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NEWSLETTER

March 2024

Greetings Langston Community--

This month, we invite our esteemed members and supporters to renew dues and consider renewing past financial partnerships with Langston. We have exciting events and opportunities in store for the rest of the year. Below is a wonderful example.

In the spirit of Women’s History Month, Langston is thrilled to invite you for an inspiring event dedicated to celebrating the indomitable spirit and remarkable achievements of Langston’s women past presidents who have made history during their respective terms. This gathering aims not only to honor their legacies but also to reflect on the profound impact of female leadership in the legal profession.

→RSVP HERE

Event Details:

• Date: Tuesday, March 26, 2024
• Time: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
• Location: Commerce Casino & Hotel, 6131 Telegraph Road, Commerce, CA 90040
• Dress Code: Business Casual

Highlights of the Evening:

• Remarks by Women Langston Past Presidents
• Discussion on the Influence of Women Lawyers on Langston’s History
• Networking Opportunities with Peers and Trailblazers in the Legal Field

This event serves as a unique platform for legal professionals to engage in meaningful dialogues about the role of women in shaping our Langston’s history and future. It will also provide a chance to network with peers who are equally passionate about advancing women leaders in the legal profession.

We kindly ask you to RSVP as soon as possible to secure your spot at this significant gathering. Your presence will undoubtedly contribute to the richness of the discussion and the success of the event.

We look forward to welcoming you and joining hands in celebrating the monumental contributions of Langston’s women leaders.

In service,

Melvin Felton, Esq.

2024 President

John M. Langston Bar Association of Los Angeles

Member Spotlight

Every month of 2024, the John M. Langston Bar Association will highlight one of its esteemed Hall of Fame members. We thank them for their significant contributions to the legal profession and their commitment to excellence. This month, we highlight Carl E, Douglas, who was inducted into the John M. Langston Bar Association Hall of Fame on October 22, 2016.

Mr. Douglas is a civil rights, wrongful death, personal injury, employment, and criminal defense attorney specializing in police misconduct cases. He is best known for being one of the defense attorneys in the O. J. Simpson murder case, who were collectively dubbed the “Dream Team.” Douglas was the managing attorney at the law office of Johnnie Cochran Jr., before leaving to establish The Douglas Law Group in 1998. The practice is now known as Douglas / Hicks Law.

Although he is perhaps best known for his successful work as the Coordinator of O.J. Simpson’s criminal defense team, Mr. Douglas now represents plaintiffs in state and federal courts in his diverse civil litigation practice. Among his many honors is being named the Trial Lawyer of the Year for 2006 by the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, the largest local association of plaintiffs’ attorneys in the United States. The Association educates, connects, assists, and advocates for its nearly 3,000 members.

Since opening his own firm, Mr. Douglas has enjoyed significant success. He represented the lead plaintiff in Patricia Anderson v. General Motors Corporation, a product liability trial where the jury returned a $4.9 billion dollar verdict, which was then the largest personal injury verdict ever awarded in United States history.

Prior to joining Mr. Cochran’s office, Mr. Douglas was employed for over five years as a trial attorney at the Federal Public Defender’s Office in Los Angeles, where he represented indigent defendants charged with various federal crimes including bank robbery, drug possession, and white collar fraud. He began his legal career working at the Federal Communications Commission in Washington, D.C. analyzing tariff changes filed by various satellite companies in the Commission’s Common Carrier Bureau.

Mr. Douglas earned his undergraduate degree in political science from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois and his law degree from Berkeley Law, at the University of California, Berkeley. He is a frequent lecturer and motivational speaker at community-based and legal seminars across the country and has served as a legal commentator on various radio and television programs throughout the nation.

Aligned with Langston’s Mission of promoting the administration of justice in the Black community, Langston will feature a Black-Owned business each month in 2024. Please consider patronizing, supporting, and publicizing these businesses.

_____________________________

This Month Featuring: Naturade

Kareem Cook and Claude Tellis are co-owners of Naturade. Their partners also include Magic Johnson and Grant Hill. Naturade has mission to reverse the diet related illness trends that disproportionately affects black and brown communities. They sell plant-based weight loss shakes, nutritional shakes and gut health products. They are currently the only black-owned company in Costco, their presence there is a major achievement. Let’s support them! →Click Here Now

HALL OF FAME NOMINATIONS

Langston’s Hall of Fame honors lawyers who have been licensed to practice law for thirty-five years or more, and who have made significant contributions to the Los Angeles legal community, the John M. Langston Bar Association, and its programs. The annual ceremony will take place on November 2, 2024 at Long Beach’s Aquarium of the Pacific.

