This is my final Message for 2024. Thank you for allowing me to serve as President of OC ABOTA. The good we have accomplished and the education we’ve been a part of facilitating this year has been remarkable.
On October 1, 2024, we were a part of the annual Teacher’s Law School held at the Orange County Central Justice Center. Retired Judge Linda Marks spearheads this event every year. This year’s topic was “Improving Outcomes for Vulnerable Juvenile Court Populations.” We had over 35 educators in attendance. I wish to thank Judge Marks who worked so hard to make this event a success.
On October 15, 2024, the Orange County Chapter of ABOTA held its Annual Judge’s Night at the Pacific Club. We had record attendance this year, including 22 sitting judges, 12 retired judges and 4 appellate court justices. Awards were given to Hon. Nathan Scott - Trial Judge of the Year, Hon. Michael Strickroth - Judicial Civility Award and Richard Burns - Clerk of the Year. Honored guests included, National ABOTA President La’Verne Edney, National Foundation Vice President Deborah Tropp, past National Presidents Lewis Sifford, Michael Maguire, Mark Robinson, Jr. and current National ABOTA Vice President, William Shapiro. A special recognition was given to retiring Justice William Bedsworth. The feedback from those in attendance was that the event was phenomenal, and had an uplifting “vibe” throughout the night.
Many of our executive board traveled to Nashville on October 24, 2024 for the final National Meeting of the Year. This national board meeting was especially exciting as a new bylaw was passed changing the admission requirements for ABOTA. A rigorous and healthy discussion took place before the vote and concerns over relaxing the admission requirements were addressed. The amendment passed with only one dissent.
This amendment immediately changes the minimum number of trials from 10 to 7, but keeps the requirement that the proposed applicant have accumulated 100 points. For full information on the bylaw amendment, visit abota.org.
We’ve continued with our Civility Matters presentations throughout the year at various law schools. This program is one of the most important educational seminars our chapter presents, in my opinion. Special thanks to Deb Tropp and Jeff Roberts for conducting so many presentations this year.
This year our chapter supported Orangewood Foundation and Orangewood Children’s Home by collecting member donations, purchasing food items and assembling and delivering Thanksgiving bags for the elderly and children. Thank you Kim Valentine for working so hard on this important mission.
I hope to see as many of you as possible at Muldoon’s this year for our Annual Holiday Party, December 2, 2024 at 5:30 p.m. as we finish off this spectacular year with good cheer and camaraderie! We will once again collect gift cards to donated to Project Youth - OCBF. Bring your gift card donations to the Holiday Dinner.
Thank you OC-ABOTA for a spectacular year!
Pamela S. Traut
President | Orange County ABOTA