Los Angeles, California, September 25, 2008 – Former South Asian Bar Association of Southern California (SABA-SC) president Ajay Patel was selected to receive the State Bar of California President’s Pro Bono Award.

Each year, the State Bar presents nine President’s Pro Bono Awards at its annual meeting to individuals and law firms that have provided or facilitated legal services to individuals or to legal aid organizations. This year, former SABA-SC President Ajay Patel is one of the nine recipients being recognized in the corporate category for his vast exemplary pro bono services.

"We are very proud of Ajay for having his long time pro bono commitment recognized by the State Bar," said SABA-SC Co-President Pankit Doshi.

As a former SABA-SC president, Ajay simultaneously juggles the roles of working as a vice president at Sony Media Software and Services and serving as the pro bono chair for the Southern California chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel ("ACC") for the past six years. He is also a longtime volunteer with a variety of legal aid organizations, launching two key initiatives, Street Law and Law Day.

Under his leadership and efforts, Ajay successfully partnered with the University of Southern California Law School and the Los Angeles Unified School District to help organize a team of more than 50 law students and 20 ACC volunteers to teach approximately 60 inner-city eight graders about negotiating contracts, entertainment and sports law, and various laws affecting public school systems.

In addition, Ajay has teamed with Public Counsel, a public interest law firm, and recruited and trained ACC’s transactional lawyers for pro bono participation in an Adoption Day program. Through the program, ACC’s transactional lawyers assisted more than 20 families in uncontested adoptions. More specifically, Ajay has volunteered over 20 hours to his foster family client and over 30 hours coordinating the program.

"To be selected as only one of nine individuals for the Pro Bono Award is an honor and we congratulate Ajay for his achievement," added SABA-SC Co-President Paul Saghera.

In 2002, voters passed a ballot initiative which amended the California Family Code to formally define marriage in California between a man and woman. On May 15, 2008, the California Supreme Court held that the Family Code provisions limiting marriage to a union between a man and woman were unconstitutional, and thus, a person in California is free to marry another person of the same gender. In re Marriage (2008) 43 Cal. 4th 757. SABA-SC, along with 63 Asian American groups, endorsed an Asian American amicus brief in support of marriage equality.

Proposition 8 is an upcoming ballot initiative which would (1) amend the California Constitution to eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry in California; and (2) formally define marriage in California to be valid only between a man and a woman. In other words, Proposition 8 attempts to overturn the California Supreme Court’s holding in In re Marriage.

SABA-SC, along with SABA-Northern California, APABA, KABA and JABA, including in excess of 30 organizations, have voted to endorse No on Proposition 8.

The Asian Pacific American Dispute Resolution Center (“APADRC”), to which the SABA-SC Foundation has donated $4,000 last year to develop the South Asian Mediation Project, will bring mediation services to the South Asian communities in LA.

In conjunction with its mission statement, APADRC is providing an excellent mediation program opportunity for attorneys and judges to participate in extensive mediation training to be mediators in disputes among South Asians or other Asian Pacific Islander communities. The 30 hour training will take place in Los Angles in October.

For any attorneys who want to be judges or just want to hone their negotiation skills, this a fantastic for professional development. Many mediators/attorneys/judges do not receive this type of training that APADRC will be offering. APADRC will be working with the Dispute Resolution Program of Cal State Dominguez Hills to provide this program at this discounted rate. Dr. Marco Turk will be teaching the program.

This is a great way to be a mediator, help a population that cannot afford legal services, and to improve professional development as a whole. 28 MCLE units will be provided as well.

Cost: $500 for the training
$300 if you agree to volunteer to be a mediator for APADRC;
$250 DISCOUNT for SABA-SC Members who agree to volunteer

Control-click here to open the flyer (Acrobat PDF) in a new window. Please contact SABA-SC Foundation President Pamela Tahim at ptahim@tldlaw.com for more information.

   NASABA Directory

The North American South Asian Bar Association (“NASABA”) unveiled its new website in June 2008. Please register as a SABA-SC member with its directory at: http://www.nasaba.com/Directory.

   NAPABA Best Lawyers Under 40

NAPABA is currently accepting nominations for its annual Best Lawyers Under 40 award. To be eligible, the nominee must be under the age of 40 as of October 1, 2008. This award is a competitive award in that not all nominees are selected. You may download the application at http://www.napaba.org/uploads/napaba/BU402008APP.pdf.

   Press Release: Top Judicial Gatekeeper Speaks at SABA Reception

South Asian Bar Association of Southern California (sabasc.org)

For immediate release
Contact: Gautam Dutta, Esq. (323.550.8266)

Top Judicial Gatekeeper Speaks at SABA Reception - SABA Members Urged To Join Judiciary

Los Angeles , California , Jan. 11, 2008 – An distinguished audience of attorneys learned how to become a judge, at a reception sponsored by SABA and the international law firm of Reed Smith.