Please use this form to nominate individuals you deem worthy and eligible.

California Judicial Counsel

is seeking comments under the following categories:

SP24-01

Posted under the following category: Family and Juvenile

Title: Child Support: Implementing Amendments to the Family Code

Summary: The Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee proposes approving 2 new forms, revising 20 forms, and revoking 3 forms related to child support. This action is necessary to implement changes to the Family Code made by Assembly Bill 207 (Stats. 2022, ch. 573) and Senate Bill

343 (Stats. 2023, ch. 213) to bring California into compliance with federal regulations requiring child support orders be based on evidence of actual income or, where actual income is unknown, the specific circumstances of the obligor parent. The proposed action is also necessary to

implement changes made to the Family Code by Assembly Bill 2960 (Stats. 2022, ch. 420), which mandates that local child support agencies provide notice regarding payment of support to parents and the court when they begin and cease to provide child support enforcement services,

and Assembly Bill 1148 (Stats. 2023, ch. 565), which increases the time period before child support resumes after an obligor parent has been released from incarceration or confinement

Deadline: Comments must be submitted by Friday, March 22, 2024 at, 5:00 PM (Pacific Time)

SP24-02

Posted under the following category: Remote Proceedings

Title: Civil Remote Proceedings: When a Judicial Officer May Preside Remotely

Summary: The Code of Civil Procedure requires the Judicial Council to adopt a rule that includes “standards for when a judicial officer, in limited situations and in the interest of justice, may preside over a remote court proceeding from a location other than a courtroom.” (Code Civ. Proc., § 367.10). The Trial Court Presiding Judges Advisory Committee recommends adoption of proposed rule 3.674 of the California Rules of Court to satisfy the statutory mandate.

The proposed rule applies only in civil cases subject to Code of Civil Procedure section 367.75. The rule therefore does not apply in criminal proceedings, juvenile justice proceedings, or proceedings in matters identified in Code of Civil Procedure section 367.76 (civil commitments and other specified proceedings). The rule also does not apply when a judicial officer presides in person over a remote proceeding.

Deadline: Comments must be submitted by Friday, March 15, 2024 at, 5:00 PM (Pacific Time)

You are welcome to distribute this within your court and to any other interested parties.

If individuals have any questions, they can contact Benita Downs, at [email protected], or at 415-865-7957.

Recap of Events

General Meeting Paint & Sip

February 24, 2024

A Civil Rights MCLE - African American Heritage Month

February 28, 2024

Teach Democracy, formerly Constitutional Rights Foundation, is seeking volunteers for the California Mock Trial program

LASC LATEST NOTICE TO ATTORNEYS

02/29/2024

FAMILY LAW JUDICIAL ASSIGNMENT CHANGE AT THE WHITTIER COURTHOUSE

02/26/2024

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN FOR THE NEXT JUDICIAL MENTOR PROGRAM VIRTUAL EVENT SET FOR APRIL 17

02/22/2024

COURT ANNOUNCES NEW CIVIL FILING RULE EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 26: ALL MOTIONS MUST BE FILED WITHIN THREE COURT DAYS OF RESERVATION OR RESERVATION WILL BE CANCELLED

02/08/2024

CIVIL AND FAMILY LAW JUDICIAL ASSIGNMENT CHANGES AT THE CHATSWORTH COURTHOUSE

ACLU California Action

• Deputy Director

UCLA Law School (2024-2025 Academic Year)

• Visiting Professor - Deadline: June 1, 2024

Federal Public Defender’s Office for the Central District of California

• Appellate Attorney

Nixon Peabody

• Real Estate Litigation Attorney (San Francisco and Los Angeles, CA) - Flyer

Office of Oakland City Attorney Barbara J. Parker

• Neighborhood Law Corps Attorney (NLC)

Federal Public Defender’s Office for the Central District of California

• Trial Attorney (Riverside, CA)
• Trial Attorney (Los Angeles, CA)

University of California, Office of the President

• Principal Counsel, Health Regulatory
• Principal Counsel, Tax-Exempt Organizations and Charitable Giving

To empower leadership, advance the professional development of its membership, and promote the administration of justice in the Black community and the community at large.

John M. Langston Bar Association

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