John Van de Kamp takes the helm
The cluttered study in John Van de Kamp’s Pasadena home bears witness to a life lived in the public eye. The walls are covered with photos of his years either in elected office or working for the government: the swearing-in ceremony when he became district attorney of Los Angeles, a White House photo with President Johnson, a framed newspaper article.

‘Noblest’ in the  profession win pro bono awards
A coalition of bar groups and law firms assisted fire victims in the aftermath of last year’s deadly San Diego County wildfires. A judicial staff attorney who serves in the California State Military Reserve prepared wills and handled other legal matters for 2,500 deploying soldiers at no charge. And a Los Angeles law firm devoted hundreds of hours of pro bono legal services to help improve the working conditions for laborers in the garment industry. These are just a few of the attorneys honored with the 2004 State Bar President’s Pro Bono Service Award.

‘Status quo never enough’ for Loren Miller winner
Although Bruce Iwasaki was born after his Japanese-American parents were interned during World War II, their experience in the concentration camps was a formative part of his life. His mother was sent to Arizona, his father to Wyoming. They rarely spoke of that time, but “they were, with no reason to be, ashamed,” Iwasaki said recently.

Abused seniors turn to Alameda court for help
The terrified, elderly woman stood facing the judge. From the other side of court, her son angrily shouted that he could speak for his mother, that she wanted to drop the case. But Alameda County Superior Court Judge Julie Conger recalls looking directly into the frightened woman’s eyes and saying: “I want to hear from you.”

Lawyers who scaled dues pay another $273,000
Nearly 2,800 of some 20,000 active lawyers who scaled their 2004 membership fees based on financial hardship have reviewed their scaling under statutory criteria and have sent an additional $273,000 in dues to the State Bar.