President’s Message

March 2026

REMARKS FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK

By: Dean McVay, Esq.

As we turn the calendar to March, we are reminded that this is the season when many of us celebrate the “luck of the Irish.” It’s a time of green ties, shared laughter, and perhaps a renewed appreciation for heritage and tradition.

Additionally, this March is particularly meaningful, as for the first time in recent memory the sacred observances of Ramadan and Lent as well as Lent and Passover (in April) are all experienced within the same timeframe. Across Muslim, Christian and Jewish faith traditions, these seasons share common themes — reflection, sacrifice, renewal, gratitude, and service. For us as lawyers, this convergence offers a timely reminder to pause and consider not only the cases we handle, but the character we bring to our profession. It is a moment to reflect on our commitment to justice, to recommit ourselves to service within our communities, and to examine how we can give back — whether through mentorship, pro bono work, or simple acts of professional kindness. In a profession often driven by deadlines and demands, March invites us to reconnect with our deeper values and the personal spirituality that guides our work as officers of the court.

On a personal note, for the first 60 years of my life, I proudly celebrated St. Patrick’s Day as an Irishman. It wasn’t until I traveled to Ireland last year that I learned something rather surprising: there is no “V” in the traditional Irish or Gaelic alphabet. Since my last name does in fact contain a “V,”  that linguistic revelation led to a bit of genealogical soul-searching—and the discovery that I am, in fact, mostly Scottish on my father’s side.

That said, I have no intention of giving up my St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.

Because beyond lineage and letters, the “luck of the Irish” represents something larger—optimism, resilience, faith, and good fortune born of perseverance. Those qualities resonate deeply within our profession. As attorneys, we work daily to guide clients through uncertainty, to advocate when the stakes are high, and to serve our community with integrity. While preparation and diligence—not luck—win cases, there is a certain good fortune in being entrusted with the responsibility to help others during pivotal moments in their lives.

In that sense, we are indeed fortunate. Fortunate to practice in a profession grounded in justice. Fortunate to serve a community that depends upon us. Fortunate to work alongside colleagues committed to excellence and service.

Speaking of green, I want to personally invite you to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with the Pride Bar of the Inland Empire on March 17 at Hamburger Mary’s in Ontario, California, as we play bingo and raise money for scholarships for youth in our community. Please join us, wear your green, enjoy a green beer, and share some great food and fellowship with fellow members of our local legal community. It’s a wonderful way to give back while celebrating together.

I also hope you will join us and/or sponsor our Judicial Officers Awards Dinner on March 26, 2026, at the DoubleTree Hotel in Ontario, California. This year we will present the Judicial Officer of the Year Award to immediate past Presiding Judge Lisa Rogan, the Judicial Lifetime Achievement Award to long-time Judge John Vander Feer, and the Mitchell Roth Service Award to local legal icon Bill Lemann. I am extremely honored to serve as Master of Ceremonies for the evening and to personally present awards to these three remarkable individuals.

I have had the privilege of serving on two local trustee boards with Bill Lemann for many years and have witnessed firsthand his tireless dedication to this community—his generous support of local bar associations and fundraisers, and his unwavering willingness to go the extra mile to help anyone in need. And I had the privilege of teaching Judge Vander Feer’s son at the University of La Verne College of Law, where it was clear the apple did not fall far from the tree; we are grateful for the steadfast work Judge Vander Feer has done for almost three decades for our county. And it is a special honor for me to present the Judge of the Year award to Judge Lisa Rogan, whom I also had the pleasure of teaching at the University of La Verne College of Law. I always believed in her. Even as a second-year law student, I saw that special twinkle in her eye and the greatness within her. I knew her career would be exceptional, and I was not a bit surprised to see her become a supervising District Attorney, then a judge, and then the Presiding Judge of our county and chair of state judicial committees in Sacramento, where her intellect, integrity, passion and judicial temperament would serve our state well.  What a joy to celebrate together this amazing woman who has achieved and given back so very much.

Please join us as we honor the remarkable lives and service of these three extraordinary individuals who have given so much to our profession and to our community.  We are indeed fortunate and lucky to know them.

So, whether your roots are Irish, Scottish, whether you are Muslim, Christian, Jewish or otherwise, may March be a reminder of the blessings we share in this profession and the impact we continue to make in Western San Bernardino County.

And with that, I leave you with a traditional Irish blessing:

May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind be always at your back.

May the sunshine warm upon your face,

The rains fall soft upon your fields.

And until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Wishing you all a fortunate and fulfilling March.