Association of African American California Judicial Officers, Inc.

NEWSLETTER - VOLUME XXVIII
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Judge Laura Walton
AAACJO President

Greetings AAACJO Members,

As you know the Midyear California Judges Association (CJA) conference was cancelled due to COVID 19 which has now become a pandemic. Unfortunately, because of the cancellation of the CJA conference, the AAACJO Board voted to cancel our midyear meeting that would have been held during the CJA conference. Once the COVID 19 pandemic is under control and we return to normal work and life schedules, the AAACJO meeting will be rescheduled and held as a teleconference call.

In the meantime, please continue to follow the recommendations of staying at home whenever possible, and when you must leave home for work or for other reasons, please continue to adhere to the social distancing guidelines, as well as washing your hands frequently, to prevent you and everyone around you from contracting COVID 19. For many of us the COVID 19 pandemic has greatly inconvenienced our lives. I would like to share with you a poem about the COVID 19 pandemic that really puts in perspective what we are going through compared to what others are facing.

Prayer for a Pandemic

May we who are merely inconvenienced
Remember those whose lives are at stake.
May we who have no risk factors
Remember those most vulnerable.
May we who have the luxury of working from home.
Remember those who must choose between
Preserving their health or making their rent.
May we who have the flexibility to care for our children
When their schools close.
Remember those who have no options.
May we who have to cancel our trips
Remember those that have no place to go.
May we who are losing our margin money in the
Tumult of the economic market
Remember those who have no margin at all.
May we who settle in for a quarantine at home
Remember those who have no home.
During this time when we cannot physically wrap our arms around each other,
Let us yet find ways to be the loving embrace of God to our neighbors.

Author Unknown

Everyone please be careful and stay healthy. My prayers are with each of you.

Sincerely,

Judge Laura Walton
AAACJO President
AAACJO FOUNDING MEMBER

HONORABLE RICHARD T. FIELDS

ASSOCIATE JUSTICE
CALIFORNIA COURT OF APPEAL
FOURTH DISTRICT


INTERVIEW
Justice Richard T. Fields

Q: How were you inspired as a lawyer to seek the position of Superior Court Commissioner, a historical event in Riverside County?

A: When I was a young lawyer, I practiced in front of several judges who were very kind and always respectful. That’s what first made me think that I would like to be a bench officer and conduct court just as they had.  Also, my friend Becky Dugan had become a commissioner about four years before me. Her appointment was very inspirational to me because that was a time that public defenders simply did not get bench opportunities. (She later became PJ.)

Having been a deputy public defender allowed me to handle large calendars, try cases and do preliminary hearings in front of most of the judges in western Riverside County. I hoped that my work in front of them would demonstrate that I could do the job.  I didn’t have any political connections at that time, so I am thankful the judges gave me a chance.

Q: What led up to your application to become the first African American Superior Court Judge in the County?

A: I had been a commissioner for nine years at the time of my appointment as a judge. My time as a court commissioner had gained me support and encouragement from many judges and lawyers in the community. I also received support from Devonne Armstrong—the first African American realtor admitted to the Riverside Board of Realtors. It seems that I had represented a minor in juvenile court whom he was helping, and he felt I worked very hard for the minor. He called me out of the blue and told me he wanted to support my application for judge.  And he did so—vigorously.  I had also been actively involved in the community since I arrived in Riverside and that unexpectedly led to support from the community at large.

Q: As a policy maker as an Appellate Court Associate Justice of the Fourth District, Division 2, what have you learned about the judicial system you didn’t know before?

A: Just how much the appellate court tries to support the trial court. We are not casual about reversing trial court decisions and we try not to play Monday morning quarterback. However, if there is a prejudicial error, we must set it forth.  I have also learned just how different it is when three judges make a decision instead of just one. 

Q: You are probably the only living person who has a bar association named after him. What does that mean to you?

A: I am honored by that recognition. It's more than I deserve. I am absolutely humbled by it. I get startled every time I see my name listed in connection with the association. I am proud that it is an active community service, educational and mentoring organization.

Q: Please describe how important your community and mentoring activities are to you, and some of the programs you have served.

A: I was a co-founder and longtime president of the Corona Parent Advisory Group. This was a group of African American men who got together to reduce the huge achievement gap between the African American students and other students in the Corona-Norco Unified School District.

