Kudos to the Women Lawyers of Sacramento and the Sacramento County Bar Association for their recent joint effort in hosting the Annual Bench and Bar Reception. Special thanks are in order to SCBA Bar Council members Bunmi Awoniyi and Lara Dunbar for their efforts organizing this event. This was the first time that both organizations jointly sponsored the bench bar reception to honor the Judge of the Year as well as the newly appointed judges. Congratulations again to Judge of the Year, Michael Virga, along with Justice Tani Cantil Sakauye on her appointment to the Court of Appeal, and newly appointed Judges Laurie M. Earl and Alan G. Perkins and Referee Marlene Hertoghe.

In the past, Women Lawyers and SCBA held separate events. After the reception, however, I received very positive comments from several judges who feel their social lives are a bit taxed. Several people expressed that they saw a better turnout of both judges and attorneys than in years past. Perhaps this gives credence to the old saying, “It’s quality, not quantity.” I hope this is the start of a new tradition.

There has been a buzz and flurry of activity recently surrounding judicial appointments. I have noticed a marked increase in the number of confidential evaluation forms sent out by the Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation of the State Bar of California (otherwise referred to as the “Jenny” Commission). As important as the Jenny Commission is for judicial appointments, there is an equally important component at the local bar level that few people know about. The Judiciary Committee of the Sacramento County Bar is the committee responsible for evaluating candidates that the Governor is considering for judicial appointment. I am told that the review and recommendation by the local county bars plays an important role in the Governor’s consideration for judicial appointment.

Past County Bar President Diane Wasznicky has chaired our bar’s Judiciary Committee for many years. Diane leads a cadre of committee members through a comprehensive review of each and every candidate sent down by the Governor’s office. Diane is truly one of the unsung heroes of the county bar, having spent years of dedicated service to this committee. We are fortunate to have not only the opportunity for input in the judicial nomination process, but also to have the dedicated work of Diane and all the committee members who provide legitimacy to this peer review process.

July / August 2005