November 2006

FAMILY LAW SECTION EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING NOVEMBER 17, 2006

The meeting was called to order by the Chair at 10:10  am. 

The following members and/or past chairs, attended in person:  David Johnson, Fran Fontana, Brenda Storey, Marie Moses, Marc Kaplan, David Littman, Kevin Sidel, Denise Cook, Kathryn Beck, John Eckelberry, Joan McWilliams, Martin Brown, Ellen Squires, Jackie St. Joan, Steve McBride, Dick Rotole, Bonnie Shriner.  Trish Cooper and Sarah Quilan attended as guests.

Members present by telephone:  Katie Hayes, Deb Anderson (who was retroactively excused from September meeting due to birth of grandchild)

These members had excused absences:  Steve Epstein, Beth Henson, Bob Malman, Mike DiManna, Rob Hinds, Terri Harrington

Melissa Nicoletti was available but not present from the CBA.  

A motion was made to approve the minutes of the September, 2006 meeting.  The motion was seconded and was approved without opposition. 

OFFICER’S REPORTS

CHAIR’S REPORT BY DAVE JOHNSON: 

1. Amendment 40 was soundly defeated.  A couple of judges personally thanked Dave for FLS efforts.  FLS contributed $20,000.  El Paso Bar raised $20,000-25,000.  Dave Johnson thanked the group for approving the contribution.

2. Steve McBride and Leslie Monaghan have agreed to chair the task force to explore the creation of a family law court system.  The first goal is to gather resources to see what is out there.  There are nine family courts in the US presently.  The concept is to look at best practices and then look at what approach to take.  It is an open question as to whether this will require a legislative effort, court rule or some other action to implement a family court system. Ken Gordon’s name has been mentioned as a friendly legislator.  The Steering Committee needs a representative from State Judicial to deal with budget issues and representation from a small judicial district in additional to large districts. There was discussion of prior efforts to create a family court system.  The Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System (Justice Kourlis) at DU Law School will be a resource in this process.  There should probably be a lay person or two on the committee.  There probably should be representation from judicial officers and mental health professionals.   

3. The Barristers’ Ball is April 28, 2007 at the Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center.  Early registration is February 1, 2007.  We sponsored a table last year.  It would cost $3000.00 to sponsor a table.  This will come up for the January meeting.  We would be identified on the program as a sponsor.  It was mentioned that last year it was difficult to fill a table.  This may have been a timing issue. 

4. We made a contribution to the Denver Adoption Day which was November 16, 2006. 

5. Marie Walton has been fighting cancer this summer.  She sent a note suggesting that there needs to be a pro bono effort call upon lawyers who could assist with clients and be supportive of lawyers who are injured or ill.  Dave was thinking about using the Mentoring Committee to focus this effort.  It would be helpful to have a directory by geographic area of family law members.  It would be helpful to publicize a contact person who those in need might contact.  Denise Cook and Kevin Sidel will draft an email

6. Social Function- Wednesday, December 20th- Nuggets Game- 50 people at $100 per person.  We need to send another email.  Does all inclusive mean parking, food, tickets, a suite?  The mechanics need to be worked on.  Dave will confirm the details and Melissa will get out an email about the event to the membership.

VICE CHAIR’S REPORT – KATHRYN BECK:

 1. Family Law Institute- Beth Henson has agreed to be her co-chair.  Arnie Schwarz and Kathy Henken are on her committee.  They are going with theme of “what family law practitioners don’t know about __________.”  There will be a call for topics soon.  Kevin Sidel has committed to speak.  It is scheduled for the second weekend in August at Beaver Run in Breckenridge.

SECRETARY’S REPORT- DAVID LITTMAN

Nothing to report

TREASURER’S REPORT BY MARIE MOSES:

We have less money due to contributions made in last two months.

IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR (FRAN FONTANA):

Nothing to report

OLD BUSINESS

1. Brown Bag Lunches- officers are each assigned a jurisdiction.  With changes on the various benches, lunches will be scheduled after January.

2. Judges Reception – Marie Moses, Denise Cook and Brenda Storey will take the lead on this event.  Last year there was a CLE and then the reception.  February 15, 2007 is the date.  It was suggested that we offer an ethics credit. 

3. Ethics Committee on Collaborative Law issue- Dave and Kathy Hogan met with the committee on this issue.  He has not heard back.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

BY LAWS- (Bonnie Shriner):  Proposed amendments to by-law to allow for email voting for the section.  It was moved and seconded to approve the amendments on page one of the recommended changes.  The motion was passed unanimously.  The proposed amendments will now be submitted to the general membership by a mail in ballot per Article X of the current bylaws.

Page Two – This proposed amendment deals with the issue of term limits for council members.  A question was raised about how other sections handle this issue.  Bonnie will check on this and report back in January. 

ATTORNEY-MEDIATOR DIALOGUE: Terri Harrington is ill and unable to report. Dave Johnson reported that Terri is working with David Rolfe as co-chair of the event.  They will schedule their program at the Pepsi Center for the April meeting as has been done in the past.  There is a request for some financial assistance- mailing brochures as we have done in the past.  This request will go on the January agenda for further action. 

COLORADO LAWYER:  Dave introduced Trish Cooper and Meredith Cord.  Meredith is Dave’s new law partner.  The Colorado Lawyer would like to do an entire issue devoted to family law in October 2007.  The primary concern has to do with a thematic concept around which to build an entire concept.  They want a commitment from Executive Council for two articles.  TCL wants the articles to be practitioner’s guides as opposed to scholarly/law review articles.  There is a need for six or seven articles.  Brenda suggested that these articles interface with FLI.  There is a deadline for submission of proposals on January 15, 2007.  Dave Johnson and Marc Kaplan volunteered to write articles.  Joan McWilliams and Kevin Sidel are thinking about articles.  Council approved this project and gave Trish and Meredith discretion as to the theme for the issue.  They also have discretion to determine if they can meet the deadlines for October 2007 or  move this to an issue in October 2008.

JUDGES BENCH BOOK – Marc Kaplan reported that Melissa suggested waiting to revise the book until after the upcoming legislative session.

LEGISLATIVE –  Dick Rotole and Marie Moses -  Uniform Mediation/Arbitration Act may be looked at in this session.  Marie thinks the legislature may leave the “open records” question alone and that this should be left to the Supreme Court. 

MEMBERSHIP –  John Eckelberry-  DU has a mentoring program for law students.  Our section has discounted luncheons for law students.  It is $15.00 for law students.  He will provide this information to DU and CU.  Dave suggested using one luncheon a year which would be free for law students.  Consensus of the Council was to keep the $15 lunch charge in place at this time.  

NEWSLETTER –  Ellen reported that the newsletter is coming out next week.  She will put in information on the December fundraiser.  CLE has asked Ellen if they could put notices in the newsletter.  The consensus of the Council was that notices that were for family law CLE programs would be accepted.  

SCHOLARSHIP – Kevin Sidel reported that a law student member of CBA pays $25.00 for any CLE program and non CBA student members pay $50.00 for the program.  This does not apply to FLI.  There is no cost to FLS for students to attend.  There is a scholarship for lawyers.  Kevin suggested we discuss scholarships or reduced rate fees in January.

YOUNG LAWYERS – Sara Quinlan- December 14th is a date for a social at Washington Park Grill.  It was moved that FLS grant $250 for this event.  The motion passed unanimously. 

NEW BUSINESS: 

Dave Johnson reported that Jen Feingold is working on setting up a CLE with Gary Abrams which focuses on basic skills for new lawyers. 

A motion to adjourn was made and seconded.  The meeting was adjourned at 11:55 a.m.