />
131 Cal.App. 3d 50, for an example of the time pressures <strong>on</strong><br />
court reporters.) Their final recommendati<strong>on</strong> is d<strong>on</strong>’t add to<br />
it, if you can avoid it.<br />
1. Typically, criminal appeals are due 20 days after verdict and judgment,<br />
while civil transcripts are due in 30 days. Extensi<strong>on</strong>s of time ar e<br />
granted by the Courts of Appeal in those same equal increments
Main Library<br />
813 Sixth Street, First Floor<br />
<strong>Sacramento</strong>, CA 95814-2403<br />
916-874-6011<br />
www.saclaw.org<br />
www.facebook/saclawlib<br />
www.twitter/saclawlibrarian<br />
NEW ACQUISITIONS<br />
ERISA and Employee Benefit Law:<br />
The Essentials<br />
American <strong>Bar</strong> Associati<strong>on</strong><br />
KF3512 .P66 2010<br />
Legal Guide for the Visual Artist<br />
Allworth Press<br />
KF390.A7 C73 2010<br />
12 SACRAMENTO LAWYER JULY/AUGUST 2011<br />
Law Library News<br />
Robyn M. Moltzen, Public Services Librarian, <strong>Sacramento</strong> <strong>County</strong> Public Law Library<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Spotlight</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> the<br />
Collecti<strong>on</strong>: Educati<strong>on</strong><br />
& School Law<br />
The <strong>Sacramento</strong> <strong>County</strong> Public<br />
Law Library recently updated and<br />
added many new educati<strong>on</strong> and<br />
school law titles to its collecti<strong>on</strong>.<br />
Check out a few of these titles.<br />
California School Law.<br />
By Frank Kemerer. (KFC 648.K45)<br />
Published by Stanford Law Books<br />
California School Law is a comprehensive<br />
source discussing how federal and<br />
state law affects the day-to-day operati<strong>on</strong><br />
of the state's traditi<strong>on</strong>al public,<br />
charter, and private schools.<br />
College and School Law: Analysis,<br />
Preventi<strong>on</strong>, and Forms.<br />
By Michael Prairie and Timothy<br />
Garfield. (KF 4225.P73)<br />
College and School Law provides a comprehensive<br />
and comprehensible framework<br />
for managing risk in the real work<br />
of educati<strong>on</strong>al administrati<strong>on</strong>. The<br />
authors provide step-by-step guidance <strong>on</strong><br />
how to understand the basic elements of<br />
the relevant law, anticipate legal problems<br />
before they arise, draft effective policies,<br />
<strong>Sacramento</strong> <strong>County</strong> Public<br />
Law Library News<br />
procedures and c<strong>on</strong>tracts to promote <strong>on</strong>campus<br />
dispute resoluti<strong>on</strong>s, and more.<br />
Federal Educati<strong>on</strong> Laws and<br />
Regulati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> CD-ROM.<br />
By LexisNexis. (KF 4105.99 .F43)<br />
This CD-ROM, which is fully searchable,<br />
gives you access to all the statutes<br />
in Title 20 of the USCS and all federal<br />
regulati<strong>on</strong>s from Title 34 of CFR. Also<br />
included is a cross-reference table linking<br />
related USCS and CFR material.<br />
School Law and the Public Schools:<br />
A Practical Guide for Educati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
Leaders.<br />
By Nathan L. Essex. (KF 4119. E84)<br />
School Law and the Public Schools is a<br />
practical, easy to read, comprehensive<br />
guide to the legal issues facing public<br />
schools in the U.S. today. An essential<br />
reference for all teachers, educati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
leaders, and policymakers at all levels.<br />
The book is organized and written in a<br />
style that is accessible to all -- even<br />
those with little or no knowledge of<br />
the legal issues in educati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
School Law Handbook.<br />
By Vicki M. Pitasky. (KF 4118.P58)<br />
Find Info Like a Pro:<br />
Mining the Internet’s Publicly Available<br />
Resources for Investigative Research<br />
American <strong>Bar</strong> Associati<strong>on</strong><br />
KF242.A1 L4785 2010<br />
The Caregiver’s Path to<br />
Compassi<strong>on</strong>ate Decisi<strong>on</strong> Making:<br />
Making Choices for Those Who Can’t<br />
Greenleaf Book Group Press<br />
KF3827.I5 K55 2010<br />
The Hidden History of Essex Law School<br />
Trafford Publishing<br />
KF 270.E8 B36 2010<br />
The Lawyer’s Guide to<br />
Working Smarter with Knowledge Tools<br />
American <strong>Bar</strong> Associati<strong>on</strong><br />
KF320.A9 L38 2010<br />
This title provides a complete study of<br />
major legal issues and laws affecting<br />
elementary and sec<strong>on</strong>dary students,<br />
schools, teachers, school administrators<br />
and staff. It includes helpful commentary<br />
and summaries of judicial<br />
decisi<strong>on</strong>s, al<strong>on</strong>g with informati<strong>on</strong><br />
about the litigati<strong>on</strong>, the case outcomes<br />
and the courts' reas<strong>on</strong>ing<br />
behind the decisi<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
Special Educati<strong>on</strong> Law.<br />
By Laura F. Rothstein and Scott F.<br />
Johns<strong>on</strong>. ( KF 4210.R68)<br />
Special Educati<strong>on</strong> Law provides a comprehensive<br />
and current overview of the<br />
major federal laws that apply to the<br />
educati<strong>on</strong> of children with disabilities.<br />
The Law of Schools, Students, and<br />
Teachers in a Nutshell.<br />
By Kern Alexander. (KF 4119.85 .A43)<br />
Laws governing schools, students, and<br />
teachers are developed to protect the<br />
individuals involved in educati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
This title deals with many student<br />
issues, such as attendance, due<br />
process rights, freedom of speech,<br />
search and seizure, discriminati<strong>on</strong>,<br />
discipline, and testing. It also<br />
addresses religi<strong>on</strong> and employment<br />
terms and c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s for teachers,<br />
al<strong>on</strong>g with their c<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al rights.<br />
What Do I Do When: The Answer<br />
Book <strong>on</strong> Special Educati<strong>on</strong> Practice<br />
and Procedure.<br />
By Steven Lake. (KF 4209.3 .L35)<br />
The IDEA imposes rigid timelines and<br />
procedures and a school district’s failure<br />
to comply could lead to due process<br />
complaints, dismissal of existing acti<strong>on</strong>s<br />
or even denial of FAPE. In hundreds of<br />
plain-language questi<strong>on</strong>s and answers,<br />
The Answer Book <strong>on</strong> Special Educati<strong>on</strong><br />
Practice and Procedure deciphers the<br />
complicated procedural requirements<br />
that districts must follow.
Surfing From River City –<br />
Catch a Performance!<br />
In April 2011, the <strong>Sacramento</strong> City Council<br />
unanimously decided to loan $300,000 to the<br />
struggling California Musical Theatre to help<br />
it stay afloat. As members of this community,<br />
we can support the local theaters by attending<br />
their outstanding performances. Here are<br />
some links to local theaters that could use<br />
your support!<br />
B Street Theatre<br />
http://www.bstreettheatre.org/<br />
B Street Theatre c<strong>on</strong>tinues to keep critics raving<br />
and audiences coming back for c<strong>on</strong>temporary<br />
producti<strong>on</strong>s ranging from popular<br />
classics to first time debuts. Check its website<br />
for ticket prices and to see shows for the<br />
upcoming seas<strong>on</strong>.<br />
Capital Stage<br />
http://www.capstage.org/index.html<br />
Capital Stage c<strong>on</strong>tinues the commitment of<br />
bringing the hottest new plays and playwrights<br />
to the <strong>Sacramento</strong> regi<strong>on</strong>. “Every<br />
Christmas Story Ever Told (and then some!)”<br />
and “It’s A W<strong>on</strong>derful Life: A Live Radio Play”<br />
will be showing during the holiday seas<strong>on</strong>.<br />
Celebrati<strong>on</strong> Arts<br />
http://celebrati<strong>on</strong>arts.net/index.html<br />
Celebrati<strong>on</strong> Arts is a multicultural, multidiscipline<br />
performing arts organizati<strong>on</strong> known for<br />
developing raw talent and presenting fine<br />
Updates from the PJ -<br />
c<strong>on</strong>tinued from page 7<br />
time credits. (Pen. Code §§ 3000,<br />
3000.01, 3000.08, 300.09 and 2932.)<br />
Will this advance the Governor’s<br />
objective? Not likely.<br />
First, parole is a functi<strong>on</strong> of the executive<br />
branch, not the courts. As the<br />
United States Supreme Court observed,<br />
parole is an “integral part of the penological<br />
system” and thus traditi<strong>on</strong>ally handled<br />
by administrative officers. (Morrissey<br />
v. Brewer (1972) 408 U.S. 471.)<br />
Sec<strong>on</strong>d, AB 109 provides no funding<br />
for the increased workload courts<br />
are to assume. Courts already desperately<br />
need additi<strong>on</strong>al judges and<br />
resources to properly handle present<br />
workloads. In <strong>Sacramento</strong> <strong>County</strong>, lit-<br />
Compiled by Robyn M. Moltzen, Public Services Librarian, <strong>Sacramento</strong> <strong>County</strong> Public Law Library<br />
quality producti<strong>on</strong>s. Check its website for<br />
ticket prices and to see shows for the upcoming<br />
seas<strong>on</strong>.<br />
Community Center Theater<br />
http://www.sacramentoc<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>center.com/venues/communityCenterTheat<br />
er/<br />
The Community Center Theater is home to<br />
the seas<strong>on</strong> producti<strong>on</strong>s of Broadway<br />
<strong>Sacramento</strong>, The <strong>Sacramento</strong> Ballet,<br />
<strong>Sacramento</strong> Opera, <strong>Sacramento</strong> Philharm<strong>on</strong>ic,<br />
<strong>Sacramento</strong> Community C<strong>on</strong>certs and<br />
<strong>Sacramento</strong> Speakers Series. Upcoming theater<br />
producti<strong>on</strong>s include “Shrek the Musical,”<br />
“Westside Story,” and “Mamma Mia!”.<br />
Music Circus at the Wells Fargo<br />
Pavili<strong>on</strong><br />
http://calmt.com/index.cfm?page=1138<br />
200<br />
The upcoming seven-show seas<strong>on</strong> will include<br />
the Music Circus premiere of the Broadway<br />
musical blockbuster “Miss Saig<strong>on</strong>” and the<br />
return of five music-theatre classics never<br />
