RAY ARAGON, has been appointed to the California Judicial Council by the State Bar Board of Governors. Chaired by the chief justice, the Judicial Council is the constitutional policymaking body of the California courts. It consists of 14 judicial members appointed by the chief justice, four attorney members appointed by the State Bar Board of Governors, one member from each house of the Legislature, and seven advisory members. Aragon will serve a three-year term as a voting member.
Aragon, a San Diego County deputy public defender, is a board certified criminal law specialist and is rated AV by Martindale-Hubbell. Aragon has previously served as vice-president of the State Bar Board of Governors (2003-2006), vice-president of the San Diego County Bar Association (1997-2000) and as president of San Diego La Raza Lawyers Association (1996, 2001).
In recent years, the Council has taken a leadership role in the unification of the state's municipal and superior courts, state funding of the courts, the ongoing transfer of trial court facilities from the counties to the state, jury system reforms and numerous other initiatives to make the courts more effective in responding to the needs of Californians.
PAUL IGASAKI: "In August of 2006, culminating my year as Chair of the American Bar Association's Section on Individual Rights & Responsibilities, I led our section at our annual Thurgood Marshall Civil Rights Dinner. I was the first Asian American chair of the section. Judge Joe Florendo of the Class of '79 was in attendance.
I am serving, since last year, as Co-Chair of the Democratic Lawyer's Council for the Democratic National Committee.
I am completing my work as Executive Director of the Rights Working Group, a coalition of civil rights, human rights and civil liberties groups that have worked to overcome civil rights violations lost since the attacks of 9/11. I begin next month as Deputy CEO of Equal Justice Works here in Washington, DC."
SAM IMPERATI reports his daughter is a freshman at the University of Washington and his son is a senior at Colgate. He notes with amusement that his peers recently selected him for inclusion in the 2006 edition of The Best Lawyers in America for mediation. He recalls our 25th class reunion with delight and states, it goes without saying, but bears repeating that our class is still damn good looking, intelligent, successful, and semi-well adjusted, all things considered and grading on the curve! He looks forward to our 50th and hopes to be dating or married by then – anyone interested in this altruistic work of mercy?
NANCY PERKOVICH has spent 27 years in private practice and has been a Certified Family Law Specialist since 1990. Chair of the Family Law section of the State Bar 2002. "My daughter, Julia, just started law school at King Hall this year. Starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel!"
CHRISTIE (SKEELS) WARREN: "I have been named Director of the International Bridges to Justice Training Institute. IBJ is an international human rights NGO whose headquarters are in Geneva. However, I will run the Training Institute from William and Mary Law School, where I continue to teach courses relating to international and comparative law.
I have also purchased retirement property in Ensenada, Baja California, alongside King Hall's own Professor James Smith!"