NEWSLETTER A PUBLICATION FOR 1989 MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF THE ARMENIAN BAR ASSOCIATION Volume 22, Number 1 Spring 2010 Federal Judge Samuel Der-Yeghiayan to be Message from the Chair Honored at Armenian Bar Association’s We have a c c o m p l i s h e d Annual Meeting in Chicago, May 14-16, 2010 much in the past two years! Since May, 2008, the financial well-being of this organization has Sonya Nersessian improved, with increased funds received from membership dues, sponsorships, and contributions to the Babayan Fund. The website has been upgraded, although it is always a “work-in-progress.” You have to The Armenian Bar National Meeting will be held in Glendale, CA- home to admit this new one is a definite the largest population of Armenians outside of Armenia. Above, the latest improvement over our old website! shopping and dining destination in Glendale, the Americana at Brand. Thanks to Armen Margarian, and our The historic skyline of Chicago is pictured above. The 21st Annual National chair, Martha Mensoian and vice- Meeting of the Armenian Bar Association will be held at the regal Union chair Hovanes Margarian, for all of League Club, in the Downtown Financial District. their ongoing work Samuel Der-Yeghiayan, Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago Some strategic planning has the first Armenian immigrant to be architectural river boat cruise, and begun, with our thoughts turning to appointed to the Federal bench in the a Chicago Cubs baseball game at how to position the organization for United States, will be an honored guest Wrigley Field. growth, both in membership and in at the Armenian Bar Association’s 21st The meeting will be punctuated leadership, and how to position it Annual National Meeting in Chicago, by legal seminars featuring outstanding as a relevant, vibrant organization the weekend of May 14, 2010. Der- speakers on topics of interest to the See Message from the Chair, pg. 18 Yeghiayan has been a United States Armenian legal community. Protection District Court Judge for the Northern of Armenian Cultural Heritage IN THIS ISSUE District of Illinois since 2003, having Worldwide is a topic which will been nominated for the position by include panelists Rachel Goshgarian, Annual Meeting Preview continued..............2 President George W. Bush. Director of the Zohrab Center, Bedross Garo Mardirossian CAALA Installation.........3 Those in attendance will Der Matossian, a professor of Middle Members in the News......................................4 be treated to a number of activities, Eastern studies at M.I.T, and Karnig Mid-Year Toronto Recap...................................7 including a tour of the Federal Court Kerkonian, Esq., the managing partner Hon. Carmen Trutanich Reception.............12 John Lulejian Honored...................................14 Building with an in-chambers meeting of Kerkonian, LLC. Photos from NYC Mixer.................................15 with Judge Der-Yeghiayan, a tour See Annual National Meeting in Michael Bobelian Book Signing...................17 of the new Modern Art Wing at the Chicago, pg. 2 Armenian Bar Association Newsletter 2 Armenian Bar Association Newsletter 3 enjoy all that the city has Annual National to offer. Garo Mardirossian Installed as President of the Consumer Attorneys Meeting in Chicago “We are delighted to return Association of Los Angeles by California Supreme Court Justice Baxter continued from pg. 1 to Chicago for our 2010 Annual BEVERLY HILLS - Decorated trial Western Armenia. He reminded the the promotion of legislation intended Meeting, and hope to attract attorney Garo Mardirossian was audience of the struggle the Armenians to protect the rights and interests of A panel on Electronic numerous Armenian attorneys sworn in as President of the Consumer endured, and what a tremendous consumers of the State of California. Discovery and Privacy Issues on the from throughout the country to Attorneys Association (CAALA) at the accomplishment Mardirossian’s Several members of Internet will include Jim Nahikian, participate,” said Sonya Nersessian, group’s 61th Annual Installation and elevation to the presidency of CAALA the California judiciary were in Principal of Nahikian Global Chairman of ArmenBar. “Our goal Awards Dinner at the posh Beverly is in light of those challenges. attendance, including Baxter, Carlos Intellectual Property and Technology is to energize our constituents in the Wilshire Hotel on January 23, 2010. Also joining the Board of Moreno, a fellow Associate Justice Law Group and Gregory Hoogasian, area, help facilitate the interaction of Marvin Baxter, the second Governors of CAALA for the 2010 of the California Supreme Court, two Vice President of Regulatory Affairs our members and exchange of ideas, most senior Associate Justice of the term were fellow Armenians Carney justices from the California Courts of for the Chicago Stock Exchange. and honor those at the top of our California Supreme Court, was on Shegerian and Armen Tashjian. In Appeal, and Federal Magistrate Judge An Armenia update will profession,” said Nersessian. hand to