President’s Message:
Dear San Diego Chapter Members,
As 2020 draws to a close, I would like to thank you once again for your continued support of the Federal Bar Association, San Diego Chapter this year. It was an unusual year, and I hope that your membership in the San Diego Chapter helped provide a sense of normalcy and community.
One of the lessons we learned in 2020 was the importance of our professional community—our federal family. Many of us were unexpectedly cut off from our normal work routines as we shifted to a virtual work environment. When that happened, our Chapter’s goal shifted to providing members with information about what was happening in the State of the District webinars. We aimed to provide a “normal” slate of virtual events to provide a much-needed sense of community and continuity, as well as serving our members’ professional CLE needs. We also wanted to help strengthen our community by providing a signature three-part series on civility. I hope you agree that we achieved our goals in 2020.
Our success this year was only possible because so many members volunteered to organize and help with virtual events. The Board of Directors similarly did a great job this year behind the scenes to provide member services. And the Court stepped up in a big way, providing over 31 judicial speakers across 21 online events. At the end of the day, we had over 6,000 attendees at our online events this year. This reflects a strong interest in the services provided by the Chapter and encourages us to continue serving our legal community next year.
On a personal note, it has been an honor to serve as the Chapter President this year. I am grateful to the Board of Directors for their service, to the many volunteers that made this year a success, to the Chief Judge and entire federal court for their support, and most importantly to the members, whose support makes this Chapter possible. I look forward to seeing you all in 2021.
Regards,
David P. Finn
President
FBA-San Diego Chapter
We hope to see you at these virtual FBA, National events:
December 17, 2020, at noon
COVID-19 has led to immigration courts adapting to modern technology. This seminar provides an overview of this modernization, its implementation, as well as best immigration trial litigation practices for detained and non-detained removal proceedings, such as effective challenges to the electronic hearings, proper e-submissions and service, witness preparation, expert reports and testimony, and preserving appealable issues through pre-trial motions and effective trial objections and evidentiary challenges. FREE for FBA members.
January 28, 2021 - January 29, 2021
This signature CLE event is produced by the FBA’s Civil Rights Law section. Featuring eight panels on cutting-edge areas of civil rights law and ethics issues of the moment. This extraordinary national event is proudly co-sponsored by the FBA, San Diego Chapter, so it is FREE for our members.
February 17, 2021 - February 19, 2021
[Early Bird Registration available on or before Friday, January 22, 2021]
FBA National's conference will focus on the False Claims Act in times of crisis, including changes in enforcement priorities that may follow the COVID-19 pandemic. This annual event, dubbed “the Oscars for False Claims Act nerds” by a panelist at 2020’s sold-out conference, provides timely perspectives from all sides of the FCA ecosystem: prosecutors, relator-side attorneys, defense counsel, inspectors general, federal judges, and in-house counsel.
Save the Date for Upcoming Events:
Passing of the Gavel Ceremony
January 21, 2021, at 4:00 p.m.
Commemorating the transition of the Chief District Court Judge position from the Hon. Larry Alan Burns to the Hon. Dana M. Sabraw.
Seventh Annual Ethics, Competence, and Elimination of Bias MCLE event
January 26, 2021, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
This all-day [virtual] MCLE event will provide 4 hours of Legal Ethics Credit, 1 hour of Elimination of Bias Credit, and 1 hour of Competence (Substance Abuse) Credit.