With the constant turmoil in the world, we all stay in a state of high alert.  The concern for our families, businesses, and country is real.  We are fortunate to have Anne Figueiras, former FBI Agent, as our speaker this week to share her knowledge of the state of security in our country and how it affects local businesses.   
 
Anne Figueiras was recently named as Security Director for the Modern Group in Beaumont.  Prior to joining the company, she was a Supervisory Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  For 25 years, Anne oversaw investigations involving terrorism, counter intelligence, public corruption, white collar crime, violent crime, gangs and civil rights.  She was assigned to San Francisco, Miami, and Houston divisions while working also in Virginia and Washington, D.C. on special assignments.  She is a criminal profiler, crisis negotiator, school safety specialist, white collar crime specialist and was a media representative for the FBI. 

 

Anne has been a key figure in some very high profile investigations:  the Gianni Versace murder investigation, the destruction of the space shuttle in 2003, the capital murder trials of 5 federal inmates, and recently with the investigation into the Beaumont Independent School District.  It is not surprising that Anne Figueiras was recipient of numerous commendations for service including the award for outstanding investigation from the United States Attorneys Office in the Eastern District of Texas. 

 

Our speaker today was Michael Truncale, attorney with Orgain, Bell and Tucker, LLP.  Michael was introduced by Tolbert Chisum.
 
Attorney Truncale said the original  title of his talk was going to be “Lessons Learned While Teaching American Law In China" but he changed it to “Legal Reforms In China.”
 
Michael traveled to China with a group of attorneys, state and federal Judges, including Judge Ron Clark.
 
In China, university law requires that all students learn about Western culture.  Michael spoke about his exposure and experiences while visiting China, including a planned Mock Jury Trial with the China School of Political Law.
 
In China, the primary office of the presiding judge is obviously connected to the office of the prosecutor, where in the United States, it is specifically separate.
 
In China, there is NO "document-discovery," where in the U.S. "full document disclosure" is the law.  And in China, a lawyer can NOT be married to a judge.
 
Michael shared a bit of China’s history.  During World War II , there were approximately 29,000 Jews, in Shanghai, who fled Nazi Germany.  When Hitler discovered this, he demanded that the Emperor return those 29,000 for judgment but the Emperor refused.  While there, Michael discovered that there are over 100 million practicing Christians in China.
 
Michael showed a slide show of China’s Supreme Court.   China does not yet believe in the "jury system" - yet!
 
Michael summed-up his talk saying, "my mother was right….to thine own self, be true."