Beverly Hills Bar Resolutions Committee and the CDCBA
By Karl Knickmeyer, Chair, Resolutions Committee

Each year, in conjunction with annual State Bar convention, the Conference of Delegates of the California Bar Associations (CDCBA) meets. The three day Conference is the culmination of a yearlong process that begins after the fall annual meeting. Resolutions to improve the practice of law are discussed, lobbied, argued and then approved or disapproved. This process provides insight not usually seen in or daily practices.

CDCBA, as successor organization to the State Bar Conference of Delegates, was formed as an independent 501(c)(6) non-profit corporation in 2002, and the combined organizations have an almost 70 year history. The CDCBA is funded entirely by voluntary contributions and no State Bar mandatory dues are used in its operations. The CDCBA’s educational function allows it to receive charitable donations through the State Bar Foundation.

This year the Conference will take place from October 7 -10 in Monterey. By joining the Delegation, you will not only participate in shaping laws, but you can also attend the State Bar Conference and many of the other programs (including continuing education) taking place during the Conference.

BHBA Participation

For as many years as the State Bar Conference of Delegates and now the CDCBA have been in existence, the Beverly Hills Bar Association and its members have been more than active participants. Currently, BHBA Past Presidents Linda Mazur, Emily Edelman and Barry Shanley serve on the Board of Directors for District 7. BHBA Board of Governors member, Marc L. Sallus is the Conference Chair. Mike White, Past BHBA President, & Larry Goldman, BHBA Secretary and former Resolutions Committee Chair, both serve on the Conference Resolution Committee.

Currently, through its Resolutions Committee, those people interested in participating in the Conference are designated as BHBA Delegates and attend the Conference as BHBA representatives. What does this mean?

Over the past 6 to 8 months, the local, minority, and specialty voluntary bar associations have submitted to the CDCBA over 100 resolutions. Resolutions generally take the form of amendments to current statutes to address problems, real or perceived, or suggestions for new law or complete re-writes of existing law. The Conference seeks through these Resolutions to improve the law, both for the practitioner and the public. The CDCBA web site www.cdcba.org  will provide you with a complete, downloadable list of the 2004 Resolutions to be voted on at the Conference.

In October and November, 2003, the BHBA Resolutions Committee solicited from BHBA members suggested Resolutions for BHBA Board of Governors’ approval and submission to the CDCBA. Through that effort, the BHBA submitted seven Resolutions. In March and April 2004, the BHBA Resolutions Committee met to review all of Resolutions to determine if counter arguments should be prepared by our association. Any counterarguments were sent to CDCBA by the May 3 deadline.

Current Status of Resolutions Committee

NOW, the fun begins! After Counterarguments are sent to CDCBA, the internal committee of CDCBA makes its determination on approval or disapproval of the Resolution. The Resolutions (with the opinions of the CDCBA Resolutions Committee and possible counterarguments) are then posted to the CDCBA website. Thereafter member associations will meet to determine what position their association will take on each Resolution at the Conference.

We need new and seasoned BHBA delegation members to help review these Resolutions so that the BHBA can take well reasoned positions at the Convention. The Resolutions fall in the areas of (i) Insurance, (ii) Real Property, (iii) Criminal, (iv) Civil Procedure, (v) Workers Comp, (vi) Family Law, (vii) Probate, (viii) State Bar, (ix) Courts and Rules of Court and (x) Miscellaneous. Each of these areas has a BHBA “subsection chair” appointed to coordinate the Resolutions in each subsection. If you have an interest in any of these areas, we want your participation.

If you decide you want to participate as a Delegate to the Convention, we want you! If for example the BHBA takes a “Disapprove” or “No Position” on a Resolution, the BHBA Delegate would negotiate with the Resolution’s proponent to clear up the items which caused our vote, lobby or speak to the Convention as part of the organized, formal debate that takes place on most of the Resolutions.

After the Convention

All Resolutions passed at the Convention are prioritized with the help of the CDCBA lobbyist for possible sponsorship by a California legislator. In the past, the BHBA has sponsored successful Resolutions which are now law. Jan McDonald’s proposal on conditions to bifurcate for an early status change in Family Law became part of the Family Code. Ken Petrulis proposal became Community Property with Right of Survivorship. Emily Edelman’s Resolution on female disfiguration became law. Marc Staenberg’s involvement resulted in an amendment change to the “Coogan’s Law” affecting child actors.

How to get involved

If you want to be involved in the action over the next three months, concluding with the State Bar Convention, please contact:

Karl Knickmeyer Resolutions Committee Chair
310-442-9970
karlknickmeyer@verizon.net

Elizabeth Bradley Resolutions Committee Vice-Chair
310-385-0700
ebradley@gutmanlaw.com

or any Resolution sub-committee chair listed on the BHBA Resolutions Committee Web site www.BHBA.org

Karl H. Knickmeyer is a solo practitioner, focused on estate planning, real estate and tax law, with offices in the Brentwood area. In addition to being the current Chair of the BHBA 2003 - 2004 Resolutions Committee and BHBA Board of Governors member, he is a past Chair of the BHBA Real Estate Section 2000 – 2001.