PAUL SUREN HOKOKIAN

Attorney, 42 years. Paul was admitted to the State Bar of California on 5/12/1980. Paul was admitted to practice law before all courts in the State of California, the United States Court for the Eastern District of California, the American Bar Association, and the Armenian Bar Association.

Paul was elected by his peers as Vice-President and governor of the State Bar Board of Governors. Paul served as chair of the Bar Regulation, Admission and Discipline Committee. Paul is the only governor to be elected to a second term of office despite the bar's restriction preventing serving consecutive terms.

During his second term of office, Paul chaired the bar's discipline system. He was a member of the Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers, as well as the American Bar Association's Center for Professional Responsibility.  Paul served as chair, on Bar Regulation, Admission, Discipline Committee

He Co-chaired the Bar Budget Committee, of $120 million annually. Additionally, Paul served as President of the Fresno County Bar Association and Paul was past President of the Fresno County Prosecutors Association

He was a Deputy District Attorney, prosecuted welfare fraud. Paul has served as a Judge Pro Temp for the Fresno County Superior Court for over 15 years. Central California Legal Services honored Paul for pro bono legal services at the annual Veteran's Stand Down providing legal service to homeless or unemployed veterans.

Paul is founder of CASA of Fresno and Madera Counties. *

Retired Lieutenant Colonel, Air National Guard (35 years of service). Paul retired as a lieutenant colonel where he served as a Judge Advocate General (JAG).  He is also admitted to the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces. Paul was also a former security commander, of the Air National Guard.

Paul chaired the Fresno Chamber of Commerce Legislation Committee.

He earned his B.A., from California State University, Fresno

Paul received his Juris Doctorate Law Degree, from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento

Paul served four terms of office on the board of directors of the Educational Employees Credit Union (EECU) which is headquartered in Fresno. The credit union is the 14th largest credit union in California with 4.5 billion in assets. EECU has over 351,000 members in central California.

After retirement as a Deputy D.A. Paul served as an

Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) in the state prisons for the California Department of Corrections. He administrated over KEYHEA Hearings, PC 2602 regarding the authorization for involuntary administration of psychotropic medication with inmate consent.  Paul retired from this position in 2020.

Paul was proceeded in death by his parents Sam and Mary (Stepanian) Hokokian. Paul leaves behind his wife Margaret (Melkonian) Hokokian. On July 11, 2023, they would have been married 36 years. Also, leaving behind his son Alexander and his daughter-in-law Alara. Brother John and sister-in-law Vicki, nephew Christopher and niece Alina and husband Arlen Pilavian.

*Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) serves as an officer of the Court that Represents a Child's Best Interest in the court system. A judge appoints a CASA volunteer to speak up for a child. These children are either abused, neglected or abandoned. These children in our community are facing loneliness, health issues and lack of stability and at risk of falling behind educationally and developmentally. As adults they are at higher risk of homelessness, substance abuse, imprisonment and more. A child with a CASA volunteer is more likely to find a permanent loving home, be connected to supportive services while in foster care, perform better academically and form a stronger sense of acceptance, positivity and achievement. You can Google "Paul Hokokian CASA" to see and hear Paul talk about CASA.