FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Amelia Montgomery, Executive Director
ORANGE COUNTY WOMEN LAWYERS ASSOCIATION
Tel.: (949) 478-1103
Email: info@ocwla.org

NEWPORT BEACH, CA - September 8, 2016 - The Orange County Women Lawyers Association (OCWLA)* is holding its annual fundraising event on September 22, 2016 at The Pelican Hill Resort in Newport Coast. Tickets are available at http://www.ocwla.org/event-2218719.

This year, the OCWLA is pleased to announce that it will be honoring our Judge of the Year, the Honorable Gail Andler, The Superior Court of California, County of Orange and our Attorney of the Year, Michele Johnson, Esq., Latham & Watkins LLP with keynote speaker Justice Eileen Moore, California Court of Appeal, 4th District, Division 3.

Charities Benefited. OCWLA is proud to announce charitable contributions being made in 2016, with proceeds raised in 2015. Charitable contributions include:

• Casa Teresa. Donation: $7,500.00
• Olive Crest. Donation: $7,500.00
• Orange County Bar Foundation. Donation: $5,000.00
• Orange County Collaborative Courts Foundation. Donation: $3,000.00 + gift cards collected at events
• Public Law Center. Donation: $2,500.00

About The Orange County Women Lawyers Association: The OCWLA is dedicated to advancing women in the legal profession. We support the continued growth and development of the OCWLA and its members by providing an exceptional professional network, raising awareness of discrimination and bias, and supporting worthy charitable organizations.

For more information please visit www.ocwla.org.

About Michele Johnson: Michele D. Johnson is a recognized leader at a prominent global law firm, in her area of practice, and in the community. She is a member of the Executive Committee of Latham & Watkins LLP and the former Managing Partner of the firm’s Orange County office in Costa Mesa.

Her practice focuses on securities and professional liability litigation, and she represents industry leading companies, officers and directors, special committees and accounting firms – often in high stakes litigation that sets legal precedent. She recently was recognized among a select group nationally of the “25 Most Influential Women in Securities Law” named by Law360. Ms. Johnson also has a longstanding
commitment to giving back to the community. She serves on the boards of the Public Law Center and the Orange County chapter of the Association of Business Trial Lawyers, and she recently received the Anti-Defamation League of Orange County’s Jurisprudence Award in recognition for her strong commitment to civil rights and human relations to end bigotry of all kinds.

Position: CJA Supervising Attorney
Classification Level: CL 30
Salary Range: $89,088 - $144,846
Location: Los Angeles, California
Opening Date: September 2, 2016
Closing Date: September 30, 2016
Number of Positions: One
Vacancy Number: 16-33

POSITION OVERVIEW
The United States District Court, Central District of California, invites applications for the position of Criminal Justice Act (“CJA”) Supervising Attorney. The CJA Supervising Attorney is responsible for the oversight and administration of the panel of attorneys qualified for appointment to represent indigent defendants in cases pending before the Court, and must have or develop a thorough knowledge of the Criminal Justice Act and of criminal law and procedure. The CJA Supervising Attorney will work to achieve the dual objectives of high quality representation by panel attorneys and cost containment/accountability for government funds. The CJA Supervising Attorney will work within the Legal Services Unit of the Clerk’s Office, will report to the Managing Attorney of the Legal Services Unit, and will serve as a first-line supervisor to three full-time voucher review clerks/budget analysts. The CJA Supervising Attorney will also work closely with the Court’s CJA Committee and the judges of the Court.

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES

• Review vouchers submitted by court-appointed attorneys, court reporters, interpreters, paralegals, investigators, and other service providers seeking payment pursuant to the CJA for work performed in cases pending before the Court, consulting with the presiding judge, the Court’s CJA Committee, and others as necessary.
• Manage the flow of CJA vouchers through the Clerk’s Office.
• Verify data, computations, and compliance with CJA guidelines and court policies on all CJA vouchers prior to approval, and ensure expeditious review and payment of vouchers.
• Develop uniform guidelines and policies for the accurate and prompt payment of CJA vouchers.
• Provide assistance and advice to panel attorneys and others on CJA processes and procedures, and on the proper completion of CJA forms.
• Assure quality of representation and improve financial efficiency by identifying better means of administering the CJA panel.
• Evaluate CJA panel management procedures to determine new methods for increasing effectiveness and reducing costs.
• Collect and analyze costs and other data and prepare reports regarding CJA voucher payments and procedures and CJA panel management.
• Serve as liaison between the Court’s judges and staff, panel attorneys and other service providers, the Federal Public Defender, the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, judges and staff at the Ninth Circuit, and judges and staff at other district courts with respect to CJA issues.
• Analyze and interpret federal statutes, regulations, and case law; Administrative Office directives, policies, and procedures; and local court rules, orders, and procedures related to implementation of the CJA and to criminal law and practice.
• Remain current with developments within the circuit and the district court, as well as evolving legislation pertaining to the CJA. Update panel attorneys and judges, as appropriate.
• Provide administrative and technical supervision of CJA Clerks on a day-to-day basis, including planning work assignments and setting priorities and schedules, advising and assisting with work in progress, reviewing completed work, developing or accepting recommendations from subordinates to increase productivity or quality, keeping subordinates informed of the policies and procedures of the organization as a whole, identifying training needs and conducting training, establishing and administering performance standards, hearing and resolving complaints, assisting with problems, and effecting disciplinary actions when required.
• Limited travel and other duties as required. Duties may require working during non-business hours.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Candidates must possess a J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school; be a member in good standing of, and eligible to practice before, the bar of any United States Court, or of the highest court of any State, Territory, or Insular Possession of the United States; and have a minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in the practice of law, in legal research, or in legal administration, gained after graduating from law school. Significant experience in the practice of criminal law, with at least two years in the practice of criminal defense law (especially indigent defense), is strongly preferred. Candidates must possess a deep appreciation of the Sixth Amendment right to counsel and an understanding of the fundamental importance of indigent defense to the judicial system of the United States. Qualified applicants must also possess excellent academic credentials; superior analytical, organizational, interpersonal, and oral and written communication skills; computer literacy; and familiarity with federal and local court rules and practices. Candidates must be U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents of the United States currently seeking U.S. citizenship or intending to become a citizen immediately after meeting the eligibility requirements.

