San Francisco attorney Bill Hebert, who will take office as the State Bar's 86th president this month, brings efficiency and smarts to the top job as well as a hope that the bar will not face much controversy in the coming year.
The California Supreme Court’s 2009-2010 term will be remembered as the year Chief Justice Ronald M. George announced his intention to bring his distinguished career of leadership and public service to a close.
Tani Cantil-Sakauye will be on the November ballot after the Commission on Judicial Appointments last month unanimously confirmed her nomination to be the next chief justice of the California Supreme Court, paving the way for the Sacramento jurist to become the court’s first Filipina leader.
The State Bar’s dues bill, leaving member fees at the 2010 level of $410 per active member, was approved by the legislature last month and went to Gov. Schwarzenegger’s desk for his signature.
The State Bar’s popular Kids & the Law: An A-to-Z Guide for Parents will be published again this month and distributed free throughout the state to children and their parents.
The California Supreme Court last month declined to hear appeals by two San Jose lawyers who sought to avoid suspension because of their misconduct.
Beth Jay, principal attorney to Chief Justice Ronald George and a respected legal administrator and policy adviser, has been named recipient of the State Bar’s 2010 Bernard E. Witkin Medal, which recognizes “those legal giants among us who have altered the landscape of California jurisprudence.”
A bill to authorize expedited jury trials, a streamlined method for handling certain civil cases in a more cost-effective manner for the litigants and the courts, sailed through the legislature on a unanimous vote last month, enjoying the same level of support it has drawn from plaintiff and defense lawyers, as well as other parties typically involved in civil cases.
Dennis Mangers, a one-time teacher with a long history in Sacramento as an Assembly member, political adviser and lobbyist, has been appointed a public member of the State Bar Board of Governors.
Sept. 1 marks the start of a new “Find Legal Help” feature on the State Bar website that allows the public to get more information about California attorneys that may aid in their decision to hire a particular lawyer. Attorneys are invited to add a photo and information to their public record such as area(s) of practice, additional language(s) spoken and law firm website address.