Child Custody Counselor Cherie Kagan Receives the State Bar of California's 2017 Court Staff Award

• Publication year: 2017
• Author: Stephen A. Montagna, Esq.

Child Custody Counselor Cherie Kagan Receives the State Bar of California's 2017 Court Staff Award

Stephen A. Montagna, Esq.

Cherie Kagan

Hugs and smiles were on full display at the El Dorado County courthouse in Placerville on July 12, 2017, as Cherie Kagan, a Child Custody Recommending Counselor (CCRC) for El Dorado County Superior Court, received FLEXCOM's 2017 Court Staff Award. The award is given to honor and recognize court staff members whose sustained superior performance or extraordinary efforts assist the family law court system. Ms. Kagan is the first CCRC to receive the honor since the award has been presented.

As a CCRC, Ms. Kagan assists both branches of the El Dorado County family law divisions in South Lake Tahoe and Placerville. As the only CCRC who is fluent in Spanish, she provides bilingual services to all Spanish-speaking litigants involved in custody and visitation matters. Ms. Kagan completes her written reports in both English and Spanish, helping parties feel comfortable and assuring that their point of view is understood and well presented. With over one-third of the El Dorado county population speaking Spanish, her efforts have an enormous impact on those litigants she assists.

In addition to her role as a CCRC, Ms. Kagan often travels between courthouse locations to interview litigants and provide court testimony to assist judicial officers with their decision-making responsibilities. In her role as a testifying witness, bench officers - including the Honorable Vicki Ashworth and Commissioner Douglas...