The Catholic Bar Association of Los Angeles

About The St. Thomas More Society of Los Angeles

Organized in 1995, the St. Thomas More Society of Los Angeles is an association of Catholic legal professionals. The society has selected St. Thomas More as patron of the Red Mass and celebrates its namesake who has inspired lawyers of all faiths for generations. We are a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization.

(1438-1535) Thomas More was educated at Oxford and followed in his father’s footsteps and became a lawyer. He married Jane Colt in 1505 and they had four children. Mentored by Archbishop of Canterbury and Lord Chancellor John Morton, Thomas More had a distinguished career in public service. First elected to Parliament in 1504, he was knighted in 1521 and made King Henry VIII’s Under Treasurer of the Exchequer. In 1529 he rose to Lord Chancellor. More believed King Henry VIII had no jurisdiction over the Church. His rift with Henry VIII led to false accusations against More. His defense included evidence in the form of a letter to Sister Elizabeth Barton wherein he directed her not to interfere in politics. Choosing his principles over death, More was beheaded in 1535. More was canonized as a Saint in 1925 and his feast day is June 22. St. Thomas More, who stood alone and gave his life for his principles of separation of church and state, is the patron for public officials, judges, and lawyers.

The St. Thomas More Society of Los Angeles is a volunteer organization of legal professionals composed primarily of attorneys and retired judges who host the annual Red Mass


Board of Directors

Carmela Bombay, STMSLA President
Carmela Bombay
Chair
Attorney, San Gabriel Valley Trust & Probate Center
Michele B. Friend, STMSLA
Michele B. Friend
President
Principal, Offit Kurman
Molly M. White
Molly M. White
Treasurer
Partner, McGuireWoods LLP
Lynne M. Hook, Secretary
Lynne M. Hook
Secretary
Sr. Employment Counsel, SpaceX
Joseph M. Barrett
Joseph M. Barrett
Attorney, Affeld Grivakes LLP
Vito Costanzo, Chief Financial Officer
Vito Costanzo
Stephen Erigero
Partner, Ropers Majeski Kohn & Bentley
Hon. Stephen Maloney
Judge, Los Angeles County Superior Court (Ret.)
Jordan D. Teti
Attorney
Gina Pech, STMSLA Membership Outreach Committee Chair
Gina Pech
Membership Outreach Committee Chair
Carlos Villegas
Partner, Fagen Friedman & Fulfrost, LLP
Evan Davis
Vince Farhat, STMSLA Board Chair
Vince Farhat
Hratch J. Karakachian
Hratch J. Karakachian
Attorney, CPA, JD, MBT
Margaret G. Graf, STMSLA Governance Committee Chair
Margaret G. Graf
Governance Committee Chair, Attorney
Laura I. Guerrero
Laura I. Guerrero

Emeritus Directors

Suzanne L. Austin
Suzanne L. Austin
Attorney
Armando J. Paz
Armando J. Paz
Professor, Emeritus Attorney, Mediator, & Adjunct
Hon. Lawrence W. Crispo (Ret.)


Philip R. Marrone
Attorney

Advisory Committee Members

Oscar A. Acosta

Margaret F. Ambrose

Allison Aquino-Silva

Alison K. Beanum

Daniel W. Bir

Kevin H. Brogan

Hon. Richard P. Byrne (Ret.)

Lawrence W. Dailey Jr.

Evan J. Davis

Frederic F. Grannis

George P. Hawley

J. Michael Hennigan

Sean M. Kneafsey

Matthew J. Landa

Veronica V. Maldonado

Michael J. Maloney

Steve Mindel

Robert W. Mockler

Michael Norris

Michael O’Connor

Arnold P. Peter

Alma Puente

Timothy F. Ryan

Paul K. Smith

Matthew G. Stein

Paul D. Tosetti

William M. Wardlaw

Ronald D. Wenkart


About Roger M. Sullivan (1926 – 2016)

Roger Michael Sullivan

Roger Michael Sullivan attended St. Paul School, Loyola High School, and attended Occidental College as part of the Navy V-5 program. He received his wings as a Naval Aviator in 1947 and served in the Navy Reserves. Roger earned his B.A. at Loyola University and in 1952 earned his J.D. at Loyola Law School. He co-founded the St. Thomas More Law Society while a student at Loyola Law School.

Roger started his legal career as an attorney with the Pacific Electric Railway Company. Five years later, Roger founded the law firm that became Sullivan, Workman & Dee. In 1995, Roger established the St. Thomas More Society of Los Angeles, an association of Catholic legal professionals that organizes the annual Red Mass. Roger was a member of the American Bar Association (former chairman, condemnation committee, real property section), and Los Angeles Bar Association (chairman 1970), and received the Loyola Law School Distinguished Alumni Award.

He was chairman of the National Conference of Christians and Jews, president of Serra International (Los Angeles), and member of the Ecumenical Commission of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Roger served on the boards of Catholic Charities, St. John of God Care Center, and Angels Flight. He also was a long-time member of the Marymount High School board, where all five daughters graduated, he was an active member of the Father’s Club at Loyola High School where his son Michael attended. Roger was chairman of the Board of Regents of Loyola Marymount University and chairman of the Board of Visitors of Loyola Law School. He was invested as a Knight of Malta in 1988 and was later appointed to the Knight Commander of the Order of St. Gregory by Pope John Paul II. In 1996, Roger received the Archdiocese Cardinal’s Award for his service to the community.