The Sacramento County Bar Association Mission

"To enhance the system of justice, the lawyers who serve it, and the community served by it" is quite a mouthful and a weighty challenge to us all. However, it is not a challenge that we, as individuals or as an organization, shied away from or will fail to meet in the future.

Enhancing the System of Justice

Looking back, we can see that the SCBA has participated in many organizational activities to enhance the system of justice. For example, we have a strong bench/bar relationship forged and maintained by past presidents of the SCBA working closely with members of the bench.

The Lawyers Who Serve It

Recently, by working through the difficult and complex issues that will allow a strong SCBA Indigent Defense Panel to continue and to grow, we are assuring competent representation of all criminal defendants in Sacramento County. This ongoing process has been led by Bruce Cline, IDP Chair Teresa Huff, her committee, and concerned panel members working toward a solution with county officials and IDP Administrator, Fern Laethem.

The Community Served By It

SCBA has a long-standing commitment to the Voluntary Legal Services Program, which provides legal services to the underserved in the county. We have been proud to support the efforts of the Sacramento Law Foundation as it provides financial support for law-related education and law students. SCBA members also participate in the Volunteers in Parole Program, helping probationers transition to productive lives outside of correctional facilities. We have participated, through the Unity Bars and under the leadership of Judge Loncke, in the 4th and 5th Rs program, teaching high school students, in on-campus settings, their rights and responsibilities under the law.

Unfortunately, it is in the area of ENHANCING THE COMMUNITY SERVED BY the system of justice and therefore the ENHANCEMENT OF THE SYSTEM OF JUSTICE that we are faltering. Volunteers in Parole needs many more matches to be successful in our county, the 4th and 5th Rs Program is suffering from a generation gap-far too few lawyers know about it and are stepping up to see that it continues. The Sacramento County Bar Attorney Referral Service ("ARS") is a referral service run by the County Bar for SCBA members and for the Community. But, ARS needs more lawyers on its panel - good experienced lawyers as well as good new lawyers building their practices. I urge you to pick one of these opportunities to enhance the system of justice and the community served by it. A rewarding by-product will be the enhancement of SCBA lawyers, including you. If, for some reason, you absolutely can't participate in one of these areas, find someone else who can and will and have them call SCBA Executive Director, Carol Prosser at 448-1087, Ext. 204.

Improving the Image of Lawyers by Serving the Community is a "Win/Win" Activity

For those of you who can't participate in one of these projects, there is bound to be something for you to do to enhance the image of lawyers. The only reason there are fewer lawyer jokes these days is because there are so many HMO jokes. As a lawyer who has regulated HMOs for a number of years, I don't appreciate either type of joke.

I believe we need to solve the real problems and dispel the myths perpetuated about us. We need to do everything we can to restore confidence in the system of justice and in the legal profession. We need to talk about and otherwise advertise the good things that we do. We need to teach the law at every opportunity and we need to conduct ourselves in a manner that enhances the profession. We need to stand up and be counted for judicial independence, the rule of law and justice for all.

Many cities across the nation have formed alliances between bar associations and local government to challenge and combat racism. The ABA and the League of Cities have asked each of their affiliates to join in this effort. With your support, and in consultation with Sacramento's Unity organizations, the Unity Bar and the community-wide Capitol Unity Council, I intend to pursue this effort. I'll need your help.

Tuesday, May 1 is Law Day. Plan to have breakfast with us and to honor the SCBA Humanitarian of the Year and the local high school winners of Sacramento Law Foundation awards for Law Day related activities. The Law Day theme for 2001 is "Celebrate your Freedom: Protecting the Best Interests of our Children." This can be the beginning of some ongoing projects. It also offers an opportunity to support existing community projects that focus on our youth. For example, there is a wonderful Peer Counseling Project (known in other communities as "Teen Court"), lead by attorney John Barris, which needs the support of more lawyer mentors. [Ed note: see Community Service - Sacramento Youth Peer Court Seeks Volunteers] Official support of this and any project of course, will be the decision of the SCBA Bar Council. However, individual members of the SCBA have the power to help demonstrate the worthiness of projects. We need your help.

Some of you have asked, "What happened to Lawyers have Heart", the run/walk in support of the local chapter of the American Heart Association. For various organizational reasons - from the viewpoint of both organizations - we have not had the Second Annual Lawyers have Heart run. The proceeds go to an undisputedly good cause. People feel good doing it. SCBA needs your help in order to resume this project. If the run can be organized without the expenditure of funds and there are sufficient volunteers to supplement both American Heart Association and SCBA staff, a reasonable proposal can be put before the SCBA Bar Council.

If you have not paid your dues for 2001, please do so as soon as you finish reading this article. Also, please respond to the request for service on committees. Your dues packet lists all the committees and sections of the SCBA. You will want to join a section for the opportunity to meet and exchange ideas with others who practice in your field of law. This is also an opportunity to sign up for a committee to help implement the SCBA mission. Feel free to write in any suggestions or comments regarding the coming year. I will read them and you will get a response. Hopefully, you and I and the other leaders for 2001-our section chairs, committee chairs and members of the SCBA Council, will be able to turn some of your ideas into reality.

SCBA has many past accomplishments under the leadership of past presidents. As a second career lawyer, I have had the privilege of selecting among my role models many people who are younger than I as well as those revered senior lawyers in our community. The rich history of SCBA Presidents provides part of that list. Many SCBA members, including those I have met through the Wiley Manuel Bar Association and Women Lawyers of Sacramento round out that list of lawyer role models. Your other elected officers, Mark Shusted, first vice president, Bion Gregory, second vice president and Joan Stone, secretary/treasurer comprise a fine group of clear thinking, hard working people who are dedicated to responsible governance of the SCBA. With them, I look forward to serving as your president. I ask you to help us make 2001 the most successful yet for SCBA, as it lives up to its mission.