September 2026 Newsletter

Dear SABA San Diego family,

On August 19, our legal community lost Andrew R. Haden, a veteran federal prosecutor who gave his career to the Southern District of California. A memorial will be held Sunday, September 6, aboard the USS Midway Museum. Guests arrive between 8:00 and 8:30 a.m.; the service begins promptly at 9:00. I hope to see many of you there to remember a beloved member of the San Diego legal community.

At the San Diego Unity Bar's anniversary celebration on August 20, 2026, we made room to honor him and to be together. It was a reminder of why the Unity Bar exists at all: not only to gather us in our best seasons, but to hold us in our worst. A communion for the good and the bad.

Our profession is very good at admiring endurance and very bad at asking what it costs. We praise the colleague who never says no, who carries the impossible caseload, who answers at midnight. We ask how they are, accept “fine,” and move on because we are tired too.

That is why I am glad to be serving on the burnout and well-being panel at the Cal-APABA convention — September 25–26, 2026, in San Diego. Practicing attorneys speaking candidly about what this work does to a person, joined by a licensed psychologist so the conversation does not stop at encouragement. Please join us; more details below.

Until then, keep these resources close:

State Bar Lawyer Assistance Program — confidential support for California attorneys and law students: 877-LAP-4HELP (877-527-4435) · [email protected]
The Other Bar — confidential peer support, attorney to attorney: otherbar.org
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — call or text 988, any hour

Check on each other. Then check again a week later, when everyone else has stopped asking.

With care,

Arwa Zakir Kakavand, President, South Asian Bar Association of San Diego

SABA-SD extends its heartfelt congratulations to Justice Marsha Amin. The Commission on Judicial Appointments has confirmed Judge Marsha Amin as an Associate Justice of the Fourth Appellate District, Division One.

Justice Amin, a former SABA-SD Board member for several years, was endorsed by the South Asian Bar Association of San Diego, the South Asian Bar Association of North America, and the San Diego Unity Bar Association. She is a true example of perseverance, integrity, and grace — and we could not be prouder.

We are incredibly proud to announce that SABA-SD has been recognized by Cal-APABA as the 2026 Bar Association of the Year. Congratulations to our leadership team for their hard work and dedication to this community — and thank you to every member who made the year possible.

When: September 10, 2026 · 5:30 – 8:00 PM
Location: Jury Assembly Room, James M. Carter & Judith N. Keep United States Courthouse, 333 West Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101
Registration: Closes September 3, 2026

Oyama v. California, the landmark United States Supreme Court case that successfully challenged California's Alien Land Law, has particular significance for our San Diego community: it involved Kajiro Oyama, a Japanese American farmer who purchased land in Chula Vista in the 1930s.

The all-star cast includes:

Hon. Cynthia Bashant, Chief Judge
Hon. Dana Sabraw, District Judge
Hon. Jinsook Ohta, District Judge
Hon. Jose Castillo, Associate Justice
Hon. Roderick W. Shelton, Assistant Presiding Judge
Hon. Selena Dong Epley, Supervising Judge
Hon. Judy S. Bae, Judge
Hon. Leonard Trinh, Judge
Hon. Brandon Kumura, Judge
Ben Koh, Vice President, Korean American Bar Association, San Diego
Arwa Zakir Kakavand, President, South Asian Bar Association of San Diego
Taiga Takahashi, Board Member, Japanese American Citizens League
Hector Tamayo, President, San Diego La Raza Lawyers Association

We are hosting a virtual Know Your Rights presentation this fall, built jointly by SABA-SD's Afghan Outreach Project, AfghanEvac, and the Afghan Empowerment Fund. As enforcement activity intensifies, the most useful thing we can put in a family's hands is clear, accurate information about what their rights actually are — and what to do in the moment they are tested.

The presentation walks through core rights during an encounter with immigration enforcement, illustrated with practical scenarios rather than abstractions, and is designed to be understandable whether or not you have ever spoken to a lawyer.

This program is national in scope — it is not limited to San Diego. If you know someone anywhere in the country who could benefit, please pass the registration link along to them.

Date: Friday, October 10, 2026
Registration: Coming soon — watch your inbox and our social media

September: Criminal Law Panel
October: SABA-SD Mixer · Tour of OSP North County
November: Student Scholarship Information Session
December: Awards and Installation Ceremony
Dates and details for each will follow in the coming newsletters.

