California Women Lawyers News

Jewish Bar Association of San Francisco 2026 Summer Scholarship

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 20:54:48 GMT

The Jewish Bar Association of San Francisco is very excited to announce our 2026 law school student summer scholarship program. JBASF will provide one-time scholarships up to $5,000 to students at Bay Area law schools whose upcoming summer work at a non-profit, government, or academic organization will include a focus on issues related to the Jewish community. We would greatly appreciate your assistance in sharing information about the scholarship with interested students.

THE APPLICATION DEADLINE IS MAY 1, 2026.

New Invitation to Comment Proposals: Spring Cycle (SPR26 01-39)

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 20:54:06 GMT

Comments Sought:

This email is to notify you that thirty-nine (39) new proposals to amend the California Rules of Court and Judicial Council forms have been posted on the California Courts website. You can review them at :http://www.courts.ca.gov/policyadmin-invitationstocomment.htm

Deadline: Comments must be submitted by Monday, May 18, 2026, at 5:00 PM (Pacific Time)

New Invitation to Comment Proposals: Special Cycle (SP26 01)

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 20:52:41 GMT

Comments Sought:

This message is to inform you that a new Special Cycle proposal is now available for your review and comments. You can access the proposal here: http://www.courts.ca.gov/policyadmin-invitationstocomment.htm

Deadline: Comments must be submitted by Thursday, April 30, 2026, no later than 5:00 PM (Pacific Time).

Family and Juvenile Law

ITC Number: SP26-01

Title: Child Support: Review of Statewide Uniform Child Support Guideline

Summary: The Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee invites public comment on the Review of Statewide Uniform Child Support Guideline 2025. Under Family Code section 4054 and federal regulations (45 C.F.R. § 302.56), the Judicial Council is required to review the statewide uniform child support guideline every four years and submit a report to the Legislature with findings and any recommendations for appropriate revisions. The 2025 review fulfills both state and federal requirements for the current review cycle and provides a comprehensive assessment of how the guideline operates in practice and identifies issues for further monitoring and evaluation. Prior to submission to the Legislature, the report is made available for public comment so that any comments received may be forwarded to the Legislature for its consideration.

CWL Newsletter - April 1, 2026

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 18:06:51 GMT

President's Message

Dear CWL Members,

As we step into the second quarter of the year, we also step into spring, a season that reminds us that growth is not only possible, it is inevitable when we remain rooted, intentional, and aligned with purpose.

Spring is a time of renewal. A time to shed what no longer serves us and to lean boldly into what is ahead. For California Women Lawyers, this season is not just symbolic, it is active. We are building, expanding, and deepening our impact across the state in meaningful and measurable ways.

This quarter brings exciting momentum for our organization. We are continuing to invest in the professional development of our members through educational MCLE programming and the expansion of our on-demand CLE offerings, ensuring access to high quality resources that meet you where you are. Our In-House Counsel Network will be hosting an in-person event this quarter, creating space for connection, insight, and community among women leading within corporate legal departments.

We are also proud to share that our trademarked “So You Want to Be a Lawyer” and “So You Want to Be a Judge” judicial pathway programming is actively underway, as we continue to open doors and create pipelines for the next generation of legal professionals and leaders on the bench.

Behind the scenes, we have taken important steps to ensure the strength and sustainability of our organization. Our budget has been approved, and we are being intentional about financial stewardship and operational clarity. We have also successfully re-certified a number of our affiliate bar organizations, reinforcing the strength of our statewide network.

I want to personally encourage continued collaboration and partnership among our affiliate bars. There is so much power in alignment, and when we work together, we amplify our collective voice and expand our reach in ways that truly make a difference.

This year, I remain inspired by each of you. In a profession that often demands so much, you continue to show up with excellence, resilience, and a commitment to lifting up one another. That is the heartbeat of this organization. That is what makes CWL not just a network, but a movement.

As we move forward, I invite you to reflect on what you are cultivating in this season. What are you building? Where are you stretching? And how are you using your voice to create opportunities for others?

There is still so much ahead of us, and I am confident that together, we will continue to rise, lead, and transform the legal profession for generations to come.

With gratitude and purpose,

Patanisha E. Davis Pierson, Esq.

