St. Francis School of Law announced that Dean Carole J. Buckner has been appointed to the Orange County Bar Association’s Civility Task Force.  Incoming Orange County Bar Association President Todd G. Freidland has indicated that attorney civility will be one of his signature initiatives for his term as president.  “Orange County is a wonderful place to practice law.  Let’s keep it that way,” Friedland said.

Civility involves relationships between lawyers as well as the judiciary.  Zealous advocacy can occur within the context of civility, and serves client interests by avoiding sanctions and reducing fees that can be associated with unnecessary incivility.  “I look forward to working with this group to address this important topic,” Dean Buckner said.  “Civility is an ongoing focus of our Juris Doctor program at St. Francis in preparing our students for the practice of law.”

The task force is co-chaired by California Appellate Court Justice Richard Fybel and attorney Scott Garner. Justice Fybel Chaired the California Supreme Court’s Advisory Committee on the Code of Judicial Ethics.  Scott Garner co-chair’s the Bar Association’s Professionalism and Ethics Committee along with Dean Buckner.