Keynote speaker William Kopeny urged every lawyer to consider a career in the judiciary. Kopeny, Chair of California’s Commission on Judicial Nominations Evaluation (JNE), explained the process by which our state judges are selected. The JNE Commission evaluates whether a judicial nominee is qualified to serve on the state bench.

Lisa Kalustian, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Chief Deputy Director, spoke on behalf of California Judicial Nominations Secretary Sharon Majors-Lewis, who could not attend due to a medical emergency.

"SABA gratefully thanks Bill Kopeny for speaking to our membership on such short notice. Our members were thoroughly impressed with his steadfast commitment to judicial diversity and excellence," said SABA Judiciary Chair Ritu Manjunath. "We also thank Reed Smith and its LA Managing Partner Peter Kennedy for opening its offices to us," she added.

SABA Public Policy Chair Gautam Dutta praised Governor Schwarzenegger’s office for its assistance: "We thank Lisa Kalustian for representing the Governor at our reception. SABA looks forward to rescheduling its reception for Secretary Majors-Lewis." Dutta added, "We also wish to thank APABA, JABA, KABA, MCBA, NAPABA, PABA, SCCLA, and VABA for cosponsoring our event and making it such a tremendous success."

A number of prominent attorneys attended the reception, including 2004 SABA Trailblazer Shan Thever, JNE Commission members Ann Park and Rupa Goswami, and civil rights attorney Angela Oh.

Despite their growing numbers, only one South Asian has been appointed to the California state bench. "SABA aims to encourage more minorities to become judges in California," said SABA President Shanaira Udwadia. "Our reception was a huge step in that direction," she added.

The South Asian Bar Association of Southern California is a minority bar association dedicated to the advancement and development of South Asian attorneys. SABA-SC strives to promote the professional development of lawyers and law students, educate the community about relevant legal issues, and expand and enhance business and professional opportunities for South Asians. For more information about SABA, please visit www.sabasc.org or contact SABA President Shanaira Udwadia at 213.891.8318.

   Policy Update: US Senate Confirms The First South Asian Federal Judge - Amul R. Thapur

U.S. SENATE CONFIRMS THE FIRST SOUTH ASIAN FEDERAL JUDGE
SABAs Hail the Confirmation of Amul R. Thapar

Los Angeles, San Francisco & San Diego CA, Dec. 17, 2007 – The South Asian Bar Associations throughout California applaud the confirmation of the first South Asian federal judge: federal prosecutor Amul Thapar. Having being confirmed by the U.S. Senate on December 13th, Thapar will join the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky.

"It's a historic day for our community. We are all thrilled that Amul Thapar is the first South Asian federal judge!" said Shirish Gupta, SABA Northern California President. "Amul has been a very good friend to SABA and a role model to South Asian and Asian American lawyers throughout the country – in fact, he was a Keynote Speaker at both the 2007 NASABA and NAPABA Annual Conventions."

Thapar has led a distinguished career in law and public service. Prior to his confirmation, Thapar served as the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. Previously, he served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of Ohio and the District of Columbia. Thapar has also worked for the prestigious law firms of Williams & Connolly in Washington, D.C., and Squire, Sanders & Dempsey in Cincinnati, Ohio.

"We thank President Bush and the U.S. Senate for nominating and confirming Judge Thapar. We look forward to having more South Asian attorneys join the state and federal bench," said Gautam Dutta, Public Policy Chair of SABA-Southern California. "This is a proud day for South Asian attorneys and citizens alike. We applaud the U.S. Senate's decision to appoint Judge Thapar," echoed Nita Mehta, SABA-San Diego President.

For the past few months, the SABA California chapters and NASABA have been working to help secure Mr. Thapar’s confirmation via a letter writing campaign to urge their Senators to vote to confirm Mr. Thapar.

Mr. Thapar received his undergraduate degree from Boston College and his law degree from the University of California. He has also taught at Georgetown University Law Center and University of Cincinnati College of Law. .

   SABA-SC Endorses Marriage Equality

SABA-SC is proud to take a stand on legal matters that affect the South Asian community and the community-at-large. Only a few decades ago, our country unjustly interfered with the South Asian community's right to immigrate and marry. Between the 1920s and 1965, South Asians were practically banned from immigrating to the US . Furthermore, until 1967 many states had the power to ban interracial marriages, including those involving South Asians. In fact, under one federal statute, US citizens who married non-citizens would automatically lose their citizenship.

In light of these facts, and in an effort to curtail discrimination and promote civil rights, recently SABA-SC joined SABA-NC, APABA-LA, and many other groups in endorsing an amicus brief that furthers a significant constitutional matter - marriage equality for all Americans. The California Supreme Court will consider this issue by early next year.

For a copy of the amicus brief, please contact Ritu Manjunath at rmanjunath@reedsmith.com.