President, California Women Lawyers

Award Nomination Announcements

Deadline: April 30, 2026

2026 California Women Lawyers Awards

CWL seeks nominations for the following awards:

Fay Stender Award - Joan Dempsey Klein Distinguished Jurist Award - Judith Soley Lawyer As Citizen Award - Rose Bird Memorial Award

NOMINATE HERE

Deadline: April 3, 2026

NCWBA Member Outstanding Projects and Programs

The National Conference of Women’s Bar Associations seeks nominations for the following awards:

Public Service - Outstanding Member Program - Women’s Law Student Association

NOMINATE HERE

Deadline: April 10, 2026

OCWLA 2026 Awards

Orange County Women Lawyers seeks nominations for the following awards:

Judge of the Year - Attorney of the Year - Advancement of Women Award

NOMINATE HERE

Spotlight: Our NorCal Judicial Liaison

Ahtossa Piroozfar Fullerton serves as a Superior Court Judge for Marin County. Prior to her appointment, she was a partner at Wasacz Hilley & Fullerton LLP in San Francisco, where she specialized in juvenile dependency practice, representing minors and parents.

Earlier in her career, Judge Fullerton practiced corporate and securities at Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP. She was also a litigation associate at Lanahan & Reilley LLP.

In addition to her legal practice, Judge Fullerton has been actively involved in professional and community service. She has served as President of the Marin County Bar Association, Marin County Women Lawyers, and Co-President of the Iranian American Bar Association Foundation. She has also served on the Commission for Judicial Nominees Evaluation (JNE) and on the Board of Directors of California Women Lawyers, currently serving as its Northern California Judicial Liaison.

Judge Fullerton received her Political Science degree from UC Davis and both JD and MBA degrees from Santa Clara University. Judge Fullerton is a Certified Child Welfare Law Specialist and trained mediator.

Her contributions have earned her a Minority Bar Coalition Unity Award and a California State Bar Wiley W. Manuel Pro Bono Certificate, reflecting her long-standing commitment to justice and public service.

Spotlight: Our SoCal Judicial Liaison

Judge Wendy M. Behan serves as a Superior Court Judge for San Diego County. Since her appointment in 2018, she has been assigned to criminal and family law departments and since 2024 presides over a civil independent calendar department. Prior to her appointment in 2018, she was a partner at Casey Gerry in San Diego, where she represented plaintiffs in personal injury, class action and medical device and pharmaceutical product liability cases.

Throughout her legal career, community service has been an important part of her professional life. Judge Behan served as Presidents of Lawyers Club of San Diego (2010-11) and California Women Lawyers (2014-15). In 2018, she received the San Diego County Bar Association’s Service to the Legal Community Award. From 2016 through 2019, she was included in both the Top 25 San Diego Women Attorneys and Top 50 San Diego Attorneys by Super Lawyers.

Judge Behan received her undergraduate degree in Law and Society from the University of California, Santa Barbara and her law degree from California Western School of Law, graduating cum laude.

Currently, she serves as a member of the Board of Directors for California Women Judges and is a member of Lawyers Club of San Diego’s Bench Bar Committee and Advisory Board. She also serves as the Southern California Judicial Liaison for California Women Lawyers.

CWL Newsletter - March 1, 2026

Sun, 01 Mar 2026 15:04:27 GMT

President's Message

Dear CWL Members,

As we step into March, we do so having just exited Black History Month, a time of reflection, recognition, and recommitment. Black History Month calls us to honor the brilliance, resilience, and immeasurable contributions of Black leaders, including Black women in the legal profession who have broken barriers in courtrooms, law firms, academia, and public service. Their courage has expanded opportunity not only for Black lawyers, but for all women in the law.

As we transition into Women’s History Month, we are reminded that the work of equity is interconnected. Progress for one group strengthens progress for all. At California Women Lawyers, we remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring that leadership within our profession reflects the full diversity of the communities we serve.

This moment invites us to reflect not only on history, but on responsibility. Equity is not accidental, it is intentional. It requires advocacy, mentorship, sponsorship, and collective commitment.

This year, I am especially focused on three priorities:

Connection. Mentorship. Momentum.

