The Official Publication of the Riverside County Bar Association

Riverside

County

LAWYER

Riverside County Bar Association

4129 Main St., Ste. 100, Riverside, CA 92501

RCBA 951-682-1015 LRS 951-682-7520

www.riversidecountybar.com [email protected]

P RSRT STD

US P O STA G E

PAID

PERM IT # 1 0 54

R IV E R S ID E , C A

December 2022 • Volume 72 Number 11

MAGAZINE

The Official Publication of the Riverside County Bar Association

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CONTENTS

Riverside Lawyer, December 2022 1

Columns:

3 .............................................................. President’s Message by Lori Myers

5 ............................................Barristers President’s Message by Lauren Vogt

COVER STORIES:

20 .............................................................. Installation of Officers Dinner 2022

11.................................................................................Jacqueline Carey-Wilson:

Recipient of the 2022 E. Aurora Hughes Meritorious Award for Service

Remarks delivered by Stephen G. Larson at the Annual Installation of

the RCBA on September 22, 2022

Features:

3............................................................................. RCBA’s Lawyer Referral Service

by Jean-Simon Serrano

7 .......................................................................

Leo A. Deegan American Inn Of Court

by Honorable Jennifer Gerard

8 ..........................................................................................................

Project Graduate

by L. Alexandra Fong

9 ............................................................

Southwest Riverside County Bar Association:

Don’t Underestimate the Value of Your Local Bar Association

by Shalah Fisher

13 ............................

RCBA-Riverside Superior Court-ABOTA New Attorney Academy

by Robyn Lewis

14 ........................................................................................................

State Bar Update

by James Heiting

17 ............................................................................

Inland Empire Bankruptcy Forum

by Michael Gouveia

18 ............................................................

Why Don’t We Have More Latina/o Lawyers?

A Personal Reflection & HBAIE’s Call to Action

by Albert J. Maldonado

19 .............................................................................

Diversity on the Bench: Our Role

by Alejandro Barraza

22 ....................................................................Opposing Counsel: Kiki Manti Engel

by Chris Johnson

23 ........................................................... Judicial Profile: The Honorable Jerry Yang

by Betty Fracisco

24 ................................................

Luis E. Lopez and Judge Tara Reilly Honored at the

31st Annual Red Mass

by Jacqueline Carey-Wilson

Publications Committee

Officers of the Bar Association

Officers of the Barristers Association

President

Lauren Vogt

(951) 781-6500

[email protected]

President-Elect

David Rivera

Secretary

Priscilla George

Editor ..............................................

Jacqueline Carey-Wilson

Copy Editor ......................................................

Juanita Mantz

Design and Production ...........

PrintMyStuff.com (PIP Riverside)

Cover Design ..........................

PrintMyStuff.com, Marian Semic

President

Lori Myers

(949) 300-3596

[email protected]

Vice President

Mark A. Easter

(951) 686-1450

Mark.Easter@bbklaw.com

Secretary

Elisabeth A. Lord

(951) 338-5344

elisabeth@lordfamilylaw.com

President-Elect

Kelly Moran

(951) 955-6300

[email protected]

Chief Financial Officer

Megan G. Demshki

(951) 534-4006

megan@aitkenlaw.com

Past President

Neil Okazaki

(951) 739-4987

[email protected]

Riverside County Bar Association

4129 Main Street, Suite 100

Riverside, California 92501

Telephone

951-682-1015

Internet

www.riversidecountybar.com

Facsimile

951-682-0106

E-mail

[email protected]

Sophia Choi

Melissa Cushman

Megan Demshki

DW Duke

Abram Feuerstein

Stefanie Field

Allan Fong

Alexandra Fong

Betty Fracisco

Andrew Gilliland

Amy Guldner

Boyd Jensen

Megan Kilmer

Robyn Lewis

Juanita Mantz

Charlene Nelson

Wade Pyun

David Rivera

Nesa Targhibi

Gabriel White

Lisa Yang

Executive Director

Charlene Nelson

(951) 682-1015

charlene@riversidecountybar.com

Directors-at-Large

Erica Alfaro

(951) 656-8313

[email protected]

Goushia Farook

(951) 684-9000

[email protected]

Heather Green

(951) 682-5110

[email protected]

Chris Johnson

(951) 695-8700

cjohnson@rhlaw.com

Treasurer

Kevin Collins

Members-at-Large

Alejandro Barraza

Ankit Bhakta

Summer DeVore

Sandra Lattouf

Sharon Ramirez

Past President

Michael Ortiz

Calendar .................. 2

Membership .............. 28 Classified Ads ............. 28

Departments:

2 Riverside Lawyer, December 2022

The Riverside Lawyer is published 11 times per year by the Riverside County

Bar Association (RCBA) and is distributed to RCBA members, Riverside

County judges and administrative officers of the court, community leaders

and others interested in the advancement of law and justice. Advertising and

an nounce ments are due by the 6

day of the month preceding publications

(e.g., October 6 for the November issue). Articles are due no later than 45

days preceding pub li ca tion. All articles are subject to editing. RCBA members

receive a subscription au to mat i cal ly. Annual sub scrip tions are $30.00 and

single copies are $3.50.

Submission of articles and photographs to Riverside Lawyer will be deemed

to be authorization and license by the author to publish the material in the

Riverside Lawyer.

The material printed in the Riverside Lawyer does not necessarily reflect

the opin ions of the RCBA, the editorial staff, the Publication Committee, or

other columnists. Legal issues are not discussed for the purpose of answering

spe cif ic questions. Independent research of all issues is strongly encouraged.

Mission stateMent Calendar

Established in 1894

The Riverside County Bar Association, established in 1894 to foster

social in ter ac tion between the bench and bar, is a professional or ga ni-

zation that pro vides con tinu ing education and offers an arena to re solve

various prob lems that face the justice system and attorneys prac tic ing in

Riverside Coun ty.

RCBA Mission Statement

The mission of the Riverside County Bar Association is:

To serve our members, our communities, and our legal system.

Membership Benefits

Involvement in a variety of legal entities: Lawyer Referral Service

(LRS), Riverside Legal Aid, Fee Ar bi tra tion, Client Re la tions, Dis pute

Res o lu tion Ser vice (DRS), Barristers, Leo A. Deegan Inn of Court, Mock

Trial, State Bar Con fer ence of Del e gates, Bridg ing the Gap, and the RCBA

- Riverside Superior Court New Attorney Academy.

Membership meetings monthly (except July and August) with key note

speak ers, and par tic i pa tion in the many committees and sections.

Eleven issues of Riverside Lawyer published each year to update you

on State Bar matters, ABA issues, local court rules, open forum for com-

mu ni ca tion, and timely busi ness matters.

Social gatherings throughout the year: Installation of RCBA and

Bar risters Of fic ers din ner, Law Day ac tiv i ties, Good Citizenship Award

ceremony for Riv er side Coun ty high schools, and other special activities,

Continuing Legal Education brown bag lunches and section work shops.

RCBA is a cer ti fied provider for MCLE programs.

December

Civil Litigation Roundtable with

Hon. Craig Riemer

Noon - Zoom

MCLE

8 RCBA Holiday Mixer

5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Raincross Pub + Kitchen

3557 University Ave., Riverside

12 Elves Shopping Night

4:00 P.M.

Walmart

6250 Valley Springs - Riverside

Contact RCBA for more information

13 Civil Litigation Section

Noon - Zoom

Speaker: Amy Guldner, Esq.

Topic: “Is Being ‘Functional’ Enough?

Science and Story on Reframing Alcohol”

MCLE – 1 hour Competence

14 Criminal Law Section Meeting

Noon - Zoom

Speaker: Monica Nguyen

Topic: “ Understanding Forensic

Mental Health Evaluations”

MCLE

14-15 RCBA Wrapping Elves

RCBA Boardroom – 4:00 p.m.

Contact RCBA for more information

26 Christmas Holiday

RCBA Office Closed

January

13 MCLE MARATHON

Please see information on page 22

EVENTS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

For the latest calendar information

please visit the RCBA’s website at

riversidecountybar.com.

ON THE COVER:

RCBA Board

Back row (l-r): – Chris Johnson, Elisabeth Lord,

Goushia Farook, Lauren Vogt, Mark Easter

Front row (l-r): – Erica Alfaro, Megan Demshki, Lori

Myers, Kelly Moran, Neil Okazaki

(not pictured – Heather Green)

Barristers

Back row (l-r): – Michael Ortiz, Lauren Vogt, Kevin

Collins, Alejandro Barraza, Ankit Bhakta

Front row (l-r): – Priscilla George, Summer DeVore,

Sandra Lattouf, Sharon Ramirez, David Rivera

Photos by Michael Elderman

Riverside Lawyer, December 2022 3

out effort, each and every year to find ways to fundraise so that we can

give back more. We are thankful for the long list of RCBA Past Presidents.

Jack Clarke, Sophia Choi and Neil Okazaki are three of the recent past

presidents who have kept this organization running strong and making

improvements each and every year. Thanks to them we were able to facili

tate the RCBA building having a complete upgrade. And I want to make

sure we keep showing appreciation for the RCBA’s diligent staff who keep

the wheels of the organization going. I know myself, your current presi

dent, Kelly Moran your next president and of course Mark Easter who will

follow Ms. Moran are here to do our part and enhance this organization to

meet the needs of its members. As usual, I invite you to reach out to myself

or Charlene Nelson if you have some suggestions of ways you would like

to see RCBA get involved or host some type of event.

It is an honor and privilege to be a part of this organization. As your

president I want to remind you- we need YOU to get involved. We look for

ward to seeing you at our local events. Please make a note— we are having

an informal holiday celebration at Raincross Pub + Kitchen on Thursday,

December 8 from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm. This will be a no host bar, everyone

just meet at this location. Let’s celebrate together as a community that

we made it through 2022. We look forward to supporting each other and

becoming more connected and closer throughout the upcoming year. All

are welcome, just show up. See you there.

As you will notice, in this month’s magazine, there is a pleothora of

organizations to get involved with - challenge yourself - what interests

you? Try something new, try connecting with your local community mem

bers. We look forward to welcoming you.

Wishing everyone a joyful holiday season.

Lori Myers is a local private criminal defense attorney and founder of the

Warrior Attorney Academy©.

I wanted to take this opportunity to wish

everyone a very happy holiday season. I know

this is a season filled with so many celebra

tions and with that I want to also celebrate

the Riverside County Bar Association and the

members that make up this great organiza

tion. We can only be as good as the people

willing to participate and help the organiza

tion excel and thankfully we have an excellent

group of lawyers at RCBA.

I have always loved this organization for

the many ways it reaches out and helps net

work and connect fellow lawyers in the com-

munity but also reaches out to our local com-

munity members and gives back.

We are so grateful for Alexandra Fong and

her exceptional fundraising skills who puts

by Lori Myers

rCBa’s lawyer referral serviCe

by Jean-Simon Serrano

Did you know that the RCBA has something

called the LRS? If so, do you know what it does?

For the uninitiated, the Lawyer Referral Service

(LRS) was established in 1968 as a non-profit pub

lic service to help individuals and businesses with

legal matters in Riverside County find qualified

legal assistance at a reasonable cost. The Riverside

County Bar’s LRS is certified by the California State

Bar and meets American Bar Association Standards

for a lawyer referral service.

Those looking for legal help can call LRS or

initiate a consultation through LRS’s website to

request a referral to an attorney for a low-cost con

sultation.

For most cases, the consultation fee is $40,

which goes to LRS (not the attorney) to cover

administrative expenses. Should the referral result

in the attorney being retained, LRS receives a percentage of any attorney fees.

There is NO CONSULTATION FEE for personal injury, social security, or workers’

compensation cases.