before produced in the nine-year history of<br />
the Wells Fargo Pavili<strong>on</strong>, including: “Oliver!,”<br />
“Anything Goes,” “Camelot,” “Annie Get<br />
Your Gun,” and “I Do! I Do!”.<br />
igants wait up to three hours to file<br />
papers in our Family Law Court; we are<br />
four m<strong>on</strong>ths behind in setting demurrers<br />
and moti<strong>on</strong>s for summary judgment;<br />
and callers inquiring about traffic<br />
citati<strong>on</strong>s are kept <strong>on</strong> hold an average of<br />
14 minutes waiting to talk to a clerk.<br />
The Administrative Office of the<br />
Courts projects up to 38,000 new judicial<br />
hearings per year if courts become<br />
the state’s “parole authority.” The AOC<br />
estimates this will require 85 to 122<br />
new judgeships statewide, costing up<br />
to $354 milli<strong>on</strong> the first year al<strong>on</strong>e.<br />
Finally, a parolee is entitled to a<br />
hearing offering basic due process protecti<strong>on</strong>s,<br />
but not the full panoply of<br />
rights associated with a criminal prosecuti<strong>on</strong>.<br />
(Morrissey v. Brewer, supra, 408<br />
U.S. at 489.) The Board of Parole<br />
Roseville Theatre Arts Academy<br />
http://www.rosevilletheatreartsacademy.co<br />
m/<br />
The Roseville Theatre Academy features The<br />
Treehouse Players, who dedicate themselves to<br />
providing shows that are enjoyable for the<br />
entire family. They take classic fairytales, new<br />
and original fairytales, and favorite storybook<br />
tales and perform them with their own comedic<br />
twist. They just wrapped up producti<strong>on</strong> of “A<br />
Tale of Sleeping Beauty.” These shows are perfect<br />
for ages 3 to 103!<br />
Sutter Street Theatre<br />
http://www.sutterstreettheatre.com/stag<br />
e9/default.php<br />
The Sutter Street Theatre has a history of presenting<br />
whole seas<strong>on</strong>s of award winning comedies,<br />
musicals, and young people's theatre.<br />
“Cabaret” and “Witness for the Prosecuti<strong>on</strong>” are<br />
but a part of the upcoming off-Broadway series.<br />
Woodland Opera House<br />
http://thewoodlandoperahouse.art.office<br />
live.com/default.aspx<br />
The Woodland Opera House provides a variety<br />
of producti<strong>on</strong>s such as its Theatre for Families<br />
series, which includes “The Canterville Ghost,”<br />
“Schoolhouse Rock Live,” and “Go Dog Go”.<br />
Other upcoming producti<strong>on</strong>s include “Irving<br />
Berlins White Christmas” and Rodgers &<br />
Hammerstein’s “South Pacific”.<br />
Hearings c<strong>on</strong>ducts parole revocati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
as administrative hearings, using civil<br />
service hearing officers. It makes no<br />
sense to replace these summary<br />
administrative proceedings with court<br />
hearings in the name of reducing<br />
costs. Instead, costs will soar.<br />
There is much to commend<br />
Governor’s Brown’s proposal to<br />
realign state and local resp<strong>on</strong>sibilities<br />
for low-level fel<strong>on</strong>s. Providing<br />
increased local sentencing opti<strong>on</strong>s is a<br />
good idea, particularly for<br />
<strong>Sacramento</strong> <strong>County</strong> where the probati<strong>on</strong><br />
department has been decimated.<br />
But shifting parole resp<strong>on</strong>sibilities to<br />
the courts has no upside, will needlessly<br />
increase taxpayer costs, and<br />
could all but close the courthouse to<br />
civil litigants.<br />
JULY/AUGUST 2011 SACRAMENTO LAWYER<br />
13
The Beginning: In 2008, a group of local<br />
judges, attorneys, and law students,<br />
with the initial guidance and directi<strong>on</strong> of<br />
Judge Judy H. Hersher, c<strong>on</strong>vened to c<strong>on</strong>sider<br />
the formati<strong>on</strong> of California’s first Jewish-<br />
American bar associati<strong>on</strong>. In these initial<br />
meetings, these future members (and now<br />
founders) discussed the goals of an organizati<strong>on</strong><br />
that included mentoring young attorneys,<br />
encouraging applicati<strong>on</strong>s to the bench, serving<br />
as an educati<strong>on</strong>al forum, and networking in<br />
both business and social settings. These<br />
founders identified the missi<strong>on</strong> that drives the<br />
associati<strong>on</strong> today: to serve as an educati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
resource, voice and forum for Jewish attorneys<br />
and judges <strong>on</strong> issues relating to the practice of<br />
law, the courts and the community.<br />
The founders named the associati<strong>on</strong> the Le<strong>on</strong>ard M.<br />
Friedman <strong>Bar</strong> Associati<strong>on</strong> (LMFBA) in h<strong>on</strong>or of the late<br />
Justice Le<strong>on</strong>ard M. Friedman, a prominent member of the<br />
<strong>Sacramento</strong> Jewish community who served <strong>on</strong> the<br />
<strong>Sacramento</strong> <strong>County</strong> Municipal and Superior Courts and <strong>on</strong><br />
the California Third District Court of Appeal. Judge<br />
Friedman was an articulate and dedicated legal scholar,<br />
judge, and pillar of the <strong>Sacramento</strong> Jewish community who<br />
was recognized as a role model for kindness, fairness, and<br />
a commitment to family and the community. It often<br />
seems that every member of the organizati<strong>on</strong> has their own<br />
pers<strong>on</strong>al story about their positive interacti<strong>on</strong> with the late<br />
Judge Friedman. His life and career truly represents the<br />
most important aspects of the organizati<strong>on</strong>: community,<br />
Judaism, and legal excellence.<br />
Pursuing Our Missi<strong>on</strong>: Since its creati<strong>on</strong>, the<br />
Le<strong>on</strong>ard M. Friedman <strong>Bar</strong> Associati<strong>on</strong> has worked to serve<br />
and represent its members and surrounding community,<br />
hosting numerous events during which nati<strong>on</strong>al and local<br />
speakers addressed topics relevant to the bench, bar, and<br />
community. The associati<strong>on</strong> organized MCLE lunche<strong>on</strong>s<br />
<strong>on</strong> a wide variety of legal topics, including the battle for<br />
restituti<strong>on</strong> in American courts for property stolen by the<br />
Nazis, the influence of the Hebrew bible <strong>on</strong> American law,<br />
and the advancement of social justice through the courts.<br />
For its younger members, the associati<strong>on</strong> created a mentorship<br />
committee to assist law students and young lawyers<br />
with networking and guidance as they begin the journey<br />
that is the practice of law. The associati<strong>on</strong> also formed a<br />
judicial committee, which organized a roundtable meeting<br />
14 SACRAMENTO LAWYER JULY/AUGUST 2011<br />
Affilate <str<strong>on</strong>g>Spotlight</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Le<strong>on</strong>ard M. Friedman<br />
<strong>Bar</strong> Associati<strong>on</strong><br />
Le<strong>on</strong>ard M. Friedman<br />
By Avi Glikman<br />
with local judges and their spouses to help<br />
educate associati<strong>on</strong> members regarding the<br />
pursuit of a career in the judiciary.<br />
Within six m<strong>on</strong>ths of its founding, the<br />
Le<strong>on</strong>ard M. Friedman <strong>Bar</strong> Associati<strong>on</strong>’s membership<br />
numbered over 150 judges, attorneys,<br />
and law students. At its inaugural annual dinner<br />
in 2009, Erwin Chemerinsky, the founding<br />
dean of UC Irvine School of Law, spoke to<br />
a crowd of over 160 people <strong>on</strong> federal legal<br />
and c<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al issues post 9-11. The following<br />
year, Stanford Law School Professor<br />
Lawrence C. Marshal discussed recent developments<br />
in capital punishment and criminal<br />
justice reform. At its 2011 event, the associati<strong>on</strong><br />
hosted Justice Richard Goldst<strong>on</strong>e, a former<br />
justice of the C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al Court of<br />
South Africa and an expert <strong>on</strong> internati<strong>on</strong>al criminal law<br />
and human rights. During the event, which was reported<br />
in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The<br />
Jerusalem Post, Justice Goldst<strong>on</strong>e discussed the report of<br />
the United Nati<strong>on</strong>s Fact Finding Missi<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> the Gaza<br />
C<strong>on</strong>flict, providing a unique opportunity for the associati<strong>on</strong>’s<br />
members to hear Justice Goldst<strong>on</strong>e’s pers<strong>on</strong>al reflecti<strong>on</strong>s<br />
regarding the c<strong>on</strong>troversial report.<br />
Our Future: In the few years since its founding, the<br />
Le<strong>on</strong>ard M. Friedman <strong>Bar</strong> Associati<strong>on</strong> has worked diligently<br />
to establish itself as a significant presence in the<br />
<strong>Sacramento</strong> legal community and has strived to serve as a<br />
resource and educati<strong>on</strong>al forum for the community at<br />
large. As in years past, the associati<strong>on</strong> looks forward to<br />
hosting a number of events this year and looks forward to<br />
cementing its partnership with the <strong>Sacramento</strong> <strong>County</strong> <strong>Bar</strong><br />
Associati<strong>on</strong> and its affiliate organizati<strong>on</strong>s in order to better<br />
serve the greater <strong>Sacramento</strong> area. New members are welcome.<br />
The organizati<strong>on</strong> is <strong>on</strong> the web at www.jsaclaw.org.<br />
Our Board: The officers of the organizati<strong>on</strong> are Avi<br />
Glikman, president; Scott A. Clarem<strong>on</strong>, treasurer, and<br />
Melissa D. Bickel, secretary. The Board of Directors<br />
include: Theodore S. Goodwin, Marc Koenigsberg,<br />
Jeffrey E. Levine, Michael Rothschild, Michael E.<br />
Hersher, and Hollis Kulwin.<br />
Avi Glikman is a senior associate at Read & Aliotti, PC, in<br />
<strong>Sacramento</strong>. He practices in the area of insurance defense and<br />
specializes in c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> defect litigati<strong>on</strong>, insurance coverage<br />
and premises liability.