Connection — strengthening relationships across generations, practice areas, and regions of our state. When we are connected, we are powerful.
Mentorship & Sponsorship — ensuring that law students and early-career attorneys see clear pathways to leadership, judicial appointments, partnership, and public service.
Momentum — continuing the work of advancing women into positions of influence while safeguarding the progress already achieved.

Our 50 plus year legacy is not just a milestone, it is a mandate. We stand on the shoulders of visionary women who fought for access, inclusion, and representation. Now it is our turn to build boldly.

In the coming months, you will see continued programming focused on professional development, judicial pipeline support, community engagement, and member-driven initiatives. I encourage each of you to lean in: attend a committee meeting, invite a colleague to join, mentor a law student, or simply reconnect with a fellow member. Small actions compound into lasting impact.

CWL is strongest when every member understands that their voice, presence, and leadership matter.

Thank you for the work you do every day to elevate our profession and uplift one another. Together, we are not only honoring history. We are shaping the future!

With gratitude and determination,

Patanisha E. Davis Pierson, Esq.

President, California Women Lawyers

Dana Senit Henry, Superior Court Judge and former fire commissioner, dies at 78 July 14, 1946 – February 10, 2025

Fri, 02 May 2025 17:08:38 GMT

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of the Honorable Dana Senit Henry, a beloved mother, superior court judge, and distinguished public servant, who left us on February 10, 2025.

Dana was a woman of immense compassion, intelligence, and humor, qualities she carried throughout her life, both on and off the bench.

A Los Angeles native, Dana served on the Los Angeles Superior Court from 1983 to 1992. Dana’s legal career began with the California Department of Transportation, where she was instrumental in projects to promote gender and race-neutral policies. After which she worked as a Deputy City Attorney and practiced environmental class action law. As a judge, she became known for her expertise in family law, as well as her work resolving complex and high-profile civil and criminal cases.

Dana’s legacy of service extended beyond the courtroom. She was an advocate for fairness, equality, and justice, and these values were evident in her work as well as personal life. As a proud Democrat, Dana was passionate about gender and racial equality, serving in leadership roles with the California Women Lawyers Association and the National

Association of Women Judges, among many other organizations. Her contributions to society were honored with multiple awards, including the National Humanitarian Award from the American-Israel Fellowship Society.

Outside of her professional accomplishments, Dana had a deep love for the outdoors and sports. She enjoyed competitive horseback riding, water and snow skiing, hiking, tennis, and traveling the world, which brought her a sense of freedom and joy. Dana was a devoted animal lover, particularly fond of her dogs, who were a source of companionship and comfort. Her kindness, sharp wit, and warmth made a lasting impact on everyone she met.

Dana is survived by her daughter, Julia Henry, son Justin Henry, and three beautiful grandchildren, Jayden Steinberg, Ish Henry, and Rogue Henry, whom she cherished, along with a host of friends, colleagues, and loved ones who were touched by her generosity, intellect, and kindness. Her memory will live on in the hearts of all who knew her.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Doctors Without Borders, a cause that was dear to Dana’s heart. You can make a one-time donation in her memory here.

A celebration of life will take place on Monday, May 12, 2025 at the Sagebrush Cantina in Calabasas, California.

CWL Newsletter - Summer/Fall 2024

Tue, 15 Oct 2024 19:51:47 GMT

Click here to download the newsletter.

PODCAST VOLUME 14: KELLY DERMODY Managing Partner of the San Francisco office Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Berns

Tue, 15 Oct 2024 17:47:51 GMT

Kelly Dermody is Managing Partner of the San Francisco office and chair of the employment practice group at Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP. Kelly represents employees and consumers in class, collective, and #metoo actions.

Kelly is a leader in non-profit organizations devoted to serving the public interest, improving access to justice, and ensuring that the rights of historically disenfranchised persons are protected.

In 2012, Kelly served as President of the Bar Association of San Francisco. She has been inducted as a Fellow in the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers and has served on the governing Council of the ABA Labor and Employment Law Section.

In 2016, Kelly was named a “Giant Slayer” by The Recorder legal press. Kelly has been named as a 2019 recipient of the Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award by the American Bar Association.

Kelly is a graduate of Harvard College and Berkeley Law School.

