Contra Costa Lawyer - Contra Costa County Bar Association

inside
2010 BOARD of DIRECTORS
Ron Mullin President
Kathy Schofield President-Elect
Audrey Gee Secretary
Jay Chafetz Treasurer
Larry Cook Ex Officio
Richard Alexander
Amanda Bevins
Christopher Bowen
Oliver Bray
Mike Brewer
Leigh Johnson
Kristen Thall Peters
Alan Ramos
Ron Rives
Dana Santos
Stephen Steinberg
Candice Stoddard
CCCBA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Lisa Reep: 925.288.2555 • lgreep@cccba.org
CCCBA main office: 925.686.6900 • www.cccba.org
Jennifer Comages
Membership Coordinator
Emily Day
Systems Administrator and
Fee Arbitration Coordinator
Manny Gutierrez
Administrative Assistant
and Legal Interviewer
EDITOR
Candice Stoddard
925.942.5100
CO-EDITOR
Nicole Mills
925.351.3171
BENCH LIAISON
Hon. Mary Ann O'Malley
925.646.4001
BOARD LIAISON
Candice Stoddard
925.942.5100
COURT LIAISON
Kiri Torre
925.957.5607
PRINTING
Steven's Printing
925.681.1774
Contra Costa Lawyer
PHOTOGRAPHER
Moya Fotografx
510.847.8523
Kerstin Firmin
Communications Coordinator
Barbara Tillson
LRIS Coordinator
Michele Vasta
Section Liaison/Education
& Programs Coordinator
EDITORIAL BOARD
Mark Ericsson
925.930.6000
Matthew P. Guichard
925.459.8440
Patricia Kelly
925.258.9300
Craig Nevin
925.930.6016
David Pearson
925.287.0051
Erika Portillo
925.459.8440
Andy Ross
925.296.6000
Dana Santos
925.901.0185
Kathy Schofield
925.253.7890
Audrey Smith
925.969.3561
Stephen C. Steinberg
925.385.0644
Marlene Weinstein
925.942.5100
The Contra Costa Lawyer (ISSN 1063-4444) is published 10 times
a year by the Contra Costa County Bar Association (CCCBA),
704 Main Street, Martinez, CA 94553. Annual subscription of
$25 is included in the membership dues. Second-class postage
paid at Martinez, CA. POSTMASTER: send address change to
the Contra Costa Lawyer, 704 Main Street, Martinez, CA 94553.
The Lawyer welcomes and encourages articles and letters
from readers. Please send them to: Kerstin Firmin, CCCBA, 704
Main Street, Martinez, CA 94553; or email to: kfirmin@cccba.org.
The CCCBA reserves the right to edit articles and letters
sent in for publication. All editorial material, including editorial
comment, appearing herein represents the views of the respective
authors and does not necessarily carry the endorsement of
the CCCBA or the Board of Directors. Likewise, the publication
of any advertisement is not to be construed as an endorsement
of the product or service offered unless it is specifically stated
in the ad that there is such approval or endorsement.
by Kiri Torre
Court Executive Officer
This Bench-Bar edition contains reflections on 2010 from our Judicial
Leadership – Presiding Judge Mary Ann O’Malley, Supervising Judges
Barry Goode - Civil; John Kennedy - Criminal; Joyce Cram - Family; Lois
Haight - Juvenile; Thomas Maddock - Richmond; and William Kolin -
Walnut Creek-Concord.
2010 was the second full year of significant economic challenges facing the California
Judicial Branch and our Court in particular. These challenges have tasked our ability
to continue to provide exemplary service to the public, since the Court has suffered
a 20 percent loss of staff through attrition and layoffs. In this issue, we describe how
the Court’s budget strategy has begun to address the monumental budget reductions.
Very difficult decisions have allowed the Court to remain financially solvent while
some other courts struggle to manage these deep ongoing cuts. The mandated Court
Closure days continued throughout California on the third Wednesday of each month
through June 2010 to assist with the budget reductions.
With fewer staff resources, the Court hired a top level Information Technology Director
to assist the Court in the implementation of significant technology enhancements
to enhance services to the public and to help mitigate the loss of staff. This issue provides
highlights of achievements to date and a preview of initiatives to follow.
The Court will also update readers on the challenges and opportunities concerning
our Alternative Dispute Resolution Programs (ADR) in 2010. Many thanks to our
ADR panel, consisting of 300+ members, who offer specialized expertise in 47 different
subject areas. The overall settlement rate for cases referred to mediation remains
in the 50% range and referrals to ADR continue at the rate of over 1,000 each year.
We have also included an update on the completion and opening of the new Arnason
Justice Center – planned for November of 2010. We watched with anticipation as
California's first state-funded courthouse took shape and began to resemble the artist’s
rendering of this institution of justice.
The Court greatly appreciates its partnership with the Contra Costa County Bar Association
and the local bar and is very pleased to share key information with the
magazine’s readers. Thank you for the continuing opportunity to participate.u
4 September 2010