Past Events

FIVE OUTSTANDING JUDGES HONORED BY THE ARMENIAN
BAR ASSOCIATION AT RECEPTION IN PASADENA

Pasadena,California - Over 150 judges, attorneys, law students and guests joined the
Armenian Bar Association (Armenbar) in honoring five outstanding judges on their accomplishments, retirements and appointments, at an evening reception on April 12, 2006 at the Rococo Room of Santorini Restaurant in Old Town Pasadena, California.

The honorees were Federal Judge Dickran Tevrizian, Federal Magistrate Judge Jacqueline Chooljian, and Los Angeles County Superior Court Judges Richard Kolostian, Sr., Ruth Essegian and Maral Injejikian.

"We are extremely proud of the bench officers in our organization, as they serve as tremendous role models and continue to encourage and educate those of us in the legal profession," said Vicken Simonian, past Chairman and current Treasurer of the Armenian Bar Association. "We are very happy to have had the opportunity to share their achievements with our members and colleagues in the legal community," said Simonian.

Judge Zaven Sinanian, a Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge currently sitting in the North Central District Court in Burbank served as Master of Ceremonies for the event. Sinanian, an accomplished jurist and former Attorney General in California who co-authored an opinion of the Attorney General supporting California’s Genocide Act, was introduced by Armenbar Board member Rita Bojalian, an attorney with CBS, who served as the hostess for the reception.

Several non-Armenian judges were in attendance at the event, including Stephen Czuleger, the current Assistant Presiding Judge of the entire Los Angeles County Court system, Malcolm Mackey, a former Presiding Judge for Los Angeles County, and Aurelio Munoz, currently the senior judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court system.

Tevrizian is a veteran Federal Court judge sitting in the Central District of the United States District Court. He is a nationally recognized jurist who in 1986 became the first person of Armenian heritage to be appointed to the federal bench. Tevrizian, who is a current Board member of Armenbar, was honored for his distinguished career in public service, and upon his change to senior status on the court. He was introduced by his brother-in-law, Robert Kalunian, one of the top lawyers in the public defender’s office.

Judge Chooljian was recently appointed a Magistrate Judge for the U.S. District Court, Central District of California. Prior to her appointment, she served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney and Special Counsel to the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California. She is the first woman of Armenian decent to be appointed to the federal bench. She was introduced by Craig Missakian, an attorney with the U.S. Attorney’s office, and a former candidate for State Assembly in California.

Judges Kolostian and Essegian have recently retired from the bench, both having served at the Northwest District, Van Nuys Courthouse. Kolostian was appointed to the superior court bench in 1980 by Governor Jerry Brown, and retired this year after having served 32 years. At the time of his retirement, he was the most senior judge in the county. He was introduced by his son, Richard Kolostian, Jr., of the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office.

Judge Essegian was appointed in 1989 by Governor George Deukmejian. Prior to her appointment, she served as a Deputy City Attorney in Pasadena, and served as a Deputy Attorney General, handling professional licensing cases. She was introduced by Gregory Keosian, also a Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge.

Judge Injejikian was appointed in 1985 by Governor Deukmejian, and has primarily handled criminal cases. She was recognized for her elevation as the Supervising site judge of the East Los Angeles Branch Court of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Central District. She was introduced by Armand Arabian, Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court (retired).

“The remarks of the presenters and the honorees were insightful, interesting, warmhearted, humorous, and poignant,” said Simonian of the speakers at the event. “Our organization will continue to have functions like this honoring the best and brightest that our profession and community have to offer,” he said.

The guests enjoyed Armenian delicacies from the kitchen of the award winning Café Santorini Mediterranean Restaurant.