LISTEN TO VOLUME 14
With Hosts: Summer C. Selleck and Ariel B. Lee
Sound Editing and Recording: Gilbert Leung
Music: Jonathan M. C. Jordan
Recording At: Alameda County District Attorney Office

PODCAST Volume 13: Judge Anita Santos

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 17:51:14 GMT

Anita Santos is a Judge of the Superior Court, Contra Costa County. She was appointed by Governor Brown in December 2014 and is currently assigned to felony criminal trials.

Prior to her appointment, Judge Santos sat as a Commissioner hearing child support matters with the Department of Child Support Services.

Judge Santos began her career as a police dispatcher with the Concord Police Department and the University of California, Berkeley, Police Department, followed by becoming a police officer with the Concord Police Department for several years.
She left the Concord Police Department to become prosecutor in Contra Costa County for eleven years.

Judge Santos then opened her own practice as a family law practitioner for five years, before she returned to the courts as a Commissioner and then Judge of the Superior Court.

Judge Santos attended Solano Community College, then transferred to the University of California, Berkeley, obtaining her Bachelor of Arts degrees in Sociology and Ethnic Studies. She completed her formal education at the University of California, Hastings
College of the Law.
Judge Santos is married with four children.

LISTEN TO VOLUME 13

With Hosts: Summer C. Selleck and Ariel B. Lee
Sound Editing and Recording: Gilbert Leung
Music: Jonathan M. C. Jordan
Recording At: Alameda County District Attorney Office

PODCAST Volume 12: Neda Mansoorian of Oleander Law Partners LLC

Mon, 15 Jul 2024 17:54:39 GMT

Neda A. Mansoorian is a co-founder of and the managing partner at Oleander Law Partners LLP. Located in Los Gatos, California, she provides crisis management services for her individual and corporate clients in Santa Clara County, Silicon Valley and other parts of the San Francisco Bay Area. Admitted to practice before all California state courts, Ms. Mansoorian is also admitted to practice before the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Eastern Districts of California.

Ms. Mansoorian uses her extensive background and experience in litigation, business, mediation, and negotiations to provide advice and counsel to clients who are risking the loss of their reputation and standing when they are facing a crisis in their personal or business lives. The types of matters that she has handled in this regard have involved business disputes, embezzlement, wrongful termination, extortion, high-profile divorces and workplace harassment. She has counted among her clients chief executive officers, public companies and public officials. The manner in which she has handled what are often sensitive issues has earned her the respect of her colleagues, as evidenced by her receipt of an AV Preeminent peer review rating through Martindale-Hubbell every year since 2014. Ms. Mansoorian has also been named to the Silicon Valley Business Journal's annual 40 Under 40 list.

Prior to founding Oleander Law Partners LLP in October 2016, Ms. Mansoorian was a partner and the chief legal officer at a well-known San Jose law firm. While she was there, she represented many high-profile clients and helped to resolve their disputes both in the courtroom and at the negotiating table. A fellow in both the American Bar Foundation and the Litigation Counsel of America, Ms. Mansoorian holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Juris Doctor from Santa Clara University School of Law.

LISTEN TO VOLUME 12:

With Hosts:
Summer C. Selleck
Ariel B. Lee

Sound Editing and Recording: Gilbert Leung
Music: Jonathan M. C. Jordan

Recording At: Alameda County District Attorney Office

PODCAST Volume 11: Contra Costa County Superior Judge Danielle Douglas

Sat, 08 Jun 2024 17:57:29 GMT

Judge Douglas was appointed to the Contra Costa Superior Court by Governor Jerry Brown in July 2014 and joined the bench that August after concluding her last murder trial as a San Francisco prosecutor. She had previously served as a deputy district attorney in the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office from 2000 to 2013.

Judge Douglas grew up in Redwood City, went to undergraduate school in Missouri. Judge Douglas landed a job at the Contra Costa District Attorney's Office right out of law school. She built a reputation as a diligent prosecutor, popular among her colleagues, opposing lawyers and judges. Serving as a member of her office's domestic violence unit, Judge Douglas tried her first murder charge when the victim of an assault later died. It was the first of many homicide victories for the young DA.

Judge Douglas moved to San Francisco in 2013 because her mom lives there, and her brothers lives in Daly City.