LRS maintains panels of attorneys in a variety of practice areas. We encourage

our members to consider joining one or more panels. LRS can always use more

attorneys, particularly in the following areas: landlord/tenant (tenant side), trade

marks/copyright, military, immigration, tort/negligence, consumer contract and

medical malpractice. LRS also needs attorneys who are bilingual in one or more

languages. It’s a great way to help the community, the bar association, and your

own practice!

If you are interested in joining an LRS panel, you can find information and

application forms on the LRS website (https://riversidecountybar.com/public-

services/lawyer-referral-service) or call 951.682.7520.

Jean-Simon Serrano is with the firm of Heiting & Irwin in Riverside, a member

of the LRS Committee and a past president of the RCBA.

4 Riverside Lawyer, December 2022

Riverside Lawyer, December 2022 5

Barristers President’s Message

by Lauren Vogt

Barrister’s Wishing you a

Happy and Safe Holiday!

Your Barrister’s Board has

continued to have a productive

year. In the time since our last

article we have held a success-

ful MCLE and more happy hour

socials!! We continue to work hard

to bring our members fun and

educational events to experience.

Ethics MCLE

For those of you who missed it, the RCBA Barristers

teamed up with the American Board of Trial Advocates

(ABOTA) to hold an Ethics MCLE. The event was hosted at

the University of La Verne College of Law and was presented

as a hybrid event to assist our local attorneys in getting those

highly coveted specialty MCLE credits. We had an outstanding

attendance of over 80 people and were happy to provide this

event to our members.

For those who were able to make it, we are always open to

feedback on your experience and invite our members to reach

out to us with additional requests for MCLEs. Keep in mind

there are many of you out there, like myself, who will need to

be submitting MCLE compliance, which is February 2023, so

mark your calendars.

Currently, we have received numerous requests for an

MCLE that would meet the “competency” requirement and so

we are working to try to get an event on the books by January.

Please keep an eye out for updates on that!

Honoring One of Our Own

I would be remiss if I did not take a moment to acknowl-

edge one of our very own Inland Empire attorneys who

received an exceptional honor this last weekend, Greg Rizio.

On November 19, 2022, Greg Rizio was installed as the presi

dent of the Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC). The

CAOC is a state-wide professional organization that represents

the interests of 39 million Californians. Its member-attorneys

stand for plaintiffs seeking accountability from those who do

wrong, primarily through effectuating legislative change. This

is a huge accomplishment and we on the Barrister’s board

extend a heartfelt congratulations to Greg Rizio! We know that

you will represent the Inland Empire well!

Wrapping Elves

We are calling on all attorneys to join us for our next major

event: the Barristers are gathering to participate in the RCBA

annual Elves wrapping program. For those who have been liv

ing under a rock, every year, through the gracious donations

of its members, the RCBA holds a magical event where we are

able to buy, wrap, and deliver holiday gifts to under privileged

families.

This year, your Barristers will participate in the wrapping

on December 14, 2022, and we could use all the help we can

get. We encourage anyone who is available and interested to

join us for the wrapping fun, which will, of course, be followed

by one of our wonderful happy hour social events! So, please

join us (NO professional wrapping experience required)!!

When it comes to social events, in addition to the multiple

happy hours we have planned for Barristers to hang out and

relax, we are looking forward to the return of our annual judi

cial reception, which always offers an amazing opportunity to

network with Riverside’s judicial bench. Also, we are looking

forward to teaming up with Inland Counties Legal Services and

logging some pro bono hours helping those in need. Anyone

interested in joining us, is more than welcome and I encourage

you to reach out to me at 951-781-6500, or shoot me an email,

[email protected], I would love to chat with you

For upcoming events and updates:

Website:RiversideBarristers.org

Facebook: Facebook.com/RCBABarristers/

Instagram: @RCBABarristers

Lauren M. Vogt is an associate with Rizio Lipinsky Law Firm.

6 Riverside Lawyer, December 2022

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Riverside Lawyer, December 2022 7

The Leo A. Deegan American Inn of Court is one of

the Riverside chapters of the American Inns of Courts.

It was formally organized in 1985. The purpose of the

American Inns of Courts is to improve the ethics, profes-

sionalism, and skills of members of the bench and the bar.

All of the American Inns in the United States are dedicated

to promoting and fostering excellence in the areas of

civility, legal capability, ethics, and professionalism. The

Leo A. Deegan Inn of Court is a professional organiza-

tion comprised of attorneys and judicial officers. The

organization was founded in 1992 by Honorable Sharon

Waters, Honorable Robert J. Timlin, Stanley Orrock,

James Heiting, and Terry Bridges.

The Leo A. Deegan Inn was named for the Honorable

Leo A. Deegan, a man with enormous presence in the

Riverside legal community. After having an impressive

legal career as an attorney, he was appointed to the bench

by Governor Edmund Brown in 1959. He served as a judge

on the Riverside Superior Court until his retirement in

1975. Over the next ten years, he served as an assigned

judge in various courts in northern California. During

1988-1989, he served for 14 months on the Court of

Appeal, Third Appellate District, in Sacramento.

As part of the Achieving Excellence Program of the

American Inns of Court, the Deegan Inn engages in pro-

fessional outreach with other members of the legal com-

munity. During the year we invite attorneys and judicial

officers to attend the meetings to engage with members

and to experience the benefits being an inn of court

member. Throughout the year the Leo A. Deegan Inn

will honor alumni, emeritus, and honorary members. In

addition, we will invite the heads of the local legal offices

such as the district attorney, public defender and county

counsel to a meeting.

We kicked off the Inn of Court year at the September

orientation meeting. During the orientation, members

were informed as to the theme for the presentation,

what month they would present, what team they were

on, and learned what Judicial Master was the leader of

the team. The theme for this year is a song. Teams will

choose a song and name their team after a musician or

music group. Teams will then prepare a legal presenta-

tion. Traditionally in the orientation meeting, the win-

ning team from the previous year is awarded the Inn of

Court trophy. The 2021-2022 winning team was Team

Jackie Robinson and the title of the presentation was

“Representing the Professional Athlete.” The team mem-

bers were L. Alexander Fong, Richard Majchrzak, Mary

Reyna, Jean-Simon Serrano, Gabriel White, Keith Fredric

Willis, Erica Alfaro, and Dawn Saenz.

During the last meeting of the year, the Community

Service team will present on their community service

projects throughout the year. In past years, the commu-

nity service projects have been donating to local charities,

helping with victims of sex trafficking, and underserved

families. In addition to the community service presenta-

tion, we honor judges and attorneys for their contribu-

tions to our community. The Outstanding Jurist award

is given to a judicial officer for his or her professional

accomplishments and contributions to the legal commu-

nity. The 2021-2022 recipient was the Honorable Craig

Riemer. Another award presented is the Terry Bridges

award. This honor is given to an attorney for his or her

professional accomplishments and contributions to the

legal community. The recipient for the 2021-2022 year

was Richard Quintino from the Riverside County Public

Defender’s office. The last award given for the 2021-2022

year was the Biddle Book Award. This award is given to

an outstanding attorney who exemplifies the goals of the

Inn and for his or her professionalism and dedication to

the legal community. This award was given to Matthew

Forsse.

Applications for membership are accepted yearly and

membership acceptance letters are sent out in August.

Scholarships to assist covering the dues (but not meals)

are also awarded. Applications will be posted on the website

at https://deeganinnofcourt. org. Members are required to

be active members of RCBA for the entirety of the Inn of

court year. The Inn’s fiscal year runs from July 1 to June

30 of every year. Applications may be downloaded from

the Inn’s website or obtained from Executive Director

Sherri Gomez, who may be contacted at (951) 689-1910

or [email protected]. Applications may also be

available at the Riverside County Bar Association office.

Judge Jennifer Gerard is the Supervising Judge of the Family

Law Division for the Riverside County Superior Court.

leo a. deegan aMeriCan inn of Court

by Honorable Jennifer Gerard

8 Riverside Lawyer, December 2022

Project Graduate eventually became one of the core programs of

Riverside County Bar Foundation, the charitable arm of RCBA.

Project Graduate assists foster youth to graduate from high

school. Foster youth volunteer to be part of the program and are

appointed an educational representative from RCBA’s group of

volunteers who have undergone an extensive background check.

Project Graduate continues to seek volunteers who are willing to

commit approximately two to four days per month in assisting

foster youth.

In the 2022-2023 program year, we have approximately

thirteen students participating. With each passing month, some

students withdraw from the program and are replaced with new

students. At this time, it is unknown how many students will

graduate from high school at the end of the program year. Since

its inception, fifty-two foster students have graduated from high

school with the assistance of Project Graduate.

L. Alexandra Fong is a deputy county counsel for the County of

Riverside, practicing juvenile dependency in its Child Welfare

Division. She is a past-president of RCBA (2017-2018) and the

Leo A. Deegan Inn of Court (2018-2019). She is chair of the

Project Graduate Steering Committee and co-chair of the Juvenile

Law Section of RCBA. She is a member of the Bar Publications

Committee and CLE Committee.

Project Graduate, a joint program of Riverside County

Department of Public Social Services, Riverside Superior Court,

and Riverside County Bar Association, began in 2011 when

Riverside Superior Court Presiding Judge Sherrill Ellsworth

announced the court’s desire to help foster youths throughout

Riverside County graduate from high school and become produc-

tive community members.

Honorable Matthew Perantoni, then

a commissioner handling juvenile dependency matters in the

Riverside branch of the Juvenile Courts, would ultimately hold

the educational calendars in his courtroom.

Brian Unitt, then a member of the Board of Directors of

RCBA, volunteered to chair the Steering Committee for RCBA

and chaired the program from 2011-2021. Additional volun-

teers included Barrie Roberts, Connie Younger, Luis Lopez,

Ashley Sedaghat, and Honorable Mona Nemat, prior to her

judicial appointment. Luis would eventually become one of the

first educational representatives to work with foster students.

1 See article by then-attorney Mona Nemat in the November 2011

issue of Riverside Lawyer.

2 Hon. Jacqueline Jackson and Hon. Cheryl Murphy also oversaw

the educational calendars during their assignments to Juvenile

Court. The educational calendar is now being handled by Hon.

Mona Nemat.

ProjeCt graduate

by L. Alexandra Fong

Riverside Lawyer, December 2022 9

Like many of the members of the Southwest Riverside

County Bar Association (“SWRCBA”), I am a proud local

who grew up in the small town of Wildomar in Riverside

County. Although I attended undergraduate school in San

Diego and law school in Eugene, Oregon, I eventually

made my way back home to settle down and practice law.

As those of us who practice law in Southwest Riverside

County know, we have a small legal community where

most practitioners are familiar with one another. Joining

the board of directors of the SWRCBA this past year has

given me the opportunity to connect on a deeper level

with other local attorneys, their support staff, and even

judges.

Although modest in member size and financial resourc-

es, our local bar association offers relationship building

that many find more difficult in larger associations. Our

monthly luncheons have an intimate atmosphere that

naturally comes when you have a smaller group that

meets regularly. We enjoy lunch, learn something new

about the law (while of course getting that MCLE credit),

and build on the camaraderie that comes from practic-

ing in a smaller legal community. Monthly speakers

address myriad topics ranging from “Tax 101 for Non-Tax

Lawyers” to “Recent Employment Law Developments.”

The SWRCBA also makes sure to secure speakers to fulfill

MCLE requirements for legal ethics, competence issues,

and the recognition and elimination of bias in the legal

profession and society.

The mission of the SWRCBA is “to promote honesty,

integrity, and professionalism in the service of our com-

munity.” Our members and those who serve on the board

of directors exemplify just that. Most of those who cur-

rently serve on the SWRCBA board are attorneys who have

been involved in some way in the association for many

years and have strong reputations among our colleagues.

Despite the challenges that accompany balancing legal

practice with personal life and community involvement,

our board members can always be counted on to jump in

when their efforts are needed.