OnMay<br />
12 at Pavili<strong>on</strong>s Shopping Plaza, over<br />
120 people enjoyed the perfect weather,<br />
excellent wines, and delicious food at the Ninth Annual<br />
ABAS Law Foundati<strong>on</strong> Wine and Food Tasting. The<br />
Foundati<strong>on</strong> has nurtured generati<strong>on</strong>s of young Asian-<br />
Pacific Americans studying to become lawyers, and this has<br />
been quite a year for <strong>on</strong>e member of those generati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
Tani Gorre Cantil-Sakauye was appointed as<br />
California's Chief Justice, making her the first Asian-Pacific<br />
American and first Asian woman to preside over all the<br />
courts in the state. In 1981, when the Asian Pacific <strong>Bar</strong><br />
Associati<strong>on</strong> of <strong>Sacramento</strong> was formed, Chief Justice<br />
Cantil-Sakauyue was entering law school at UC Davis.<br />
Preceding her to the high court were two Asian-American<br />
16 SACRAMENTO LAWYER JULY/AUGUST 2011<br />
Affilate <str<strong>on</strong>g>Spotlight</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
ABAS Law Foundati<strong>on</strong>’s Ninth Annual Wine<br />
Tasting Marks a Year of Historic Progress<br />
Foundati<strong>on</strong> board member Nirav Desai at Spoto Napa Valley Wines<br />
By Yoshinori H. T. Himel<br />
Associate Justices: Joyce Kennard and Ming Chin.<br />
In the mid-1980s, <strong>Sacramento</strong> <strong>County</strong> had no Asian<br />
Judges. At the time, the entire judicial appointments<br />
process was a mystery to most Asian-American lawyers.<br />
The idea of an Asian <strong>on</strong> the California Supreme Court<br />
seemed impossible. ABAS’ dream was far less: an Asian<br />
Judge in the <strong>Sacramento</strong> <strong>County</strong> courts.<br />
It took <strong>Sacramento</strong>’s Jerry Ch<strong>on</strong>g to scope out the<br />
arcane judicial appointment process and push for an Asian<br />
appointment from 1986 <strong>on</strong>ward. Unlike most power brokers<br />
of the time, Ch<strong>on</strong>g was generous with what he<br />
learned, educating and empowering Asian-Pacific organizati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
statewide.<br />
Meanwhile another ABAS member, San Francisco civil<br />
A toast of Bogle wine<br />
Event co-chair Brian Lim with Peter Khang
ights lawyer Dale Minami, started the Asian Pacific <strong>Bar</strong><br />
Associati<strong>on</strong> of California to empower APA lawyers statewide.<br />
And Hoyt Zia, with Ch<strong>on</strong>g and several others, traveled the<br />
country to form the Nati<strong>on</strong>al Asian Pacific American <strong>Bar</strong><br />
Associati<strong>on</strong>. These organizati<strong>on</strong>s have helped local APA bar<br />
associati<strong>on</strong>s with their appointments advocacy.<br />
In 1987, Ch<strong>on</strong>g, with the assistance of La Raza<br />
President Luis Cespedes and Wiley Manuel President<br />
Renard Shepart, created the first annual Unity Dinner in<br />
<strong>Sacramento</strong>. Unity brought together the three associati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
-- later expanded to include Women Lawyers of<br />
<strong>Sacramento</strong>, SacLEGAL, the South Asian <strong>Bar</strong> Associati<strong>on</strong><br />
and <strong>SCBA</strong> – as well as Asian bars statewide to push the<br />
Governor's office to appoint an Asian Judge in <strong>Sacramento</strong>.<br />
The dream was finally fulfilled in 1988 with the appointment<br />
of ABAS member Charles Kobayashi to the <strong>Sacramento</strong><br />
bench. In order to aid law students, Unity also became the<br />
occasi<strong>on</strong> for each associati<strong>on</strong> to award a Unity Scholarship.<br />
When ABAS grew in membership and community<br />
involvement, a 501(c)(3) partner was needed to fund an<br />
expanded scholarship program and other educati<strong>on</strong>al and<br />
Foundati<strong>on</strong> treasurer Jeri Paik, Frank Plavan and Theresa Saechao<br />
Affilate <str<strong>on</strong>g>Spotlight</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
charitable activities. Incorporator Jeri Paik created the<br />
ABAS Law Foundati<strong>on</strong> to fill that need and obtained<br />
501(c)(3) status from the IRS in 1998. Since its creati<strong>on</strong>,<br />
the Foundati<strong>on</strong> has awarded up to $20,000 annually to<br />
students at <strong>Sacramento</strong> area law schools including<br />
McGeorge, Lincoln and UC Davis.<br />
This year marked the ninth year of the Annual Wine and<br />
Food Tasting. C<strong>on</strong>tinuing c<strong>on</strong>tributors include <strong>Bar</strong>bara<br />
Boxer's appointments committee member Marilyn Araki<br />
and <strong>Sacramento</strong> Mayor and Assemblyman Phil Isenberg,<br />
who have given generati<strong>on</strong>s of law students three years of<br />
financial assistance. Clement K<strong>on</strong>g and his firm Korshak,<br />
Kracoff, K<strong>on</strong>g & Sugano has given generously throughout<br />
ABAS’ existence. So has str<strong>on</strong>g supporter Charles Pacheco.<br />
ABAS is grateful to all who have supported the Wine<br />
Tasting by sp<strong>on</strong>soring, d<strong>on</strong>ating, buying items, and coming<br />
and having fun. Mark your calendar for the next ABAS Law<br />
Foundati<strong>on</strong> events: the ABAS Golf Tournament at Turkey<br />
Creek <strong>on</strong> Sunday, September 11, 2011, and the next Wine<br />
and Food Tasting <strong>on</strong> Thursday, May 10, 2012, at 6:00 PM<br />
at Pavili<strong>on</strong>s. See you there!<br />
Carole Ch<strong>on</strong>g and Judges Trena Burger-Plavan and Cheryl Meegan<br />
Reach A Variety of <strong>Sacramento</strong> Area Professi<strong>on</strong>als<br />
ADVERTISE IN <strong>Sacramento</strong> Lawyer Magazine Call (916) 564-3780 x200<br />
JULY/AUGUST 2011 SACRAMENTO LAWYER<br />
17
The South Asian <strong>Bar</strong> Associati<strong>on</strong> (SABA) of<br />
<strong>Sacramento</strong> celebrated the third anniversary of its<br />
existence at Downey Brand LLP in April, with Indian appetizers,<br />
desserts, fine wines, and over 100 friends and guests.<br />
Headlining the recepti<strong>on</strong> was keynote speaker Central<br />
U.S. District Magistrate Judge Jay Gandhi, the first South<br />
Asian federal magistrate judge in the country. Judge Gandhi<br />
18 SACRAMENTO LAWYER JULY/AUGUST 2011<br />
Affiliate <str<strong>on</strong>g>Spotlight</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
South Asian <strong>Bar</strong> Associati<strong>on</strong> of <strong>Sacramento</strong><br />
Celebrates its Third Anniversary<br />
From left to right: Justice Louis Mauro, Justice Elena Duarte, Judge<br />
Jay Gandhi, Judge Kendall Newman, and Judge James Mize<br />
From left to right: Bradley Coutinho, Biran Shah, Judge Jay<br />
Gandhi, Gene Bains, and UC Davis Professor Anupam Chander<br />
From left to right: Judge Emily Vasquez,<br />
Rebecca Whitfield, and Whitney McBride<br />
By Shama Mesiwala, President and Co-founder of the South Asian <strong>Bar</strong><br />
From left to right: Judge Jay<br />
Gandhi, UC Davis Professor<br />
Rachana Shah, and Robert Parker<br />
Photographs by Frank Roe<br />
spoke eloquently of his father’s journey from Punjab, India,<br />
to the peach orchards of Yuba City and his own journey to<br />
the federal bench as the s<strong>on</strong> of immigrant parents.<br />
In additi<strong>on</strong> to Judge Gandhi, SABA of <strong>Sacramento</strong> was<br />
h<strong>on</strong>ored by the attendance of Magistrate Judge Kendall<br />
Newman from the Eastern U.S. District Court, Presiding<br />
Justice Vance Raye of the California Third District Court of<br />
From left to right: Karen Goodman, Malavika Kumar, Michael Levy,<br />
June Coleman, Presiding Justice Vance Raye, Shama Mesiwala, and<br />
Judge Jay Gandhi<br />
From left to right: Sarah Scott, Judge Kendall Newman, Natalie<br />
Johnst<strong>on</strong>, Maryam Sidiqqui, and Latika Sharma<br />
From left to right: Justice William Murray,<br />
Judge Raoul Thorbourne, and Raym<strong>on</strong>d Rouse
Appeal, Justice Kathleen Butz, Justice Louis Mauro,<br />
Justice William Murray, and Justice Elena Duarte of the<br />
California Third District Court of Appeal. Also in attendance<br />
were Judge James Mize, Judy Hersher, Judge Emily<br />
Vasquez, Judge Russell Hom, Judge Raoul Thorbourne,<br />
Judge Thadd Blizzard, Judge Richard Sueyoshi, Judge<br />
Lawrence Brown, and Referee Natalie Lindsey from the<br />
<strong>Sacramento</strong> <strong>County</strong> Superior Court. UC Davis Law<br />
School Dean Kevin Johns<strong>on</strong> and Lincoln Law School<br />
Affiliate <str<strong>on</strong>g>Spotlight</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
From left to right: Justice Kathleen Butz, Judge Russell Hom, Justice William<br />
Murray, Judge James Mize, UC Davis Law School Dean Kevin Johns<strong>on</strong>, Justice<br />
Elena Duarte, and Justice Louis Mauro<br />
Patricia Sturdevant and Judge Thadd Blizzard<br />
From left to right: Kiren Chohan, Sukhi Brar,<br />
Jeff Bedell, and Gaurav Kalra<br />
From left to right: Tej Grewal, Joe Dhill<strong>on</strong>, and<br />
Amar Shergill<br />
Dean James Schiavenza were also present. .<br />
SABA of <strong>Sacramento</strong> is grateful to the North American<br />
South Asian <strong>Bar</strong> Associati<strong>on</strong> (NASABA) for partially underwriting<br />
the cost of the recepti<strong>on</strong> and to Downey Brand LLP<br />
for the generous d<strong>on</strong>ati<strong>on</strong> of its banquet room facilities for<br />
the recepti<strong>on</strong>.<br />
Shama Mesiwala is a senior judicial attorney for California<br />
Third District Court of Appeal Justice R<strong>on</strong>ald Robie.<br />
From left to right: Judge Lawrence Brown, Judge<br />
Kendall Newman, and Judge Russell Hom<br />
From left to right: Malavika Kumar, Bindhu Varghese, Taleen Aiazian, Gaurav Kalra,<br />
Matthew Wise, Scott Clarem<strong>on</strong>, and S<strong>on</strong>ia Fernandes<br />
From left to right: Michael<br />
Terhorst, Karen Goodman, and<br />
Linnea Johns<strong>on</strong><br />
From left to right: Justice<br />
Louis Mauro, Ruthie Ashley,<br />
and Renju Jacob<br />
From left to right: Raym<strong>on</strong>d Rouse, Nicole<br />
Sargent, Lincoln Law School Dean James<br />
Schiavenza, and Dima Rodica<br />
From left to right: Negin Yazdani, Rabia Paracha,<br />
Fatima Alloo, Errol Dauis, and Ramaah Sadasivam<br />
JULY/AUGUST 2011 SACRAMENTO LAWYER<br />
19
Y<br />
es, it’s the guy from A Man for All<br />
Seas<strong>on</strong>s. 1<br />
The Saint Thomas More Society,<br />
<strong>Sacramento</strong> (STMS), is an independent organizati<strong>on</strong><br />
sp<strong>on</strong>sored by Catholic lawyers, governed<br />
by a board, with its membership open to<br />
attorneys and other legal professi<strong>on</strong>als and legislative<br />
advocates of any religious persuasi<strong>on</strong><br />
who subscribe to its purposes. The purposes of<br />
STMS are to serve as a mutual support group,<br />
to foster individual spiritual growth, to further<br />
interfaith understanding, and to promote the<br />
teachings of the Sec<strong>on</strong>d Vatican Council. STMS does not<br />
engage in advocacy or take stands <strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>troversial political<br />
questi<strong>on</strong>s; nor does it engage in fundraising.<br />
St. Thomas More Societies are generally Roman Catholic<br />
lawyer groups, as St. Thomas More is the patr<strong>on</strong> saint of<br />
lawyers. There is no nati<strong>on</strong>al linking of these societies, with<br />
various cities or university campuses maintaining<br />
aut<strong>on</strong>omous groups. In <strong>Sacramento</strong>, there was an earlier<br />
group in the 1950s, and there is evidence that a student<br />
group existed at UOP-McGeorge in the 1980s. The current<br />
incarnati<strong>on</strong> in <strong>Sacramento</strong> was tied to Bishop Francis A.<br />
Quinn’s request, in 1988, to hold a Red Mass -- a traditi<strong>on</strong><br />
dating back to the 13th century of requesting that the Holy<br />
Spirit bless public officials and members of the legal community<br />
with guidance and understanding in their work.<br />
Because the traditi<strong>on</strong>al color of the Holy Spirit is red, priests<br />