LISTEN TO VOLUME 11:

With Hosts:
Summer C. Selleck
Ariel B. Lee

Sound Editing and Recording: Gilbert Leung

Music: Jonathan M. C. Jordan

Recording At: Alameda County District Attorney Office

PODCAST Volume 10: Judge Victoria Kolakowski, Superior Court Judge of California for Alameda County

Sat, 11 May 2024 18:00:16 GMT

Judge Victoria Kolakowski became the first and only openly transgender trial judge in the United States when she was elected to the Alameda County Superior Court in November 2010.

As a judge, she has served in both civil and criminal trial assignments. She recently completed a year as the Supervising Judge of the Collaborative Courts, with subject matter oversight over all of the treatment courts (drug, behavioral health, veterans’, etc.) in Alameda County.

Judge Kolakowski is also passionate about ensuring and expanding access to justice, particularly for those with limited resources. She serves on the Judicial Council of California’s Advisory Committee on Providing Access and Fairness, and is the California Council of Churches' appointee to the California Commission on Access to Justice.

She has been a leader in educating the judiciary on transgender issues.

She is also a frequent speaker on LGBT issues, internationally, nationally and locally. For example, Judge Kolakowski conducted a series of four videoconferences in June, 2017 with LGBT and allied civil rights leaders hosted at U.S. consulates in India - at the request of the U.S. Dept. of State.

Judge Kolakowski is a former President of the International Association of LGBT Judges, and of the Earl Warren American Inn of Court chapter in Alameda County.

Judge Kolakowski was an attorney for twenty-one years in Louisiana and California, serving as a sole practitioner, attorney in a small firm, as general counsel for a publicly traded company, as a senior government utility regulatory attorney, and as an administrative law judge for two different California agencies.

Since coming out publicly in 1989, she has been a leader in numerous local, state and national LGBT legal, political and spiritual organizations. Her many accomplishments include co-authoring Berkeley, California's domestic partner public registration ordinance in 1991 and co-chairing the board of directors of the Transgender Law Center, an organization focused on the well-being and protection of transgender individuals.

She has received numerous awards, including the Pioneer in the Law Award from California Women Lawyers in 2014 and the Distinguished Service Award from the Alameda County Bar Association in 2015. She was a community grand marshal for San Francisco Pride in 2011, and marched with BALIF, the local LGBT Bar Association.

Judge Kolakowski is being honored by the California State Assembly in March as the 2019 Woman of the Year for the 18th Assembly District.

She lives in Oakland with her wife Cynthia Laird, their Pembroke Welsh Corgi Darby, and cat Espresso.

LISTEN HERE: VOLUME 10
With Hosts:
Summer C. Selleck
Ariel B. Lee

Sound Editing and Recording: Gilbert Leung

Music: Jonathan M. C. Jordan

Recording At: Alameda County District Attorney Office

CWL Newsletter - Winter 2024

Mon, 18 Mar 2024 19:00:00 GMT

Click here to download the newsletter.

PODCAST Volume 9: Suzette Z. Torres - Vice President/Regional Counsel of North American Title Company, Inc.'s

Sat, 09 Mar 2024 19:02:41 GMT

Suzette Z. Torres is Vice President/Regional Counsel of North American Title Company, Inc.’s (“North American Title”). She provides legal and escrow advisory support to North American Title’s branches throughout the Western Region which includes California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona. Her duties include handling compliance and employment issues, providing underwriting guidance, and advising on commercial transactions. Prior to joining North American, Ms. Torres worked for another national underwriter,
first as VP/Trial Counsel, and later transitioned to VP/Underwriting Counsel. When she was in private practice, she rose up to partnership at her firm (Bardellini, Straw, Cavin & Bupp LLP) and became the only minority, female, equity partner.

Her practice included resolving title and escrow claims, negotiating business disputes, managing contract negotiations, trials and handling several adversary proceedings in bankruptcy. Suzette served as the District 4 Governor of the California Women's Lawyer's Association (the largest women's bar association statewide) and was the Chair of the In House Counsel Network. She is an active member and former Co-Chair of the In-House Committee of the Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Bay Area, a member of the Filipino Bar Association-Northern California, and a member of the San Francisco and East Bay Chapters of CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women). She has been rated AV Preeminent® by her peers, the highest rating given by Martindale-Hubble®,
and was selected as an honoree for the 2018 National Women in Law (Collaborative Leadership Category).