The current board serving for 2022 is as follows:

Michael Bender, president; Selina Steel, vice president;

Allison Tilton, Secretary; Neda Aguirre, treasurer; Kiki

Manti Engel, immediate past president; and Shalah Fisher,

Deborah Fujiwara, Jameson Adame, and Daniel Ratajczak,

board members-at-large. Many of our board members,

including myself, are proudly running for re-election in

2023, with the desire to continue to serve our local legal

community.

Our board members also participate in various com-

mittees dedicated to giving back to our community.

Current committees focus on coaching and awarding local

high school mock trial programs, providing law student

scholarship opportunities, giving back to our active mem-

bership, and offering special events such as the SWRCBA’s

annual holiday party where members vote to honor a

“Judicial Officer of the Year” and a “Local Attorney of the

Year.”

Our local association celebrated its 40th anniversary

this year, as it was formed in 1982 as a nonprofit 501(c)

(6) corporation. Originally, our geographical area within

Southwest Riverside County was known as the “Three

Lakes Judicial District” referring to Lake Elsinore, Lake

Skinner, and Vail Lake. Currently, our membership spans

as far east as Hemet and San Jacinto, as far north as

Corona, and south to Temecula. Our members practice in

varied areas of law, including criminal, bankruptcy, fam-

ily, immigration, intellectual property, personal injury and

workers compensation, employment, estate planning, and

many others. All members are listed by their practice area

on the SWRCBA’s website: https://swrbar.org/

We are always excited to grow our membership. If you

are interested in becoming a member of the SWRCBA, you

can apply online on the SWRCBA’s website listed above. If

you have any questions about the SWRCBA, please do not

hesitate to reach out to me at shalah@newtomorrowlaw.

com.

Shalah Fisher is one of the newest additions to the Southwest

Riverside County Bar Association as a board member-at-large

and is an attorney with the firm New Tomorrow Law, APC,

where she practices bankruptcy law.

southwest riverside County Bar assoCiation:

don’t underestiMate the value of your

loCal Bar assoCiation

by Shalah Fisher

10 Riverside Lawyer, December 2022

California Desert Trial Academy

College of Law

Top Ten Reasons to Attend CDTA College of Law

Our Distance Learning Option allows you to obtain your J.D. while completing most of your studies from the

convenience of home. “Attend” CDTA in real time, enjoy 24/7 access to all classes online and solidify the week’s learning

in person with our Saturday writing classes.

LexisNexis is included in your tuition. Learn how to research and apply case authority with the same tools you will use in

your law practice.

ExamSoft is included in your tuition. All practice, midterm and nal exams are given on the same software program the

State Bar uses for your bar exams. Repeated exposure to ExamSoft means you will tackle the bar with condence!

AdaptiBar is included in your tuition. Practice thousands of actual bar multiple choice questions on the premier MBE

program designed to prepare you to conquer 50% of the bar exam.

Fleming’s Fundamentals of Law course reviews are included in your tuition. Substantive video reviews and outlines

condense every bar tested subject into a straightforward and understandable format you will nd invaluable as you

prepare for exams.

Snacks and Drinks are provided at all CDTA classes and events at no charge to you. Never underestimate the power of

a little sustenance to get you through a long day!

Saturday Enrichment Program. Legal essay writing is unlike any other form of writing. Practicing essays and MBE

questions under simulated exam conditions means you walk into the bar exam with the condence you need to pass.

Student Support is invaluable to your success. Our students have found that together they can accomplish what might

be impossible alone. You will thrive as you establish lifelong bonds with your classmates.

Weekly “Barrister” Luncheons are provided by CDTA. This allows students, attorneys and judicial ofcers the

opportunity to network and connect while enjoying a meal during the Saturday Classes noon break.

10.

We Commit to Keeping You in School! It often feels as if law school is an exercise in exclusion, not inclusion. Not at

CDTA. We will help you overcome any obstacle.

And…all of your Casebooks are included with your tuition!!!

“Educating, Training and Developing Extraordinary Legal Advocates”

California Desert Trial Academy, College of Law

45-290 Fargo Street • Indio, CA 92201 • CDTALaw.com • (760) 342-0900

Classes commence the rst Tuesday after Labor Day

Apply Now!

CDTALAW.com

“The method of instruction at this law school for the Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree program is principally in physical classroom facilities.”

“Students enrolled in the J.D. Degree program at this law school who successfully complete the ﬁrst year of law study must pass the First-Year Law Students’ Examination required by business and Professions Code Sec. 6060(h) and Rule

VIII of the Rules Regulating Admission to Practice Law In California as part of the requirements to qualify to take the California Bar Examination. A student who passes the First-Year Law Students’ Examination within three (3) administra-

tions of the examination after ﬁrst becoming eligible to take it will receive credit for all legal studies completed to the time the examination is passed. A student who does not pass the examination within three (3) administrations of the

examination after ﬁrst becoming eligible to take it must be promptly disqualiﬁed from the law school’s J.D. Degree program. If the dismissed student subsequently passes the examination, the student is eligible for re-enrollment in this law

school’s J.D. Degree program but will receive credit for only one year of legal study.”

“Study at, or graduation from, this law school may not qualify a student to take the bar examination or to satisfy the requirements for admission to practice in jurisdictions other than California. A student intending to seek admission to

practice law in a jurisdiction other than California should contact the admitting authority in that jurisdiction for information regarding the legal education requirements in that jurisdiction for admission to the practice of law.”

Riverside Lawyer, December 2022 11

roots. I am sure many of you are familiar with the story of

Jackie while she was at Cal State University of Fullerton.

She was with her sister, Becky, here tonight, when she was

involved in a very serious car accident. It could have been

far more tragic than it was. It resulted in numerous internal

injuries and a closed-head injury. She was in a coma for two

weeks and in the hospital for two months, where she had

to re-learn basic skills like walking and talking. Character,

of course, is defined by how we respond to challenges and,

certainly, Jackie responded.

I tracked down a newspaper article from the Cal State

University Fullerton Titan that came out the week after

Jackie returned to college. She was engaged, as is no sur

prise, in an anti-apartheid rally. She was, as she often is,

leading the cause of social justice. When interviewed by the

Titan about how she was feeling and whether she was feeling

depressed having gone through this extraordinary experi

ence, her response struck me. I remember reading this years

ago; I wanted to find it again so that I would have it exactly

right and I did, and it reads as follows: “I knew I couldn’t be

depressed. If I was depressed my family would have been wor

ried and I couldn’t have that.” That last turn of the phrase—

“And I couldn’t have that”—defines Jackie Carey-Wilson. It

not only defines her relationship with her family, but also her

relationship with her community and her relationship with

the world. When she looks out and she sees injustice, when

she sees wrongdoing, when she sees things that aren’t the

way they should be, her ready response is: “I couldn’t have

that. I can’t have that.” That line defines and underscores her

commitment to service.

After graduating from Cal State Fullerton, she attended

and graduated from Southwestern School of Law. She was

admitted to the California State Bar in 1995, the D.C. Bar

in 1996, the Colorado State Bar in 1997, and finally the Bar

of the United States Supreme Court in 2005. She serves,

as you know, as a deputy county counsel for the County of

San Bernardino representing the Department of Aging and

Adult Services, the Public Guardian, and In-Home Support

Services Public Authority. She has accumulated, over the

course of the last 20 years, a record of service that is in my

experience second-to-none. She has been an active member

of the Riverside County Bar Association since 1996. In 1997,

she joined the Publications Committee of the RCBA, as a

Good evening. It is

my pleasure this eve

ning to introduce, Jackie

Carey-Wilson, as she

is awarded one of the

highest honors that our

legal community here

in Riverside bestows

on lawyers and judges,

The E. Aurora Hughes

Meritorious Award for

Service.

There are many

awards that circulate in

our profession – “Top

Lawyer” this and “Best Lawyer” that. Some are deserved,

while some, not so much. But this award is very special. It

recognizes what all of us should aspire to do as lawyers and

judges, and that is to serve others.

This award is bestowed in memory of the late Aurora

Hughes, a past president of the Riverside County Bar

Association and a longtime supporter and participant in

many of its activities. The award recognizes a lawyer or judge

who has accumulated an outstanding record of service or

achievement to the Riverside County Bar Association. The

significance of this award to this legal community is reflected

in the names of those who have received it. The first recipi

ent, posthumously, was Aurora Hughes herself, followed by

Daniel Hantman, Justice Thomas Hollenhorst, Brian Pearcy,

Steve Harmon, Terry Bridges, Judge Gloria Trask, Robyn

Lewis, Judge Becky Dugan, Gregory Rizio, and Christopher

Jensen, all esteemed members of our legal community. Now

the list is only enhanced by the addition of Jackie Carey-

Wilson, an extraordinarily graceful, accomplished, intel

ligent, and compassionate woman. Someone who is also, as

we well know, tenacious, determined, and uncompromising

in principle.

The youngest of eight children born to two Irish-

Catholic parents—both of whom she has deeply loved and

who have had an extraordinary influence on her life. Anyone

of that singular culture and certain background knows very

well why Jaqueline—“Jackie” to all who know her—received

her name. She has, admirably, been true to her Democratic

jaCqueline Carey-wilson:

reCiPient of the 2022 e. aurora hughes

eritorious award for serviCe

Remarks delivered by Stephen G. Larson at the Annual Installation of the RCBA on September 22, 2022.

California Desert Trial Academy

College of Law

Top Ten Reasons to Attend CDTA College of Law

Our Distance Learning Option allows you to obtain your J.D. while completing most of your studies from the

convenience of home. “Attend” CDTA in real time, enjoy 24/7 access to all classes online and solidify the week’s learning

in person with our Saturday writing classes.

LexisNexis is included in your tuition. Learn how to research and apply case authority with the same tools you will use in

your law practice.

ExamSoft is included in your tuition. All practice, midterm and nal exams are given on the same software program the

State Bar uses for your bar exams. Repeated exposure to ExamSoft means you will tackle the bar with condence!

AdaptiBar is included in your tuition. Practice thousands of actual bar multiple choice questions on the premier MBE

program designed to prepare you to conquer 50% of the bar exam.

Fleming’s Fundamentals of Law course reviews are included in your tuition. Substantive video reviews and outlines

condense every bar tested subject into a straightforward and understandable format you will nd invaluable as you

prepare for exams.

Snacks and Drinks are provided at all CDTA classes and events at no charge to you. Never underestimate the power of

a little sustenance to get you through a long day!

Saturday Enrichment Program. Legal essay writing is unlike any other form of writing. Practicing essays and MBE

questions under simulated exam conditions means you walk into the bar exam with the condence you need to pass.

Student Support is invaluable to your success. Our students have found that together they can accomplish what might

be impossible alone. You will thrive as you establish lifelong bonds with your classmates.

Weekly “Barrister” Luncheons are provided by CDTA. This allows students, attorneys and judicial ofcers the

opportunity to network and connect while enjoying a meal during the Saturday Classes noon break.

10.

We Commit to Keeping You in School! It often feels as if law school is an exercise in exclusion, not inclusion. Not at

CDTA. We will help you overcome any obstacle.

And…all of your Casebooks are included with your tuition!!!

“Educating, Training and Developing Extraordinary Legal Advocates”

California Desert Trial Academy, College of Law

45-290 Fargo Street • Indio, CA 92201 • CDTALaw.com • (760) 342-0900

Classes commence the rst Tuesday after Labor Day

Apply Now!

CDTALAW.com

“The method of instruction at this law school for the Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree program is principally in physical classroom facilities.”

school’s J.D. Degree program but will receive credit for only one year of legal study.”

Stephen G. Larson and

Jacqueline Carey-Wilson

12 Riverside Lawyer, December 2022

writer, a photographer, and she has served as

an editor of the magazine since 2005. She was

first elected to serve on the RCBA Board of

Directors in 2008, and then served as president

from 2013 to 2014, remaining on the Board

through 2015. During her seven-year tenure

the Board established the RCBA Foundation

and the Mentor Program, renewed the Reading

Day with elementary school students, and

revamped the RCBA website.

