Metropolitan News-Enterprise

 

Thursday, September 6, 2012

 

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SNIPPETS (Column)

Armenian Bar Association Chairman Protests Officer’s Slaying

 

The Armenian Bar Association chairman Garo B. Gharzarian has written a letter to President Barack Obama on the occasion of Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev’s recent pardon of the convicted slayer of an Armenian army officer in Hungary. The letter reads in part:

“The Executive Committee of the Armenian Bar Association shares your deep concern over Azeri President Ilham Aliyev’s illicit pardon of Azeri Ramil Safarov, who was convicted in Hungarian courts of axing to death an innocent Armenian, Gurgen Markaryan. The painful irony of the crime is that it occurred during a training program in Budapest under the auspices of NATO’s Partnership for Peace program.

“Whereas communicating to Azerbaijan’s authorities your disappointment about the decision to pardon Safarov is welcome news to us, we hope there will be more said and more done by you about the affront to international law and fundamental notions of, simply, what is right and what is wrong.”

The letter continued: “We ask that you follow your own conscience and sense of justice which have elevated you to the highest office in our land and have led to the support of millions of Americans, including the support of countless Armenian-Americans.

“Mr. Aliyev’s decision to pardon Safarov is a repudiation of your and American efforts to bring peace, reduce regional tensions and promote reconciliation.”

Ghazarian says that the Armenian Bar Association is “[t]he largest and most diverse group of Armenian-American judges, lawyers, and students...”

The Probate & Estate Planning Section of the San Fernando Valley Bar Association will hold a Tuesday Sept. 11 luncheon seminar on “To Complicate or Not Complicate an Estate Plan: That is the Question!” With speaker Linda Retz. One hour of MCLE credit is available. The event will start at noon at the Monterey @ Encino Restaurant, 16821 Burbank Boulevard, Encino. Information is available by telephoning (818) 227-0490, ext. 105.

The Mexican American Bar Association is to present a Saturday Sept. 15 seminar on “Representing Immigrants in Criminal Court.” Topics are to include “Deportable Crimes, Applicable Waivers;” “Properly Advising the Immigrant Defendant;” “Post-Conviction Relief; “Case Law Updates,.” and “Developments in the ‘DREAMERS’ Deferred Action Policy.” Three hours of MCLE credit are offered. Information is available by telephoning (213) 749-2889. Registration starts at 8 a.m. at Loyola Law School’s Merrifield Hall, 919 Albany St., Los Angeles.

Los Angeles County District Attorney candidate Jackie Lacey has announced a fund-raising event on Saturday, Sept. 25. Suggested contribution levels range from $500 to $1,500. The event chair is to be Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas. The event co-chairs include U.S. Rep. Karen Bass, Los Angeles City Council President Herb Wesson and Inglewood Mayor James Butts. The event is to be held at a Beverly Hills address that will be provided upon RSVP. RSVP information is available by telephoning 626-403-0758.

The Pasadena Bar Association’s Family Law Section is offering a luncheon presentation on pre-nuptial agreements on Wednesday, Sept. 26 called “If you Love Me, Put it in Writing.” It features Peter Walzer, vice president of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. The event will be at Noor Restaurant, 260 E. Colorado Blvd. in Pasadena. Information is available by telephoning 626-298-8670. Note that this event was previously, erroneously, announced for Sept. 27.

 

Copyright 2012, Metropolitan News Company