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Newslettera Publication for 1989 Members and Friends of the Armenian Bar Association

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Newslettera Publication for 1989 Members and Friends of the Armenian Bar Association NEWSLETTERA PUBLICATION FOR 1989 MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF THE ARMENIAN BAR ASSOCIATION Volume 21, Number 1 Spring 2009 Armenian Bar Association’s 20th Annual Message from the Chair National Meeting in Glendale, CA, May 8-10 Dear Colleagues: On May 8- 10, 2009 in Glendale, CA, we will be meeting at the Glendale Hilton Hotel for the Sonya Nersessian 20th Annual Meeting of the Armenian Bar Association. Such a milestone in this organization’s existence calls for celebration - I look forward to seeing you there! Over the past 20 years, The Armenian Bar National Meeting will be held in Glendale, CA- home to this organization has provided the largest population of Armenians outside of Armenia. Above, the latest networking opportunities for shopping and dining destination in Glendale, the Americana at Brand. Armenian attorneys from every location, national and and Armenia. Featuring Governor George international, and representing Governor George Deukmejian, Deukmejian, Supreme Court every legal specialty or one of an elite group of ArmenBar concentration, to meet, share, and Justices, and Top-Flight Honorary Members, will be the keynote develop what we have in common. Attorneys speaker at the Gala Dinner Banquet on For those who are members May 9, 2009. and have participated over the In a city which boasts the highest California Supreme Court years, connecting with other concentration of Armenians of any city Justice Ming Chin will be the main Armenian attorneys has been very outside of the Republic of Armenia, the luncheon speaker, and introductory Armenian Bar Association (ArmenBar) comments will be offered by fellow See Message from the Chair, pg. 11 will roll out the red carpet at its historic California Supreme Court Justice 20th Annual National Meeting in Marvin Baxter, a founding and IN THIS ISSUE Glendale, California the weekend of Honorary Member of the Armenian National Meeting in Glendale cont’d..........2 May 8-10, 2009. Bar Association. Garo Mardirossian CAALA Installation.......3 The meeting will be held at the The third installation of the Members in the News................................4 Hilton Hotel and, as is customary, the organization’s “Hrant Dink Freedom Mid-Year Meeting in Las Vegas.................6 event is expected to draw numerous Award” will be made in honor of the Q&A with Professor Ann Lousin................8 legal scholars, professors, judges, slain Armenian journalist and human Photos from the Mid-Year Meeting...........10 lawyers, students and politicians from Judge Sinanian Appointment...................12 throughout the U.S., Canada, France See Annual National Meeting in Sushi and Fine Wine in Montreal.............14 Glendale, pg. 2 Armenian Bar Association Newsletter 2 Armenian Bar Association Newsletter 3 would that would be! Joining the panel will be Sergeant The meeting will be presided Annual National Our 20th anniversary meeting will Annual National Thomas R. Lorenz, Glendale Police over by Armenbar Chair Sonya truly be extra-ordinary! Issues of Department Police Chief’s Adjutant, Nersessian from Boston, Massachusetts. Meeting in Glendale broad and contemporary interest Meeting in Glendale Fred Mesropi, Los Angeles County “We are proud of our organization, continued from pg. 1 will be highlighted, including a free continued from pg. 3 Deputy District Attorney and Sergeant excited about the convention, and legal clinic for the community, and Tigran Topadzhikyan, Glendale Police believe it will be an enriching experience rights activist. In 2007, ArmenBar a death sentence and execution. conference sessions on the rule of law Department for all who attend,” said Nersessian. presented the award to Genocide ArmenBar Board member Garo and the role of the courts in Armenia, On Friday, May 8, ArmenBar More information about the scholars Vahakn Dadrian and Taner Ghazarian will lead a panel discussion prosecuting Genocide perpetrators in will hold a pro bono workshop for the event can be obtained on the ArmenBar Akcam. John Marshall Evans, the on “Crime and Justice in the Armenian international courts, and even a look community which will take place in the website at: www.armenianbar.org. former U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Community.” The subject may be into a difficult subject: crime and reception hall of St. Mary’s Armenian who used the word Genocide to considered uncomfortable by some, and Don’t miss the 20th Annual National criminals in our own community,” Apostolic Church in Glendale. describe what happened to the better left untouched by others, however Meeting in Glendale, CA, May 8 - 10 said former ArmenBar Chairman, and The workshop will feature a Armenian population in Turkey during it remains a problem for the Armenian member of the organizing committee California Supreme Court Associate number of attorneys giving practical, Featuring: and after World War I, received the community requiring attention. Armen K. Hovannisian. Justice Ming Chin, left, will be the and