Legal News santa <strong><strong>Bar</strong>bara</strong> Women <strong>Lawyer</strong>s’ Annual Dinner and Meeting By na o m i deWey The <strong>Santa</strong> <strong><strong>Bar</strong>bara</strong> Women <strong>Lawyer</strong>s’ Annual Dinner and Meeting took place on December 14, 2009 — celebrating 21 years since the organization was founded. Held at the Canary Hotel, the evening began with rooftop cocktails at the Perch, with winter clothes de rigueur for attendees as they looked out over the city at night. Guests were able to meet and congratulate the Deborah M. Talmage Attorney of the Year, Commissioner Colleen Sterne, as well as past-president of the State <strong>Bar</strong>, Holly Fujie and a host of local judges and dignitaries. The rooftop reception was followed by dinner in the hotel ballroom. Welcoming guests to the event, 2009 SBWL President Naomi Dewey spoke about the importance of SBWL during Attorney of the Year Commissioner Colleen Sterne and 2009 SBWL President Naomi Dewey. tough economic times, not only as a professional association but also as an educational and mentoring resource for members. Connections in 2009 are as important as they were 21 years before when the group began, and the large number of former board members present was a fitting testament to the role SBWL continues to play. Introducing Guest Speaker Holly Fujie, SBWL Director Michael Colton recalled his days at law school with the future bar leader. Noting that she hadn’t changed since their days as students together in a civil procedure class, Mr. Colton indicated that he, in fact, had looked exactly like Jerry Garcia whilst at Boalt Hall — presumably because he was working too hard to keep up with Ms. Fujie in class that he did not have time to cut his hair. Guest speaker Ms. Fujie entertained guests with a spirited, off-the-cuff discussion about the joys of returning to work after a year as State <strong>Bar</strong> President. Sharing the satisfaction she had found in arguing a simple motion in the trial court, she spoke of the privilege we are all accorded as practicing attorneys. Ms. Fujie, who has returned to her previous position as a shareholder at Buchalter Nemer, also highlighted the fulfillment brought by raising children while practicing law, reminding guests that balancing the two roles was something that benefitted all concerned — parents, children, and the legal profession as a whole. The next speaker was Attorney-of-the-Year honoree Commissioner Sterne, who was nominated for the award because of her work promoting gender equality and women’s rights from the bench. Introduced by Naomi Dewey, Commissioner Sterne follows in the footsteps of the Hon. Denise de Bellefeuille, honored in 2003, and, prior to having the award named in her honor, Commissioner Deborah Talmage. Appointed in 2003 to hear child support cases, Commissioner Sterne also hears domestic violence restraining orders, civil harassment matters and family law cases that have their roots in child support issues. Accepting the award, Commissioner Sterne spoke about the importance of seeing, and doing, good in her work on a daily basis, comparing her work to what she does outside of the law, as an ordained minister. Rounding up the evening, Commissioner Talmage swore in SBWL’s 2010 Board of Directors and Brandi Redman, Supervising Attorney at the Legal Resource Center, was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer for 2010. The 2010 SBWL Board of Directors is as follows: Nathan Alley, Michael Colton, Laura Dewey, Gabriela Ferreira, Donna Geck, Alison Holman, Jessica Johnson, Wendy Kontos, Megan Liesz, Pauline Maxwell, Winnie Cai and Angela Roach. 20 <strong>Santa</strong> <strong><strong>Bar</strong>bara</strong> <strong>Lawyer</strong>
2010 SBWL President Brandi Redman, Janet Wolf, Hannah-Beth Jackson, and Hon. Denise de Bellefeuille. Jennifer Lee, Holly Fujie, and Sue McCollum. (Note: Holly was the third woman State <strong>Bar</strong> President and Sue was the third woman SBCBA President.) Former classmates Holly Fujie and Michael Colton. 2010 SBWLF President Angela Roach and 2009 SBWLF President Stephanie Ball. Dewey. Laura by captions and Janet Vining Mitchell and Ann Anderson. Stephanie Ball, Betty Jeppesen, Christine Kopitzke, and Brooke Cleary. February 2010 21 Photos
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