On December 5, in Mission Santa Clara, adorned with holiday splendor, Santa Clara Law and the Santa Clara Bar Association hosted a swearing-in ceremony for the newest members of the California Bar.
Dean Michael Kaufman welcomed those assembled, adding his heartfelt congratulations to all admittees. He invited those gathered to reflect on the blessings of their loving relationships that have supported them throughout their journey, and to remember those who have passed on but are with them in spirit. “Your loving relationships have nourished you, kept you afloat, sustained you, and inspired you. They have helped you to embrace the challenges of a global pandemic, an awakening to racial injustice, and stark reminders of the fragility of the rule of law and our democracy.” Dean Kaufman expressed to those gathered the importance of relationships in their professional lives—that they distinguish merely good lawyers from exceptional lawyers. “Scripture compels us: Justice, justice you shall pursue! It is not enough to learn about justice, or even be a lawyer admitted to the Bar. We must all pursue justice. Justice is not a noun; it is a verb. It is not a status; it’s a calling. It requires action. It demands small acts of loving kindness, which are the foundation for greater acts to make our world more just, humane, and sustainable, to care for our common home and our common good.” The dean assured admittees that they are prepared and ready, “…you have developed habits of mind and heart that will allow you to serve your clients and your communities with competence, conscience, and compassion.”
The Honorable Theodore C. Zayner, Presiding Judge of the Superior Court of Santa Clara County in California since 2009, swore those assembled into the California Bar; and the Honorable Edward J. Davila, District Judge for the Northern District of California, swore the group into federal court. Other speakers at the event included Bruce MacLeod, President, Santa Clara County Bar Association, and Claire Melehani, Chair, Barristers, Santa Clara County Bar Association.