Join us on Thursday, December 3, 2026 at the San Diego County Bar Association as we present the Friend of SABA, Justice in Action, and SABA-SD Scholarship awards, and install our 2027 Board of Directors. It is our biggest night of the year and the best possible way to close out this chapter's work — please mark your calendars now.

Firms, organizations, and individuals interested in supporting the evening can review our sponsorship levels and benefits here:

Join us as we celebrate SABA-SD and all of this year's honorees. Our own president will be speaking on the convention's burnout and well-being panel.

The Korean American Bar Association of San Diego holds its annual dinner on September 30. Full details are on their website: kabasd.org/events.

Women of Color in Law invites our members to this year's Pass It On: Style and Support clothing drive and networking lunch on September 13, 2026.

Sponsorship: A Community Ally sponsorship is available for $250 and includes two event tickets, marketing on social media and on the Women of Color in Law website, and recognition at the event.

Join NALA at Petco Park's Skyline Patio for the Padres vs. Marlins game on September 18. First pitch at 6:40 PM.

The San Diego County Bar Association is accepting interest in its Leadership Academy. Program information and application details: sdcba.org/Leadership-Academy.

Join Nikayla Karda-Marok, Anjli Garg, Esq., PCC, CPC, and Rippi Karda, Esq. for Part 3 of the Leadership Training Series. Learn how to build your personal brand, increase your visibility at work, and set yourself up for long-term career sustainability.

Associate Justice Lamar Baker of the California Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, Division Five, is accepting applications for the position of Law Clerk. The position combines legal editing and clerical duties with the opportunity to engage in traditional law clerk research and analysis.

Responsibilities: legal research and writing, including for appellate opinions and pending motions; monitoring all stages of case preparation and maintaining case files; verifying record references and legal citations in draft opinions; assisting with legal, clerical, and administrative projects, including preparing opinions for circulation, filing documents, calendaring deadlines, and scheduling meetings. Occasional evening hours may be required.

Qualifications: admission to the State Bar of California and one year of administrative or clerical experience. Participation in the California Provisional Bar Licensing Program may be substituted for admission per the terms of that program. Applicants who have not been admitted but have graduated from law school may be considered for hiring as a Graduate Legal Assistant. Familiarity with the California Style Manual citation form is preferred.

How to apply: apply online at courts.ca.gov/about/careers and search for JO #6731. Required: completed online application, cover letter, resume, writing sample, and law school transcript (unofficial is acceptable).

Yrulegui & Roberts, a Fresno-based workers' compensation defense firm, is seeking a talented and highly motivated associate with a strong work ethic for its San Diego and other Southern California offices. Candidates must be based in California, with 0–5 years of experience in workers' compensation defense and/or employment law. Excellent written and verbal communication skills are required.

Duties: represent clients in hearings, trials, and depositions; conduct legal research and analysis; draft pleadings, motions, contracts, and agreements; negotiate settlements; prepare and present oral arguments; collaborate on case strategy.
Qualifications: J.D. from an accredited law school, admission to practice in the relevant jurisdiction, strong knowledge of legal principles and procedures, and excellent research, writing, and organizational skills.
Benefits: 401(k), dental, health, life, and vision insurance, paid time off, competitive salary, and moving expenses.

Please send a cover letter and resume to Shreya Kapoor at [email protected].

We hope you can join us for the University of San Diego's 45th Annual Careers in the Law. Register via GiveCampus: select your law firm, agency, or organization type for your table ticket and add up to four individual guests per table (“Add Attendee”).

Reserve your space early — tickets will sell out. Questions: [email protected].

Dr. Lakeya Cherry is an executive coach, leadership consultant, facilitator, and speaker who helps leaders navigate complexity, strengthen their influence, and lead with greater confidence and intention. She works with executives, attorneys, nonprofit leaders, and other professionals facing pivotal transitions, expanding responsibilities, and the demands of high-pressure leadership. A former nonprofit CEO, Dr. Cherry brings a thoughtful, practical, and results-oriented approach to helping leaders make better decisions, build stronger relationships, and achieve sustainable success.

Learn more at www.lakeyacherry.com.