The San Fernando Valley Bar Association held its Annual Judges' Night

WOODLAND HILLS - The San Fernando Valley Bar Association (SFVBA) held its Annual Judges' Night on Thursday, May 29 at the Woodland Hills Country Club. Superior Court Judge Michael R. Amerian was named Judge of the Year.

"This is going to be a heartfelt thank you to the people who made all of this possible," the judge told the Daily Journal prior to receiving the distinction. "I'm really just a reflection of everyone else in this room--it's that simple. I wouldn't be here without a lot of help. So for me, this moment is about expressing appreciation to the people who are important to me, and I'm grateful the Bar Association has given me the opportunity to do that."

Amerian, who has been on the bench since 2018, has had three different assignments (he is currently presiding over an unlimited civil independent calendar at Van Nuys Courthouse,) and throughout that time, he said he and his staff have worked "very hard."

"We've tried to approach our work with both seriousness and a smile, always aiming to fulfill our roles as public servants with integrity," he added. "So for me, this award signals that maybe I'm being thought of in the way I've hoped--hopefully for the right reasons."

It also means a great deal on a personal level. "I grew up in the San Fernando Valley. My father [the late Richard Amerian, who went on to become 2nd District Court of Appeal Justice] was a judge here--at the Van Nuys courthouse--so every day I come to work, I feel an incredible sense of gratitude."

Also recognized at the event were the MultiCultural Bar Alliance of Southern California (MCBA), for their efforts in the aftermath of the Eaton and Palisades fires that left a trail of destruction across Los Angeles and Ventura counties in January; and Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County (NSLA), which has ensured diversity in the legal profession over the past three decades.