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OCBA News

OCBA Announces 2026 Election Results

The OCBA's annual Board of Directors Election closed at 2:30 p.m. on Monday, September 29, 2025. In accordance with the OCBA bylaws, 2025 President-Elect Shirin Forootan (Forootan Law) will succeed to the Presidency in 2026. The rest of the 2026 Executive Committee will be comprised of President-Elect Eric V. Traut (Traut Injury Law), Treasurer Sharon Oh-Kubisch (Kahana & Feld LLP), newly-elected Secretary Casey R. Johnson (Aitken Aitken Cohn LLP), and Immediate Past President Mei Tsang (Umberg Zipser LLP).

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Call for Nominations: Franklin G. West Award – OCBA’s Highest Honor

Nominations Deadline: Monday, Nov. 3, 2025

Click here to download the nomination form.

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OCBA Mourns the Passing of ABOTA Member Peter John Gates

The OCBA is deeply saddened to share the passing of Peter John Gates.

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Orange County Bar Association to Honor Edward A. Schlatter with the Prestigious Harmon G. Scoville Award

The Orange County Bar Association is excited to announce Edward A. Schlatter as this year’s Harmon G. Scoville Award recipient. The award will be presented during a reception on November 18, 2025.

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Orange County Superior Court - News Release Court to Expand Civil Unlimited Pilot Program for Resolving Discovery Disputes and Expediting Law and Motion Hearings

Santa Ana, CA — Starting October 1, 2025, the Orange County Superior Court will double the size of its Dedicated Discovery Department Program with the addition of the following five departments:

  • Department C25 – Hon. Gassia Apkarian
  • Department C27 – Hon. Bradley S. Erdosi
  • Department C31 – Hon. Kimberly A. Knill
  • Department N15 – Hon. Nathan Nhan Vu
  • Department N18 – Hon. Scott A. Steiner
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Orange County Superior Court: Judicial Mentor Program Workshop Hybrid Event on October 16

To Register for the Judicial Mentor Program: CLICK HERE.

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Awards & Accolades

NAPABA Welcomes OCBA Board Member Eemaan Jalili To Their 2025-26 Board of Governors

The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association recently announced their 2025-26 Board of Governors. OCBA Board Member, Eemaan Jalili of Jalili Law PC is among the At-Large Board Members who will be sworn in during the 2025 NAPABA Convention in Denver on November 6-8, 2025.

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Super Lawyers Name OCBA Members As 2025 Top Southern California Lawyers

The Super Lawyers 2025 Top Southern California Lawyers edition recognized OCBA members as Top Lawyers.

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OCBA Member Michael G. Balmages Awarded Commissioner Tom Schulte Community Service Award

OCBA member Michael G. Balmages received the "Comm. Tom Schulte Community Service Award" from the Robert A. Banyard Inn of Court at its annual Awards Gala on May 16 at the Westin South Coast Plaza Hotel.

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Members On The Move

OCBA Member Jeremy Anapol Joins Morgan Lewis' Expanded IP Litigation West Coast Team

Morgan Lewis recently announced the IP Litigation expansion of there West Coast Team by adding a Three-Partner team. OCBA member Jeremy Anapol was among the newely named Partners in the firm's Orange County and Seattle offices.

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OCBA Member Judge Lon F. Hurwitz Joins Judicate West

Judicate West, one of California’s leading providers of private dispute resolution services, has added Judge Lon F. Hurwitz to its roster of neutrals.

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OCBA Attorney Member James M. Baratta Joins Segev LLP’s Growing Emerging Tech, Sports and Gaming Practices

Segev LLP recently announced that OCBA Member James M. Baratta joined the firm as a member of its Business Law, Video Gaming, Blockchain, Crypto & FinTech, and Sports Law practice groups. Read More..

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