Although I gave a two-year commitment, I remained on the board for 13 years. After approximately ten years, the district reported to us that there was no longer any statistical achievement gap between the African American students and other populations. Our district had reduced the achievement gap more than any other district in the country. We did this by sponsoring college and career field trips, providing scholarships, hosting monthly guest speakers and hosting an academic achievement awards banquet each year for deserving students. The first banquet was held in my backyard and we wrote scholarship checks from our personal checking accounts.

Here are a few of my other community activities:

  • Mock trial judge and/or judicial mentor for approximately 23 years 
  • Speaker/mentor for a program entitled, “The Endangered Black Male, A Call to Action” 
  • Speaker at Riverside NAACP annual awards banquet
  • Guest lecturer at the University of California, Riverside, Afro-Ethnic Studies Department
  • Speaker at Lincoln High School at special assemblies on career goals 
  • Speaker at the 2nd Baptist and the Park Avenue Baptist Churches in Riverside 
  • Participated in a holiday party for emergency shelter kids
  • Served as president of the Leo A. Deegan Inn of Court of Riverside from 1999 to 2002
  • Served as a Riverside County Bar Association speaker for “Bridging the Gap” and other programs
  • Liberty Elementary School volunteer of the year for participating in a lunch buddy program with a student who was struggling academically and behaviorally. I visited often with him at lunch time during trials.
  • Church prayer team and greeter
  • Speaker at Cal. Baptist University Dept. of Criminal Justice every semester for the past eight years
  • Member and Past President of the Riverside Sunrise Rotary Club
  • Riverside Black History Parade Grand Marshall and yearly participant
  • Moreno Valley Black History Parade Grand Marshall
  • Life-time member of the Riverside African American Historical Society
  • Member and speaker at CABL events
  • Founding member of AAACJO
  • Judicial Selection Advisory Committee vice-chair
  • Swearing in various groups and individuals including the Riverside African American Historical Society, Riverside County Black Chamber of Commerce, Moreno Valley Black Chamber of Commerce and the Riverside County Sheriff

Q: If you had to give your younger self advice, what would you tell him?

A: I would tell him that time goes so fast. Take time and enjoy the beauty of the things around you.

Q: What do you like to do when you are not on the bench?

A: Spend time with my wife, kids and especially my grandkids. I also like to read, play the piano and participate in Rotary projects.
AAACJO'S LIFETIME MEMBER
JUDGE SONGHAI MIGUDA-ARMSTEAD
TRAINS CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT JUSTICES ON IMPLICIT BIAS
Judge Songhai Miguda-Armstead

In January 2020, AAACJO’s Judge Songhai Miguda-Armstead and Commissioner Alicia Y. Blanco provided implicit bias training to all seven justices of the California Supreme Court. Judge Miguda-Armstead and Commissioner Blanco told the justices that all people have biases, and while there is nothing innately totally wrong with having them, they needed to identify them and needed to know when they were more susceptible to acting on them. The course offered tools and remedies designed to overcome bias and to maintain constant vigilance. During the training, Judge Miguda-Armstead and Commissioner Blanco encouraged the Supreme Court justices to consider how they could effect change in the trial courts to address implicit bias issues, including during jury selection, and contemplate strategies available to judges to manage and balance these issues. One week following the training, Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye issued a news release announcing the formation of a diverse work group “to study whether modifications or additional measures are needed to guard against impermissible discrimination in jury selection.”

Congratulations to Judge Miguda-Armstead for this notable accomplishment!
Judge Songhai Miguda-Armstead and Commissioner Alicia Y. Blanco
AAACJO'S
JUDGE MONIQUE S. LANGHORNE
RETAINS HER SEAT
Judge S. Monique Langhorne

On March 3, 2020, AAACJO’s Judge Monique S. Langhorne scored a landslide victory in her election, acquiring more than 77% of the vote! Judge Langhorne, who was appointed by Governor Brown in 2018, will serve a six-year term on the bench in the Napa County Superior Court. Judge Langhorne expressed deep gratitude for all of the support she received in her election bid. 

