Annual Red Mass honors legal giant and decorated veteran
Members of the legal profession gathered at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church on Thursday, September 19, for the annual Red Mass sponsored by the St. Thomas More Society of San Francisco celebrated by Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone. The homilist for this year’s Mass was Albany Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger.
The annual event dates back to 1245 and is celebrated at the beginning of each court term seeking blessing and guidance for judges, attorneys, law school professors, law students, government officials and others involved in the legal and justice systems. The Red Mass originated in Rome, France and England, with the first recorded Red Mass in the United States in 1928 in New York City.
The Mass was attended by lawyers, judges, and law students from the University of San Francisco’s Law School. This year, the Red Mass included a Posting of the Colors by the University of San Francisco’s ROTC Color Guard.
For the past 57 years, the St. Thomas More Society has given an award to one of its members for their service to the community and dedication to the values of the St. Thomas More Society, reflecting their lawyer-patron. This year’s award winner was James Antone Lassart. A graduate of Santa Clara University and the University of San Francisco School of Law, Lassart went on to serve in the U.S. Army where he commanded troops in combat during the Vietnam War and was awarded a Silver Star for gallantry.
From 1970 – 1982, Lassart worked as an Assistant District Attorney for the City and County of San Francisco, prosecuting complex homicide cases. Then from 1982-1986, Lassart worked as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, prosecuting organized crime cases, while also serving as the coordinator of the Northwest Region of the President’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Criminal Division for the Northern District of California and oversaw the Special Prosecutions Unit.
Since 2013, he has been a shareholder at Murphy, Pearson Bradley &Feeney, actively engaged in the practice of law and mentoring of lawyers young and old, and serving as a member of the American Board of Trial Attorneys.
Following the Mass, a dinner was held at the Italian Athletic Club where attendees gathered to celebrate Lassart.
Photos: Mary Powers