would wear red vestments, and the lawyers and judges who<br />
20 SACRAMENTO LAWYER JULY/AUGUST 2011<br />
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<strong>Sacramento</strong>’s St. Thomas<br />
More Society By<br />
St. Thomas More Society members gathering<br />
at the April 2011 meeting<br />
St. Thomas More, the Patr<strong>on</strong><br />
Saint of Lawyers<br />
The late Rev. Charles<br />
McDermott, a founding<br />
member of the STMS<br />
Heather Hogans<strong>on</strong><br />
wore court robes also switched to red for the<br />
occasi<strong>on</strong>.<br />
According to Bob Roth, <strong>on</strong>e of STMS’<br />
founding members, the first meeting of the<br />
current “St. Thomas More Society of<br />
<strong>Sacramento</strong> <strong>County</strong>” took place <strong>on</strong> May 10,<br />
1988, in the basement of the Cathedral.<br />
Fifteen lawyers were in attendance. That<br />
number doubled the next year, with 31 paid<br />
charter members.<br />
STMS became an affiliate of <strong>SCBA</strong> in 2005<br />
and the officers and directors of STMS have<br />
been frequent sp<strong>on</strong>sors of <strong>SCBA</strong> events, such as the Bench<br />
<strong>Bar</strong> Recepti<strong>on</strong> and membership recruitment efforts.<br />
The current Board is as follows:<br />
President: Plauché Villeré<br />
Vice President: Paul Starkey<br />
Recording Secretary: Heather Cline Hogans<strong>on</strong><br />
Treasurer: Victoria Cline<br />
Liturgical Director: Elizabeth Spring<br />
Board Members At Large: Herb Bolz, Bruce Timm,<br />
Michael Terhorst<br />
STMS has, for the past six years, co-sp<strong>on</strong>sored an annual<br />
Ethics lunche<strong>on</strong> with the J. Reuben Clark Law Society<br />
(JRCLS) and the Brigham Young University Management<br />
Society (BYUMS). Speakers have included Justice<br />
Nichols<strong>on</strong>, Justice Davis, Judge Mize, Professor Pat<strong>on</strong> of<br />
UOP-McGeorge, and Professor Hans<strong>on</strong>, Executive<br />
Arnold Kunst discusses less<strong>on</strong>s from Lincoln at<br />
the April 2011 meeting
Director of the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics (Santa<br />
Clara University).<br />
The most recent lunche<strong>on</strong> in April featured Arnold<br />
Kunst, who discussed the humor, the frailties, and the legacy<br />
of President Lincoln. As we enter into the 150th<br />
anniversary of the start of the Civil War, Kunst described<br />
how the senior partner of a two-man law firm in<br />
Nowheresville, U.S.A., persisted in running for electi<strong>on</strong>s,<br />
eventually becoming the 16th President of the United<br />
States, and how Lincoln grappled with creating and implementing<br />
the Emancipati<strong>on</strong> Proclamati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
In additi<strong>on</strong>, this past January STMS co-sp<strong>on</strong>sored an<br />
Ethics & Civility lunche<strong>on</strong> with La Raza Lawyers of<br />
<strong>Sacramento</strong>, featuring the H<strong>on</strong>orable Morris<strong>on</strong> England<br />
and Professor Fred Galves of UOP-McGeorge. Plans are<br />
also underway for a joint evening event with the Hellenic<br />
Law Associati<strong>on</strong> of <strong>Sacramento</strong> (HELLAS), a new <strong>SCBA</strong><br />
affiliate of Greek Lawyers and hellenophiles, to discuss the<br />
impacts and legacy of early church law.<br />
STMS generally gathers <strong>on</strong> sec<strong>on</strong>d Wednesdays during<br />
the academic year for Mass and lunch at the Newman Center<br />
at California State University <strong>Sacramento</strong> — 5900 Newman<br />
Court, off "H" Street in <strong>Sacramento</strong>. Based <strong>on</strong> a member<br />
survey last summer, STMS is also hosting other n<strong>on</strong>-<br />
Affiliate <str<strong>on</strong>g>Spotlight</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
lunchtime events, such as a breakfast gathering in May, and<br />
an after-work recepti<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> June 22nd in Old <strong>Sacramento</strong>.<br />
At the June recepti<strong>on</strong>, held <strong>on</strong> the Feast Day of St.<br />
Thomas More, the first Fr. McDermott Award for<br />
Integrity will be awarded to Bishop Quinn (retired), who<br />
has supported STMS over these past 20-plus years and<br />
who has shown STMS members a model of principled c<strong>on</strong>victi<strong>on</strong>.<br />
The award is named after the late Rev. Charles<br />
Sylvester McDermott, former Vicar for Theological and<br />
Can<strong>on</strong>ical Affairs for the Diocese of <strong>Sacramento</strong>, and a<br />
founding member of STMS. Father Sylvester served as the<br />
group’s unofficial chaplain and advisor for many years.<br />
For questi<strong>on</strong>s or reservati<strong>on</strong>s, please email stms.sacramento@yahoo.com.<br />
1. Multiple Oscar-winning 1966 film (including Best Picture), star-<br />
ring Paul Scofield, directed by Fred Zinnemann.<br />
Heather Hogans<strong>on</strong>, a former editor-in-chief of the <strong>Sacramento</strong><br />
Lawyer, is the recording secretary for STMS. She previously<br />
served as chair of the <strong>SCBA</strong>’s Law Practice Management &<br />
Technology Secti<strong>on</strong> (SLUG) and of the Administrative Law<br />
Secti<strong>on</strong>. She is a staff counsel specialist at the Department of<br />
Alcoholic Beverage C<strong>on</strong>trol.<br />
JULY/AUGUST 2011 SACRAMENTO LAWYER<br />
21
Community Service<br />
Law Foundati<strong>on</strong><br />
Awards $5,000 Grant By<br />
This Spring, the <strong>Sacramento</strong><br />
Law Foundati<strong>on</strong>—the charitable<br />
arm of the <strong>Sacramento</strong> <strong>County</strong> <strong>Bar</strong><br />
Associati<strong>on</strong>—awarded a $5,000 in<br />
grant to WEAVE, Inc., an organizati<strong>on</strong><br />
working to improve access to justice<br />
in the local community.<br />
"The <strong>Sacramento</strong> Law Foundati<strong>on</strong><br />
is pleased to award this grant supporting<br />
WEAVE's efforts to improve<br />
access to justice for victims of<br />
domestic violence in the <strong>Sacramento</strong><br />
community," said SLF Vice President<br />
Rich Miadich.<br />
WEAVE provides a safe house and<br />
crisis interventi<strong>on</strong> services for survivors<br />
of domestic violence and sexual<br />
assault, including counseling, preventi<strong>on</strong><br />
programs, and 24-hour sup-<br />
22 SACRAMENTO LAWYER JULY/AUGUST 2011<br />
port and resp<strong>on</strong>se teams throughout<br />
<strong>Sacramento</strong> <strong>County</strong>.<br />
The grant funds will help WEAVE<br />
provide court preparati<strong>on</strong> and<br />
accompaniment services in a variety<br />
of legal issues, including child custody,<br />
restraining orders, and dissoluti<strong>on</strong><br />
matters.<br />
"We are thrilled to have the support<br />
of the <strong>Sacramento</strong> Law<br />
Foundati<strong>on</strong> for WEAVE's legal program,”<br />
said WEAVE Executive<br />
Director Beth Hassett. “The need for<br />
these services c<strong>on</strong>tinues to grow at a<br />
time when funding is declining. This<br />
critical funding will help us train legal<br />
volunteers to assist victims of domestic<br />
violence and their families. We are<br />
h<strong>on</strong>ored that the foundati<strong>on</strong> has cho-<br />
Stephen<br />
Duvernay<br />
sen to offer us this opportunity."<br />
The <strong>Sacramento</strong> Law Foundati<strong>on</strong><br />
is a 501(c)(3) n<strong>on</strong>-profit corporati<strong>on</strong><br />
which provides grants to programs<br />
that improve the administrati<strong>on</strong> of<br />
justice, enhance public c<strong>on</strong>fidence in<br />
the legal professi<strong>on</strong>, and cultivate<br />
understanding of and respect for the<br />
rule of law. To volunteer, make a c<strong>on</strong>tributi<strong>on</strong>,<br />
or for more informati<strong>on</strong> about<br />
the SLF, visit its website at http://saclawfoundati<strong>on</strong>.org.<br />
Stephen Duvernay is President of the<br />
<strong>Sacramento</strong> Law Foundati<strong>on</strong> and an<br />
associate at Klinedinst PC. He specializes<br />
in representing clients in complex<br />
civil litigati<strong>on</strong>, professi<strong>on</strong>al liability and<br />
appellate matters.<br />
From left to right: SLF President Stephen Duvernay, WEAVE Director of Development and Community Relati<strong>on</strong>s Amber Stott, WEAVE<br />
Executive Director Beth Hassett , SLF Board Member Michael Terhorst, SLF Vice President Rich Miadich, and WEAVE staffer Paula Pimentel.
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JULY/AUGUST 2011 SACRAMENTO LAWYER<br />
23
After 20 years <strong>on</strong> the bench, 3rd District Court of<br />
Appeal, Associate Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye<br />
was appointed by Governor Jerry Brown to serve as Chief<br />
Justice of the California Supreme Court, replacing the retiring<br />
R<strong>on</strong>ald M. George. On February 10, 2011, over 900<br />
of the new Chief Justice’s family, friends, colleagues and fans<br />
gathered to celebrate her Investiture as Chief Justice. Sitting<br />
am<strong>on</strong>g those attending the largest event in <strong>Sacramento</strong><br />
<strong>County</strong> <strong>Bar</strong> Associati<strong>on</strong> history, I marveled at how many<br />
showed up to support <strong>on</strong>e of their own. In an earnest, lyric<br />
t<strong>on</strong>e, the Chief Justice detailed her first 39 days. Her easy<br />
warmth met the admirati<strong>on</strong> of the crowd. The script was<br />
her telling synopsis of how a jurist acclimates to the job of<br />
Chief Justice.<br />
Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye is the quintessential native<br />
Sacramentan. Born in <strong>Sacramento</strong>, she attended McClatchy<br />
24 SACRAMENTO LAWYER JULY/AUGUST 2011<br />
The Chief Justice<br />
A Chat With The<br />
New Chief Justice By<br />
Helene Friedman<br />
Photography by Charr Crail<br />
High School, <strong>Sacramento</strong> City College, UC Davis and UC<br />
Davis King Hall School of Law. She served at the <strong>Sacramento</strong><br />
District Attorney’s Office, <strong>on</strong> the senior staff in Governor<br />
George Deukmejian’s office, <strong>on</strong> the <strong>Sacramento</strong> Superior<br />
Court, and <strong>on</strong> the Third District Court of Appeal.<br />
I met with her for this interview <strong>on</strong> Day 47 of her being<br />
California Supreme Court Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye speaking at her February 2011 Investiture Celebrati<strong>on</strong> in <strong>Sacramento</strong>.<br />
Chief Justice at the Natomas locati<strong>on</strong> of the Administrative<br />
Office of the Courts (“AOC”). Having arranged the meeting<br />
through her various ‘handlers’ (their word), I witnessed that<br />
not <strong>on</strong>ly is Tani Cantil-Sakauye the Chief Justice, but a grand<br />
overseer, managing a c<strong>on</strong>glomerate of jurists, administrators<br />
and committees. Almost immediately, we segued into how<br />
she is addressing the fiscal c<strong>on</strong>straints all California government<br />
branches now face.<br />
She c<strong>on</strong>ceded she has been working nearly 24/7 <strong>on</strong><br />
where to apply the deep budget cuts, and has engaged in
frank discourse <strong>on</strong> this issue with the Governor and Senate<br />
President Pro Tem Darryl Steinberg (a classmate from UCD<br />
King Hall School of Law,’84). Moreover, the Chief Justice<br />
said that the decisi<strong>on</strong> where to apply budget cuts in the judicial<br />
branch of government is an issue discussed and voted<br />
<strong>on</strong> by the Judicial Council.<br />
Court Governance<br />
Frankly, I had a vague understanding of the structure<br />
and purpose of AOC and its relati<strong>on</strong>ship to Judicial<br />
Council. 1 The Chief Justice said that few understand the current<br />
court structure, in large part because it is <strong>on</strong>ly 14 years<br />
young compared to the prior court structure, which was<br />
over 160 years old. She animatedly unraveled the current<br />
structure of the AOC enacted by the passage of the Lockyer-<br />
