The theme of this issue of the magazine is probate and estate planning law. If you are like me, the last time you gave any significant thought to this area of the law was when you attempted to cram the basic principles of wills and trusts into your head prior to the bar examination. Of course, this ostrich's-head-in-the-sand approach to probate and estate planning is ill-advised. All of us must face our own mortality. Fortunately, our legal community possesses many lawyers who can help us address our legal needs in this area. Many of them are members of the SCBA's Estate Planning and Probate Section. The members of that section's executive committee are featured on our cover this month.

Gina Lera, the section's chair, has contributed a overview of the section's activities in promoting the practice of estate planning and probate law in our community. Sarah Ream has written a helpful guide to probate and estate planning law for those of us who do not practice in this area. Two veteran specialists in the estate planning and probate field, Donald Poole and Borden Webb, are the subjects of profiles written by, respectively, L. Stuart List and Nicole De Santis.

Besides estate planning and probate law articles, this issue also features articles about significant events in our legal community. These events include the investitures of new U.S. Magistrate Judge Kim Mueller and Superior Court Judge Shelleyanne Chang and the appointment of new United States Attorney McGregor Scott. SCBA President Bion Gregory devotes his column this month to Operation Protect and Defend, an effort to teach local high school students about the basic legal principles of our government and court system. Photos by Ken Rabiroff of a March lecture at Luther Burbank High School by author Mark Curriden that was part of that program begin on page 24.

McGeorge Dean Elizabeth Rindskopf Parker has graciously allowed us to re-print her speech to the Barristers Club's Supreme Court luncheon. I think you will agree that her remarks on the role of the law in our foreign policy are both timely and interesting.

I would like to thank the many volunteers whose efforts are so essential to the production of this magazine. I would also like to dedicate this issue to my son, Henry. Henry, pictured right, was born on March 19th. During the past month, Henry has become the center of the universe for me and my wife, Kris Burks. Welcome, Henry!