Efren N. Iglesia to be sworn in as Judge in Monterey County Superior Court, CA
We have a new judge!
Enclosed are a couple of newspaper articles for you to check out. Let’s congratulate soon-to-be Judge Efren on his new appointment!
According to Mr. Iglesia, his informal swearing-in will take place on August 29 while the formal investiture will be held on September 21. He’ll be sending us more information later, including photos. We found a recent photo in our NaFFAA Region 8 files.
FYI: We also have the Honorable Ronald “Ron” Evans Quidachay of the San Francisco Superior Court, State of California who was appointed to the bench in California in 1983. Fondly nicknamed “Judge Q,” Judge Quidachay is the first judge of Filipino descent in Northern California and the second in California. The Honorable Mel Recana of the Los Angeles Superior Court was and remains the first judge of Filipino descent in California.
FROM THE SALINAS CALIFORNIAN: SELECTED QUOTES
Governor Appoints 2 Judges
Both appointees have 24 years in local courtrooms
By VICTOR CALDERON
The Salinas Californian
As first reported Monday morning on TheCalifornian.com, the office of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced that Robert Burlison and Efren Iglesia will serve as the county’s newest judges.
They each have 24 years experience in Monterey County courtrooms.
Burlison, 51, of Salinas, fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Michael Fields in March. Iglesia, 57, of Salinas, fills a new position created by Senate Bill 56, which added 50 new superior court judgeships statewide last year.
Both men will begin their appointments in criminal court, where the county has the greatest need for more judges, said Adrienne Grover, the superior court’s assistant presiding judge.
Iglesia has worked for the Monterey County Counsel’s Office since 1983 and is now senior deputy county counsel.
“It’s a great honor and a privilege to serve this county,” said Iglesia, who emigrated from his native Philippines in 1971. “This is my way to give back to my adopted country.”
Continue reading the complete news story at The Californian.
FROM THE HERALD SALINAS BUREAU: SELECTED QUOTES
Burlison, Iglesia Named Judges
Monterey County: Governor appoints prosecutor, deputy county counsel
By VIRGINIA HENNESSEY
Herald Salinas Bureau
Article Last Updated: 08/21/2007 01:29:37 AM PDT
Iglesia, 57, was a college student in his native Philippines in 1971 when “people in the know” advised him that the political situation was deteriorating and he should leave, he said.
With the help of an exchange student he’d met from San Joaquin County, he immigrated to the United States and finished his schooling, earning his law degree from the San Joaquin College of Law. Martial law was declared in the Philippines the year after he left.
“When I came to this country, I never dreamed I would be a judge,” he said Monday. “I feel very honored and privileged to be a member of the bench here.”
Iglesia lives in Salinas. He and his wife have three children.
Continue reading the complete news story at the Monterey County Herald.
Rudy Asercion alerted us about the newest press release that came out.
From GMANews.tv
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/58095/Schwarzenegger-picks-Fil-Am-as-Monterey-county-judge
Comment by Lorna — August 28, 2007 @ 11:29 pm
From: Jp8cho@aol.com
Date: Aug 29, 2007 6:22 AM
Subject: Congratulations
Dear Honorable Efren Iglesia:
It is with great honor and pleasure to be able to congratulate you on your historic appointment as Superior Court Judge for the County of Monterey. We are enormously proud of you and of the great honor you have brought to the Filipino-American Community by your appointment.
I have a deep and abiding appreciation to the independence and integrity of the judicial branch of our government. Our judges, who sustain that independence and integrity in the eyes of the public, receive too little recognition. I strongly believe that our judges are among our state’s everyday heroes. They preside over cases that are monumental to the individuals before the court. Divorces, child custody, personal injuries, business disputes, and criminal cases are life altering to the people before the courts.
Therefore, our citizens deserve the best, brightest and hardest-working judges. Only through the appointment and election of quality judges can we build more respect for the judiciary, our judicial system, and our democracy. Your appointment by the Governor speaks to your passion and dedication for law and for the people. You are so deserving.
I look forward to meeting you soon. Congratulations again, we are very proud of you.
Sincerely,
Jose Pecho
Vice-Chair Region 8
NaFFAA
Comment by Lorna — August 29, 2007 @ 3:28 pm
From: Efren N. Iglesia
Date: Aug 28, 2007 9:13 PM
Subject: Re: Congratulations on your new appointment!
To: lornadietzpr@gmail.com
Thank you once again, Lorna. I appreciate your e-mail. I will be sworn in tomorrow, Aug. 29 at 10 am. Thereafter, I will officially be a judge. My formal investiture, however, has been moved up to Sept. 17th at 4 pm in the Board of Supervisors Chambers, 168 W. Alisal St., Salinas, California. You and our NaFFAA friends are certainly invited. Thank you.
Efren N. Iglesia
Comment by Lorna — August 29, 2007 @ 3:51 pm
This week has generated another milestone of achievement for the Filipino community. Thanks Judge Efren and Atty/Activist Rodel.
Comment by Bconscious — August 29, 2007 @ 4:11 pm
From: Jon Melegrito
Date: Aug 31, 2007 2:32 PM
Subject: NAFFAA Lauds Iglesia’s Appointment as Superior Court Judge
NAFFAA Lauds Iglesia’s Appointment as Superior Court Judge
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 31, 2007
Contact: Jon Melegrito, press@naffaa.org
http://www.NaFFAA.org
“We are thrilled and honored by your appointment to a judgeship in the Monterey County Superior Court,” says NaFFAA National Chair Alma Kern in a congratulatory letter to Efren N. Iglesia, senior deputy counsel for Monterey County , California . “This remarkable achievement advances our community empowerment in a way that’s both inspiring and uplifting. We are all very proud of you and we wish you well in your new post.”
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced Iglesia’s appointment on Aug. 20. The 57-year-old judge has worked for the Monterey County Counsel’s office for more than 20 years. He earned a Juris Doctorate degree from the San Joaquin College of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Fresno Pacific University .
Iglesia, who immigrated from the Philippines in 1971, follows in the footsteps of other Filipino Americans who have served with distinction as presiding judges in U.S. courts. Among the notable ones are Judge Ron Quidachay, San Francisco Superior Court; Judge Lilian Y. Lim, San Diego Superior Court; Judge Mel Recana, Los Angeles Municipal Court; Judge Cesar Sarmiento, Los Angeles County Superior Court; and Alfred Lareta, Hawaii Judicial Circuit Court.
“It’s a great honor and a privilege to serve this county,” Iglesia told reporters upon learning of his new post. “This is my way of giving back to my adopted country.”
Comment by Lorna — September 4, 2007 @ 8:54 pm