Isenberg Trial Court Funding Act of 1997, Cal. Gov’t. Code §<br />
77200 et seq., and opined that few are familiar with how the<br />
courts are governed. 2<br />
Sensing that this interview might be an educati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
opportunity, she launched into the statewide court compo-<br />
The Chief Justice<br />
siti<strong>on</strong>, essentially outlining the pyramid structure of<br />
California’s courts’ governance. Basically, the Judicial<br />
Council is the policymaking body of the courts, made up of<br />
Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye being administered the oath of office by Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeal Judge C<strong>on</strong>suelo M. Callahan<br />
at the <strong>Sacramento</strong> Investiture Celebrati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
judges appointed by the Chief Justice, attorneys appointed<br />
by the State <strong>Bar</strong> Board of Governors, members from each legislative<br />
house, and advisory members, including court executives<br />
or administrators and the president of the California<br />
Judges Associati<strong>on</strong>. The AOC is the staff agency to the<br />
Judicial Council. 3<br />
According to the Chief Justice, over 22 advisory committees<br />
4 made up of volunteer attorneys, judges and court<br />
pers<strong>on</strong>nel feed informati<strong>on</strong>, public opini<strong>on</strong>s and proposals<br />
to the Judicial Council <strong>on</strong> a variety of topics. These<br />
topics range from access and fairness to appellate practices,<br />
criminal jury instructi<strong>on</strong>s to informati<strong>on</strong> technology<br />
and more. The Judicial Council committees vet proposals<br />
<strong>on</strong> these topics assessing whether and how to institute<br />
them; the Council also seeks further public comment.<br />
The Chief Justice knew the process intimately having<br />
served <strong>on</strong> Judicial Council committees “forever.” She<br />
JULY/AUGUST 2011 SACRAMENTO LAWYER<br />
25
c<strong>on</strong>cedes it’s slow, but believes that is appropriate.<br />
In her first 39 days, the Chief Justice met other states’<br />
Chief Justices in Washingt<strong>on</strong>, DC to discuss issues endemic<br />
in the judicial branch. She discovered comm<strong>on</strong> disc<strong>on</strong>tents<br />
within courts across the country. However, she learned that<br />
<strong>on</strong>ly California – again the vanguard state - is experiencing a<br />
new development: a small group<br />
of jurists is discussing internal<br />
court matters with members of<br />
the Legislature. Apparently, this<br />
maneuver is unusual, cutting<br />
edge and, statewide, members of<br />
the legal community have disparate<br />
opini<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> what this<br />
means and whether it works.<br />
The Young Prosecutor<br />
Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye<br />
shared how a domestic violence<br />
prosecuti<strong>on</strong> she stepped into for a<br />
sick colleague triggered her learning<br />
about this area of law and the<br />
complex psychology of violence<br />
in relati<strong>on</strong>ships. The victim, tormented<br />
by the experience but still<br />
in love with the perpetrator,<br />
recanted <strong>on</strong> the stand.<br />
Apparently, this was a comm<strong>on</strong><br />
occurrence but new to the young<br />
prosecutor. Cantil-Sakauye privately<br />
c<strong>on</strong>ferred with the witness<br />
who admitted the defendant had<br />
also raped her, an allegati<strong>on</strong> never<br />
before revealed and not charged.<br />
Thereafter, the judge, berated the<br />
young prosecutor and adm<strong>on</strong>ished<br />
her to ‘c<strong>on</strong>trol her witness.’<br />
This was the ‘80s and few<br />
understood the complexities underlying this sort of prosecuti<strong>on</strong>.<br />
Faced with an acquittal, Cantil-Sakauye made it a<br />
point to learn about “DV,” the psychological drama underlying<br />
it and the vulnerability of women locked in it. In fact,<br />
even as a judge in the 90s, she recalled colleagues who minimized<br />
DV cases: “they’re too simplistic,” “the victim always<br />
recants,” “we’ll have to dismiss.” She encountered an all too<br />
dismissive, misinformed view of domestic violence.<br />
The DV Judge<br />
A year before then-Judge Cantil-Sakauye took over the<br />
<strong>Sacramento</strong> Superior Court domestic violence court, she<br />
26 SACRAMENTO LAWYER JULY/AUGUST 2011<br />
The Chief Justice<br />
received a call from police who were processing the aftereffects<br />
of a bloody, tragic scene. A man returned home early<br />
<strong>on</strong>e morning and his wife told him she was finally leaving<br />
and taking the children. Unhinged, he fatally shot the children<br />
as they slept and turned the gun <strong>on</strong> himself in fr<strong>on</strong>t of<br />
her. The police took the woman in and she insisted they call<br />
Judge Cantil-Sakauye. The woman<br />
was the judge’s court reporter. The<br />
judge went to the stati<strong>on</strong> and<br />
found her clad in pajamas, beat up,<br />
scratched and reeling from the<br />
unimaginable tragedy. The court<br />
reporter had never disclosed it but<br />
her family life was shrouded in<br />
domestic violence.<br />
From the telling, it was apparent<br />
that Judge Cantil-Sakauye<br />
experienced and, indeed recognized,<br />
a c<strong>on</strong>fluence of pivotal<br />
events over the years that led to her<br />
accepting the offer to preside over<br />
the DV court in <strong>Sacramento</strong>.<br />
The Chief Jurist<br />
For Tani Cantil-Sakauye, the<br />
last 8-9 years have been a whirlwind.<br />
Selected for the 3rd District<br />
Court of Appeal in her first try, she<br />
was sworn in mere days after her<br />
appointment and immediately<br />
dove into an energizing new challenge.<br />
The summer of 2010, having<br />
been nominated Chief Justice,<br />
her life escalated into yet another<br />
‘invigorating’ phase. She was left<br />
time for <strong>on</strong>ly those resp<strong>on</strong>sibilities<br />
Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye.<br />
attendant to the next life: getting a<br />
c<strong>on</strong>do in San Francisco, furnishing<br />
it, and making sure the family in <strong>Sacramento</strong> – her 2 daughters<br />
(15 and 12-1/2), husband, mother and in-laws – were<br />
situated to adapt to the dramatic, new development in the<br />
Cantil-Sakauye village.<br />
And indeed, it would take a village. Serendipitously, the<br />
Chief Justice’s husband, who she knew in high school and<br />
met again years later when he was a police officer and she a<br />
prosecutor, was retiring. Retired Police Lieutenant Mark<br />
Sakauye would oversee their daughters’ lives <strong>on</strong> school days.<br />
In deciding to maintain the stability of their children’s home<br />
life and schooling by keeping them in <strong>Sacramento</strong>, they met<br />
with family support. Mostly, the Chief Justice’s resp<strong>on</strong>sibili-
ties keep her in San Francisco during the week and then she<br />
returns home with the family in <strong>Sacramento</strong> weekends. This<br />
time the c<strong>on</strong>fluence of events and family support smoothed<br />
her transiti<strong>on</strong> to take the job as the sec<strong>on</strong>d woman 5 – and<br />
first Asian American – to lead California’s courts.<br />
As we discussed her life, we also segued <strong>on</strong>to pers<strong>on</strong>s<br />
whose unique thinking inspires Tani Cantil-Sakauye’s imaginati<strong>on</strong><br />
and admirati<strong>on</strong>. Malcolm Gladwell, the author of<br />
Outliers is <strong>on</strong>e. In Outliers, Gladwell discussed factors that<br />
c<strong>on</strong>tribute to high levels of success, particularly timing. The<br />
Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye with <strong>Sacramento</strong> <strong>County</strong> <strong>Bar</strong><br />
Assocati<strong>on</strong> Appellate Law Secti<strong>on</strong> Chair Brend<strong>on</strong> Begley.<br />
tapes of Gladwell’s books, other vanguard thinkers and<br />
inspiring social commentators provide company for the<br />
Chief Justice during her commutes, even leave her lingering<br />
in the car just to hear the wrap-up of that last great passage<br />
or idea.<br />
<strong>Sacramento</strong> Gets Involved<br />
At the <strong>SCBA</strong> Annual Meeting in December 2010, the<br />
new Chief Justice – just sworn in that morning - called for<br />
<strong>Sacramento</strong>-area judges and attorneys to "step up" and<br />
apply for positi<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> statewide committees that advise the<br />
Judicial Council. She is as much a fan of the <strong>Sacramento</strong><br />
legal community as it is of her. Asserting that <strong>Sacramento</strong><br />
has talent and passi<strong>on</strong> in our legal community, she affirmed<br />
that California needs this area’s local lawyers and judges to<br />
be involved. Yes, this means you! I am sure Chief Justice<br />
Tani Cantil-Sakauye would be delighted if you took some<br />
time to review www.courts.ca.gov, the new website of the<br />
California Courts. The site debuted February 2011 and is<br />
an excellent place to begin to learn how you too can get<br />
The Chief Justice<br />
involved! The time is right for <strong>Sacramento</strong> to support <strong>on</strong>e of<br />
our own.<br />
1. http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/courtadmin/aoc/<br />
2. http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/reference/documents/2008_operati<strong>on</strong>al_plan.pdf<br />
3. The AOC has 11 internal divisi<strong>on</strong>s including an Appellate and Trial<br />
Court Judicial Services Divisi<strong>on</strong>, a Center for Family, Children and the<br />
Courts, a Finance Divisi<strong>on</strong>, an Office of C<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> and<br />
Management, an Educati<strong>on</strong> Divisi<strong>on</strong>/Center for Judicial Educati<strong>on</strong> and<br />
Research and an Office of the General Counsel, am<strong>on</strong>g others. AOC<br />
Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye greeting guests at the<br />
Investitture Celebrati<strong>on</strong> in <strong>Sacramento</strong>.<br />
also has 3 regi<strong>on</strong>al offices and over 900 employees. See<br />
http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/reference/documents/factsheets/AOC.pdf<br />
4. The Judicial Council Advisory Committees include, but are not limited<br />
to, Access and Fairness, Civil Jury Instructi<strong>on</strong>s, Criminal Jury<br />
Instructi<strong>on</strong>s, Appellate Advisory Committee, Civil and Small Claims,<br />
Court Executives, Court Interpreters, Court Technology and Judicial<br />
Educati<strong>on</strong> and Research (CJeR), et al.<br />
5. Rose Elizabeth Bird (November 2, 1936–December 4, 1999) served<br />
for 10 years as the 25th Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court.<br />
Helene Friedman, a Senior Staff Counsel at the California<br />
Department of Child Support Services, has worn many pro b<strong>on</strong>o<br />
hats. She was co-editor of this magazine for 3 years and Editor<br />
of the <strong>Sacramento</strong> <strong>County</strong> <strong>Bar</strong> Associati<strong>on</strong> pictorial Directory for<br />
2. Helene served 7 years as Director at Large <strong>on</strong> the <strong>Sacramento</strong><br />
<strong>County</strong> <strong>Bar</strong> Associati<strong>on</strong> Board and served as a Member of the<br />
Boards of Legal Services of Northern California, Voluntary Legal<br />
Services Program, Women Lawyers of <strong>Sacramento</strong> and the<br />
<strong>Sacramento</strong> <strong>County</strong> Superior Court Bench/<strong>Bar</strong> Media<br />
Committee. Helene is currently training to be a volunteer at the<br />
<strong>Sacramento</strong> SPCA.<br />
JULY/AUGUST 2011 SACRAMENTO LAWYER<br />
27
28 SACRAMENTO LAWYER JULY/AUGUST 2011<br />
Secti<strong>on</strong> & Affiliate News<br />
<strong>Bar</strong>risters’ Club Update<br />
The <strong>Bar</strong>risters’ Club of <strong>Sacramento</strong> is<br />
Proud to Welcome Two New Members<br />
to the Board of Directors<br />
