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RESOLUTION OF THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION DEMANDING THAT THE STATE BAR OF CALIFORNIA RECONSIDER
IN AN OPEN BOARD MEETING ITS DECISION TO HOLD ITS
2009 AND 2011 ANNUAL MEETINGS AT THE MANCHESTER
GRAND HYATT IN SAN DIEGO
WHEREAS, the State Bar of California 2009 and 2011 annual meetings are scheduled to be held at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego from September 10-13, 2009, 20011; and
WHEREAS, the Manchester Financial Group, owned by Mr. Doug Manchester, and which owns the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego, contributed $125,000 to the Proposition 8 campaign, a November 4, 2008 ballot measure amending the California Constitution to eliminate the fundamental right of couples to marry regardless of sexual orientation; and
WHEREAS, given the financial support by Mr. Doug Manchester through the Manchester Financial Group to support the passage of the Proposition 8 campaign, the Beverly Hills Bar Association requested that the State Bar of California change the venue of its 2009 annual meeting; and
WHEREAS, during a secret, emergency meeting on January 23, 2009, the Board of Governors of the State Bar of California decided not to take any action on the request by the Beverly Hills Bar Association to change the venue of the California State Bar’s 2009 annual meeting; and
WHEREAS, the right to marry the person of one’s choice is not a political or religious issue, but is a recognized civil right and constitutionally protected fundamental right of all adult citizens in the State of California, regardless of their sexual orientation; and
WHEREAS, some Santa Clara County Bar Association (SCCBA) members have indicated that they will boycott the State Bar of California 2009 and 2011 annual meetings if it is held at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego; and
WHEREAS, the SCCBA Board of Trustees passed resolutions in opposition to Proposition 8 in 2008 and Proposition 22 (the Knight Initiative) in 2000 and passed a resolution in favor of marriage equality in 2005 and 2008; and
State Bar Annual Meeting Venue Resolution 2009
Page 2
WHEREAS, the SCCBA argued in favor of marriage equality as amicus curiae in In re Marriage Cases(2008); and
WHEREAS, the California Supreme Court held in In Re Marriage Cases (2008) that marriage is a fundamental right of all Californians regardless of sexual orientation guaranteed by the California Constitution; and
WHEREAS, the State Bar of California should refrain from supporting any person or any institution that attempts to undermine the fundamental, constitutionally guaranteed rights of any group of citizens, particularly where such support directly impacts State Bar members, in this instance gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered attorneys and straight attorneys who in good conscience cannot support any attempts to thwart the fundamental rights of any minorities;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Santa Clara County Bar Association demands that:
1) the Board of Governors of the State Bar of California specially set a Board meeting, with public notice to State Bar members and giving State Bar members an opportunity to address the Board regarding its decision not to change the venue for its 2009 and 2011 annual meetings at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego; and
2) the Board of Governors of the State Bar of California change the venue of its 2009 and 2011 annual meetings from the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego.
Adopted by the SCCBA Board of Trustees: February 26, 2009
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