From 2005 to 2013, Jackie served as direc

tor of the Inland Empire Chapter of the Federal

Bar Association, serving as its president on

the Board of Directors from 2008 to 2010. In

January 2009, Jackie served as coordinator for

a delegation of women judges and lawyers from

Afghanistan who came to Riverside to learn

about the U.S. legal system. Since 2014, she’s

been an active member on the Bench Bar Coalition. In November 2020,

she was selected to serve on the San Bernardino County Superior Court

Elimination of Bias Committee. From 2012 through 2019, she represented

the RCBA on the Board of Directors of Inland Counties Legal Services,

serving as Vice President from 2018 to 2019. From October of 2005 to

2009, Jackie served on the State Bar’s Public Law Section Executive

Committee. Since 2003, she has served on as co-chair on the Red Mass

Steering Committee, which sponsors an ecumenical religious service each

year in honor and in support of the legal community.

In the community at large, Jackie served on the Board of Directors of

the Volunteer Center of Riverside County from 2001 to 2007. She helped

establish the 211 Call Center for Riverside County, which still operates

today and assists with connecting thousands of individuals to needed

services throughout Riverside County. From 2002 to 2017, Jackie served

on the Institutional Advancement Board for St. Joseph High School in

Lakewood, her alma mater, and in 2008, she was chosen as St. Joseph’s

Distinguished Alumna of the Year. In 2005, she was presented with the

Good Neighbor Award by the United Way, and in 2006, the Volunteer of

the Year Award by the Volunteer Center of Riverside County. In 2010, she

received the Attorney of the Year Award by the Leo A. Deegan Inn of Court.

So, Doug, now you know where she’s been all these years (laughter).

It’s just an extraordinary legacy, and I take the time to go through this

list because when we talk about that continued service, this is someone

who has responded every time in every way. And all of you know the depth

which with she has responded because all of you in this room, I suspect, in

one way or in the another, have interacted with Jackie Carey-Wilson. She’s

not the person at the front of the room or at the head of the table during a

community event. Rather, she’s the person making the event happen. She’s

making the connections. She’s bringing service to the people.

And finally, of course, and most importantly in her life, Jackie and her

husband, Douglas, have lived here in Riverside for over thirty-four years

and have raised their three beautiful daughters, one of whom is with us

tonight, Katie, Julia, and Grace. Jackie and Doug have been members of St.

Andrews Newman Center for over thirty-four years. Jackie has served there

as a lecture, Eucharistic Minister, and also teaches a baptismal class. This

is someone who simply and singularly epitomizes service.

In having the privilege to bestow this award to Jackie tonight on behalf

of the Riverside County Bar Association, I wanted to find something which

captured who I think and believe Jackie to be, both as a tribute to Jackie but

Douglas Wilson and Jacqueline Carey-Wilson

Tom and Becky Kieran, Douglas Wilson,

Jacqueline Carey-Wilson, Wanda Gray, and Grace Wilson

Patricia Cisneros and Jacqueline Carey-Wilson

Ramona Verduzco, Melissa Ladenson,

Jacqueline Carey-Wilson, and Mary Jo Carlos

Riverside Lawyer, December 2022 13

Jacqueline Carey-Wilson and Theresa Savage

also a benediction for us all. In doing so, I stumbled across

a piece entitled “A Prayer of Oscar Romero.” I really think it

captures who Jackie is, and reads as follows:

It helps now and then to step back and take a long view.

The Kingdom is not only beyond our efforts, it is even

beyond our vision.

We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction of the

magnificent enterprise that is God’s work.

Nothing we do is complete.

Which is a way of saying that the Kingdom always lies

beyond us.

No statement says all that could be said.

No prayer expresses our faith.

No confession brings perfection.

No pastoral visit brings wholeness.

No program accomplishes the church’s mission.

No set of goals and objectives includes everything.

This is what we are about.

This is what Jackie is about.

We plant the seeds that one day will grow.

We water seeds already planted knowing that they hold

future promise.

We lay foundations that will need further development.

We provide yeast that produces effects far beyond our

capabilities.

We cannot do everything and there is a sense of libera

tion in realizing that.

This enables us to do something and to do it very well.

It may be incomplete but it is a beginning, a step along

the way.

An opportunity for the Lord’s Grace to enter and do the

rest.

We may never see the end results, but that is the differ

ence between the master builder and the worker.

We are workers, not master builders.

Ministers, not Messiahs.

We are prophets of a future that is not our own.

That, for me, encapsulates who Jackie is, and on behalf

of the Riverside County Bar Association and this entire

Community, all I can say is thank you for being you!

Stephen G. Larson is a former federal prosecutor and federal judge

who currently practices at Larson LLP, a litigation firm with offices

in Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and London.

The Riverside County Bar Association, the Riverside

Superior Court and the American Board of Trial Advocates of

the Inland Empire (ABOTA) are pleased to announce that its

eighth year of the New Attorney Academy has commenced with

the largest class so far.

The purpose of the New Attorney Academy (hereafter “the

Academy”) is to provide professional guidance and counsel to

assist newly admitted attorneys in acquiring the practical skills,

judgment and professional values necessary to practice law in

a highly competent manner and to encourage sensitivity to

ethical and professional values that represent the traditions and

standards of the Inland Empire legal community.

Specifically, the Academy is made up of a series of classes,

which take place once a month. The curriculum is taught by

judges and noted attorneys in the community, many of whom

are ABOTA members. Topics to be taught include, but are not

limited to, an introduction to the legal community, a practical

and intensive primer on depositions and discovery, including

expert depositions, an introduction to practicing in court (court

appearances, legal writing and research, pet peeves of the bench,

etc.), transition into practice (dealing with clients, how to suc-

cessfully participate in ADR, relations with other attorneys,

case management, etc.), an introduction to appellate law and

an introduction to law practice management. The emphasis of

these classes are for a civil practitioner although anyone who

has an interest in participating in the program is invited to

apply.

At every session, the class attends the monthly RCBA

General Membership meeting for that month so as to promote

membership in that organization and to allow for class mem-

bers to participate in their legal community. The only cost for

attending the Academy is for the lunches provided at the RCBA

General Membership meetings. Applicants must be under five

years of practice or awaiting their bar results and must be a

member of the RCBA.

If you are interested in applying for the 2023-2024 program,

please contact Charlene Nelson at the Riverside County Bar

Association at 951.682.1015 or contact Robyn Lewis at robyn-

lewis@jlewislaw.com for further information.

Robyn Lewis is with the firm of J. Lewis and Associates, APLC,

chair of the New Attorney Academy and a past president of the

RCBA.

rCBa-riverside

uPerior Court-aBota

ew attorney aCadeMy

by Robyn Lewis

14 Riverside Lawyer, December 2022

The State Bar is a beehive of activity as they continue to

try to reinvent themselves in the face of continuing failures

to meet their stated mission of protecting the public in

regard to the practice of law.

In the past, each time the State Bar sought a new fee

bill, the bill was required to allow the State Bar to set fees

as related to their budget, which resulted in a light that

shined on their practices, almost always resulted in much

criticism, and additional requirements by the state legisla-

tors to investigate and report on the State Bar practices

that the legislators have found to be ineffective or worse.

Last year’s fee bill examination resulted in SB211 was

no different than the past fees bills. SB211 requires the

State Bar to examine, investigate, and report on apparent

failures and delays in the discipline program and in the

protection of the public. Thomas Umberg, a senator from

Santa Ana and chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has

indicated that he plans to keep the pressure on the State

Bar to protect California consumers, even if that means

“changing the agency’s structure, personnel, or both.” He

mentioned the 205 disciplinary matters revealed against

attorney Thomas Girardi, with no discipline, whatsoever,

instituted until a Chicago federal judge sanctioned Girardi

in late 2020 for his theft of (lots of) money that was owed

to his clients.

In response to SB211, the State Bar submitted a report

that proposes “new discipline case processing standards,”

with shorter time lines, separating cases by complexity,

and giving priority to those cases/attorneys that seem to

pose the greatest risk to the public. In addition, because

of Girardi, the State Bar reports that it is “reinterpreting”

Business and Professions Code section 6086(1)(b)(2), to

permit the disclosure of information regarding closed com-

plaints, as well as pending and active cases. However, just

going through the attorney listings in the State Bar web-

site, we find that old closed cases (involving discipline) are

reported for years, and the announcement of “reinterpreta-

tion” is really little more than a response to the embarrass-

ment brought about by the Girardi case. Robert Hillman,

UC Davis School of Law professor, remarked, “[The State

Bar] should be fully transparent as a first step in acknowl-

edging its own lapses and accountability.”

Instead, though, the State Bar diverts the attention

to “bad actors” in announcing that they will be “more

transparent” in allowing the public to see/access these old,

closed complaints, the vast majority of which were closed

after thorough investigation and lack of ability to prove

any misconduct. The additional disclosure, however, will

subject lawyers who do have closed complaints to biased

and misleading information that may affect their hiring,

their careers, their client relations, and their reputations.

(By the way, investigation into the State Bar’s handling of

discipline complaints against Girardi and whether it was

affected by his connections with judges and the State Bar

staff, is ongoing.)

The reality is, the State Bar is just restating the same

thing that they always say in response to criticisms about

the backlog and about lack of timely prosecution: we are

going to do in-depth analyses and investigation; we will

provide shorter time lines and priorities to protect the

public; we will review staffing requirements and funding;

and we will need additional resources and fees in order to

accomplish these things.

What is actually very interesting is that the State Bar

is actually reinventing itself to have a rebirth of what it

was supposed to be before legislator and public criticism

compelled it to split off functions in SB36, forming the

California Lawyers Association (a volunteer association,

taking over functions of support and making attorneys bet-

ter at their profession). The State Bar seems to be acknowl-

edging, finally, that, as we have stated in previous columns,

making lawyers better lawyers, training and supporting

lawyers in their profession, and providing them the tools

that they need, and attention to their “wellness” and health,

serves to protect the public.

The State Bar has now implemented a “Strategic Plan

for the Next 5 Years (2022-2027).” The State Bar publishes

that they will continue to assess their programs and impacts

(something new?); that they will implement a 5-year plan

for preventative education, e-learning and self-assessment

modules for lawyers; they will “position the State Bar as a

trusted resource and increase interactions with licensees

beyond admitting attorneys into the profession, collecting

fees, and monitoring MCLE compliance;” they will provide

effective support for attorneys; they will create a license fee

resource page on the State Bar website; they will collabo-

rate with the California Lawyers Association in continuing

education efforts. These are all things that the State Bar

was actually charged to do before the split and the state-

ment they adopted, that they exist “solely to protect the

public.” In other words, the State Bar is moving into the

future by retreating to the past.

The 5 Year Strategic Plan does have nice marketing.

First, it explains the mission of the State Bar: “[T]o protect

the public and includes the primary functions of licensing,

regulation, and discipline of attorneys; the advancement

state Bar uPdate

by James Heiting

Riverside Lawyer, December 2022 15

of the ethical and competence practice of law; and sup-

port of efforts for greater access to, and inclusion in, the

legal system.” Its first stated goal is to protect the public

by strengthening the attorney discipline system. That is

described, at least in part, above.

The second stated goal is to protect the public by

enhancing access to and inclusion in the legal system.

This appears to some readers to have nothing to do with

licensing, regulation, or discipline of attorneys, but rather

to address what is seen by some as a need for increased

minority participation and trust in the law and the courts.

Whether part of the Bar’s role or not, it is a laudable goal.

