ABAS Starts a New Year
by Rick Sueyoshi, President

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As ABAS enters its twenty-first year of service to our community, I am honored to undertake the position of ABAS President. Through the devotion, hard work and caring of its past presidents, officers, directors, committees and representatives, ABAS has actively served its members, the Asian/Pacific Islander community and the Sacramento legal community for the past two decades. As the twentieth president of our strong and long-standing association, I look forward to leading the ABAS tradition of service through the New Year.

As I look to the next year, I see another exciting and productive year for ABAS. As in past years, ABAS will accomplish its many activities, events and tasks by the work of its standing committees of Advocacy and Issues, Budget and Finance, Community Relations, Community Services, Law School Liaison, Membership, Publications and Public Appointments. Through the significant time and effort of these committees, ABAS will continue to provide benefits for our membership, to address issues facing our API community, and to participate actively in our legal community. ABAS will also continue to promote the value and strength of diversity in the legal profession as it has under the guidance and leadership of 2001 ABAS president, Russell Hom.

While the year ahead of us promises to be busy and challenging, I am privileged to serve ABAS with the support of the dedicated and experienced individuals who serve as the 2002 ABAS officers, directors, committee chairs and representatives, including President Elect Robert King Fong, Vice President Lara B. Diaz, Secretary Jane Takenouchi, Treasurer Michael N. Mills, Immediate Past President Russell L. Hom, Directors at Large Mary Kennedy, Lan Wang, Darrel Woo and Mike S. Mireles, Committee Chairs Curtis Namba, Jerry Chong, Toso Himel and Donna Tamanaha, and Representatives Julie Weng-Gutierrez and Patricia Tsubokawa Reeves. Many of our officers and board members will also serve as ABAS committee chairs and representatives. ABAS is fortunate to have such a strong group of leaders in 2002. As in past years, however, the success of ABAS will not depend upon the effort of any one or any few individuals alone. The future success of this organization is equally dependent on the continued support of all the members and friends of ABAS.

As a kick-off to 2002, ABAS held its 21st Annual Installation, Awards and Lunar New Year Celebration on February 21, 2002. In addition to our active attorney, associate and law student members and our many community leaders, ABAS was honored to have the distinguished members of our judiciary in attendance including Justices Arthur Scotland, Connie Callahan, Daniel Kolkey, Ronald Robie and Richard Sims, and Judges Paul Beeman, Trena Burger-Plavan, Morrison England, Judy Hersher, Garry Ichikawa, Eulhwan Kang (visiting from Korea), Darrel Lewis, Alice Lytle, Cheryl Meegan, Marsha Nakawatase, Robert Shuman, Emily Vasquez, Michael Virga and Commissioner Esther Castellanos.

Also in attendance and in support of our event were our government officials including John Chiang, ABAS Community Service Award winner and Chair of the California State Board of Equalization, Demetrios Boutris, California Corporations Commissioner, Nelson Chan, Deputy Secretary of the Technology, Trade and Commerce Agency, Shelleyanne Chang, Chief Deputy Legal Affairs Secretary, County Supervisor Illa Collin, Kathryn Doi, Chief Counsel of the Technology, Trade & Commerce Agency, Barry Goode, Legal Affairs Secretary, Council member Dave Jones, Margret Kim, Chief Counsel of the Resources Agency, Cortez Quinn of County Supervisor Roger Dickinson's office, Floyd Shimomura, Chief Counsel of the Department of Finance, Genevieve Shiroma, Chair of the Agricultural Labor Relations Board & President of SMUD Board, Irene Tamura, Chief Counsel of the Health & Human Services Agency, Shirley Wang, Chief Counsel of the Office of Criminal Justice Planning and Bernice Yew, Chief Counsel of the Department of Motor Vehicles. ABAS was also honored to have in attendance Brian Landsberg, Associate Dean of McGeorge School of Law, Barbara Lehman, Executive Director of the Human Rights & Fair Housing Commission, Solano County Bar President Pamela Crowell and Sacramento County Bar President Mark Shusted.

It is through the strength and support of our bench, bar, members and friends that ABAS will continue to thrive and succeed in 2002. I am truly honored to lead ABAS and look forward to working with the Sacramento legal community this year.