COMPENSATION
Compensation will be set based on the experience and qualifications of the successful candidate subject to the policies and guidelines of the federal judiciary.

BENEFITS

• United States District Court employees are entitled to federal benefits such as: a defined benefit pension plan; a retirement savings plan including generous matching contributions; paid vacation and sick leave; eleven paid holidays per year; and choosing from an array of insurance plans including health, life, dental, vision, long term disability, and long term care.
• Mandatory direct deposit.
• Commuter subsidies are available to employees who utilize public transportation to and from work.
• Extensive on-line training options. Travel for in-person training and professional conferences is available, funds permitting.
• Federal court employees can pursue an on-line certificate and degree programs in judicial administration through Michigan State University, partially subsidized, funds permitting.

HOW TO APPLY
Applications should be submitted to apply_CACD@cacd.uscourts.gov by the close of business on September 30, 2016. Documents must be in Word, WordPerfect, or PDF format, and the email should reference Vacancy No. 16-33. Complete application packets must include the following:

1. cover letter
2. resume
3. two recent writing samples
4. the names of at least three references, and
5. an application for Federal Branch Employment (visit the court’s website at www.cacd.uscourts.gov to download the job application)

Due to the volume of applications received, the Court will communicate only with those individuals who will be interviewed. Expenses associated with interviews or relocation will not be reimbursed. Applicants scheduled to interview should advise the Human Resources staff if any accommodation will be necessary to interview.
As a condition of employment, the successful candidate will be subject to an FBI background check. The United States District Court requires employees to adhere to a code of conduct which is available on the Court’s web site at www.cacd.uscourts.gov.

The Court reserves the right to modify the conditions of this announcement, commence interviews immediately, withdraw the announcement, or fill the position at any time, any of which actions may occur without notice.
The Federal Judiciary is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

The 2017 Best Lawyers® in America have been announced and Aitken Aitken Cohn attorneys have once again dominated the list! Congratulations to Wylie Aitken, Darren Aitken, Chris Aitken, Richard Cohn, Casey Johnson, Michael Penn, and Ashleigh Aitken!

With all of our firm’s qualified attorneys making the prestigious list once again, Aitken Aitken Cohn is honored to be held in such high regard by our colleagues and clients.

Some more specifics on this year’s accomplishment:

Personal Injury Litigation
AAC is top two in the entire Orange County metro for the number of lawyers listed in Plaintiffs’ Personal Injury Litigation and #1 in Santa Ana
Product Liability
AAC is top two in the entire Orange County metro for the number of lawyers listed in Plaintiffs’ Product Liability Litigation and #1 in Santa Ana.
Bet-the-Company Litigation
Long considered the “brass ring” of complex litigation, only 14 lawyers in California are named in the bet-the-company litigation category: Darren Aitken is one of them.
If you have a potential case and would like to work with our award winning attorneys, please contact us today at 714-434-1424!

The Los Angeles Superior Court is currently scheduling Temporary Judges’ Training. Rule 2.812, et seq., of the California Rules of Court requires Temporary Judges to receive three hours live training in Bench Conduct and Demeanor plus three hours of training in Judicial Ethics for Temporary Judges and at least one area of substantive law (Small Claims, Collections, Traffic, Unlawful Detainer, Civil Harassment and Family Law).  The Temporary Judge Program is offering the following live training:

DATE: November 3, 2016 - Bench Conduct and Demeanor (3 hours)

FEE: $50.00

LOCATION: Los Angeles Superior Court, 111 North Hill Street, Room 222 (Second Floor), Los Angeles, CA 90012

TIME: 12:45 pm to 4:00 pm - Orientation and Training. Registration and lunch start at noon.

