After 3 semesters in law school, I (Helene Friedman) was sure it was a mistake: midtown Manhattan to Davis, California, the entertainment industry to the staid, analytic legal arena, aspiring New York theatre actors and directors to singleminded, outspoken, political law students. What hath I wrought? Serendipitously, I learned that the chambers of the late Judge Milton L. Schwartz of the U.S. District Court, Eastern District, sought a judicial extern and, desperate for relief, I applied. The interview was surprisingly pleasant and I began an experience that changed my life. One law clerk who I only remember as JoAnne, a Boalt alumna, was gracious, tenacious and taught me how to be obsessive about my work product without getting nuts. She trained me slowly, methodically, until my part-time schedule expanded well beyond that. Eventually, I dove into my research assignments, scrupulously fine-tooth combing the arguments, researching omissions in the law and motion documents, composing tentative rulings based on my own research which I read and reread because that's the way it was done. The zenith of that semester was observing Judge Schwartz preside over a sharply contested attorney fee dispute after which he issued his ruling. The Court adopted and read my tentative ruling from the bench, verbatim ... heady stuff for a law student who thought she was in the wrong place and on the wrong road.

Externing whetted my appetite for the courtroom and led me to four extraordinary years as a research attorney at Los Angeles Superior Court. Awed, I watched the dramas of everyday life unfold in courtrooms throughout that great old building on Hill Street in downtown LA. Daily, I observed the third branch of government in action. Issues that continually resurfaced: access to the courts, justice, fairness, judicial discretion, to litigate, to arbitrate? Litigation. What comprises litigation anyway: a courtroom, summary judgment motions, pro se plaintiffs, trials, witness preparation, status conferences, experts, new judges, opposing counsel, clients? The myriad challenges of litigation are boundless and unpredictable for all involved, the court included.

This issue is dedicated, in part, to litigation and, in part, to the four new judicial appointees gracing our cover and now pre- siding in Sacramento Superior Court: Judges Michael Savage, Raoul Thorbourne, Michael W. Sweet and Eugene L. Balonon. Each of these jurists is profiled herein so the Sacramento legal community can get to know them. Good luck to them all in their new positions.

Tips on litigation are also provided: Toso Himel, an Assistant U.S. Attorney since 1979 and former editor of this magazine, provides tips on how to navigate the Robert T. Matsui United States Courthouse.

Two Yolo County attorneys, Chad Carlock, a civil litigator from Davis and Jessie Morris, Jr., Chief Deputy Public Defender of Yolo County, give us the nitty-gritty on practicing law in Yolo.

Consider the Honorable Loren McMaster's 6th installment of Unraveling the Complex World of Summary Judgment Practice, which focuses on evidentiary issues in summary judgment motion practice. It will be time well spent.

This year, Sacramento Superior Court has revamped judicial assignments effective January 30, 2006. Pamela Reynolds, Public Information Officer, Sacramento Superior Court, provided this magazine with the new Department Assignments. We publish them herein so that when you're scheduled to appear, you know, ahead of time, where to go, what building it is in, and who the new judge is. How's that for service? Thank you, Pamela.

And don't miss the surprising, sublime and wondrous reminder Coral Henning, Sacramento's own public law librarian, authored this month on the benefits of using the mighty thesaurus. The Surfing from River City sidebar focuses on litigation and judicial profiles.

Volunteers in Parole has a new director, introduced to you in this issue. Also along the lines of things happening in Sacramento's legal community, check out the Crab Feed, Valentine Fun Run, and Barristers' articles and photos.

Finally, again from Heather and Helene: this is the magazine of the Sacramento legal community. You are cordially invited to send us articles, opinion pieces, event notices (60 days in advance, please!), advertisements and announcements. The best way to reach us is via email. Heather is at Hhoganson@cgcc.ca.gov and Helene is at Helene.Friedman@dss.ca.gov Enjoy!