2026 SFVBA Judges' Night - Event Recap and Photos

The 2026 SFVBA Judges' Night Reception and Dinner took place on May 14.

AWARDEES
2026 Judge of the Century (SFVBA 100th Anniversary): Hon. Tani cantil-Sakauye (ret.).
2026 Judge of the Year: Hon. Valerie Salkin.
2026 Stanely Mosk Legacy of Justice Award: Hon. Huey P. Cotton.
2026 Lifetime Achievement Award: Linda Temkin.

SPONSORS
Lewitt Hackman

Grant Shenon Almaraz

ADR Services
University of West Los Angeles
Ferber Law
Nemecek Cole
Lawyers' Mutual
ARC: Alternative Resolution Centers
Reape-Rickett
Workwise Law

MASTER OF CEREMONIES
Alexander Kasendorf

STAFF EVENT ORGANIZERS
Linda Temkin
Scharleth Guadamuz

REPORTERS
Ricardo Pineda, Daily Journal

PHOTOGRAPHY
Michael Moghaddam

EVENT INQUIRIES
2027 sponsorship, high resolution photos, membership, award information, and other events.

ARTICLES
San Fernando Valley Bar Association marks centennial.
Meet SFVBA’s 2026 Judge of the Year, Hon. Valerie Salkin.

PHOTOS
(For more photos, see SFVBA Daily Slip Opinions)


Judges in attendance, including SFVBA 2026 Judge of the Year, Valerie Salkin.


SFVBA 2026 Board of Trustees in attendance (left to right): Matthew Breddan, Nina Niedblaski, Michelle Ferber, David Samani (Secretary), Alexis James (Treasurer), Kyle Ellis (President), Robert W. Brown (President-Elect), Amanda Moghaddam (Immediate Past-President), Jonathan Starre, Janice Miller.




Hon. Valerie Salkin (second from left), 2026 SFVBA Judge of the Year awardee.


Hon. Huey P. Cotton (Center), 2026 SFVBA Stanley Mosk Legacy of Justice awardee.


Hon. Thomas Rubinson (right), 2026 SFVBA Community Impact awardee.




Seth Chavez, SFVBA Executive Director (Left), and Kyle Ellis, SFVBA President (Right).



 










Jennifer Schmuldt, President, Santa Clarita Valley Bar Association.










SFVBA Immediate Past-President, Amanda Moghaddam (left).






SFVBA Director of Public Services, Miguel Villatoro (left).




2024 SFVBA Judge of the Year, Hon. Stephen P. Pfahler (Ret) (left).




SFVBA Trustee, Matthew Breddan (left) and SFVBA Treasurer, Alexis James (right).








Lucie Barron, ADR Services CEO & President.


Kira S. Masteller.












Justin Effres, SFVBA Litigation Section Chair.








David Samani, SFVBA Secretary.








Hon. Thomas Rubinson, 2026 SFVBA Community Impact awardee, delivers remarks.


Linda Temkin, 2026 SFVBA Lifetime Achievement Award, delivers remarks.


Hon. Huey P. Cotton, 2026 SFVBA Stanley Mosk Legacy of Justice awardee, delivers remarks.


Hon. Valerie Salkin, 2026 SFVBA Judge of the Year awardee, delivers remarks.