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Senate-approved plan would promote... PAGE A1 allow the State Bar to collect unclaimed donations from members to fund a student loan repayment program for public interest attorneys. “Every year, thousands of young lawyers graduate from law school with a desire to launch their careers performing public service,” said Sen. Robert Hertzberg (D-Van Nuys), who helped author the bill. “Faced with skyrocketing education costs, however, more and more of our finest legal minds are opting instead to go straight into private practice.” Lawyers of both parties described the legislation, SB 134, as an “innovative revenue source for a worthy program,” said a statement from the office of Hertzberg in Sacramento. “There is too little incentive to work in public-interest areas of law today because the pay often is substantially lower than in private practice,” Hertzberg, who is also a lawyer, said. SB 134 would support a loanassistance program for attorneys committed to serving the public interest, by using unclaimed funds in lawyer trust accounts. The proposal was unanimously approved in June by the state Senate. SB 134 was previously approved by the Judiciary and Appropriations committees, also without a dissenting vote. The bill was next approved by the Assembly. If the bill becomes law, an option to donate to the Public Interest Attorney Loan Repayment Program could be added to State Bar dues statements as soon as next year, the Metropolitan NewsEnterprise reported. According to the American Bar
Sen. Robert Hertzberg
Association, the average debt of a 2012 law school graduate was about $85,000 when graduating from a public school, and $122,000 from a private school. “This level of debt makes it difficult for attorneys to pay off their debt, despite any interest in public service,” Hertzberg’s office said in a statement. As a direct result, legal-service advocates (such as child support agencies) have found it increasingly difficult to keep talented attorneys staffed. “Public interest law offices must retain talented attorneys to ensure that their clientele consistently receive an acceptable level of service and equal access to justice,” Hertzberg told the committee. In a bill analysis, the Judiciary Committee staff explained that the program is authorized by legislation carried by Hertzberg when he was in the Assembly. The Loan Repayment Program was created years ago to help lower student debt of attorneys agreeing to practice in certain public-interest areas of law. The bill became law in 2001, but the program has
Fil-Am among jail deputies... PAGE A1 correctional officers who were supposed to protect him,” Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen told press. “Instead, they killed him and we have now charged them with murder.” Court documents reveal that Lubrin, Farris and Rodriguez reported finding Tyree unresponsive, naked and covered in feces and vomit in his cell after midnight on Aug. 27. They tried to revive him, Sheriff Laurie Smith told the Los Angeles Times. However, an investigation found that the three beat Tyree to death on Aug. 26. Earlier that night, a jail nurse told Lubrin that Tyree pocketed his prescription medicine instead of swallowing it. Lubrin then confronted Tyree to take his pills. Documents show that later on in the evening that Lubrin and Farris conducted a routine search of the cells, while the inmates were participating in “program time” in the common areas. Rodriguez joined the two officers to confront inmate Juan Villa. They allegedly hit Villa in the head and twisted his arms, according to the investigative report prepared by Sergeant Marc Carrasco. The three also face assault charges for this encounter. They then continued their
Fil-Am Jereh Lubrin, 28, was one of three Santa Clara County deputies charged on Tuesday, Sept. 8 for the murder of an inmate. Credit: Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office
search of other cells, including Tyree’s. Lubrin and Farris allegedly entered Tyree’s one-man cell while Rodriguez waited outside the door. Carrasco’s report stated that Tyree reportedly asked “Do I have to get up?” and was ordered to get up by Farris. “Inmate Tyree’s distinctive voice could be heard screaming, ‘I’m sorry. I’m sorry. Stop,’” Carrasco PAGE A5
never been funded. A budget item that would have appropriated $100,000 for startup costs was vetoed by then-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2007. The California Student Aid Commission would administer the program, such as establishing eligibility and selecting participants eligible for up to $11,000 for four years of service in qualifying agencies. How the commission would access the funds collected by the State Bar is not yet certain, the Judiciary Committee said. No opposition was received, the analysis said. While the clients continue to have the right to claim their property, the property is transferred to the state General Fund after being held three years. A similar program in Oregon has collected more than $450,000 since 2010. Supporters of the bill include the California Public Defenders Association, California State Conference of the NAACP, Equal Justice Works, Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Legal Aid Association of California, Hastings and McGeorge law schools, Ventura County Public Defender’s Office, and Worksafe. Gov. Brown has 30 days to sign, veto, or allow the bill to become law without his signature. “Too often we grant rights without providing the tools to make those rights real. Here is a creative way to ensure those rights,” Hertzberg said. (Allyson Escobar/AJPress)
NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • SEptEmbER 18-24, 2015
Poe, Escudero seal...