The third goal is to “protect the public by regulating

the legal profession.” They described that they will promote

ethical and competent practices in the law, and prevent

misconduct by providing education, resources and support

for the legal profession. I hope they take hold of this and

really give it support, as it will make a difference.

The fourth, and final stated goal is to protect the public

by “engaging partners.” They state that this is to “restore

the State Bar’s credibility, reputation, and impact.” Good

luck. Our readers may remember an article that I wrote in

2017 about the history of the State Bar. In it, I described

the evolution of the mission statements and gave descrip-

tions of the State Bar’s work and how those descriptions

have changed. You will remember, or you will be able to

research, that:

1927: State Bar formed as a public corporation involved

in “the advancement of the science of jurispru-

dence or to the improvement of the adminis-

tration of justice, including, but not by way of

limitation, all matters that may advance the pro-

fessional interests of the members . . . and such

matters as concern the relations of the State Bar

with the public.” (Business and Professions Code

section 6031(a).)

1960: State Bar added to the State Constitution. All law-

yers must be members.

1991: State Bar exists to “preserve and improve our

justice system in order to assure a free and just

society under law,” with goals of equal access to

the legal system and assuring that every lawyer

would be ethical, competent and professional,

protecting the public by regulation of lawyer

conduct and providing information to the public

about lawyers and the legal system. They assured

full and equal opportunity for all who get into,

and advance in, the legal profession to reflect full

diversity. They also promise to provide benefits

and programs “to promote professional growth

and enhance the quality of life of the members,

assuring effective management of the State Bar.”

This was reaffirmed in 1997.

2001: A vision statement was published: the public will

have greater respect for the lawyers, the profes-

sion, and the State Bar; there will be better access

to legal services; lawyers will be better prepared;

and the discipline system “will protect the public

in a fair and even-handed way and through a com-

prehensive system of malpractice insurance.” They

promised that the legal system would reflect the

diversity of the state and that the State Bar will

demonstrate “high levels of credibility” and “will

enjoy excellent and productive working relation-

ships with the Supreme Court, the Judicial Council

of California, the Legislature, the Governor and all

members of the State Bar family.”

2008: The Bar no longer mentions high level of credibil-

ity or excellent working relationships. Instead the

goal is that of a “productive working relationship”

and focus on public protection.

2017: The State Bar president spoke, confirming, “we

are no longer the leading advocate of the legal

profession in California. We are no longer a pro-

fessional association, or as is typically called in

Sacramento, a trade association. . . We are a pub-

lic agency that exists to regulate the legal services

industry for the benefit of the people of California.

We are a public protection agency.” This was codi-

fied with the split of the State Bar in the fall of

2017 through SB36.

Apparently, the State Bar is retreating back to 1991.

Each 5-year goal is described by six topics: vision; 5-year

plan strategies; effectiveness; consumer focus; diversity,

equity, and inclusion; and policy and systems change. But

if you read between the lines, and you are familiar with the

history of the State Bar, you will see that there is nothing

new in these platitudes, except, perhaps, that the emphasis

on diversity, equity, and inclusion is repeated in each goal.

Even so, the State Bar is working to allow paralegals

or certified practitioners to accomplish things that are

currently part of the “practice of law.” With the number

of attorneys that we have in this state, it is hard to imag-

ine that we do not have enough attorneys to address the

issues these certified practitioners would be addressing.

Somehow, though, it appears the public is better protected

to have less educated, less qualified “professionals” take

over these activities.

In addition, the State Bar currently allows the “pro-

visional licensing” of lawyers. Since 2020, by order of our

Supreme Court, a law school graduate can practice law

(supposedly with the supervision of a lawyer) before passing

the bar exam. At the recent “Public Hearing on Procedures

for Discipline, Attorney Competency and Admissions,” one

such provisionally licensed lawyer announced that he was a

family law practitioner, representing clients within the full

16 Riverside Lawyer, December 2022

scope of this area of practice - his own clients. He felt that

the program should be extended and expanded with a path

to licensure through only the provisionally licensed lawyer

program. He proudly exclaimed that he had failed two bar

examinations so far, and does not feel he could take time

off to study because of the money he makes. He did not

describe any supervision over his practice. (Passing scores

have been reduced from a required 1440 to 1390.)

Another caller indicated that he took the bar examina-

tion three times and failed to pass; and the admissions staff

made it clear to him that “he is not alone.” Do you feel

that this is a “best practice” in protecting the public? Do

you think that, when a client complains, and disclosures

such as this are made, that the State Bar will not be back-

pedaling one more time to explain it to the complaints of

the legislators?

As I stated in previous columns, the State Bar is also

testing the waters to see if they will allow non-lawyer par-

ticipation in law firms and the elimination of the bar exam

altogether. Apprenticeship may be the design of the future.

This, I suppose, supports the practices of the 1800’s (bar

exams came into existence more recently to test the knowl-

edge and education of the examinees).

Finally, the case against now-disbarred attorney,

Thomas Girardi, has resulted in a lot of attention and

scrambling by the State Bar to address their failures. One

policy that has been adopted is the “Client Trust Account

Protection Program” (CTAPP), which is a program to assist

attorneys in complying with client trust account require-

ments and to provide detection of violations. There are sev-

eral phases of the implementation of the CTAPP. At first, the

reporting requirements are not too onerous and are pretty

basic. However, in future phases, there will be much more

involvement, including “risk-based compliance audits.”

The State Bar continues to try to find ways to change

and to affect society; yet the basic and underlying responsi-

bility remains that of a public protection agency governing

the admission and practice of law. Protect the public by

making sure lawyers are up to the task in their education

and ability to think and analyze, by making lawyers better

practitioners, by supporting lawyers in their education,

practice, and efforts to be better in their profession; and

discipline lawyers who are bad actors promptly, and always

with an eye toward making them better lawyers, thereby

protecting the public in the best and most efficient way

possible. If they just do that, they can’t go wrong.

Let’s go out and do some good today.

James O. Heiting of Heiting & Irwin was president of the

State Bar of California in 2005-2006 and president of the

RCBA in 1996.

Riverside Lawyer, December 2022 17

The Inland Empire Bankruptcy Forum (IEBF) is a

forum of lawyers and others dedicated to the study of bank-

ruptcy and insolvency. The local bankruptcy bar association

just celebrated its thirtieth anniversary. The IEBF meets

every other month and has 80 members which include

bankruptcy attorneys, staff, bankruptcy trustees, and other

professionals.

Founded in 1992, the IEBF is part of the California

Bankruptcy Forum (CBF). Norman Hanover, the IEBF’s first

president, remembered that the statewide CBF developed

chapters across California. Mr. Hanover was active in the

CBF which met in Northern California and the organization

tapped him as the first president. The original members

included Franklin Adams, Stephen Wade, Mark Schnitzer,

and the then practicing attorney, the Hon. Meredith Jury

(Ret.).

Long time San Bernardino County bankruptcy lawyer,

Stephen Wade, recalled that “The impetus for forming the

IEBF was that none of the Bankruptcy Forums paid any

attention to the small practitioner or the consumer cases.

Los Angeles and Orange Counties were dominated by the

large firms and dealt with chapter 11 issues. Norm Hanover

and I were the only active participants in the LA/OC Forums

from the Inland Empire and we wanted to have an Inland

Empire Chapter which would serve the Inland Empire prac-

titioners.”

The Honorable Meredith Jury (Ret.) recounted, “The

IEBF was always a consumer-focused organization, unlike

the fledgling forums in L.A. and Orange Counties that were

all about bankruptcy chapter 11’s and trustee bankruptcy

cases with money.”

“From the IEBF’s founding the emphasis was on the

local practitioner that did chapter 7 and chapter 13 bank-

ruptcy work,” now retired former Bankruptcy Trustee

Norman Hanover said recently. As such the monthly edu

cational programs focused on what the local bankruptcy

practitioner needed to know. Then as now the subject of

California exemptions was a popular topic. Mr. Hanover also

enlisted the local bankruptcy judges and during courtroom

breaks, the judges would urge the attorneys in the audience

to attend the programs.

In the early days, the programs were held at Best, Best

and Krieger’s conference room, but soon moved to the

Arrowhead Country Club in San Bernardino due to the

popularity of the events. (As a new bankruptcy attorney, I

remember driving to that country club in the late 1990s and

sitting in a room full of bankruptcy practitioners. I had no

idea what they were talking about, but kept quiet so as to not

show my ignorance.)

Now retired former Best, Best and Krieger partner,

Franklin Adams said, “Norm Hanover convinced us in the

inland eMPire BankruPtCy foruM

by Michael Gouveia

beginning that we needed to do this as we had many people

that did chapter 7 cases and chapter 13 bankruptcy cases

who needed the education.” Adams recalled “that these pro

grams helped the local bankruptcy system run smoother.

Soon the organization enlisted the bankruptcy trustees

to give presentations as to what they were looking for in

reviewing petitions and to help avoid bonehead mistakes.”

(In the mid 2000’s, I was elected to the IEBF’s Board and

remember that my fellow board members were bankruptcy

trustees and top-notch lawyers who I met and was able to

get to know as regular people away from their official duties.

Then practicing attorney, the Honorable Wayne Johnson,

U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge, would coax us to go to the

board meetings by bringing ice cream.)

Today, the IEBF continues its traditions of educating

the local bankruptcy bar with an emphasis on consumer

bankruptcy practice. On November 12, 2022, the IEBF

presented the Twenty-Eighth Annual Survey of Recent

Consumer Bankruptcy cases which was started by the Hon.

David Naugle (Ret.). The speakers at this year’s event were

the Honorable Wayne Johnson, the Honorable Scott Yun,

the Honorable Magdalena Reyes Bordeaux, and the Assistant

U.S. Trustee Abram Feuerstein.

The current IEBF president is Brandon Iskander of

Goe Forsythe & Hodges who will continue as the chair of

the Annual Survey committee. The incoming president for

2022-2023 is Larry Simons, who is a Bankruptcy Trustee in

the Riverside Division of the Central District of California

and the principle at the Law Offices of Larry D. Simons.

When asked, Mr. Simons said, “I believe the IEBF’s big

gest strength is presenting programs that are actually useful

to the members. My goal is to have a mix of live and Zoom

type MCLE events, so that we can make participation as easy

as possible. I am committed to keeping the dues as low as

possible and relying on sponsorships to subsidize the dues/

programs. The organization will continue its relationship

with the local judiciary and ensure they are supported in

any way possible.”

The founding members in 1992 would find the IEBF of

2023 to have the same direction and goals as they envisioned

thirty years ago. The laws have changed, the bank

ruptcy

world has changed, and the faces have changed, but the

IEBF’s spirit remains to educate the local consumer bank-

ruptcy practitioner.

For more information about the Inland Empire Bankruptcy

Forum and on joining the organization visit IEBF.org.

Michael Gouveia is a local bankruptcy practitioner helping

families cope with consumer debt. Contact him at [email protected].

18 Riverside Lawyer, December 2022

First, please continue to act ethically and with integrity. Treat other

attorneys with respect and civility. Your actions by themselves can contrib

ute to a more positive view of our profession.

Second, please consider doing something to encourage others to enter

our noble profession. You can speak at career days, become a mentor, write

an article or participate in a podcast, review application and scholarship

materials, conduct mock interviews, etc. Talk about the good you do. You

can both spark motivation in others and help them get to and through

school.

Third, we need to do a better job at being connected to other non-

lawyers and not being so insular. I was having dinner recently with a friend

who is very well-educated and connected in state government. During our

conversation about some recent family legal troubles, he asked me, “How

do I find a lawyer if I need one?” I didn’t tell him that I thought to myself

that I was ashamed and embarrassed by the fact that he felt he needed to

ask such a question. But this is so common. If you are not an attorney, and

don’t have any attorney family or friends, you don’t even know where to

begin looking. We must do better.

