THE CALIFORNIA BAR JOURNAL

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE STATE BAR OF CALIFORNIA
February, 1997

Lawsuits become integral
to state's initiative process

When a federal judge in San Francisco granted a preliminary injunction barring implementation of Proposition 209 in December, an ongoing debate over law-making by initiative and the judiciary's role erupted anew.

Gov. Pete Wilson called U.S. District Judge Thelton Henderson's action "an affront" to California voters, who approved the measure banning race and sex preferences in state programs by a 54.5 percent margin.

Continued ...


UPDATE

AT BAR'S URGING,
JUDGE ASSUMES CONTROL OF MURDERED LAWYER'S FILES

FEATURE

PUBLIC LAWYERS
SEEK FLEXIBLE RULES


REGULARS

 

Tapping retired lawyers' experience

After 30 years as an attorney handling contracts for the state, Marjorie Nowell Holt of Sacramento is spending some of her days in retirement giving legal advice to AIDS patients, offering them comfort and a little hand holding.

Down south in San Diego, retired attorney Richard McManus provides guardianship advice to grandparents. And in Napa, Gloria Beutler helps abused women with restraining orders, while Lillian Nerenberg of Los Gatos aids low-income senior citizens with a variety of legal problems.

Dues waived for emeritus attorneys

Nearly 10 years ago, State Bar officials took a look at the ranks of bar membership and discovered an untapped resource -- retired California attorneys. The Emeritus Attorney program was establshed to capitalize on the vast legal experience and wisdom of these retirees and at the same time provide much needed pro bono services to the state's low income residents.

Federal funding for legal services programs for the state's neediest residents has decreased and bar officials are hoping to fill that gap by enlisting the aid of more retired attorneys.

Continued ...... Continued

[MAIN MENU][CALBAR JOURNAL]