PAGE A1 cudero and mother-in-law Cecile Ongpauco, Escudero, accepted Poe’s offer to be her Vice President. ”I am Chiz Escudero, a Filipino, a son, a husband, a father, and a Bicolano public servant. With the grace of God and the Blessed Mother, I humbly offer myself to the mission of serving as your Vice President… as the Vice President of our country,” he said in his acceptance speech. The event at Club Filipino in San Juan City (Metro Manila) came a day after after Poe declared her bid for the presidency. It took only 40 minutes for Poe and Escudero to seal their team-up to the delight of at least a thousand supporters who packed the historic Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan City. Among the personalities present were Poe’s mother, veteran actress Susan Roces, half-sister Lovi Poe, former Zamboanga congressman and convicted child rapist Romeo Jalosjos, Valenzuela City Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian and Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) president Giorgidi Aggabao. In her speech, Poe said she chose Escudero as running mate based on his credentials and experience as public servant for the last 17 years. Escudero represented the First District of Sorsogon in the Bicol Region for three terms and is winding up his second term in the Senate. He served as spokesman for Poe’s father, the late actor Fernando Poe Jr., in the 2004 elections. ”So today, I am pleased to ask
you support for our reliable public servant who can serve us, our Vice President Senator Chiz Escudero,” Poe said. In response, Escudero said he accepted “this challenge wholeheartedly because I believe in the character and ability of Senator Grace.” ”I once said that I would support any decision that Senator Grace makes regarding her role in the 2016 elections. As a candidate or ordinary supporter, I’m prepared to stand by her, just as I did for FPJ over 11 years ago,” he added. Escudero said he and Poe “will establish a government with heart through a detailed platform for each agency, which will be based on their yearly budget.” ”Like her father FPJ, Senator Poe’s heart is in the right place. I believe that, as President, Senator Grace Poe or “GP” will lead a ‘GP’ –gobyernong may puso or a government with heart,” he added. ”In governing this country, we cannot afford to dawdle or hold ourselves hostage to analysis paralysis. We should hit the ground running from the first day until the last. We cannot afford to do otherwise,” Escudero said. Past is past The presence of Cecile Ongpauco, mother of actress Heart Evangelista (Love Marie Ongpauco in real life), proves that she has completely accepted her daughter’s husband. Ongpauco and her husband Rey publicly condemned their daughter’s relationship with the previously married senator when the two began their relationship in 2013.
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They also chose not to attend the couple’s wedding in February this year, with Evangelista’s father sending a letter instead that said he and his wife will come knocking at their door as soon as they see their daughter happy with her choice. Thankfully by May, differences were settled and the senator finally earned the Ongpaucos’ approval and his rightful place in their family. A simply dressed Evangelista expressed happiness over her family’s presence at her husband’s big day. When asked why their father was not with the family that day, Evangelista replied he was recently hospitalized, but had called his son-in-law just before his announcement and wished him well. He also watched the live broadcast from home. Besides the Ongpauco family, Sen. Poe’s mother Susan Roces also attended Escudero’s rally, as well as her half sister, actress Lovi Poe. Lovi, who also happens to be Evangelista’s best friend, told reporters she missed her “Ate Grace’s” own announcement on Wednesday because of a scheduled taping. Lovi expressed her confidence in her elder sister’s bid for the presidency saying, “She’s made of Poe material, so I believe she’s a strong woman.” Meanwhile, as Evangelista’s best friend, Lovi has been present at every important event in her relationship with Escudero, one of which was the lawmaker’s surprise marriage proposal in his hometown. The younger Poe was escorted by her boyfriend, actor Rocco Nacino. (Neil Alcober, Jefferson Antiporda, Llanesca Panti and Euden Valdez/ManilaTimes.net)