The HBAIE has focused on nurturing future lawyers in both San

Bernardino and Riverside counties. We have established student and

administrative relationships with law students at the University of La Verne

College of Law, undergraduate students at California State University, San

Bernardino and University of California, Riverside, and even elementary

students. We have collaborated on holding several panels to speak directly

with students about law school, the various career paths, and the law school

application process. We have awarded scholarships to law students and to

recent law school graduates. We have also contributed to organizations

who give scholarships for higher education, such as the Ontario-Montclair

Schools Foundation.

We have promoted connectivity with other local legal organizations in

order to facilitate the nurturing and development of current attorneys in

the Inland Empire, especially newer attorneys. We have hosted joint happy

hours the past two Octobers with the Asian Pacific American Lawyers of the

Inland Empire and the Riverside County Barristers.

We have also held events that serve to uplift the broader local Latino

community. We partnered with the Riverside Art Museum to raise funds

for the Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture, which highlights

the subset of American art that is Chicano art. We have also held an event

with a local artist, Juan Navarro, to educate our members about the HBAIE-

commissioned art piece “La Justicia.”

I leave you all with this stirring statistic. The State Bar of California’s

2022 Report Card on the Diversity of California’s Legal Profession, using

2019 data, found that in California, while Latinos comprise 36% of the

population, we only comprise 7% of California attorneys. That is to say, in as

diverse a state as California, our statewide representation among attorneys

is almost twice as bad as on the national level. We must do more. If after

reading this article, you would like to do something, but don’t know where

to begin, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

Albert J. Maldonado is a municipal attorney at Best Best & Krieger LLP and is

the president of the Hispanic Bar Association of the Inland Empire.

I have pondered this question for several years now: why are there

more Latino doctors than lawyers? Latinos comprise approximately 19%

of the national population in the United States. We are 7% nationally of

the physician and surgeon workforce according to a recent Pew Research

Center analysis. We are only 5.8% of lawyers nationally according to the

2022 ABA National Lawyer Population Survey. Maybe the numbers don’t

seem that disparate to others, but I have always had the feeling throughout

my upbringing and education that the medical profession seems to be

encouraged more than the legal profession among the Latino community.

Why is that? I have theorized several reasons over the years.

First, and perhaps the dominant theory, is that doctors are rarely

thought of as “crooked.” In contrast, there are plenty of examples of

“crooked” attorneys; those that stole from their clients or committed other

crimes. Look no further than the example of Tom Girardi. A doctor’s white

coat is symbolic for the general view that doctors are good and honest

people. Doctors heal and save. They don’t steal and lie. They don’t say just

anything in order to get their way. A few bad apples in our profession tends

to lead to painting the whole profession with a broad brush of negativity,

distrust, and contempt.

And unfortunately, a job well-done in our profession can also some

times lead to negative perceptions. The defense attorney was able to obtain

a homicide criminal defendant a not guilty verdict; a prosecutor’s ability

to get a guilty verdict for what some would consider a crime not worthy

of punishment; a family law attorney who was responsible for the high

child support payments or the subjectively unequal divorce settlement; and

lastly, the estate attorney who is responsible for the stealing of the terrenos

(land). Sometimes people wrongly blame the attorney for their disagree

ments with the law without knowing it.

Latinos come from a culture that cares deeply about social perception

and image. ¿Qué dirá la gente? (What will people say?) With that in mind,

parents tend to encourage their kids to enter the medical profession, which,

to them, is a foolproof sign of success, honor, and orgullo (pride). It matters

not what kind of doctor. If a parent’s child becomes an attorney, there could

be some initial skepticism, and the question asked, what kind of attorney

did they become?

Second, attorneys play in the gray area, not in absolutes. Science and

medicine have their professions’ roots in mathematics. Except at the high

est levels, mathematics is black and white. One can learn how to solve a

problem and can learn why a problem is right or wrong. Attorneys do not

deal in absolutes. We are trained in the gray area, in being able to argue

both sides of an issue. Some people may not feel comfortable in an environ

ment where there may not necessarily be a correct answer.

Third, attorneys are “sellouts” because they are part of the “system.”

Given that the majority of Latino communities come from countries where

there is rampant corruption, there is a distrust of government and of insti

tutions, including the legal system. This inherent distrust of institutions is

stronger among those that are immigrants or closer to the immigrant gen

eration than second and third generation Latinos who are more removed

from experiences of corruption.

Let me be clear that I have nothing against doctors or against encour

aging Latinos to become doctors. We need increased representation at every

level, and in every profession, to achieve greater social change and equity. I

am simply focusing on the legal profession. With that in mind, the Hispanic

Bar Association of the Inland Empire (HBAIE) and I have a call to action for

all of you reading this article.

why don’t we have More latina/o lawyers?

Personal refleCtion & hBaie’s Call to aCtion.

by Albert J. Maldonado

Riverside Lawyer, December 2022 19

A community has confidence in a bench that reflects the

appearance of the community itself.

In a moment in history that seems especially divisive, distrust

ful, and where every one of our syllables is passionately scrutinized

and then itemized on social media, it is easy to overlook how small,

alone, and scared many of us feel when we are under the micro

scope. A fear that may not be soothed by the attorney who is there

to serve us. And, after looking to our counsel, we look up, see our

judge, and wonder how we will be perceived.

Asian Pacific American Lawyers of the Inland Empire (APALIE)

understands that judicial diversity promotes trust and confidence

among the public, it enhances interrelationships within the bench,

it facilitates better court governance, and it improves the quality of

decision making. Our bench should look like America, a country

populated by various races, sexes, genders, religions, sexual orien

tations, an honest representation of what makes us a perfect union.

Although there have been an historic number of demographically

diverse set of candidates at the local, state, and federal levels, there

continue to be voices missing from the room. And, the cost of

these unheard voices is real, tangible, and visible to any person who

walks into our courtrooms.

This past year, APALIE has, as in years before, sought to rem

edy this real cost by endorsing multiple candidates, in both local,

state, and federal courts. APALIE, and our affinity bar associations

groups, are uniquely positioned to endorse candidates for judge

ships to promote the appointment of qualified judges to local, state,

and federal courts. When evaluating candidates, APALIE seeks can

didates who embody the ideals and values that are strongly aligned

with APALIE’s mission to advance equal access to, and opportuni

ties in, the legal profession for all people.

At the beginning of the year, APALIE provided enthusiastic and

wholehearted support for Judge Kenly Kiya Kato’s confirmation as

District Judge of the United States District Court for the Central

District of California. Judge Kato’s parents and grandparents were

imprisoned during World War II, alongside 130,000 other persons

of Japanese ancestry. Her focus on constitutional protections,

equal opportunity to justice, and longstanding commitment to

provide positive change in our society was influenced by her fam

ily’s incarceration experience. And, from the time that she clerked

for Judge Robert Takasugi in the Central District (the first Japanese

American federal judge in the Central District) to her time presid

ing as a magistrate judge in the Central District of California, her

dedication to defending the constitution and commitment to the

underserved remains unbreakable.

Why is a diverse background like Judge Kato’s important? It

is important because judges bring their life experiences to every

ruling. On March 25, 2021, the U.S. House of Representatives held

a hearing regarding the Importance of a Diverse Federal Judiciary.

The Honorable Edward M. Chen, District Judge of the United

States District Court for the Northern District of California, posed

a question: what would have happened had there been a Japanese-

by Alejandro Barraza

American Justice on the Supreme Court when it upheld the

imposition of race-based curfews and the internment of 130,000

American of Japanese descent in United States v. Hirabayashi

and United States v. Korematsu. Honorable Chen explained that

said justice would have fought the Supreme Court’s assumption

that Japanese people “have intensified their solidarity and have in

large measure prevented their assimilation as an integral part of

the white population.” Said justice would have pointed out how

Japanese-Americans were active in the community and enlisted in

the army. Many joined the famed 442 Regimental Combat Team.

More recently, APALIE provided enthusiastic and whole

hearted support to Judge Jerry Chen Wei Yang, Judge Mona Maria

Nemat, and Judge Gary Polk. Each was a distinguished attorney

and leader within the community and we have no doubt they will

continue to improve the legal profession and the Riverside com

munity.

I’d like to end this article with a quote by Charles Hamilton

Houston that describes the endorsed judges mentioned above. This

past year, I had the opportunity to attend the Richard T. Field Bar

Association Installation and Awards Ceremony. In the installation’s

program, the following quote by Charles Hamilton Houston is

emblazoned on the last page:

[A] lawyer’s either a social engineer or ... a parasite on society

... a social engineer [is] a highly skilled, perceptive, sensitive law

yer who [understands] the Constitution of the United States and

[knows] how to explore its uses in the solving of problems of local

communities and in bettering conditions of the underprivileged

citizens.

Each of the judges described above embodies Charles Hamilton

Houston’s social engineer, who seeks to help our local commu

nity and better conditions of the underprivileged citizens. Charles

Hamilton Houston prayed for us to understand that whatever the

social engineer’s contribution—large or small, public or private—

it is heroic if it in some way promotes positive change in our soci

ety. What are you doing to move the needle?

Shout out to our amazing board for the 2022-2023 term:

President: Alejandro Barraza; President-Elect: Tavie T.

Nguyen; Secretary: Andrea D. Kershaw; Treasurer: David P. Rivera;

Members-at-Large: Julius J. Nam, Kristine M. Santos; Immediate

Past-President, Wade Pyun; Judicial Liaisons: Hon. Jackson Lucky

(ret.) and Hon. Winston S. Keh; Past Presidents: Sophia Choi,

Rosemary Koo, Eugene Kim, Ricky Shah, Cathy Ta, Lloyd Costales,

Paul Lin, Judy I. Beck, and Dave K. Kim

APALIE members that won’t leave us alone: Paul Lin and Hon.

Jackson Lucky.

Alejandro Barraza, Esq., is the founder and managing partner

at Barraza Law, APC, and the 2022-23 president of the Asian

Pacific American Lawyers of the Inland Empire (APALIE).

diversity on the BenCh: our role

20 Riverside Lawyer, December 2022

The awards were presented to the following:

Appellate Law – Brian Unitt

Civil Litigation – Greg Rizio

Criminal – Steve Harmon

Estate Planning, Probate & Elder Law – Herb Chavers

Family Law – Michael Razo

Juvenile Law – Jessica Munoz

Labor & Employment Law – Darren Lipinsky

Landlord & Tenant – Barry Swan

The RCBA would like to thank the following spon

sors for their generous contributions:

•

Platinum Sponsors – Aitken Aitken Cohn; Bratton

& Razo; David D.L. Horton & Associates; Maryann

Gallagher; Daniel Hantman; Inland Counties Legal

Services; JAMS; Larson LLP; Malcolm Cisneros;

RCBA Dispute Resolution Service; Rizio Lipinsky PC.

• Gold Sponsors – Law Office of Harlan Kistler.

• Silver Sponsors – Chapman University, Fowler

School of Law; Dolan Law Offices; Immigration

Law Offices of Hadley Bajramovic; Law Office of

Elisabeth Lord; Lenita Skoretz, Attorney at Law;

Markarian Law Group; Sullivan Group of Court

Reporters; Judge Gloria and Gordon Trask; Trust

Properties USA; Varner & Brandt, LLP.

• Bronze Sponsors – Canyon Children’s Legal

Services; Judge Stephen Cunnison; Knez Law

Group, LLP; Law Office of Jennifer N.K. Venable;

Judge Wilfred J. Schneider; Thompson & Colegate;

Brian Unitt.

• Print Sponsor – PIP Printing (printmystuff.com).

Please visit the RCBA YouTube channel at https://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWC3bJdrKck to see high

lights of the evening.

Photos by Michael Elderman.

The RCBA’s Installation Dinner was back at the

Mission Inn on September 22. Over 200 people attended.

Riverside Public Defender Steve Harmon served as the

master of ceremonies. Judge Emma Smith adminis

tered the oath of office to the RCBA board members.