The <strong>Bar</strong>risters’ Club of <strong>Sacramento</strong> is c<strong>on</strong>tinually<br />
striving to come up with original and innovative<br />
ways to c<strong>on</strong>tribute to the <strong>Sacramento</strong> legal community,<br />
particularly to help younger lawyers as they make their<br />
transiti<strong>on</strong> from law school to law practice. In keeping<br />
with that goal, the Board of Directors has decided to enlist<br />
Ian <strong>Bar</strong>low<br />
two new recruits. Please welcome our newest members to<br />
the Board of Directors, Ian <strong>Bar</strong>low and Kurt<br />
Hendricks<strong>on</strong>.<br />
Ian is an associate attorney at Wexler Wallace LLP. As a<br />
member of Wexler Wallace’s <strong>Sacramento</strong> office, his practice<br />
emphasizes business litigati<strong>on</strong> and complex class<br />
acti<strong>on</strong>s involving e-commerce, products liability and c<strong>on</strong>sumer<br />
protecti<strong>on</strong> litigati<strong>on</strong>. Ian earned his Bachelor of<br />
Arts in Political Science and Rhetoric from the University<br />
of California at Berkley in 1997. He also earned a Masters<br />
of Public Policy from the UCLA Luskin School of Public<br />
Affairs in 2006, where he received an award of h<strong>on</strong>ors for<br />
his thesis <strong>on</strong> reducing avoidable unlawful detainers in<br />
By Amanda Gimbel,<br />
<strong>Bar</strong>risters’ Media Chair<br />
California. Ian received his Juris Doctor from the UCLA<br />
School of Law in 2006, with c<strong>on</strong>centrati<strong>on</strong>s in both<br />
Critical Race Studies and the David J. Epstein Program in<br />
Public Interest Law & Policy. He was also chief articles editor<br />
for the Asian Pacific American Law Journal. In his<br />
spare time, Ian enjoys spending time with family and<br />
friends, playing music, and getting out to an occasi<strong>on</strong>al<br />
Kings or River Cats game.<br />
Kurt is an associate at Knox, Lemm<strong>on</strong>, Anapolsky, &<br />
Schrimp, LLP. His practice focuses <strong>on</strong> business litigati<strong>on</strong><br />
and administrative law. Kurt graduated from Ariz<strong>on</strong>a State<br />
Kurt Hendricks<strong>on</strong><br />
University in 2003, having earned dual Bachelors Degrees<br />
in Science and Sociology. Kurt earned his Juris Doctor<br />
from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of<br />
Law in 2007. During his third year at McGeorge, Kurt<br />
worked as a state field director managing three grassroots<br />
programs for a 2006 California gubernatorial campaign.<br />
Additi<strong>on</strong>ally, he was an active participant in <strong>on</strong>-campus<br />
activities, and served as the president of the Junior<br />
<strong>Bar</strong>risters’ Club, an affiliate of the <strong>Bar</strong>risters’ of<br />
<strong>Sacramento</strong>. In his spare time, Kurt enjoys playing golf<br />
and organized basketball. He also actively follows politics<br />
at both the state and federal levels.<br />
If you are interested in serving <strong>on</strong> the <strong>Bar</strong>risters’ Board
of Directors or simply seeking to become more involved<br />
with the <strong>Bar</strong>risters’ Club, please c<strong>on</strong>tact us at<br />
Sac<strong>Bar</strong>risters@gmail.com.<br />
The <strong>Bar</strong>risters’ Club of <strong>Sacramento</strong>’s<br />
Annual Summer Associates Recepti<strong>on</strong><br />
is Here!<br />
The <strong>Bar</strong>risters’ Club is hosting its Nineteenth Annual<br />
Summer Associates Recepti<strong>on</strong>. This event h<strong>on</strong>ors the<br />
summer associates and firms participating in the<br />
<strong>Sacramento</strong> <strong>County</strong> <strong>Bar</strong> Associati<strong>on</strong>’s Diversity Hiring and<br />
Retenti<strong>on</strong> Program. These firms have hired a first year<br />
diversity law student for the summer. The Summer<br />
Associates Recepti<strong>on</strong> is also intended to celebrate all of<br />
our <strong>Sacramento</strong>-area summer associates. This year’s<br />
Recepti<strong>on</strong> will be held <strong>on</strong> Thursday, July 21, 2011 from<br />
5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at The Park Ultra Lounge at<br />
Secti<strong>on</strong> & Affiliate News<br />
Cafeteria 15L. The Park Ultra Lounge is located at 1116<br />
15th Street <strong>on</strong> the corner of L and 15th Streets. If your<br />
firm is interested in sp<strong>on</strong>soring the event, or you would<br />
like to attend, please c<strong>on</strong>tact Amanda Gimbel at agimbel@mathenysears.com.<br />
<strong>Bar</strong>risters’ Giving<br />
The Board of Directors c<strong>on</strong>tinues to fulfill its missi<strong>on</strong><br />
of giving back to the <strong>Sacramento</strong> community by helping<br />
those less fortunate. As previously menti<strong>on</strong>ed, the<br />
<strong>Bar</strong>risters’ Club helps prepare and serve meals at St.<br />
John’s Shelter for Women & Children <strong>on</strong> the sec<strong>on</strong>d<br />
Wednesday of every m<strong>on</strong>th. In additi<strong>on</strong>, the Board has<br />
also named a Charity Chair, Daniel Kim. If you would<br />
like to get involved and help out your community with<br />
the <strong>Bar</strong>risters, please c<strong>on</strong>tact Daniel at dkim@mathenysears.com.<br />
The <strong>Bar</strong>risters’ Club of <strong>Sacramento</strong>, in c<strong>on</strong>juncti<strong>on</strong> with various<br />
<strong>Sacramento</strong>-area law firms, invites you to the<br />
Nineteenth Annual<br />
Summer Associates Recepti<strong>on</strong><br />
This event h<strong>on</strong>ors the summer associates and firms participating in the<br />
<strong>Sacramento</strong> <strong>County</strong> <strong>Bar</strong> Associati<strong>on</strong>’s Diversity Hiring and Retenti<strong>on</strong> Program.<br />
These firms have hired a first year diversity law student for the summer.<br />
The Summer Associates Recepti<strong>on</strong> is also intended to celebrate all of our<br />
<strong>Sacramento</strong>-area summer associates.<br />
Please join members of the local bench and bar in pers<strong>on</strong>ally welcoming<br />
summer associates to <strong>Sacramento</strong>.<br />
WHEN: Thursday, July 21, 2011 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.<br />
WHERE: The Park Ultra Lounge at Cafeteria 15L<br />
1116 15th, <strong>Sacramento</strong>, CA 95814<br />
(corner of 15th and L Streets)<br />
RSVP/SPONSORSHIP INFO:<br />
to Amanda R. Gimbel, agimbel@mathenysears.com or 916.978.3434<br />
JULY/AUGUST 2011 SACRAMENTO LAWYER<br />
29
Courthouse Steps<br />
Diepenbrock Harris<strong>on</strong><br />
announced that Mark E.<br />
Peters<strong>on</strong> has returned to<br />
the firm as an associate<br />
attorney. Peters<strong>on</strong> will be<br />
working in the firm’s Real<br />
Estate and Business Law<br />
Department. Peters<strong>on</strong> originally<br />
joined Diepenbrock<br />
Harris<strong>on</strong> in 2006. He is<br />
now returning after spending<br />
two years at the Dallas,<br />
Texas, office of Baker &<br />
McKenzie, LLP, a large Mark E. Peters<strong>on</strong><br />
internati<strong>on</strong>al law firm. At<br />
that Baker & McKenzie, Peters<strong>on</strong>’s practice focused <strong>on</strong><br />
complex business transacti<strong>on</strong>s, debt and equity financings,<br />
internati<strong>on</strong>al mergers and acquisiti<strong>on</strong>s, and federal securities<br />
law matters. A member of the State <strong>Bar</strong>s of California<br />
and Texas, Peters<strong>on</strong> earned his B.A. in Ec<strong>on</strong>omics from<br />
Brigham Young University in 2002. In 2006, he obtained<br />
a J.D. degree, Cum Laude, from the University of Michigan<br />
Law School. While attending law school, Mark was a member<br />
of the Michigan Law Review.<br />
Palmer Kazanjian Wohl Hods<strong>on</strong> is excited to announce<br />
that Jenny Phillips has joined the firm. Ms. Phillips brings<br />
with her an expertise in healthcare law and is an integral<br />
part of the firm's ERISA and healthcare practice. Ms.<br />
Phillip's prior practice included multi-milli<strong>on</strong> dollar trials<br />
and arbitrati<strong>on</strong>s involving provider/payor disputes. Her<br />
experience also includes advising clients <strong>on</strong> issues involving<br />
the Health Informati<strong>on</strong> Portability and Accountability<br />
Act (HIPAA), Stark and anti-kickback laws, and state<br />
licensing for clinics and health facilities. Ms. Phillips graduated<br />
with distincti<strong>on</strong> from University of the Pacific,<br />
McGeorge School of law and subsequently obtained her<br />
Master of Laws in Government & Public Policy with an<br />
emphasis in health law.<br />
Knox, Lemm<strong>on</strong>, Anapolsky & Schrimp, LLP is pleased to<br />
announce that Andrew D. Loveland has joined the firm.<br />
Mr. Loveland has more than ten years experience handling<br />
a wide variety of business, probate and n<strong>on</strong>profit tax and/or<br />
tax-exempt matters. He will<br />
expand his work in these<br />
areas, with an emphasis <strong>on</strong><br />
expanding the firm’s estate<br />
planning practice. Prior to<br />
joining Knox, Lemm<strong>on</strong>,<br />
Anapolsky & Schrimp, LLP,<br />
Mr. Loveland worked as an<br />
associate with the<br />
<strong>Sacramento</strong> law firm of<br />
Kr<strong>on</strong>ick, Moskovitz,<br />
Tiedemann & Girard and the<br />
Savannah, Georgia, law firm<br />
of Hunter, Maclean, Exley &<br />
Andrew D. Loveland<br />
Dunn. Mr. Loveland holds a<br />
J.D. from the University of California, Davis School of Law,<br />
a LLM. in Taxati<strong>on</strong> from Georgetown University Law<br />
Center, a M.A. from the University of Colorado, and a B.A.<br />
from the University of Miami.<br />
<strong>Sacramento</strong> attorney S<strong>on</strong>ia Fernandes was awarded<br />
the 2010 Jack Berman Award of Achievement for<br />
Distinguished Service to the Professi<strong>on</strong> and the Public<br />
by the California State <strong>Bar</strong> Associati<strong>on</strong> in recogniti<strong>on</strong><br />
of her outstanding leadership and volunteerism in the<br />
community. Created in 1992 by the California Young<br />
Lawyers Associati<strong>on</strong>, the award was renamed in 1994<br />
for San Francisco lawyer Jack Berman, whose extensive<br />
pro b<strong>on</strong>o work earned him the admirati<strong>on</strong> of colleagues<br />
and clients. The award recognizes the public<br />
service of a young or new lawyer. Fernandes, now staff<br />
counsel for the enforcement divisi<strong>on</strong> of the state’s<br />
Department of Managed Health Care, volunteers<br />
m<strong>on</strong>thly at <strong>Sacramento</strong>’s My Sister’s House legal clinic,<br />
which assists victims of domestic violence. As a board<br />
member of Women Lawyers of <strong>Sacramento</strong>, she helped<br />
create and chairs the Ad Hoc Child Protecti<strong>on</strong><br />
Committee, which has focused <strong>on</strong> eliminating the sexual<br />
exploitati<strong>on</strong> of children and human trafficking and<br />
the illegal trade of human beings for sexual exploitati<strong>on</strong><br />
or forced labor. Ms. Fernandes is an <strong>SCBA</strong> Board<br />
Member at Large.<br />
Seyfarth Shaw LLP announced that Morgan T. J<strong>on</strong>es has<br />
JULY/AUGUST 2011 SACRAMENTO LAWYER<br />
31
joined the firm’s <strong>Sacramento</strong> office as a partner in the real<br />
estate department. He arrives from McD<strong>on</strong>ough Holland &<br />
Allen PC, where he was a shareholder. J<strong>on</strong>es is joined by<br />
associate Robert J. Wood. J<strong>on</strong>es’ practice focuses <strong>on</strong> banking<br />
with a particular emphasis <strong>on</strong> financing transacti<strong>on</strong>s,<br />
restructurings, loan enforcement, and real estate. His<br />
financing practice includes all types of secured commercial<br />
and agricultural real- property loans, as well as issuers of<br />
letters of credit in b<strong>on</strong>d transacti<strong>on</strong>s. J<strong>on</strong>es also represents<br />
lenders in managing REO, sales of REO, and loan sales.<br />
J<strong>on</strong>es received his B.A. from the University of California,<br />