where possible, one-on-one, advice • Governor George Deukmejian Dink Award in 2008. Ghazarian is the Dean of the People’s “The weekend will have main luncheon speaker, pictured to community members on issues of • First Foreign Minister of the Republic The recipient of the 2009 College of Law in Los Angeles, and of Armenia Raffi K. Hovannisian something for everyone interested in here with Justice Armand Arabian. interest such as immigration, domestic Hrant Dink award will be Raffi K. is a widely respected criminal defense • ArmenBar Members and more! the law as it relates to the Armenian protecting the rights of Armenia’s violence, wills and trusts and probate, Hovannisian, the founder of ArmenBar, attorney. He has been a regular speaker community, and promises to be a citizens. Among the discussion points landlord/tenant disputes and small For more information, visit the Republic of Armenia’s first Foreign at seminars sponsored by ArmenBar, fun and fulfilling conference,” said will be the civil unrest and killings claims matters. www.armenianbar.org today. Minister and a current member of and will offer the defense perspective. Armenia’s Parliament as the leader of Hovannisian. following last year’s presidential the Heritage Party. A panel on human and civil elections. Ann Lousin, a three term Chair rights in Armenia, and the role of the Nicholas Koumjian, a Garo Mardirossian Installed as President-Elect of the Consumer Attorneys of ArmenBar and a Professor at the courts in protecting such rights, will prosecutor in several international Association of Los Angeles at Gala Awards Banquet John Marshall Law School in Chicago, kick off the Saturday session, and will criminal tribunals and currently will receive a “Lifetime Achievement feature renowned Armenian civil rights working at The Hague, will be the BEVERLY HILLS - Decorated trial Award,” Vicken Simonian, the longest attorney and Member of Parliament special guest speaker in a panel attorney Garo Mardirossian was sworn serving Board member of ArmenBar, Zaruhi Postanjyan. Also participating focusing on the prosecution of war in as President Elect of the Consumer who has spearheaded pro bono will be the Human Rights Defender crimes and crimes against humanity. Attorneys Association (CAALA) at activities for 20 years, will receive a in the Republic of Armenia, Armen Koumjian is the chief prosecutor in the group’s 60th Annual Installation “Public Service Award.” Harutyunyan. the highly publicized, current trial of and awards dinner at the posh Beverly “This goes far beyond a mere The Ombudsman is appointed Charles Taylor, the former President of Wilshire Hotel on January 17, 2009. gathering of lawyers. How ordinary by Parliament for the purpose of Liberia. The trial is taking place in The Mardirossian has been a member Hague, and Taylor is the first former of the Armenian Bar Association African head of state to appear before since its inception, and has been a an international tribunal for crimes guest speaker at Annual Meetings and against humanity. continuing legal education seminars. Phillip Lynch, an Assistant He has also be a generous regular Joining Garo Mardirossian (second from left) at the CAALA installation U.S. Attorney who was appointed by sponsor of ArmenBar. were, from left: Judge Zaven Sinanian, Assistant Presiding Judge Lee the U.S. Department of Justice to be the In January, 2008, he hosted Edmon, Presiding Judge Charles McCoy and Judge Gregory Keosian. Rule of Law Coordinator in Baghdad, ArmenBar’s “Meet the Armenian Iraq in 2007, will join Koumjian on Mayors” reception and retirement party the promotion of legislation intended including Presiding Judge Charles the panel. Lynch has had the unique for Judge Alice Altoon at his office to protect the rights and interests of McCoy, Assistant Presiding Judge Lee experience of helping to establish building on Wilshire Blvd. in Los consumers of the State of California. Edmon, Judge Zaven Sinanian, who Iraq’s legal system following the fall Angeles. Several members of the sits at the Stanley Mosk courthouse of the Saddam Hussein regime, and CAALA (formerly know California judiciary were in attendance, in Downtown Los Angeles, and Judge will share some of those experiences. as the Los Angeles Trial Lawyers including Ronald George, Chief Justice Gregory Keosian, who sits in the Van He will also discuss his first-hand Association) was formed in 1949, of the California Supreme Court, and Nuys courthouse in the San Fernando and with nearly 3,000 members is the four justices from the California Courts Valley. ArmenBar Honorary Member Governor George Deukmejian, third from left, involvement relating to the trial of largest association of plaintiffs’ lawyers of Appeal. Thirty-two judges and Also in attendance were will be the keynote speaker at the Gala Dinner Banquet on May 9. Pictured Saddam Hussein, which resulted in a in the United States. Among its many commissioners from the Los Angeles numerous politicians, including here from left: ArmenBar Executive Director Betty Jamgotchian, Gloria See Annual National Meeting in goals, the influential group is active in County court system were also present, Deukmejian, Robert Philibosian, Janet Philibosian and Saro Kerkonian.
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