Douglas R. Young

Letter from the President

    The end of the year offers an opportunity to reinstate an ABTL tradition: the Letter from the President. For me, this is an opportunity to reaffirm the principles our members share, and to thank those who have contributed to our successes this year.
    The persons who participate in the ABTL are those in our profession who have chosen to work in and around courtrooms. They are, for the most part, persons of courage, for there are easier disciplines within the practice of law. No calling in the law could be more important, however. When we step into a courtroom as an advocate, we carry the hopes, fears and destinies of the persons, institutions, causes or principles we represent. Much depends upon our preparation, our judgment, and our presentation. Judges are not in any way immune from this reality, either: preparation, judgment, compassion, and hard work characterize the best in the judicial officers in whose courtrooms we work.
    We learn to be trial lawyers by example. The craft is selflessly passed from experienced lawyer to less experienced lawyer, and from one generation to the next. Along the way, the luckiest among us also move beyond technical proficiency to a higher level of commitment to the clients and the process. The ABTL plays an important role at every stage. Through our programs judges find a platform from which to advise trial lawyers how best to conduct matters in their courtrooms; trial lawyers find common ground from which to explore both tried-and-true techniques and emerging trends in the conduct of trials; and lawyers and judges alike share a forum where approaches to courtroom advocacy can be taught, debated, and refined.

   That the ABTL of Northern California has been successful in carrying on the traditions begun by Art Shartsis and our founding Board is a tribute to those who have worked so hard to keep the shared promise of the organization alive: the members who faithfully attend our dinner meetings; our officers - including, this year, Steve Taylor, Rob Fram, and Susan Creighton, each of whom provided superb leadership; our board members (listed in this newsletter), who volunteer their time and their collective wisdom to ABTL governance issues; and Charles Rice, who has so diligently edited and published our newsletter over the years. And inasmuch as the ABTL would have little to offer if it did not have programs of high quality each month, we must recognize Jon Streeter (our lead program co-chair) and Jerry Roth (who gave Jon welcome assistance) for organizing the outstanding programs we have enjoyed this year. Tricia Fitzpatrick, who worked with me and my firm in organizing the day-to-day functioning of the organization, also deserves recognition and a heartfelt "thank you" for her superb organizational and event-planning skills.
   
    It has been an honor to serve the ABTL of Northern California as its president this year, and now to join the ranks of its ex-presidents. This year has seen the ABTL of Northern California continue to grow and develop as an institution, and we should all be confident that this year's efforts will be complemented and improved upon next year under Steve Taylor's able leadership. Meanwhile, may it always be said of us that we fulfill our courtroom roles - whether as advocates or as jurists - responsibly, with a public spirit that acknowledges the needs of the poor and underrepresented in our society, and with integrity, vigor, humility, humor, and common sense.

Douglas R. Young is a partner with Farella Braun & Martel LLP.