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.”

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

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

From GMANews.tv

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/58095/Schwarzenegger-picks-Fil-Am-as-Monterey-county-judge