Santa <strong>Bar</strong>bara, his M.A. from the University of California,<br />
Los Angeles and his J.D. from the University of California,<br />
Los Angeles School of Law, where he served <strong>on</strong> the UCLA<br />
Law Review and the UCLA Internati<strong>on</strong>al Law Journal. He<br />
is admitted to practice law in the state of California. He is<br />
a fellow in the American College of Mortgage Attorneys.<br />
Mary E. Olden has<br />
joined Downey Brand LLP as<br />
counsel in the firm’s litigati<strong>on</strong><br />
group. Olden received<br />
her J.D. from the University<br />
of California, Davis School of<br />
Law in 1983 and her B.S.<br />
from the University of<br />
Houst<strong>on</strong>, Texas in 1970.<br />
Prior to joining Downey<br />
Brand, Olden was a shareholder<br />
at McD<strong>on</strong>ough Holland<br />
& Allen PC. Her practice<br />
focuses <strong>on</strong> bankruptcy and<br />
c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> law.<br />
32 SACRAMENTO LAWYER JULY/AUGUST 2011<br />
Mary E. Olden<br />
Best Best & Krieger LLP is pleased to announce that 18<br />
attorneys from McD<strong>on</strong>ough Holland & Allen have joined<br />
BB&K. The group of attorneys from McD<strong>on</strong>ough is led by<br />
that firm’s chief executive officer, Edward J. Quinn, Jr.,<br />
and includes T. Brent Hawkins, <strong>on</strong>e of the state’s premier<br />
redevelopment attorneys, and Iris P. Yang and Harriet<br />
Steiner, two of California’s most respected city attorneys.<br />
The new attorneys, many of them joining BB&K’s municipal<br />
and redevelopment practice, will work in BB&K’s<br />
<strong>Sacramento</strong> office.<br />
Quinn, who specializes in land use and redevelopment<br />
law, has represented cities, manufacturers and private developers<br />
throughout the state. Quinn also advises domestic<br />
Courthouse Steps<br />
corporate clients <strong>on</strong> foreign investment and has assisted foreign<br />
clients with real estate and industrial investments in<br />
the United States.<br />
Yang, who has been the city attorney for Paso Robles since<br />
1994, also serves as special counsel to a number of redevelopment<br />
agencies in the state, including Santa Rosa,<br />
Richm<strong>on</strong>d, Redwood City, Modesto, and Ventura. She has<br />
developed a specialty in advising public agency clients <strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>flict<br />
of interest matters under the Political Reform Act, campaign<br />
finance matters, ec<strong>on</strong>omic disclosure, and lobbying.<br />
Hawkins serves as general counsel to the California<br />
Redevelopment Associati<strong>on</strong>, a positi<strong>on</strong> McD<strong>on</strong>ough has<br />
held for more than 25 years, drafting much of the redevelopment<br />
legislati<strong>on</strong> enacted during that time. Hawkins<br />
also represents the redevelopment agencies of<br />
<strong>Sacramento</strong>, Los Angeles, San Jose, Oakland, and several<br />
other cities in the state.<br />
Quinn, Hawkins and Yang are am<strong>on</strong>g the authors of various<br />
editi<strong>on</strong>s of Redevelopment in California, c<strong>on</strong>sidered the<br />
definitive guide for policymakers, redevelopment officials,<br />
developers, attorneys, and citizens <strong>on</strong> the law and practice<br />
of redevelopment in the state. The publicati<strong>on</strong> has been frequently<br />
cited by the courts.<br />
Steiner, who has been city attorney of Davis since 1986,<br />
represents cities, special districts and joint powers agencies<br />
as city attorney, general counsel and special counsel. Her<br />
specialties include land use, envir<strong>on</strong>mental law, telecommunicati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
law, cable televisi<strong>on</strong> franchising, wastewater<br />
and municipal water, and public financing.<br />
Quinn, Hawkins, Yang, and Steiner will become BB&K<br />
partners in the firm’s municipal and redevelopment practice,<br />
joining a practice that boasts 110 attorneys.<br />
Other McD<strong>on</strong>ough attorneys joining the municipal and<br />
redevelopment practice are:<br />
Linda R. Beck, partner: With a practice focusing <strong>on</strong><br />
c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> law for public agencies, Beck is known for<br />
working <strong>on</strong> such diverse public projects as waste water<br />
treatment plants, storm drains, libraries, and police, fire and<br />
emergency operati<strong>on</strong>s facilities.<br />
Seth Merewitz, partner: Provides advisory and transacti<strong>on</strong>al<br />
services to land owner groups, public agencies and<br />
private entities with a focus <strong>on</strong> residential master-planned<br />
communities, land use, infrastructure financing, affordable<br />
housing, redevelopment law, commercial and industrial<br />
land use, and general municipal law.<br />
Kara K. Ueda, partner: As city attorney for Rio Vista and<br />
assistant city attorney for Davis and Paso Robles, Ueda’s<br />
practice includes transacti<strong>on</strong>al, advisory, and litigati<strong>on</strong> matters<br />
for public agencies and private entities. Ueda formerly
was a staff attorney for the League of California Cities.<br />
Ethan Walsh, partner: Specializing in redevelopment,<br />
affordable housing and land use law, Walsh’s practice<br />
includes assisting redevelopment agencies and private<br />
developers in structuring transacti<strong>on</strong>s for commercial, residential<br />
and mixed-use projects. He is also a co-author of the<br />
4th editi<strong>on</strong> of Redevelopment in California.<br />
Joseph E. Coomes, Jr., of counsel: Serves as special<br />
redevelopment counsel to more than 50 cities and several<br />
counties in California. He also represents a number<br />
of developers engaged in redevelopment and large land<br />
use projects.<br />
Ann Taylor Schwing, of counsel: Her practice focuses<br />
<strong>on</strong> appeals, moti<strong>on</strong>s, and research.<br />
Kimberly E. Hood, associate: Practices all aspects of<br />
public law, with the majority of her practice in the areas of<br />
public agency litigati<strong>on</strong>, eminent domain, and employment.<br />
Erinn M. Lopez, associate: With a focus <strong>on</strong> transacti<strong>on</strong>al<br />
matters, her emphasis is <strong>on</strong> redevelopment, real estate, land use,<br />
and affordable housing for public agencies and private entities.<br />
Irene S. Zurko, associate: Her practice includes advisory,<br />
litigati<strong>on</strong>, and transacti<strong>on</strong>al services to cities, counties,<br />
redevelopment agencies and other public entities.<br />
The following McD<strong>on</strong>ough attorneys who specialize in<br />
health care, business and labor law will be joining other<br />
BB&K practices:<br />
Cathy Deubel Salenko, partner. A health care attorney<br />
with more than 25 years of experience, Salenko counsels<br />
public and private providers and payors in a wide variety of<br />
health care transacti<strong>on</strong>al matters. She will become part of<br />
BB&K’s business planning and transacti<strong>on</strong>s practice.<br />
Gary Loveridge, of counsel: His practice encompasses<br />
all aspects of health care law with emphasis in mergers and<br />
acquisiti<strong>on</strong>s, n<strong>on</strong>profit affiliati<strong>on</strong>s, regulatory compliance,<br />
and corporate and governance restructuring. Loveridge<br />
counsels boards, senior management and physician leaders<br />
<strong>on</strong> ways to achieve their goals. He is joining BB&K’s business<br />
planning and transacti<strong>on</strong>s practice.<br />
Susan L. Schoenig, partner: While her practice has<br />
involved a wide range of real estate and commercial litigati<strong>on</strong>,<br />
Schoenig focuses <strong>on</strong> employment law and advises a<br />
diverse group of public and private employers in all types<br />
of employment and labor matters. She is joining BB&K’s<br />
labor and employment practice.<br />
Stacey Shest<strong>on</strong>, partner: Her practice focuses <strong>on</strong> advising<br />
public agency employers and <strong>on</strong> public agency litigati<strong>on</strong>,<br />
including eminent domain. Shest<strong>on</strong>’s clients include<br />
public agencies and private clients. She is joining BB&K’s<br />
labor and employment practice.<br />
Courthouse Steps<br />
Laura Fowler, associate: A litigati<strong>on</strong> attorney, Fowler<br />
specializes in employment law and represents employers in<br />
a variety of court and administrative proceedings. She is<br />
joining BB&K's labor and employment practice.<br />
Hans<strong>on</strong> Bridgett LLP announced a major expansi<strong>on</strong> of<br />
its Real Estate and C<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> Secti<strong>on</strong>, as well as its<br />
<strong>Sacramento</strong> office, with the additi<strong>on</strong> of nine attorneys<br />
from McD<strong>on</strong>ough Holland & Allen PC. Joining Hans<strong>on</strong><br />
Bridgett as partners from McD<strong>on</strong>ough are Robert W.<br />
O’C<strong>on</strong>nor, previously head of McD<strong>on</strong>ough’s c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong><br />
practice, André K. Campbell, William A. Lichtig, Tys<strong>on</strong><br />
M. Shower and Sean-Thomas P. Thomps<strong>on</strong>. In additi<strong>on</strong>,<br />
Dawn M.D. Balzarano, Joel W. Darringt<strong>on</strong>, John W.<br />
Klotsche, and Erin K. McD<strong>on</strong>ough join Hans<strong>on</strong> Bridgett<br />
as associates.<br />
O’C<strong>on</strong>nor, a c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> lawyer for more than 34<br />
years, specializes in c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> law, litigati<strong>on</strong>, and alternative<br />
resoluti<strong>on</strong> of c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> disputes. He represents<br />
owners, general c<strong>on</strong>tractors, subc<strong>on</strong>tractors, suppliers, and<br />
design professi<strong>on</strong>als in public works and private projects.<br />
He has been an active mediator and arbitrator of c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong><br />
disputes for more than 15 years. He is a member of the<br />
State <strong>Bar</strong>s of California and Oreg<strong>on</strong> and is admitted to<br />
practice before the United States District Court for the<br />
District of Oreg<strong>on</strong>, the Eastern and Northern Districts of<br />
California, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit,<br />
and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. He received his J.D.<br />
from the University of Oreg<strong>on</strong> School of Law in 1975. He<br />
received a B.A., with Highest H<strong>on</strong>ors, from the University<br />
of California, Santa <strong>Bar</strong>bara in 1972.<br />
Campbell specializes in c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> law, including<br />
bidding and protest issues, government c<strong>on</strong>tract law, the<br />
drafting and negotiating of c<strong>on</strong>tracts, and the litigati<strong>on</strong>,<br />
arbitrati<strong>on</strong> and mediati<strong>on</strong> of disputes. Mr. Campbell<br />
served as a major in the U.S. Air Force. He is a member of<br />
the State <strong>Bar</strong> of California and admitted to practice before<br />
the U.S. District Court for the Eastern and Northern<br />
Districts of California as well as the U.S. Court of Federal<br />
Claims. He received his J.D. from Loyola Law School in<br />
1996. He received an M.S. from Rensselaer Polytechnic<br />
Institute in 1991 and a B.S. from the U.S. Air Force<br />
Academy in 1981.<br />
Lichtig’s practice focuses <strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong>, surety, and<br />
public c<strong>on</strong>tract law. He represents c<strong>on</strong>tractors, public and<br />
private owners, material suppliers and sureties in a wide<br />
array of matters. He also serves as a mediator, arbitrator and<br />
C<strong>on</strong>tinued <strong>on</strong> page 34<br />
JULY/AUGUST 2011 SACRAMENTO LAWYER<br />
33
In<br />
Community Service<br />
VLSP Partnership Helps<br />
Protect Juvenile Records By Vickie Jacobs,<br />
VLSP Managing<br />
Attorney<br />
September 2010, the Voluntary Legal Services<br />
