Up close

HE IS: Lawyer and state bar president

CITY OF WORK: Costa Mesa

PLACE OF WORK: Costa Mesa

FAMILY STATUS: Married 25 years to Loreen with two daughters -- Colleen,

20, and Amanda, 17

AGE: 48

EDUCATION: Degrees in economics and law from UCLA

PAST POSITIONS: Sears hardware sales clerk

EXPLANATION OF JOB IN 15 WORDS OR LESS: Helping people resolve disputes

without bloodshed

GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: Helping the state bar get through its

political dues crisis

GREATEST PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT: Having two great kids with a wonderful

wife

YOUR PERSONAL MOTTO: God blesses us with rich lives that we should live

to the top

YOUR GREATEST EXTRAVAGANCE: Buying books my wife claims I’ll never read

THE COMPACT DISC IN YOUR CAR RIGHT NOW: “Aftermath” by the Rolling

Stones, Beethoven’s Ninth, Shenandoah and some Ray Charles

THE BEST BOOK YOU’VE READ: “Black Like Me,” “Capitalism and Freedom” and

“Don Quixote”

MOST TREASURED POSSESSION: Family photographs

WORD OR PHRASE MOST OVERUSED: “I’m open”

WHAT CAN YOU COOK: Toast

A HABIT YOU WISH YOU COULD CHANGE: Comparing blessings

COLLEGE MAJOR YOU ALMOST TOOK: Theology

LAST CHARITABLE ACT: Helping a sick person with a pro bono case through

the Public Law Center

WHAT DID SCHOOLMATES TEASE YOU ABOUT: Cheap underwear

WHAT IS IN YOUR TRUNK RIGHT NOW: Basketball, trial exhibits, softball

glove and tennis racket

THE FIRST THING THAT ATTRACTED YOU TO YOUR SPOUSE: Her strength,

sweetness and bright green eyes

THE WORST IDEA YOU’VE EVER HAD: Asking why when I shouldn’t and testing

firecrackers in a Mason jar

WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE BEEN VOTED IN HIGH SCHOOL: Disgusting optimist

WHO ARE YOUR HEROES: Winston Churchill and my parents

FAVORITE ESCAPE FROM REALITY: Writing a poem on a weekend at Lake

Arrowhead

ONE THING YOU WOULD CHANGE ABOUT THE WORLD IF YOU COULD: That folks love

lawyers and judges for the work they do

YOUR IDEA OF EXERCISE: Basketball

THE THING YOU DISLIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR APPEARANCE: People saying I look

like Bill Clinton

I HAVE A DREAM THAT: UCLA starts the millennium with national

championships in football and basketballPhone number where people can

reach you: (714) 513-5100