administer the oath to the attendance to support Mardirossian Chooljian. Forty-five judges from be presented by Sara Anjargolian, Prior to being appointed to incoming Board of Governors of were several Board members of the the Los Angeles County court system Esq. who will discuss economic, the Federal bench, Der-Yeghiayan CAALA. In what can only be described Armenian Bar Association, including were also present, including Presiding sociologic and legal perspectives. The had a distinguished career as a trial as an extremely proud moment for Vice-Chairman Edvin Minassian, Judge Charles McCoy, Assistant lecture will include a presentation of the Armenian legal community, Treasurer Sara Bedirian, Federal Presiding Judge Lee Edmon, Judge attorney, district counsel and district Samuel Der-Yeghiayan, the first Mardirossian acknowledged his Magistrate Judge Jacqueline Chooljian, Sinanian, who sits at the Stanley Mosk many of Ms. Anjargolian’s critically director handling immigration Armenian immigrant to be appointed Armenian background, the struggle of Garo Ghazarian, Dean of the People’s Courthouse in Downtown Los Angeles acclaimed photos documenting life matters. He received many awards to the Federal Bench in the United his parents and grandparents to survive College of Law, John Lulejian, Hovanes and Judge Keosian, who sits in the Van in Armenia. during his legal career including States, will be an honored guest at the Genocide, and his commitment to Margarian, Nigol Manoukian, Past Nuys courthouse in the San Fernando Rick Hartunian, a newly the Frank J. McGarr award of the the Armenian Bar Association’s 21st his community and the organization he Chairmen Armen Hovannisian, Vicken Valley. appointed U.S. Attorney from Federal Bar Association as the Annual National Meeting in Chicago, will now head. He introduced Baxter, Simonian, and Judge Zaven Sinanian, Also in attendance were Albany, New York, will be another Outstanding Federal Government the weekend of May 14, 2010. pointing out that in addition to being past Treasurer Saro Kerkonian and numerous politicians, including guest speaker and honoree at the Attorney in Chicago and the District the highest ranking judicial officer of Judge Gregory Keosian. On many California Secretary of State Debra meeting. valuable continuing legal education Counsel of the Year Award from Armenian descent in the United States, occasions, Mardirossian has been a Bowen, California State Controller The Union League Club of units. ArmenBar is a preferred the Commissioner of the INS and that both share their ancestry from the special guest speaker at Armenian Bar John Chiang, seven California Chicago, located in the heart of the Attorney General Janet Reno in provider of MCLE credits in California, Illinois, New York and region of Kharpert. meetings and seminars. State Senators and 18 members of downtown financial district with a 1998. Der-Yeghiayan will be the Baxter praised the great CAALA (formerly known the California State Assembly. Ara Pennsylvania. 130-year history of assistance to the meeting luncheon keynote speaker. work and mission of CAALA, and as the Los Angeles Trial Lawyers Najarian, City Councilman and former The meeting will be presided cultural, political and social growth In a special ceremony, he will receive emphasized that it was a special honor Association) was formed in 1949, Mayor of Glendale, was also in over by Nersessian, from Boston, of Chicago, will be the venue for the a plaque acknowledging his years of to swear in the Board, specifically and with nearly 3,000 members is the attendance. Najarian and Mardirossian meeting. The outstanding meeting service to the community. Massachusetts, who is in her second Mardirossian. Baxter also pointed out largest association of plaintiffs’ lawyers are first cousins. facility is within walking distance ArmenBar’s last meeting term as chair of the organization. The that his lineage extended from Khokh, in the United States. Among its many In 2000 Mardirossian was of many of the city’s attractions. The in Chicago was in 2004. Board meeting will provide an opportunity a village in the Kharpert region of goals, the influential group is active in voted CAALA’s “Trial Lawyer of meeting will include legal seminars, member Amy Hoogasian, who was a for the Board of Governors to meet, the Year.” He has been on the Board a meeting of the Board of Governors, guest speaker at that meeting, is the set the agenda of the organization, of Governors for 16 years, and is the receptions with local dignitaries, and organizing committee chairperson for update the membership on recent first person of Armenian descent ever other interesting activities. 2010. Hoogasian has assembled an activities and accomplishments, and to become president of the prestigious The mere mention of the excellent group of attorneys and law vote on issues of importance to the organization. Mardirossian and his name Chicago conjures up images professors to coordinate the event. organization. wife Kathy have been married for 23 of the Sears Tower, The Magnificent That group includes Ann Lousin, a A Friday evening reception years.