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NEWSLETTER

March 2023

It’s hard to believe that February has flown by, and we are headed into springtime. I want to thank everyone who attended the 2023 Langston Gala, especially our honorees and the mayor of Los Angeles, Ms. Karen Bass. As we move from Black History Month into Women’s History Month, we are excited to highlight in the Member Spotlight the accomplishments of an outstanding woman who happens to also be one of our Board Members - Amanda Bettinellini, Assistant United States Attorney for the Central District.

Community outreach is at the forefront of Langston's agenda this year and we are excited about the many activities and events planned. This month, we will be hosting our first quarterly Expungement Clinic with FAME Methodist Church. We will also be preparing a "Know Your Rights" seminar for the community and for our future lawyers, we are participating in the Mentor Jet Program at Pepperdine Law School, in conjunction with the Multi-Cultural Bar Association on Monday March 20, 2023.  

Next, we are claiming space for our mental health and hosting our first installment of the Mental Wellness: My Mental Matters Series on Thursday, March 30, 2023. The goal of the series is to provide black lawyers with a safe space and the right tools to discuss and prioritize their mental health and wellness while managing the demands and pressures of our rewarding profession. This first seminar is geared towards young lawyers and will specifically focus on the importance of establishing balance and boundaries in the early stages of your career to protect your mental wellness. More info on upcoming events can be found below. 

We have a month packed full of ways to be involved and we encourage you to attend, donate, and support our programs all month.

I look forward to seeing you.

Stephen A. King, Esq.

President, John M. Langston Bar Association

Amanda M. Bettinelli

Amanda M. Bettinelli has worked for the U.S. Attorney's Office (Central District of California), Los Angeles, California as an Assistant United States Attorney since 2008. She is part of the Environmental Crimes and Community Safety Section and serves as the Environmental Justice Coordinator. She investigates and prosecutes federal crimes, secured convictions in jury trials, and handles appellate work. The excellence of her work is demonstrated not only by the depth and extensive record of her caseload, but also her impressive results, including a recent win in the matter of United States v. Willard, CR22-224-SVW. In Willard, Ms. Bettinelli successfully convicted an inmate charged with assaulting a victim within maritime territorial jurisdiction of the United States, specifically Mexican waters, during a four-day cruise to Ensenada. The inmate was ultimately sentenced to 46 months custody and payment of restitution awarded to the victim to cover lost wages and out of pocket medical expenses. 

Ms. Bettinelli has served on the Diversity Committee of the Italian American Bar Association, which honored her last year with Diversity and Inclusion Award for her work to promote diversity in the legal profession. Ms. Bettinelli was most recently a finalist for U.S. Attorney in the Central District of California, an honor for which she also appears to be the first and only African American woman. AUSA Bettinelli continues to serve as a prosecutor on the STAR Drug and Reentry Court and to serve in leadership roles in law enforcement task force initiatives both nationally and locally. She serves as Co-Chair on Just the Beginning Los Angeles with high school students, is Co-Facilitator on Project Lead with 5th grade students, and does pro bono work on behalf of foster youth. Ms. Bettinelli currently serves on the executive board of the John M. Langston Bar Association. 

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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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