Congratulations to Judge Langhorne for her victorious fight and for demonstrating great character and perseverance!
AAACJO SEEKS CREATIVE WORKS
FROM MEMBERS
AAACJO recognizes the talents and gifts of our members, not only in the legal arena, but in the area of creative arts. AAACJO wishes to highlight the multidimensionality of our members in upcoming newsletters by featuring poetry and other short creative writing projects authored by them. Additionally, AAACJO would like to feature art painted or sculpted by our members, as well as creative photography projects. AAACJO also wishes to feature articles highlighting the musical achievements, acting projects, and other creative accomplishments of our members. If you wish to have your creative projects highlighted in upcoming newsletters, please forward them to Secretary Carla L. Garrett at Carla.Garrett@dgs.ca.gov, and include information describing your work, the inspiration behind your work, and a few words describing how you became interested in creating art.
AAACJO'S VICE PRESIDENT
JUDGE TRINA THOMPSON
CREATES WATERCOLOR PAINTING
Judge Trina Thompson

Vice President Trina Thompson is a talented artist. She created the watercolor portrait below of her grandfather, Willie Martin. Her grandfather often shared nuggets of wisdom with her, including the notion that if something's in a book, she can teach herself to master it. He also told her that if she put her talent to use, she would never have to go looking for a job--a job would find her. Judge Thompson is convinced that had her grandfather lived to see the YouTube era, God only knows the possibilities. Judge Thompson said, "Our ancestors and grace have given us all we need to survive and thrive."
Annual membership fees in the amount of $50 for General Members were due on January 20, 2020 . If you have not already submitted your payment, please do so immediately. For General Members who wish to avoid annual dues and upgrade to Lifetime Membership, AAACJO’s Executive Board has established a Lifetime Membership payment plan for those who do not wish to make a one-time payment of $450. Instead, members may make four equal payments of $112.50, due quarterly (January, April, July, and October). If you are interested in upgrading to Lifetime Membership pursuant to the payment plan, please advise Secretary Carla L. Garrett at carla.garrett@dgs.ca.gov and mail your first payment to the following address:

AAACJO
6709 La Tijera Blvd.
Box 339
Los Angeles, CA 90045

Thank you for your continued support of AAACJO.
Please review and support the events listed below. Part of our organization’s purpose is to support each other and to participate in outreach activities in support of our bar associations and community. It is also important to share information, when you become aware, that celebrates the accomplishments of other judicial officers, whether work related or otherwise. To do so, please contact President Laura Walton at LWalton@lacourt.org, Immediate Past President Bobbi Tillmon at BTillmon@lacourt.org or Secretary Carla L. Garrett at Carla.Garrett@dgs.ca.gov . 
NBA INTERNATIONAL AFFILIATES MEETING
MAY 23, 2020 - JUNE 1, 2020

AMSTERDAM, THE HAGUE, BRUSSELS & PARIS
Convention Rate Increases on March 31, 2020

NBA ANNUAL CONVENTION
JULY 25 - 30, 2020

WASHINGTON, DC
Convention Rate Increases on March 31, 2020

The National Bar Association (NBA) Annual Convention & Exhibits is the largest gathering of African-American lawyers, judges and law students in the United States. It is the preeminent showcase to establish professional relationships, as well as to discuss trending legal, social justice and economic issues. In addition, the Convention offers professional development through a robust NBA sponsored Continuing Legal Education Program ("CLE").
Register today to take advantage of the discounted rate, which increases March 31, 2020.
OUTREACH TO NEW MEMBERS

The purpose of the Association of African American California Judicial Officers, Inc. (AAACJO) shall be to promote the common professional interests of its membership by (1) improving the administration of justice; (2) considering matters concerning the judiciary and specific issues and concerns impacting the African-American community; (3) supporting the Code of Judicial Ethics; (4) promoting the interchange of ideas and encouraging cooperation among members; (5) promoting diversity amongst the bar and the judiciary; (6) communicating, educating, and networking among African American judicial officers, other members of the judiciary, bar associations and the general community; and (7) mentoring and application support of judicial candidates.  

A member application appears on AAACJO's website: AAACJO.org. Invite a colleague to join you and other Appellate Court Justices, State Court Judges and Commissioners, Administrative Law Judges, and the State Bar Court, statewide. 
PLEASE SHARE

Should you discover information concerning the achievements, recognition, or milestones of any AAACJO member, please share the news with President Laura Walton at LWalton@lacourt.org, Immediate Past President Bobbi Tillmon at BTillmon@lacourt.org or Secretary Carla L. Garrett at Carla.Garrett@dgs.ca.gov, so that we can include the news in upcoming AAACJO newsletters.  
Association of African American California Judicial Officers, Inc.