Lori Myers was installed as the 2022-2023 president.

The other officers who were installed were Kelly Moran

(president-elect), Mark Easter (vice president), Megan

Demshki (chief financial officer), Elisabeth Lord (secre

tary), Erica Alfaro, Goushia Farook and Chris Johnson

(directors-at-large), Neil Okazaki (past president) and

Lauren Vogt (as Barristers president she sits on the

RCBA Board). Heather Green will serve as a director-at-

large, but was unable to attend.

Darren Pirozzi gave the oath of office to the 2022-

2023 officers of Barristers. Lauren Vogt was installed as

president. The other officers installed were David Rivera

(president-elect), Priscilla George (secretary), Kevin

Collins (treasurer), Alejandro Barraza, Ankit Bhakta,

Summer DeVore, Sandra Lattouf, Sharon Ramirez

(members-at-large), and Michael Ortiz (past president).

Stephen Larson presented the 2022 E. Aurora

Hughes Award to Jacqueline Carey-Wilson. The award

is to honor a distinguished member of the RCBA for his

or her service to the RCBA and to the legal community.

Please see Stephen’s full presentation to Jacqueline on

page 11.

RCBA lapel pins were presented by Lori Myers to

Richard Kennedy, Richard Marca and Judge Jeffrey

Prevost (ret.) for their 25-year or more membership in

the RCBA.

Chris Jensen presented plaques to Judge Stephen

Cunnison (ret.), Riverside County Public Defender Steve

Harmon, and Judge Jeffrey Prevost (ret.) for their 50

years of membership in the State Bar of California.

President Lori Myers introduced the first annual

Attorney of the Year Awards. RCBA Section chairs nomi

nated attorneys who have demonstrated their legal abil-

ity, commitment, and passion to their field of law and

dedication to their colleagues and the legal community.

installation of offiCers dinner 2022

Paul Lin, Shumika Sookdeo, Alex Barraza, Goushia Farook,

Maria Pezer and Lauren Vogt.

Riverside Lawyer, December 2022 21

Lori Myers, Meghan Blanco,

Judge Emma Smith, Paulette Sandler

Craig Pyatt and Lori Myers

Jorge Alvarado, Kenny Ramirez,

Sharon Ramirez

Mark Easter, Brian Pearcy, Ted Stream,

Robert Hicks and Karl Leonard Hicks

Gordon and Judge Gloria Trask (ret.)

Elisabeth Lord, Solomon Droge,

Judge Jack Lucky (ret.)

Erica Alfaro and Alex Barraza Neil Okazaki and Lori Myers

Lori Myers, Jessica Muñoz, Greg Rizio,

Steve Harmon and Michael Razo

Kristi & James Perry

Judge Stephen Cunnison (ret.),

Judge Jeffrey Prevost (ret.), Steve Harmon

Tules & Luis Aguilar Judge Craig Riemer and

Jean-Simon Serrano

Judge William Bailey

(ret.)

Swearing in of the 2022-2023 RCBA Board of Directors

RCBA Past Presidents – Front row l-r – Theresa Han Savage, Michelle Ouellette,

Lori Myers, Jacqueline Carey-Wilson, Harlan Kistler, Robyn Lewis, Jean-Simon Serrano

Back row 1-r – Neil Okazaki, Judge Chris Harmon, Steve Harmon, Judge Craig

Riemer, Brian Pearcy, Judge Stephen Cunnison (ret.), Judge Chad Firetag

Theresa Savage, Judge Chad Firetag, Judge Jack

Lucky (ret.) and Phil Savage

22 Riverside Lawyer, December 2022

dogs (Chief, a poodle terrier, and Sadie, a

schnoodle). Despite her busy workload, she

finds time to participate in local leadership,

such as serving as a past-president of the

Southwest Riverside County Bar Association

(SWRCBA). She currently serves as the

chair of the Civil Litigation Section of the

Riverside County Bar Association. In addi-

tion, she mentors young people through

Project Graduate and serves on the board of

the Leo A. Deegan Inn of Court.

One of her roles during the height of

the COVID-19 pandemic involved working as a commu-

nication liaison with the civil trial judges and the bar

associations, coordinating Zoom conferences or other

informational webinars. When she’s getting away from it

all, you’ll most likely find her cooking an extravagant meal

or traveling to an out of the way destination in Europe,

Mexico, or the Caribbean. If you’re lucky enough to be in

a meeting or on a call with her, make sure to introduce

yourself to this dynamic young lawyer who practices with

us here in Riverside County.

Chris Johnson is a senior attorney at Reid & Hellyer in Riverside

and a current member of the RCBA Board of Directors.

When I think of my co-worker, I think of

a hard-working competitive trial lawyer who

has a pension for good cooking, a beautiful

young family, and a fluency in the Greek

language. This describes Kiki Manti Engel,

born and raised in the Greek community

of Chicago, primarily on the north side.

She spent some of her formative years in

southern Florida. She moved to Southern

California in 2005, graduating from Vista

Murrieta High School two years later. After

graduating from the University of the Pacific

in Stockton with a major in English and a

minor in pre-law studies in 3.5 years, she

returned to Temecula, found employment with the Law

Offices of Dennis Fabozzi as a receptionist, then became a

legal assistant, paralegal, and then a law clerk.

In these early law years, she worked full time and

attended classes at night eventually finishing law school

ahead of the usual schedule at Thomas Jefferson School of

Law in San Diego. She joined Reid & Hellyer in February

of 2018 with a practice in real estate and business litiga-

tion. Her civil practice includes among other things,

litigating leasehold rights on local Indian tribal lands and

advising non-profits on the risks involved in a business

development plan.

When not practicing law, Kiki carves out time for

her husband, their two-year-old daughter, and their two

Kiki Manti Engel

oPPosing Counsel: kiki Manti engel

by Chris Johnson

Compliance Group 3

(N-Z)

Compliance Period: 2/1/20 − 1/31/23

Deadline to Report: February 1, 2023

For compliance groups who must report for the period ending

on January 31, 2023, and thereafter.

Special Requirements:

• At least four hours of Legal Ethics

• At least one hour on Competence Issues

•

At least two hours dealing with Elimination of Bias.

Of the two hours, at least one hour must focus on

implicit bias and the promotion of bias-reducing strategies.

Compliance information is available on the

State Bar’s website.

Save the Date

Riverside County Bar Association

MCLE MARATHON

In-person at RCBA building

Friday, January 13, 2023

MCLE Credit:

4 Hours Total

(1 hour Competence Issues,

2 Hours Legal Ethics, 1 Hour Bias)

You may attend all or only the session(s) in which

you need credits.

More info will be forthcoming.

Riverside Lawyer, December 2022 23

Phillips had

asked if he’d be interested. Since

he hadn’t yet been offered the job, he went

to work with Buchalter Nemer for eight-nine

months. Then he entered the 18-month U.S.

Attorney’s training program in L.A., taking

the train from his home in West Covina. He

had just married his wife Helen, whom he’d

been dating since his Pomona days (she had

attended UCLA, then Cornell Law School).

Other than a short stint as county counsel in

Riverside, she has been a litigator at the same

firm all these years.

Entering the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Judge

Yang felt he’d found his calling. He would say

“You can find joy in any job,” but this opened

up his world. Responsibility was dumped on him from day

one as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, because about 80% of the

cases have but one U.S. Attorney to take a position on behalf

of the United States. So from 2008 to 2016, he served as a

“line” Assistant U.S. Attorney, moving to the Riverside office

in December 2008 after a year in L.A, working with Sherry

Pim (now a Magistrate Judge) as his boss. In 2016, he became

Deputy Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Riverside. This

was a job that provided unexpected challenges when the pan

demic hit and he was faced with all the problems we all faced

during that time: personnel issues, scheduling, continuanc

es, health issues, etc. In 2020, the Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s

office in Riverside was moved to the San Bernardino office

and he became Chief. This was a high-pressure position, but

Jerry Yang was up to the challenge. He says this was a job

he could have done forever. But he was encouraged to apply

for the judiciary, and after going through the JNE process,

he was named to the Riverside County Superior Court by

Governor Gavin Newsom on July 1, 2022. Until January 1, he

is sitting in Department 22 handling misdemeanor arraign

ments and other criminal matters. In January 2023, he will

begin his first assignment in his own courtroom.

Outside of his legal responsibilities, Judge Yang has

a very full life. He and his wife, and their two children, a

daughter, eight, and a son 1 ½, live in Hacienda Heights, not

far from his parents. They have travelled all over the world,

from Europe to Belize to the Cook Islands. He has an ocean-

going fishing boat and the family has a Class A motorhome

that has taken them all over the country. Right now, they

are planning a trip to Thailand and then to Taiwan to visit

his grandparents, who lived in California from 1988 to 2016,

but returned home to Taiwan as they got older. Once again

Riverside County has the good fortune of securing a compe

tent and caring judge. Belated welcome, Judge Yang.

Betty Fracisco is an attorney at Garrett & Jensen in Riverside and a

member of the RCBA Publications Committee.

It doesn’t happen often, but this month

we celebrate a graduation within the pages of

Riverside Lawyer: Jerry Yang has graduated

from “Opposing Counsel” (six years ago) to

“Judicial Profile”, and we congratulate this

new member of Riverside County’s bench.

Born in Taiwan, Judge Yang came to the

United States in 1983 at the age of three.

Judge Yang, along with his younger brother

and his parents, initially moved in with rela

tives in Rowland Heights, then spent two years

in Monterey Park before his parents bought a

house in Rowland Heights. They lived there

for about five years before their final resting

place in Hacienda Heights, where the judge

has spent much of his life. Although he was a journalist in

Taiwan, his Dad went into construction, eventually starting

his own business. His mother continued with bookkeeping.

Although he spent kindergarten as an ESL student,

Judge Yang did well in school, though it paled in comparison

to his love of basketball. Unfortunately, he reached his full

height in eighth grade, so when basketball started interfer

ing with his academics in ninth grade, giving it up wasn’t

a huge sacrifice. By that time the notion of becoming a

lawyer had already entered his mind, after finding and read

ing a copy of John Grisham’s The Firm while still in middle

school. High school at AH Wilson High School found a self-

motivated, disciplined, competitive student taking honors

classes, but not stressing about college and the future. He

did well on both the PSAT and SAT (without prep classes)

and decided to apply for early acceptance at Pomona College.

Judge Yang lived on campus at Pomona (a requirement)

and majored in Politics. He had the opportunity of study

ing abroad at Oxford. He already knew what he wanted to

do after college and was somewhat disappointed he didn’t

get into Boalt, but UCLA Law School was a great experi

ence. He had the good fortune after his first year to extern

for U.S. District Judge Virginia Phillips, which he calls “the

best thing in his career.” Judge Phillips treated her clerks

and externs well, providing an abundance of direction and

advice, and even treating them to lunch occasionally. The

next summer he was a summer associate at Best Best &

Krieger and was offered a job once he passed the State Bar.

This made for a more enjoyable third year of law school dur

ing which he actually learned to play golf.

After passing the Bar Exam in 2005, Judge Yang began

his first “adult job” practicing business litigation at Best

Best & Krieger. He was in the litigation group with Mark

Easter and Vic Wolf and remembered doing a three-four day

arbitration with Vic and an unlawful detainer trial. After 2

½ years he applied to the U.S. Attorney’s Office after Judge

Hon. Jerry Yang

judiCial Profile: the honoraBle jerry yang

by Betty Fracisco

24 Riverside Lawyer, December 2022

The Saint Thomas More Award

Luis E. Lopez

Presented by Jacqueline Carey-Wilson

Luis E. Lopez was born in Jalisco, Mexico to Consuelo

and Eligio Lopez. Luis is the oldest of eight children, with

four sisters and three brothers. Their parents raised the

family in the Catholic faith, all were baptized as infants

and received the Sacraments of first Holy Communion and

Confirmation. Luis was thirteen when his parents moved

the family to the United States, settling in the San Gabriel

Valley. Luis learned English in school, in the night classes he

attended with his mother, and from his friends.

