A sea change in justice ... A new era begins in California's legal system as Chief Justice Ronald George (center) completes his first full year in office, Marc Adelman (right) takes over the reins as the new president of the State Bar of California and Steve Nissen (left) prepares to become the new executive director of the bar on Nov. 1		UPDATE FEDERAL JUDGE DISMISSES LAWSUIT CHALLENGING STATE BAR ACTIVITIES A federal lawsuit alleging the State Bar’s activities violate the constitutional rights of its members was dismissed last month by Judge Garland E. Burrell Jr., who wrote that the plaintiffs failed to show "that they have been forced to make or support politically expressive acts of the State Bar." The suit, Morrow v. State Bar of California, was filed in June. It made reference to the bar’s support of four bills, including an Assembly bill which would have created six exemptions to the 1975 Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act’s (MICRA) $250,000 limit on physician liability for non-economic damages. The judge said that compulsory membership in the State Bar does not assume that all members agree with the bar’s position on political issues. CONTINUED ...
Bar’s new executive director intends to ask ‘why,’ then take his time to do it right For the last 13 years, Steven A. Nissen has worked successfully in the nonprofit world of poverty law, where maximum use of minimal resources is the rule, the notion of waste is virtually inconceivable, and the efforts and good will of volunteers are paramount. When he takes over the top job at the State Bar Nov. 1, Nissen hopes that background, coupled with the fresh perspective of an outsider, will serve lawyers and the public well. CONTINUED ...	Chief justice hails new trial court funding legislation as the ‘jewel in the crown’ A new system of funding California’s courts eliminates the threat of closed courtrooms and will help insure that the quality of justice does not vary from county to county, says Chief Justice Ronald M. George. He called trial court funding legislation approved as part of a mega-deal cobbled together last month in Sacramento the "jewel in the crown." "Obtaining a stable and adequate source of funding for our courts is without doubt one of the most important reforms in California’s justice system in the 20th century," he said. CONTINUED ...

NEWS Annual Meeting 1997 San Diego — home to bar leaders State Bar offers members assistance programs Bar board sets Hudson deduction at $1.50 Lawyer civility project takes shape Nation’s top court to decide IOLTA fate Moffat acting general counsel REGULARS ASK THE PRESIDENT - A plea to help kids LEGAL TECH - Trying to keep online users in line MCLE MCLE Calender MCLE Self-Study MCLE Self-Study Test NEW PRODUCTS OPINION LSC makes a real difference Good riddance to affirmative action For jurors, it’s just hurry up and wait Letters to the editor POINT/COUNTERPOINT PUBLIC COMMENT - Bar circulates four issues TRIALS DIGEST YOU NEED TO KNOW

Lizzie Borden gets off again
Axe murders retrial at Stanford draws O’Connor, Rehnquist westward by Kathleen O. Beitiks Staff Writer It was hot, humid and stuffy and the ladies were furiously fanning themselves in the auditorium at Stanford University last month when Lizzie Borden was acquitted of murder the second time in more than 100 years. CONTINUED ...