Hundreds cheered when Balboa High School senior Kitty Zeng stepped up to the podium in the Bently Reserve Building’s boisterous banquet hall. Zeng was nervous. She had never given a speech before, let alone in front of a crowd this…
Court says Fining California’s Poor Defendants is Unconstitutional
In a groundbreaking opinion, the California Second District Court of Appeals recently ruled that imposing court fees on indigent defendants is unconstitutional. The case, People v. Dueñas, is a criminal appeal on behalf of Velia Dueñas, a disabled and homeless…
New Attorney Duties When Going To Mediation
On top of the new and revised Rules of Professional Conduct that went into effect on November 1, 2018, if you go to mediation on or after January 1, 2019, you must comply with Evidence Code section 1129. I mediate…
Bay Area Minority Law Student Scholarship Program Now Accepting Applications
The 2019 Minority Law Student Scholarship Application is now available online. Students can download the application at www.sfbar.org/scholarships. The 2019 application deadline has been extended to May 8, 2019. Thanks to the generosity of the legal community, the Justice…
Will Choosing Legal Separation over Divorce Protect Spouse’s Health Insurance Coverage?
While Roseanne Barr has traditionally been the headline maker for her show “Roseanne,” it is now Michael Fishman, who plays youngest son, D.J. Conner, who is in the news. Last year, the show fired Roseanne Barr and renamed the show…
UPDATED: The Impact of the Partial Federal Government Shutdown
Update: January 18, 2019 – It is day 28 of the now longest partial government shutdown in U.S. history and there is no end in sight. In the seven days since we published the article below, on the impact of the shutdown…
Fred Alvarez Joins Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass
BASF Past President Fred Alvarez returns to San Francisco to join Leader Circle firm Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass. Alvarez, one of the preeminent employment lawyers in the United States, has led the employment practice of two major law firms. He served in two…
Governor Newsom Picks Appellate Justice Martin Jenkins for Judicial Appointments Secretary
The Bar Association of San Francisco (BASF) congratulates Justice Martin Jenkins on his appointment to Judicial Appointments Secretary in the Office of the Governor! Justice Jenkins currently serves as an Associate Justice on the California Court of Appeal, First Appellate District,…
Claudia Vetesi Joins Board of Directors for Equal Rights Advocates
BASF Leader Circle firm member and Morrison & Foerster partner Claudia Vetesi was inducted to the Equal Rights Advocates’ (ERA) board of directors. The ERA is a national civil rights organization dedicated to protecting and expanding economic and educational access and opportunities for women and girls.…
Shawn Christianson sworn in as Mayor of Hillsborough
In December 2018, BASF member and Buchalter partner Shawn Christianson, was sworn in as Mayor of the Town of Hillsborough, California. She is an active participant in numerous community and civic organizations, including having been elected in November 2005 to the Hillsborough City…
Legal Community Makes Holidays Brighter for Head Start Kids
Special thanks to all of the law firms and organizations that participated in the 2018 Head Start Holiday Gift Program this winter. With your help, we were able to bring joy to close to 2,000 children and parents in San Francisco.…
Volunteers Needed for San Francisco Mock Trial Competition
The Justice & Diversity Center’s Mock Trial committee is gearing up for this year’s High School Mock Trial Regional Competition and would love for each of you to consider volunteering to be a presiding judge or scoring judge. Orientation begins…