the first is arturo gonzalez, the president of the bar association of san francisco. arturo is one of the top trial lawyers in the nation and he's a partner at morrison forester. we've had the pleasure of working with the bar association for -- over the past 20 years to provide services to people who can't afford lawyers when the public defender is not available and so we're very pleased to have arturo here on behalf of the bar association. thank you. [applause] >> thank you. three days ago in one of the most closely watched supreme court cases this term, graham versus florida, the united states superior court forbid the sentences of a juvenile to life in prison without the possibility of parole for a non-homicide crime. they found such a sentence is consistent with basic principles of decency. i'm proud to say that my firm was co-counsel for the juvenile in this case and wrote the brief for the juvenile in the court. this decision gives our clients, terrance graham, who had received the sentence of life without the possibility of parole. the bad acts he committed as

on behalf of supervisor alioto-pier, a commendation recognizing the american bar association on the occasion of its 2010 annual meeting in san francisco. president chiu: supervisor alioto-pier, do you have anything you would like to add to that?

i have a resolution for the imperative agenda today, demanding the american bar association, which is holding its annual meeting here in san francisco, and also wanted to note to the appointments, the first of one person to rec and parks. he is an active member of the friends of the parked and a founder of an independent music company. the second is the reappointment of one to the san francisco youth commission. we all fight over lillie. this will be her third year on the commission. that concludes my roll call. clerk calvillo: thank you, supervisor alioto-pier. mr. president, that concludes this roll call. president chiu: thank you. why do we not go to public comment? clerk calvillo: this is a time for the public to talk to the board members about items not on the agenda. if you would like to have things displayed on the overhead objector, please remove the document when the screen is return to live coverage of the meeting. president chiu: all speakers sholokhov up to two tenths to speak unless someone is translating -- shall have up to two minutes to speak. >> [speaking foreign lang

on behalf of supervisor alioto-pier, a commendation recognizing the american bar association on the occasionf its 2010 annual meeting in san francisco. president chiu: supervisor alioto-pier, do you have anything you would like to add to that? alabama alabama they're -- supervisor alioto-pier: they're going to be in town this weekend. hundreds of attorneys in the town of san francisco and we'd like to give them an accommodation. we'd like to thank them for their business. president chiu: i'd like to be a co-sponsor of that as well. great to have all those attorneys in town. colleagues, we have a resolution that has the requisite finding, supervisor alioto-pier has made a resolution to adopt this motion. seconded by supervisor els bernard. is there any public comment on this imperative item? colleagues, if we could take this same house, same call, this resolution will be adopted. clerk calvillo: on behalf of supervisor maxwell, a resolution commending katie king on her 100th birthday and declaring august 6, 2010 katie king day in san francisco. president chiu: anything else you would like to

we have traditionally had the support of the american bar association as well as the federal bar association. what we have had in place for a number of years is a coordinating committee of of thealj groups. we try to meet every quarter in washington and representatives from one of the organization's and representatives from fba, willand debt * theifpte assist us on issues. we meet regularly to discuss all kinds of issues. we work in unison, yes. >> you mentioned -- one of your suggestions was to take the immigration judges out of the department of justice and make it independent. it is my understanding that most variousther alj's in agencies that are article one judges remain in their agencies. they are independent and not located in the parent agencies. all the decisions are reviewable by their agency heads. >> that is where immigration judges are different because most administered a plot is complicated and arcane. most administrative law judges make a recommendation to their agency head. immigration judges are different because the decisions that we issue our final decisions if they are n

we also have had traditionally the support of the american bar association as well as the federal bar association. what we have in place and have had a number of years is a coordinated committee of the aalj group. we tried to meet every year from representatives from organizations and with reps from the aba, fba, and at times the ifpte will assist us on issues. we meet regularly to discuss all kinds of issues. yes, we work in unison. >> you mentioned -- one of your suggestions was to take the immigration judges out of the department of justice. it is my ander standing that most of the other hit agencies that are article one judges do remain in the agencies. they are independent, they provide hearings, meaning they are not located in the parent agency. >> that is why immigration judges are different. most administrative law is complicated and a little archaic. most administrative law judges make a recommendation to their agency head. immigration judges are different, because the decisions that the issue are final decisions if they are not appealed. 90% of the decisions that immigration

through partnerships with community boards, the san francisco bar association, we provide neutral mediator for the program. our mediations can and have been conducted in languages other than english. participation and mediation is strictly voluntary for the complaint and an officer. they have to agree for it to go forward. eligible officer participation in the program is over 90% and we really appreciate the cooperation of the police association in this program. in 2009, we received 1019 complaints. of these, we sustained about 7% of the cases. so far this year, we have received almost 600. 590 complaints. you are welcome to come and visit us. we are on the seventh floor of 25 vanness and market. we are easily extendible by public transportation. we received walk-in complete -- complete. we can also take voice mail messages as well as by mail and fax. we have an answering service for after hours complaints. we will return your call the next day. our staff speaks several languages, including cantonese, burmese, russian, and spanish. four other languages, legal attain interpreter services fo

the resolution sponsored by the new york bar association passed overwhelmingly. only one speaker opposed it. >>> time now 6:16. there may soon be laws of the owners of pit bulldogs in santa clara county. board of supervisors voted to move ahead with the plan to have them spayed or neutered. this follows the death of a 2- year-old concord boy killed last month by his family's three pit bulls. officials say spaying or neutering can reduce aggression in those dogs. >>> san francisco may soon ban toys in fast food meals that don't meet strict nutritional guidelines. those restrictions if they're passed would apply to all restaurants. but they would specifically target fast food restaurants that typically give out toys in kids meals. under the plan toys can only be given out if a meal it comes in has less than 600-calories. a similar law just took effect in santa clara county. >>> details about the return of fare enforcement program. while the crack down on fare cheaters started yesterday on trains, the bus fare enforcement will start tomorrow. after three months of r

the resolution sponsored by the new york bar association passed overwhelmingly. only one speaker opposed it. >>> and governor schwarzenegger still hopes this friday's scheduled furlough for state workers will go on as planned. yesterday his lawyers filed an appeal against the judge's ruling that temporarily bars the governor from imposing the unpaid days off. so now some 156,000 state workers are waiting for the final word on whether or not they should report to work on friday. >>> and some angry state workers are busy planning a protest against governor schwarzenegger at the box office. the expendables debuts this friday and the governor has a cameo appearance in the film. union workers are organizing pickets lines outside theaters. protests are also being organized in sacramento and san diego. >>> time now 5:14. there may soon be new laws for the owners of pit bulldogs in santa clara county. the board of supervisors voted yesterday to move ahead with the plan to force pit bulls to be spayed or neutered. this follows the tragic death of a 2-year-old concord boy

the ama does a lot better work and our bar association does.hen jerry is representing robert black, he is working seven days a week, 12 hours a day, giving zealous advocacy for his one client. when the public defender is handling 400 felonies, they do not have time to remake their image. it seems to me the biggest problem we face is to recognize we have a problem. the problem is there is not an association or spokesperson who represents the position. it is too much to ask the individual lawyer or public defender's office to do it, but a group of office is working together to pool their resources, to educate the public as to what they do in the interest of justice might actually start to change attitudes. >> last question. what effect has the "war on drugs" specifically, the rationalized profiling of drug dealers done to those parties involved and to the criminal justice system? someone mentioned "the wire." >> everybody loves to talk about post-racial america. but i think most folks in this room would agree that we are not in post-racial americ