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An Official Publication of
The Marin County Bar Association |
Editor: Robert Rosborough
Guest Editor: Anna Pletcher |
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THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE ISSUE |
EDITOR'S INTRODUCTION |
Welcome to our topical criminal law themed issue of the Marin Lawyer with great thanks to Guest Editor Anna Pletcher. I’m sure all of you are aware of California’s prison overcrowding crisis. Deputy Public Defender Bryna Holland writes about the crisis and the response to it, particularly innovative approaches here in Marin. Some of you may not be aware just how far along California is on the path to eliminating money bail. Our guest editor (and former Federal Prosecutor) writes a highly informative primer on bail reform, including the latest action in the California Legislature.
You can also read about inmates performing Shakespeare, brought to you by Marin Shakespeare Company, and about the worthy work of Alternate Defenders, Inc. providing outstanding conflict counsel to defendants in Marin.
Departing from our criminal theme, I'm excited to announce the return of our Judge's Corner column. Judge Verna Adams has written a fascinating article on the history of the Marin Bench, particularly the role of women after taking 104 years to make their first appearance. Finally, as a mediator, I highly recommend Gordon McAuley's entertaining and insightful article on what it takes to get better results in mediation.
Please get in touch if you have an idea for an article. Or, write a Letter to the Editor. Do any of our readers think money bail should stay the way it is? Let us know!
– Robert Rosborough Email |
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Wed | Jun 28 | 11:45A-1:30P |
General | MCBA Members Luncheon
General
MCBA Members Luncheon |
The U.S. Supreme Court: Recent Past and Future Predictions |
NEXT WEEK! Reserve by Friday, June 23
Each year, MCBA begins its summer with Professor Rory Little’s update on high profile SCOTUS cases, offering MCBA members a glimpse of the Supreme Court's justice positions and their summarized discussions. Professor Little is a frequent NPR commentator on Supreme Court issues. He looks forward to sharing trends and predictions about the Court. |
Buffet Lunch 1.0 CLE | General |
Location: McInnis Club Restaurant |
Members: $60
Non-Members: $75 |
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President's Message |
Jury Duty, Active Duty, and a Lawyer's Duty |
By
Dorothy Chou Proudfoot |
A big thank you to Immediate Past President Larry Strick for arranging for Dr. Larry Brilliant to speak at our May General Membership meeting. I did not know Dr. Brilliant personally; I had only read the Wikipedia summary of his education, experiences, and accomplishments, and I was curious to see how he would inspire us to go outside our comfort zone and do good in the world. More >
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JUDGE'S CORNER |
A Brief History of Women on the Marin Bench |
By
The Honorable Verna Adams |
On Friday, May 12, 2017, all of the active female Marin County Superior Court Judges gathered with our matriarch, Judge Beverly Bloch Savitt (Ret.) for her birthday party. This occasion sparked my interest about the history of the Marin County Superior Court. 104 years elapsed between the election of our first Superior Court Judge in 1879 and 1983, when Bev Savitt and Lynn Taylor together shattered the glass ceiling. More >
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DIRECTOR'S PROFILE |
Patricia Conway |
By
Anna Pletcher |
Meet Patty Conway, litigation attorney with Vasquez Estrada & Conway, in her third term as a MCBA board member. More >
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California Can Learn from the Federal Bail System |
By
Anna Pletcher |
The debate over bail reform in California is heating up. Two bills are currently making their way through the state legislature seek to end the state’s money bail system. The proposed reforms have generated much interest and controversy from those on both sides of the political spectrum. As a former federal prosecutor, I am watching with interest and curiosity as California's debate unfolds. Money bail was eliminated at the federal level more than fifty years ago. More >
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The Uplifting Story of California's Response to Prison Overcrowding |
By
Bryna Holland, Deputy Public Defender |
The Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits infliction of cruel and unusual punishment. Stunningly, in Brown v. Plata (2011) 563 U.S. 493, the State of California conceded a violation of the Eighth Amendment. The concession was based on evidence presented during 14 days of testimony before a three-judge panel about life inside California’s vast prison system, especially for inmates with health problems. . . . Learn what Marin County is doing to address the problem. More >
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Ensuring Justice: Representing the Most Vulnerable |
By
Barbara Monty |
For the past three years, I have had the great privilege to serve as the one civil attorney on the board of directors of Alternate Defenders, Inc. (ADI) As I complete my term, I thought it important to share with others the good work of this valuable organization. ADI is a non-profit corporation that provides free representation to indigent criminal defendants for whom the Public Defender’s Office has a conflict of interest. More >
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NONPROFIT PROFILE |
Marin Shakespeare Company Social Justice Programs |
By
Catherine Rucker |
In the summer of 2016 while serving as a volunteer attorney in the Marin Public Defender’s office, I learned that the Marin Shakespeare Company production of Othello would feature Dameion Brown in the lead. Mr. Brown had been incarcerated at Soledad Prison, and he was the first actor from one of MSC's prison arts programs to star in a regular production. More >
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Mark Twain's Advice for Getting Better Mediation Results |
By
Gordon D. McAuley |
Mark Twain is seldom mentioned in articles about getting better results in mediation. But he is well recognized as a sage observer about how we get along with one another. Litigation often happens when we do not get along well with others. How we think about that litigated dispute, and the possible solutions to a bad situation, is the concern of the mediator. More >
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May Meeting Recap |
A Conversation with Dr. Larry Brilliant |
By
Anna Pletcher |
May’s Member Luncheon featured physician, epidemiologist, and TED sensation Dr. Larry Brilliant in conversation with MCBA Program Chair Barrett Schaefer. A talented storyteller and engaging speaker, Dr. Brilliant reflected on his extraordinary life journey across continents, from eradicating smallpox in India to leading Google’s philanthropic foundation. More >
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Office Space, Employment Opportunities, Services and More... |
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MCBA encourages submission of articles that may interest the legal community. The editor reserves the right to publish, decline to publish, edit, or otherwise modify any submission. Editorial material should be sent to Marin County Bar Association by email. |
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