Program of Northern California launched a<br />
new project that provides services to clients who need<br />
help with the sealing of their juvenile records. Our staff<br />
attorney for this project is Victoria Ciganda, who also<br />
manages VLSP's Employment Law Clinic. With the support<br />
of the law firm of DLA Piper, the legal department of<br />
Hewlett Packard in Roseville, and the <strong>Sacramento</strong> <strong>County</strong><br />
Probati<strong>on</strong> Department, Ciganda puts <strong>on</strong> a m<strong>on</strong>thly clinic<br />
where volunteers assist low income clients who are seeking<br />
the sealing of their juvenile records as provided by law.<br />
Sealing of juvenile records can help rehabilitated adults<br />
get into student loans, jobs and the military. C<strong>on</strong>trary to<br />
popular belief, juvenile records are not automatically sealed<br />
<strong>on</strong> a pers<strong>on</strong>'s 18th birthday; a petiti<strong>on</strong> must be filed to have<br />
the records sealed. At the age of 18, a pers<strong>on</strong> can have<br />
his/her juvenile records sealed. Once sealed, by law the<br />
juvenile proceedings are deemed never to have occurred,<br />
no <strong>on</strong>e can obtain access to the records, and they are<br />
destroyed five years from the date of sealing. The Clinic's<br />
staff and volunteers do not currently represent clients in<br />
legal proceedings, but they do give legal advice and help<br />
with the preparati<strong>on</strong> of the legal documents needed to seal<br />
juvenile records. Participati<strong>on</strong> in the Clinic allows clients<br />
to significantly expedite the record sealing process.<br />
The volunteers from DLA Piper and Hewlett Packard<br />
received training <strong>on</strong> the law regarding sealing of juvenile<br />
records and the petiti<strong>on</strong> paperwork. Officer Cathy McCoin<br />
Courthouse Steps - c<strong>on</strong>tinued from page 33<br />
special master. He has lectured <strong>on</strong> a variety of topics,<br />
including lean project delivery, mechanics’ liens and related<br />
remedies, and c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> claims and disputes. He is a<br />
member of the State <strong>Bar</strong> of California. He received his J.D.<br />
from the University of California, Davis, School of Law in<br />
1982. He received a B.A. from the University of California,<br />
Santa Cruz in 1979.<br />
Shower is a litigati<strong>on</strong> and transacti<strong>on</strong>al attorney specializing<br />
in c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> law with an emphasis <strong>on</strong> public and<br />
private c<strong>on</strong>tracting, mechanics’ liens, stop notices, and<br />
surety disputes. He is a member of the State <strong>Bar</strong> of<br />
California and admitted to practice before the U.S. Court of<br />
34 SACRAMENTO LAWYER JULY/AUGUST 2011<br />
of the <strong>Sacramento</strong> <strong>County</strong> Probati<strong>on</strong> Department initially<br />
screens prospective low-income clients to determine<br />
whether the Probati<strong>on</strong> Department c<strong>on</strong>siders them eligible<br />
for records sealing. The support of the Probati<strong>on</strong><br />
Department has been invaluable in providing training and<br />
<strong>on</strong>-site assistance at our m<strong>on</strong>thly clinic.<br />
The volunteers have found the experience at the Clinic<br />
rewarding. MariJo Rogers, of Hewlett Packard, says that<br />
she looks forward to going to the Clinic:<br />
"The opportunity to encourage a young pers<strong>on</strong> to speak<br />
about the positive activities they've been involved in, and<br />
the aspirati<strong>on</strong>s they have for their future, is rewarding.<br />
These are young adults who've run into serious trouble and<br />
have woken up, want to change. We know how hard that<br />
can be. But there it is, at night, and some of them come<br />
from far away, to work with us to get their record sealed.<br />
"One young man asked why we wore name tags with<br />
our first names <strong>on</strong> them. 'Is this so you know each other?'<br />
he asked. 'No,' we said, 'it's so you can know us.' He<br />
appeared taken by surprise and said that he never thought<br />
people would wear a name tag just for him. It's these<br />
small, unguarded moments that stay with me."<br />
VLSP is looking forward to a l<strong>on</strong>g associati<strong>on</strong> with DLA<br />
Piper, Hewlett Packard's legal department and the <strong>Sacramento</strong><br />
<strong>County</strong> Probati<strong>on</strong> Department in providing services that will<br />
allow young adults to move <strong>on</strong> with their lives and become<br />
productive citizens. For further informati<strong>on</strong> about this project,<br />
please c<strong>on</strong>tact Victoria Ciganda at (916) 551-2133.<br />
Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and all federal district courts.<br />
He received his J.D. from the University of California,<br />
Davis, School of Law in 1997. He received a B.S. from the<br />
University of California, Haas School of Business in 1994.<br />
Thomps<strong>on</strong>’s practice focuses <strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> matters,<br />
including the drafting of c<strong>on</strong>tracts, mediati<strong>on</strong>, arbitrati<strong>on</strong>,<br />
and litigati<strong>on</strong>. His specialties include insurance coverage,<br />
mechanics’ liens, stop notices, surety b<strong>on</strong>ds, bidding, and<br />
licensing. He is a member of the State <strong>Bar</strong> of California and<br />
admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the<br />
Eastern and Northern Districts of California. He received<br />
his J.D., with distincti<strong>on</strong>, from the University of the Pacific,<br />
McGeorge School of Law in 2000. He received a B.A. from<br />
the University of California, Davis in 1996.
Federal District Court Seeks Additi<strong>on</strong>al<br />
Volunteer Neutral Evaluators<br />
Index of Advertisers<br />
Annual Bench <strong>Bar</strong> Recepti<strong>on</strong> . . . . . . . . . . . .Back Cover<br />
ABAS Golf Tournament . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 4<br />
Bank of <strong>Sacramento</strong> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 10<br />
Buzz Wiesenfeld . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 6<br />
Darrel W. Lewis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 6<br />
Data Safe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 23<br />
Intercept . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 21<br />
JAMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 9<br />
Jay-Allen Eisen Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 5<br />
Ken Malovos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 23<br />
MaryBurroughsStudio.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 23<br />
Northern CA Collecti<strong>on</strong> Service . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 11<br />
<strong>Sacramento</strong> Law Library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 12<br />
Summer Associates Recepti<strong>on</strong> . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 29<br />
Thoms<strong>on</strong> West . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 15<br />
Ueltzen & Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 6<br />
WLS ArtFest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 30<br />
By Sujean Park, ADR and Pro B<strong>on</strong>o Director, U.S. Eastern District Court<br />
The United States District Court for the Eastern District<br />
of California is looking for experienced attorneys to<br />
volunteer as neutral evaluators in the court’s Voluntary<br />
Dispute Resoluti<strong>on</strong> Program (VDRP). The VDRP Panel currently<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sists of approximately 110 attorneys.<br />
The Eastern District has the heaviest caseload of any federal<br />
court in the United States. As a case management tool,<br />
the court employs various alternative dispute resoluti<strong>on</strong><br />
(ADR) methods. Through Local Rule 271, the court provides<br />
a form of ADR to civil litigants. Litigants appearing<br />
before the court can elect to participate in the program <strong>on</strong> a<br />
voluntary basis. Referral to the VDRP is c<strong>on</strong>tingent up<strong>on</strong> the<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sent of all parties. Through the program, an experienced<br />
litigator is designated as a neutral evaluator to meet with the<br />
parties to discuss the case and attempt to narrow the areas<br />
of dispute. In many instances the process leads to settlement<br />
outside of formal court proceedings.<br />
The success of the VDRP depends <strong>on</strong> those who serve <strong>on</strong><br />
Court News<br />
the panel of neutrals. The court strives to match parties with<br />
prospective neutral evaluators who have both experience and<br />
expertise in the area of law at issue. Every effort is made to<br />
distribute VDRP assignments am<strong>on</strong>g panel members so that<br />
each neutral is assigned no more than two cases each year.<br />
Pers<strong>on</strong>s selected to serve as neutral evaluators can complete<br />
the mandatory VDRP training in <strong>on</strong>e of two ways.<br />
VDRP panel members can view a court-provided DVD of the<br />
training sessi<strong>on</strong> or attend the next live training sessi<strong>on</strong>,<br />
which is tentatively scheduled for the summer or fall 2011.<br />
More detailed informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> the training will be available at<br />
a future date.<br />
Any<strong>on</strong>e interested in more informati<strong>on</strong> or in serving as a<br />
neutral evaluator should c<strong>on</strong>tact Sujean Park, ADR and Pro<br />
B<strong>on</strong>o Director for the U.S. Eastern District Court, at: 501 I<br />
Street, Suite 4-200, <strong>Sacramento</strong>, CA 95814. She can also be<br />
reached by teleph<strong>on</strong>e at (916)930-4278 or via email at<br />
spark@caed.uscourts.gov.<br />
C A L E N D A R<br />
Sec<strong>on</strong>d Wednesdays -- <strong>SCBA</strong> <strong>Bar</strong>risters serve at St. John’s Shelter for<br />
Women; C<strong>on</strong>tact Daniel Kim at 978-3434 or dkim@matheny-sears.com<br />
to volunteer<br />
July 1 -- Submissi<strong>on</strong> deadline for September/October issue of<br />
<strong>Sacramento</strong> Lawyer<br />
July 7 -- Joint Secti<strong>on</strong> Representatives' and MCLE Committee<br />
meeting, no<strong>on</strong>, <strong>SCBA</strong> Office<br />
July 21 -- <strong>Bar</strong>risters’ Club Nineteenth Annual Summer Associates<br />
Recepti<strong>on</strong>. Park Ultra Lounge from 5:30-7:30 p.m. This is a hosted<br />
event. C<strong>on</strong>tact Amanda Gimbel at agimbel@mathenysears.com or<br />
978-3434 – see page 29<br />
July 27 -- <strong>SCBA</strong> Appellate Law Secti<strong>on</strong> Summer Get-Together.<br />
1007 – 7th Street, Suite 500, 5:30 p.m. C<strong>on</strong>tact sfinelli700@yahoo.com<br />
September 1 -- Submissi<strong>on</strong> deadline for November/December issue of<br />
<strong>Sacramento</strong> Lawyer<br />
September 11 -- ABAS Golf Tournament. Turkey Creek. C<strong>on</strong>tact<br />
Golf@ABASLawFoundati<strong>on</strong>.org<br />
September 22 -- WLS Artfest at The Vizcaya, 6-8 p.m.<br />
C<strong>on</strong>tact Kimberly Lucia at klucia@boutinj<strong>on</strong>es.com or 321-4444<br />
October 12 -- <strong>SCBA</strong> Annual Bench <strong>Bar</strong> Recepti<strong>on</strong>. California<br />
Automobile Museum, 5:30-7:30 p.m. C<strong>on</strong>tact Recepti<strong>on</strong>@sacbar.org<br />
or call 564-3780 x 200 – see back cover<br />
JULY/AUGUST 2011 SACRAMENTO LAWYER<br />
35
SACRAMENTO COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE<br />
1329 Howe Ave., #100 • <strong>Sacramento</strong>, CA 95825<br />
SAVE THE DATE<br />
Wednesday, October 12, 2011<br />
California Automobile Museum<br />
2200 Fr<strong>on</strong>t Street, <strong>Sacramento</strong>, CA 95818<br />
Announcing Judge of the Year<br />
Appetizers and hosted bar<br />
Jazz combo<br />
For more informati<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>tact:<br />
Recepti<strong>on</strong>@sacbar.org or call 564-3780 x200