The Family Law Section of the SCBA and the family law judges have worked together for many years in improving the practice of family law. One of the vehicles for doing this has been the Liaison Committee. This committee is made up of the Family Law Section Executive Committee, family law judges, family law court administrator, and family court services supervisor. This committee meets on a monthly basis to discuss family law issues. Twice a year the local rules are reviewed and revised as needed by this group. Family law issues are addressed on an ongoing basis. Current members include: executive committee members Claire Buckey, Gerald Kossow, Jill Barr, Bob O'Hair, and Mary Molinaro; Family Court Supervisor Faye Clark; Family Law Court Administrator Claudia George; Judges Michael Ullman, Peter McBrien, James Mize, and Charles Kobayashi; and Commissioners Scott Harman and Matt Gary.

The Family Law Liaison Committee members posed in front of the William R. Ridgeway Family Relations Courthouse. Top row, from left to right: Jill Barr, Commission Neil Shepard, Robert O'Hair, Claire Buckey, Judge Michael Ullman, Jerri L. Johnson, Judge Peter McBrien, and Gerald Kossow. Bottow row: Faye Clarke, Judge Charles Kobayashi, Claudia George, Judge Jim Mize, Mary Molinaro, Commission Scott Harman. Missing: Commission Matthew Gary.

The Family Law Section is an active section, especially when it comes to alternative dispute resolution. A couple of years ago, a group of family law attorneys and mental health professionals, in collaboration with the Family Law Court, set up a program on Monday afternoons during the pro per calendar. To assist the court with the pro per litigant calendar in all of the family law departments, attorneys and mental health professionals who have specialized training in mediation volunteer their time to assist the litigants in resolving their cases. These attorneys give up their Monday afternoons to assist the parties in resolving their issues and to draft any stipulations reached by the parties. This has been a very successful program and has assisted the Court greatly in improving the system and assisting the unrepresented segment of the litigants, an ever-growing population.

In addition, several years ago, a group of family law attorneys, in collaboration with family law judges, developed a pro tem settlement calendar to enable the litigants to resolve their family law issues without the necessity of a trial. Settlement conferences are held five days a week in Department 128 at the William R. Ridgeway Family Relations Courthouse and are staffed each day by two experienced family law attorneys who preside over the calendar as pro tem judges. One calendar a week is devoted for the pro per litigants. In addition, each day at lunchtime, the pro tem judges give up their lunch hour to run support variations through the use of the Court's computerized software for pro per litigants. Settlement conferences for family law cases are mandatory and are held one week before trial. About 95% of the cases settle at that point. The program has been extremely helpful and as a result, cases that do go to trial do not have difficulty in getting a courtroom. The program is overseen by the Family Law Executive Committee and the Court.

One of the newer family law projects is the Kobayashi Award. This award was started by the Family Law Section in 1999. It was created as a tribute to, and in recognition of, Judge Charles Kobayashi's outstanding service to the Family Law bar, bench, and community. The Family Law Section wanted the legal community to recognize Judge Kobayashi as a model for such excellence in the future and at the same time to utilize the award as a vehicle in and of itself to improve the area of family law through a gift to the Children's Fund, which benefits children's needs in family law cases. Traditionally, the section raises approximately $5,000 each year.

The Family Law Section's latest project, which has been spearheaded by the Family Law Executive Committee of the Family Law Section, is the Sacramento Children's Fund. This is a non-profit corporation designed to fund the needs of children in family law cases where minor's counsel has been appointed. The section has raised nearly $20,000 to start this fund.

Family Law Section luncheons are well attended. They are held on the first Tuesday of each month at the Dante Club, where each month a speaker presents a program on family law issues. Usually, these luncheons are attended by all of the family law judges. Family law attorneys range between 80-150 in attendance. The Holiday Luncheon is the most popular in December of each year. Traditionally attended by the Judge's Choir, made up of family law judges and former family law judges including appellate Justices Ronald Robie and Arthur Scotland. Lyrics are written by Paul Brimberry, CFLS, which involve family law issues sung to popular holiday tunes.

The Family Law Section is a very cohesive and friendly group. Traditionally, the section hosts a number of social events including the Family Law Picnic, this year scheduled for July 24, the Courthouse Potluck, and the Holiday Luncheon. These events are usually well attended by Family Law Section attorneys, judges, and mental health professionals.

All of these programs and events would not be complete without a vehicle for communication. The Family Law Counselor was started in 1992. It is a newsletter section members receive at no charge. Editor-In-Chief is Mary Molinaro. It has become the vehicle for all family law news from the section or the Court. It is self-supporting with regular advertisers and subscribers and helps to keep the bench and bar working together in a cohesive and collaborative manner.

Anyone wishing to become a member of or learn more about the Family Law Section may contact Mary Molinaro at Bartholomew, Wasznicky & Molinaro, LLP at (916) 455-5200 or e-mail mary@divorcepage.com.