2021 – 2022 Season Materials/Handouts 

Inns of Court: Celebrating Twenty-Five Years of Grass Roots Legal Education and Collegiality

by Panda Kroll

Horace famously surmised that the ends of poetry are either to instruct or delight (aut delectare aut prodesse est). Looking back on 25 years of CLE presentations by energetic teams of the Ventura County chapter of the American Inns of Court, members might agree that the goal of this august society is to accomplish both! Acknowledging the chapter’s silver anniversary, CITATIONS asked longtime members to reminisce about the monthly meetings at the Saticoy Country Club over the years.

Inaugural member, Judge Matthew P. Guasco, had this to say: “My fondest memory was when I was president of the IOC chapter and we voted to name our chapter after the late, great Judge Jerome H. Berenson. And he accepted our invitation to receive the honor personally at our monthly meeting. What a joy to have spent just a little time with a living legend and a kind, gentle soul. I’ll never forget that. He was greeted by all present with such love, admiration and respect. That captures the essence of our IOC chapter. ”

Outgoing IOC President Katie Clunen – president-elect of the Ventura County Bar Association – recalls that Andy Viets (now Ventura’s Assistant City Attorney) encouraged her to join back in 2006. Her group presentation that year was a Godfather skit with future Judge Guasco about law firm partnership dissolution. Clunen recalls that year as a “great introduction to IOC camaraderie.”

Another inaugural member, Judge Harry Walsh, may be among the most steadfast, having participated without a lapse since 1994. When asked why he renews his membership year after year, he had this to say: “I keep coming back because Inns provides a forum where I can interact with lawyers on an informal basis, which I think benefits both me and them. The programs are usually innovative, and you are never too old to learn new things. I think judges benefit from the social aspect, and we can be useful in giving lawyers an insight into issues they might not otherwise hear.”

On the lighter side, Judge Walsh’s most memorable moment was watching Judge Tari Cody playing the role of Paris Hilton, sporting a long blonde wig. Judge Cody added, “I had my toy Chihuahua with me!” She agreed with Judge Walsh’s assessment. She said, “It’s a lot of fun to spend informal, social time with such interesting people, and I found the programs entertaining and educational. I hope to return in the not-too-distant future.”

Like other chapters of IOC, our local chapter is divided into teams. Members of all levels and backgrounds are represented on each team, and each team takes a turn presenting a program intended to enlighten and delight the CLE-hungry membership. New members are given an opportunity to bridge the gap between law school and legal practice, while more experienced members sharpen their existing skills, enjoy collegiality with members of the bench, and mentor the newer members.

IOC is a non-partisan association of 25,000 lawyers, legal scholars, judges and law students who share a passion for professional excellence. Chapters across the United States meet regularly to promote integrity, ethics and civility. The first IOC was founded in 1980 in Salt Lake City. There are now more than 350 chapters.

We hope you’ll join or rejoin the Inns this year! Fill out the form and return to the VCBA Bar Executive Director (Sandra@vcba.org) so that you can be assigned a team.

Panda Kroll, who is a member of the CITATIONS editorial board, is president-nominee of this year’s Jerome H. Berenson Chapter of the American Inn of Court. She owns a law firm with a practice that focuses on federal court matters and currently serves as cumis counsel in cases pending in Nevada, Florida and California.