PARKING: Park in Lot 17 (after 11:30 a.m.).  Lot 17 is the multi-level lot on the corner of First and Olive. Parking validations will be provided at the training.

SPECIAL NOTICE:  On-Line training in Judicial Ethics, Traffic and Small Claims is available at the following website: http://www2.courtinfo.ca.gov/protem/.  If you take on-line courses, please bring copies of the Certificates of Completion and the application with you to the live training as this will expedite the certification process.   For other areas of substantive law, please contact the Temporary Judge Program Office.  The application may be obtained from the Temporary Judge Program Office or in fillable form at: http://www.lacourt.org.

Bench Conduct and Demeanor:  November 3, 2016.  MCLE CREDIT: Provider No. 485.  The Los Angeles Superior Court has been approved as a continuing legal education provider of Minimum Continuing Legal Education credit by the State Bar of California. This program will qualify for Minimum Continuing Legal Education credit by the State Bar of California in the amount of 3 hours of participatory credit:  1.0 hour will apply to elimination of bias in the legal profession credit, 1.0 hour will apply to legal ethics credit, and 1.0 hour will apply to general credit (of which -0- hours will apply to prevention, detection and treatment of substance abuse/mental illness that impairs professional competence), as appropriate to the content of the program.

AS SPACE IS LIMITED AND MCLE CREDIT IS PROVIDED,  PRE-PAID RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED AND MUST BE RECEIVED BY:  October 24, 2016.  This is necessary to defer the cost of training, security services, etc.   Please be advised that the pre-paid reservations are non-refundable and non-transferable. 

 Please make check payable to “Special Program Fund” and mail it to the Temporary Judge Program, 111 North Hill Street, Room 117, Los Angeles, CA 90012 or call (213) 633-1028 for further details.

SPECIAL NOTICE:  The decision to appoint any attorney as a Temporary Judge is within the discretion of the Presiding Judge.  For further information on requirements, disqualification, etc., see California Rules of Court, Rules 2.810 - 819, 10.740 -10.746; Code of Ethics, Canon 6D.

Please click on the link below to access the Notice from the Clerk re Changes to Local Rules Proposed to Become Effective December 1, 2016.

https://www.cacd.uscourts.gov/news/changes-local-rules-proposed-become-effective-december-1-2016

Following please find a link to the University of California Office of the General Counsel’s posting for Senior Counsel-Litigation in our Oakland office.
 
https://jobs.ucop.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=59749

Friday, September 9, 2016
1:30 p.m. Registration
2:00 - 5:15 p.m. Program
5:30 - 7:00 p.m. Reception
Location: Nixon Peabody LLP
300 S. Grand Ave., Ste. 4100
Los Angeles, CA
 
Betty T. Yee
California State Controller

Commissioner Ann M. Ravel
Federal Elections Commission

ELECT TO RUN
In its third year, the Elect to Run program continues to educate and encourage women to run for public office. Meet other women who have run for office, as well as those who support or train women to run, and get the information to decide whether you want to run.
 
The Elect to Run program recently earned CWL the 2016 Outstanding Member Program Award from the National Conference of Women's Bar Associations.
 
CWL Member Price: $10.00
Non-Member Price $20.00
Click here for sponsorship opportunities!
 
Register Now

The Salvation Army is offering 5 free CLE credits at a symposium to be held 9/21 at it's Western Territorial Headquarters in Long Beach.

The Salvation Army Southern California Division
180 E. Ocean Blvd., Ste. 500, Long Beach, CA 90802
C: 805.769.4274  O: 800.275.3197  F: 562.264.3804
www.salvationarmy-socal.org

Comments sought:
 
Three new proposals to amend the California Rules of Court and Judicial Council forms have been posted to the California Courts web site, at http://www.courts.ca.gov/policyadmin-invitationstocomment.htm.
 
SP16-08: Traffic and Criminal Procedure: Infraction Procedures Regarding Bail, Fines, Fees, and Assessments; Mandatory Courtesy Notices; and Ability to Pay Determinations
 
SP16-09: Traffic: Installment Payment of Bail Forfeiture and Traffic Violator School Fees
 
SP16-10: Traffic: Online Installment Payment of Bail Forfeiture and Traffic Violator School Fees
 
You are welcome to distribute this within your court and to any other interested parties. The deadline for comment is 5:00 p.m., Friday, August 26, 2016.
 
If you have any questions, please contact Camilla Kieliger, at camilla.kieliger@jud.ca.gov, or at 415-865-7681.
 
We greatly appreciate your time and dedication to the continued improvement of administration of justice in California.

Chapman University Fowler School of Law will host a speed mentoring event with the NAWJ (National Association of Women Judges) and OCWLA on September 15 from 5:30-8:00 pm. If you would like to participate as a mentor for the student attendees, please email OCWLA at info@ocwla.org.

Thank you for your support!