Happily, there is no turkey-pardoning among the duties of an HBA president.  Instead, I thought I would spend a moment before Thanksgiving recalling President Washington's 1789 Proclamation in which, after offering thanks to God for his "signal and manifold mercies" to the country through the Revolutionary War, our first president gave thanks for the rule of law and the rights that it preserves.  He gave thanks, "for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been able to establish Constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted."  He wished we would, "render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed."

Two hundred and twenty one years later, we join Washington's Thanksgiving.  The HBA board is thankful to have concluded its work for the year, and we give thanks for the community's support in our endeavors.  On behalf of the Board and the entire organization, Happy Thanksgiving to your homes and offices.  See you at our Holiday Party!

• Francisco Balderama of UCI Law School,
• Rosa Noyol of UCLA Law School, and
• Leticia Ramirez of UCLA Law School.

The HBA brought back "El Día de los Muertos" (the Mexican Day of the Dead) to its stable of bar reviews with a successful de bar-randa night at Manhattan Steak & Seafood Lounge on Tuesday, November 2, 2010.  The evening, put together by Program Committee Chair Karin Khan and board member Martin Fontes was one of the most successful HBA events of the year.

The attendees included Hon. William Bedsworth, Hon. Geoff Glass, Hon. Joe Perez, Hon. Sal Sarmiento, as well as all 13 of the candidates seeking a spot on the 2011 HBA board of directors and several of the current board members.  Each of the candidates had an opportunity to say a brief word to the barranderos, as well to press the flesh and enjoy the evening.

Aaron Flores, HBA Secretary Theresa Lopez, Alexandra Armstrong and board member Kharin Khan raise the dead.

The HBA's 2010 election was successfully concluded, for the first time ever, through on-line balloting.  President-Elect Genoveva Meza Talbott, who heads the election effort pursuant to the bylaws, modernized the voting process by making it electronic, though in accordance with mandatory requirements for privacy, integrity and reliability for the election.  As required by the bylaws, a nominating committee certified the slate of candidates and a tellers committee is in the process of certifying the results of the election.  The winners will be declared at the annual Holiday Party on December 8.

The electronic voting was part of a large push to bring the HBA online in 2010.  Many board votes were handled by email.  The HBA newsletter also was revamped, as was the HBA web site.  The HBA also added a FaceBook and LinkedIn presence.

The 2011 HBA Executive Committee will be (L-R): Karin Khan (2011 Secretary), Genoveva M. Talbott (2011 President), Carlos X. Colorado (2010 President), José González (2011 President Elect), Olivia Carrillo Hickman (2011 Treasurer) and Leo Paredes (2011 Vice President).

A year after the HBA awarded him its lifetime achievement award, and permanently named the prize "the Hon. Francisco P. Briseño Lifetime Achievement Award," Judge Briseño has won the Orange County legal community's highest honor, the Franklin G. West Award presented by the OCBA at its Judge's Night in January.

The HBA congratulates Judge Briseño and commends the OCBA on a capital selection.

Judge Briseño (center) receives the HBA lifetime achievement award in March. He is joined by Judge Sal Sarmiento (left) and HBA President Carlos Colorado (right).