When it matters most,
it is still the Kennedy Court
October Term 2007 will be most remembered for a few high profile cases that dealt with issues of enormous legal and social significance: the meaning of the Second Amend-ment, the right of individuals imprisoned in Guantanamo to have access to the federal courts, the ability of a state to impose the death penalty for the crime of child rape.

Protections urged for judges
Judicial elections have become so partisan that a constitutional amendment is needed to spare judges from answering political questionnaires during a campaign, former Gov. Pete Wilson said last month.

Monterey beckons lawyers to the 81st Annual Meeting
At the State Bar’s Annual Meeting in Monterey next month, California attorneys will find dozens of MCLE programs on topics ranging from legal practice in China to computer forensics to being an ethical rainmaker. For the first time, courses will be organized among four educational tracks: technology, solo practice, substantive law and practice skills.

Fujie elected 3rd woman president
Los Angeles lawyer Holly J. Fujie was elected the third woman president of the State Bar last month and vowed to work her colleagues harder, reach out to young lawyers and take a close look at the bar’s fiscal operations.

Lawyer misconduct charges will go online
After an exhaustive debate, the board of governors voted 18-4 last month to post on the State Bar Web site disciplinary charges filed against California lawyers.

Governor signs bar fee bill
Gov. Schwarzenegger signed the State Bar fee bill, which will boost bar dues for all California lawyers by $10. The fees for active attorneys will be $410 next year and for inactive lawyers, $125.

Four elected to bar board; fifth candidate not certified
Four attorneys were elected to three-year terms on the State Bar Board of Governors and a fifth was not certified, pending a review of his eligibility for the board.

‘Eco Pledge’: Green effort or shades of red?
An effort to seek public comment on a proposal to encourage law firms to become more environmentally friendly sparked a heated debate — including allusions to dead squirrels and Mao Zedong’s “Little Red Book” — before surviving a 4-3 committee vote last month.

2007- 08 Exhibitor Directory
The businesses and services listed here support the State Bar through various means, most notably as exhibitors at the State Bar's Annual Meeting. Visit them online or via phone to serve your individual needs.

When You Become 18
The State Bar has updated and reprinted When You Become 18: A Survival Guide for Teenagers, in English and Spanish. The guide is offered free of charge.