JULY 2022

Newsletter

President's Message

Greetings Langston Family!

I hope you had a great Juneteenth and 4th of July, and that you’re enjoying the summer. We enjoyed seeing many of you at our BBQ at Kenneth Hahn Park (which we brought back after a two year hiatus), and look forward to seeing you on July 22 for our Membership Meeting (so you can find more ways to get involved in Langston) and other programs during the summer months. This is a great time to renew your commitment to Langston and to take full advantage of all that we offer in addition to programming sponsored by the LA County Bar Association. Have a great summer.

All the best!

Daniel Prince, Esq.

2022 Langston President

LANGSTON'S MISSION

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.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

THE RECAP

6/4/22 LACBA / MCBA-SoCal

Wellness in a Multi-Cultural Legal Practice

Langston is a founding member of the Multicultural Bar Alliance of Southern California, an Alliance of more than 22 minority bar associations in SoCal, formed 30 years ago in response to the shooting death of a 15-year-old Black girl, shot by Korean shopkeeper, on March 16, 1991 and the subsequent controversial racial tensions that evolved as a result.

Langston was the sole sponsor for this much needed and well received program that focused on mental health awareness.

Presented by LACBA's Diversity in the Profession Section and the MCBA-SoCal, the program was Co-Moderated by 2022 Langston Officer/Corresponding Secretary Valarie Dean, who is also the immediate past 2018-2022 Chair for the MCBA-SoCal, along with Christine Goodman, LACBA Diversity in the Profession Section VP.

Taking LIVE questions from the virtual audience, Guest Speaker Dr. Shelly Harrell discussed, among other topics, "racial stress and trauma" and the negative psychological, physical and collective effects that Black, Indigenous and People of Color experience in the context of being exposed to the harms, challenges and injustices of racism.

Thank you to Langston 2022 Board member Tiffany Gelott, Esq. for representing Langston and participating in this important discussion; Congratulations to Valarie and Christine for planning and executing such a useful program.

6/4/22 BWL-LA Foundation 46th Annual

Scholarship Fundraiser & Awards Luncheon

The BWL Foundation Annual Scholarship Fundraiser and Awards Luncheon, held safely outside in the beautiful garden at The Beverly Hilton Hotel was a HUGE success!

Langston Leaders came out in full force on a beautiful Saturday afternoon in support of our Sister Bar Affiliate, Black Women Lawyers Association Los Angeles (BWL) and the BWL Foundation. Langston's attendees included 2022 Officers (President Daniel Prince, President-Elect Stephen King, Vice President Jamilla Harris, Corresponding Secretary Valarie Dean, Secretary Tatiana Metters, Treasurer Melvin Felton, Law Student Outreach Chair Ife Agbodike, Sergeant at Arms Jennifer Fisher Golden, Esq., who also served as Co-Chair of the BWL Scholarship Selection Committee), with many other Langston Past Presidents and members. Congresswoman Karen Bass was among the esteemed speakers, along with several prestigious Honorees.

Congratulations to BWL Foundation President Alma Howard Graham and the entire luncheon planning committee on a job well done!

6/11/22 Multicultural Bar Alliance of SoCal Quarterly Meeting

As one of the founding members of the Multicultural Bar Alliance of Southern California, Langston was represented at the MCBA-SoCal Quarterly Meeting by 2022 President Daniel Prince, 2022 Officer Valarie Dean, and dual Langston/BWL members Shirley Henderson and Holly Parker.

Held on June 11, 2022 at the home of Valarie Dean, the 2018-2022 Immediate Past Chair of the MCBA-SoCal, the Quarterly Meeting was the first in-person program in over two years. We “formally” introduced new leadership, including new co-chairs Theresa Macellaro and Holly Fujie, and Treasurer Mike Madokoro, and with 18 of the member bar associations represented by their leadership, the June MCBA-SoCal Quarterly Meeting was a great success!

6/18/22 Langston Annual Picnic

If you missed attending, you missed an amazing fun-filled day in the park with your Langston family. After a 2-year pandemic break, the Langston Annual Picnic returned, safely and in-person.

For more than 30 years, Langston's "OG" past Presidents paved the picnic path. They have now passed the baton and, for the first time, attended as Guests. While old times may not return, the new times begin with a continued reflection of and tribute to the old.

From the Friday Night Pre-Packaging Crew, to Saturday's 6:30AM pick-up and organizing crew, to post-Picnic clean-up, the 2022 Langston Picnic was successful due to a great team.

A huge Thank You to Langston 2022 Officer, VALARIE DEAN for organizing and executing another fantastic Langston event; Many Thanks to the Langston Volunteers who worked to make the Picnic go off without a hitch: TANYA GREEN - 2022 Board Member; AHDA SANDS - Past President; MICHELE ANDERSON - Past Board Member; HOLLY PARKER - 2021 HOF Committee Member; STEPHEN KING - 2022 President-Elect; PETER CARR - Langston Member; ALAN TOPLITZKY - Friend of Langston; RANDAL SIBLEY - Friend of Langston; JUSTIN PALMER - 2022 Board Member; JAMILLA HARRIS - 2022 Vice President; JUSTIN POWELL and DONALD WARD, Students- USC, Friends of Langston; and VARIOUS LANGSTON MEMBERS & FRIENDS who helped with clean-up!

Much Appreciation to our Sponsors, KINGS JUSTICE LAW and FILER PALMER LLP; to our Caterer who BBQed onsite, SOUTHERN COUSINS CUISINE CATERING; and to MATTHEW BREDDAN, ESQ., San Fernando Valley Bar 2022 President-Elect, for the delicious food donations!

We look forward to seeing you again at the 2023 Annual Picnic!

6/24/22 CABL Judicial Luncheon

Langston was a proud sponsor of the California Association of Black Lawyers (CABL) Judicial Luncheon which took place during the CABL Annual Conference last month. Langston attendees included 2022 Vice President, Jamilla Harris, Officer/Secretary Tatiana Metters, Past Presidents Marie Maurice and Felton Newell, and Lifetime Member/former Board Member Latrice Byrdsong, among others.

The 2022 Judicial Luncheon was particularly special for Langston, as our past President, the Honorable Rupert Byrdsong, was one of the Judicial Excellence Honorees.

Congratulations to outgoing CABL President Aileen Casanave on a great year, and Welcome incoming President Shumika T. R. Sookdeo and the new Board on what is sure to be another successful CABL year under your leadership.

Langston and CABL continue to challenge the inequities in the legal system, with a determination to diversify the bench and positively impact legislation.

LANGSTON UPCOMING PROGRAMS

LANGSTON IS A PROUD MEMBER

LANGSTON IS A PROUD CO-SPONSOR

OTHER ORGANIZATIONS PROGRAMS

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LOS ANGELES SUPERIOR COURT NEWS, GENERAL ORDERS & HELPFUL TOOLS

OTHER HELPFUL TOOLS:

As of April 4, 2022, Face Masks with a good fit and filtration (medical masks or N95/KN95/KF94 respirators) are strongly recommended in all Superior Court of Los Angeles County courthouses, aligning with the @lapublichealth guidelines: HERE. Read 3/25/22 LASC General Order HERE
A Video Tour: Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) Unlawful Detainer (Eviction): Helping landlords and tenants settle their eviction cases without going to court
Visit Access LACourt | Your Way News Center - For information on remote courtroom appearances via LACourtConnect and remote service options without going to court
Avoid Waiting In Line! Fill in Your Court Form Online Using LASC's User-Friendly Form Completion Program