Luis attended California State University, Fullerton

(CSUF) and majored in political science. During his under-

graduate studies, he was an activist and fought to prevent Tom

Metzger, a leader and former grand dragon of the Klu Klux

Klan, from using the equipment at CSUF to film a television

show entitled, Race and Reason, which was then syndicated

across the nation. Luis’ work in fighting racism resulted in

ousting Metzger from the campus at CSUF and led him to

consider a career in the law. He wanted to help others.

Luis attended University of the Pacific McGeorge Law

School in Sacramento and upon graduation in 1990, decided

to settle in the Inland Empire to practice law. Luis has devoted

his life in the Inland Empire to serving others through his

legal practice and in his volunteer activities. Luis worked with

various civil firms until he opened his own law practice in

1996. Luis handles civil litigation, family law, estate planning,

Chapter 7 Bankruptcies, and some transactional matters.

Since putting down roots, Luis has been active in giving

back to the Inland Empire community. From 1994 to the

present, Luis has donated his time and talents as a direc-

Judges, lawyers, and public officials of many faiths and

their families participated in the 31st Annual Red Mass of the

Inland Empire, which was held on October 20, 2022, at Saint

Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Riverside. The Red Mass

is celebrated each year to invoke God’s blessing and guid-

ance in the administration of justice. The Mass is held in

October to coincide with the opening of the annual term of

the United States Supreme Court in Washington, D.C.

During the opening procession of the Mass, Mitchell

Norton carried a banner depicting the Holy Spirit, the Scales

of Justice, and the Ten Commandments, symbolizing the

impartiality of justice and how all must work toward the

fair and equal administration of the law, without corruption,

avarice, prejudice, or favor. Patricia Byars Cisneros carried

a vase of 48 red roses in memory of those members of the

Inland Empire legal community family who had passed away

in the last year and three additional red roses for Linda

Maynes, Helen Rodriguez, and Louise Biddle, members of

the Red Mass Steering Committee who had passed away in

previous years.

The chief celebrant was the Most Reverend Alberto

Rojas, Bishop of the Diocese of San Bernardino. Rabbi Hillel

Cohn, Rabbi Emeritus of the Congregation Emanu El in

San Bernardino, read a passage from the Old Testament in

Hebrew and English. Theresa Han Savage read a passage

from the New Testament. Deacon Donald Hitzeman, serv-

ing as Deacon of the Word, read the Gospel, and Bishop

Rojas gave the homily. Sophia Choi and Jacqueline Carey-

Wilson offered the Prayers of the Faithful, which included

remembrances of members from the legal community family

who had passed away during the last year. Deacon Steven

Serembe served as Deacon of the Alter and Barbara Keough

led the music during the Mass. At the conclusion of the Mass,

Bishop Rojas, Rabbi Cohn, and Filip Milosavljevic, associate

pastor for young adults at Loma Linda University, gave final

blessings to those in the legal community.

Immediately following the Mass, the Red Mass Steering

Committee hosted a dinner. During the dinner, the Saint

Thomas More and the Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta

awards were presented. The Saint Thomas More Award is

given to a lawyer or judge who gives hope to those in need,

is kind and generous in spirit, and is an overall exemplary

human being. The Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta Award is

given to anyone with those attributes who is a member of

the legal community or who has made contributions to the

legal community.

luis e. loPez and judge tara reilly honored at

the 31st annual red Mass

by Jacqueline Carey-Wilson

Jamie and Luis E. Lopez, and their son, Samuel E. Lopez

Riverside Lawyer, December 2022 25

tor on the Youth Accountability Board of San Bernardino, a

member on the OPAL Commission for the San Bernardino

Police Department, served as a commissioner with the San

Bernardino Police Department, and was a director and vice

president of the Boys & Girls Club of San Bernardino, where

he worked to provide kids a safe environment and access to

computers after school. Additionally, Luis was a trustee for

the City of San Bernardino Public Libraries, where he advo-

cated to bring bilingual education materials to the public. He

also served as a member of the Red Mass Steering Committee

for six years. Moreover, Luis volunteered with Libreria del

Pueblo Legal Clinic and assisted over 3000 pro se litigants in

navigating the legal system.

Currently, Luis is a mediator with the Riverside County

Superior Court Family Law Voluntary Settlement Conference

Program; a board member and mediator with the Riverside

County Bar Association Dispute Resolution Service, Inc.; and

a board member and educational advocate for the Riverside

County Bar Foundation’s Project Graduate, which mentors,

guides, and encourages foster youth to graduate from high

school.

Luis has been recognized statewide and locally for his

service.

• In 2000, Luis was awarded the Wiley W. Manuel Award

for pro bono legal services by the California State Bar.

• In 2006, Luis was awarded the Local Minority Advocate

of the Year by the Minority Business Development

Center.

• Since 2010, Luis has been awarded the Jane Addams and

Soloman awards three times for participating in more

than 200 family law voluntary mediations.

Luis resides in Riverside with Jamie, his wife of 38 years

and who was his high school sweetheart. They are mem-

bers of Saint Catherine of Alexandria Catholic Church in

Riverside. Luis and Jamie have two children, William and

Samuel. Luis spent many years coaching for little league and

soccer, along with raising his children in the Catholic faith.

Luis exemplifies the highest ideals of the legal profes-

sion and serves as an inspiration to those around him.

Accordingly, the Red Mass Steering Committee was honored

to present Luis E. Lopez with the Saint Thomas More Award

for his extraordinary service and devotion to church, com-

munity, and justice.

Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta Awards

Judge Tara Reilly

Presented by The Honorable John Pacheco

Judge Tara Reilly was baptized in January 1958 at a

Catholic Church in Karlsruhe, Germany. Her father, Edward

Reilly, was in the United States Army at the time. Her

mother, Patricia (Creighton) Reilly, was a special education

teacher and licensed psychologist. Both sides of her fam-

ily came from Irish immigrants, third generation on her

father’s side. Judge Reilly was raised in the Catholic faith

and primarily attended parochial schools in her youth. Her

father was in the oil industry, so they moved quite a bit and

there was not always a Catholic school close by, so occasion-

ally she attended public schools.

Judge Reilly grew up all over the country. Her family

was originally from Connecticut and moved eleven times

between second grade and her senior year in high school.

They lived mostly along the eastern seaboard with one stop

in the mid-west (Indiana) and finally arriving in California

in August 1974. The Dominican sisters at Flintridge Sacred

Heart Academy (FSHA) welcomed Judge Reilly as a new

senior in 1974. She has remained relatively active with FSHA

since that time and is especially supportive of the Dominican

sisters because all are strong and loving women in religious

life.

Judge Reilly was appointed to the San Bernardino

County Superior Court 26 years ago and has sat in every

possible assignment throughout the court system. Judge

Reilly currently serves as a bench officer in the probate

department, hearing matters concerning probate, trusts,

conservatorships, guardianships, and elder abuse petitions.

Judge Reilly was previously supervising judge of the probate

department and in that capacity worked to develop programs

that provided greater access to courtrooms and streamlined

caseloads. She also worked with the probate clerk’s office,

the probate examiners, the court investigator’s office, and

the managing probate attorney to manage the flow of case

work throughout the probate department from filing to

hearing. Judge Reilly wanted to ensure that litigants received

the information, access, and services they needed. On the

bench, Judge Reilly listens respectfully and compassionately

and seeks to give each litigant appearing before her a fair and

full hearing.

The San Bernardino County Bar Association honored

Judge Reilly with the 2012 Kaufman-Campbell Award. The

Kaufman-Campbell Award is given to judges who have

served the bench with distinction while making significant

contributions to the community. Recipients typically display

the highest standards of judicial excellence while showing

integrity, wisdom, and impartiality.

Judge Reilly is a member of Holy Name of Jesus Catholic

Church in Redlands. Her children attended Sacred Heart

Academy in Redlands from kindergarten to eighth grade.

When her children were in school, she sat on the school

board and

was an active parent in the school. Judge Reilly

firmly believes that a strong faith and strong family are the

Judge Tara Reilly and her father, Edward Reilly

26 Riverside Lawyer, December 2022

foundation for a successful life. According to Judge Reilly, “I

have struggled at times with both, but always found myself

strengthened in my love for both. A corollary of my upbring-

ing is the requirement that ‘to whom much is given, much is

expected.’”

Judge Reilly’s greatest joys are her two children, J.P. and

Catherine. At 34 and 31, they are both successful, bright,

thoughtful, and delightful adults. She is also very fortunate to

have an intelligent, happy, and kind stepdaughter, Miriam, who

is 25. All three are highly successful and an absolute blessing

in her life.

Judge Reilly considers herself to be among the most fortu-

nate of people as she has a supportive and loving family; a pro-

fession that has been more of calling than a job; good friends;

and the most powerful guardian angel because there have been

moments her life that could have gone quite differently, but for

the Grace of God.

Judge Reilly has lived her faith in word and deed.

Accordingly, the Red Mass Steering Committee was honored

to present Judge Tara Reilly with the Saint Mother Teresa of

Calcutta Award for her extraordinary service and devotion

to church, community, and justice.

We Remember Them

• Margaret Helen Arter

• Donald J. Bartell

• Louise Biddle*

• David Blaisdell

• Brian Boles

• Gene Bristoll

• Paul W. Carey

• Dominic Carlos

• Rosalva Carlos

• Christopher Carpenter

• James B. Church

• Elizabeth Cunnison

• Greg Espinosa

• Judge Charles D. Field (ret.)

• Judge Douglas A. Fettel (ret.)

• Judge Mac Fisher

• Ronald Freeman

• John Walter Furness

• Christine Ann Greer

• Timothy Guhin

• Norma Kay Hanks

• Harry Histen

• Jack Dunaway Holt

• Deacon Scott Hunsicker

• William Roger Kampf

• Justice Jeffrey King (ret.)

• Stacey Koncelik

• Arthur Littleworth

• James Liu

• Dale Mann

• Donald Matejka

• Linda Maynes*

• Doris Morton

• Maria Niciforos

• Victor J. Norcia

• Rama Naresh Patel

• Margaret Marie Pearce

• Richard Renner

• Helen Rodriguez*

• Rob Rossi

• Sharon Sanchez

• Richard Scott

• Jean Smith

• George Thompson

• Max Stanford Tomlinson

• Judge John P. Wade (ret.)

• David A. Williams

During the Red Mass, we remembered the following

members of the Inland Empire Legal Community Family

who passed away during the last year:

*Members of the Red Mass Steering Committee who passed

away in previous years.

Bishop Alberto Rojas, Rabbi Hillel Cohn, and

Associate Pastor Filip Milosavljevic

Sophia Choi and Judge Eric Keen with the Mock Trial

students from Notre Dame High School in Riverside.

The 2023 Red Mass

The 32nd Annual Red Mass will take place the first

week of October 2023. The Red Mass Committee is

accepting nominations for the 2023 Saint Thomas More

and Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta awards. If you have

a nominee for the awards or would like to be involved

in the planning of the Red Mass, please call Jacqueline

Carey-Wilson at (909) 387-4334 or Mitchell Norton at

(909) 387-5444.

Photos by Jacqueline Carey-Wilson

Jacqueline Carey-Wilson is a deputy county counsel with San

Bernardino County, co-chair of the Red Mass Steering Committee,

and past president of the Riverside County Bar Association and

the Inland Empire

Chapter of the Federal Bar Association.

Riverside Lawyer, December 2022 27

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The following persons have applied for membership in the Riverside County

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December 2022 • Volume 72 Number 11

MAGAZINE

The Official Publication of the Riverside County Bar Association