LISTEN HERE: VOLUME 9

With Hosts:
Summer C. Selleck
Ariel B. Lee

Sound Editing and Recording: Gilbert Leung

Music: Jonathan M. C. Jordan

Recording At: Alameda County District Attorney Office

PODCAST Volume 7: Judge Tara Flanagan

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 19:07:47 GMT

Judge Tara Flanagan serves as a Judge of the Superior Court of California in the County of Alameda.

Judge Flanagan earned a Bachelor of Science degree from California State University, Northridge and earned her law degree from Southwestern Law School in 1998.
Before going to law school, Judge Flanagan lived in England pursuing her
rugby career. She was selected to the US Women's Rugby National Team. She and her teammates went on to win the Women's Rugby World Cup in 1991. The USA Eagles followed their impressive 1991 victory with a second-place finish in the 1994 World Cup.
Judge Flanagan is a member of the USA Rugby Hall of Fame.

As her rugby career came to a close, Judge Flanagan enrolled in Law School. Attending law school at night while working full time, she distinguished herself at Southwestern, becoming class president and named to the Moot Court Honors Program,
where she later served on the Honors Board of Directors.

After graduation, Judge Flanagan’s law career started at a large litigation firm in Orange County; from there, she joined the Los Angeles District Attorney's office where she served as Deputy District Attorney. During her first year at the D.A.'s
office, her hard work and skill earned her recognition and honors as an "Outstanding Domestic Violence Prosecutor."

In 2004, Judge Flanagan began practicing family law. As a legal aid attorney, she represented domestic violence survivors and their children. She fought for restraining orders and financial support to ensure that the victims had the security
to move forward with their lives. Later, Judge Flanagan was the managing Attorney of the Self-Help Center of the Superior Court, and Family Law Facilitator. She later opened her own practice and continued to protect victims of domestic violence.

In 2012 Judge Flanagan won election for a seat on the Alameda County Court. Her seat was challenged in 2018 and she won that election as well. Since joining the bench, she has continued to be an active voice in our community, serving on
various boards and volunteering her time.

LISTEN HERE: VOLUME 7
With Hosts:
Summer C. Selleck
Ariel B. Lee

Sound Editing and Recording: Gilbert Leung

Music: Jonathan M. C. Jordan

Recording At: Alameda County District Attorney Office

PODCAST Volume 4: Featuring Louise Renne, Civil Rights Extraordinaire

Thu, 07 Dec 2023 19:09:26 GMT

Louise Renne is a lawyer, former Supervisor and one-time City Attorney for the City and County of San Francisco, California.

She is a graduate of both Michigan State University and Columbia Law School (1961).

Ms. Renne was appointed Supervisor by Mayor Dianne Feinstein in 1978. She acted as member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors for 8 years from 1978 to 1986, where she was chair of the Finance Committee.

She was then appointed by Feinstein as City Attorney in 1986 and became the first female City Attorney in San Francisco history. She served in the position until 2001. In this role, she argued on behalf of the state before the California and United States Supreme Courts.

She had her own private practice for 2 years and was a staff attorney in the general counsel’s office at the Federal Communications Commission for 3 years.

Ms. Renne served as General Counsel for the San Francisco Unified School District where she led the effort to combat corruption existing at the time and establish a legal department.

She also served as City Attorney for the City of Richmond.

She currently works at Renne Sloan Holtzman & Sakai LLP in San Francisco, which is a public law firm.
She was a founder and former California Women Lawyers President from 1977-1978.

LISTEN HERE: VOLUME 4

CWL Newsletter - Summer 2023

Thu, 07 Sep 2023 17:42:05 GMT

Click here to download the newsletter.

PODCAST Volume 3: Featuring Marge Randolph, Senior V.P. of HR for Disney

Sun, 27 Aug 2023 18:11:21 GMT

The Walt Disney Company consists of much more than just “The Happiest Place on Earth,” and Marjorie Randolph’s 15 years there revolved around Walt Disney Studios, where she was senior vice president of human resources and administration. That’s a lot of happiness to manage: live action and animated movies (including much-loved Pixar and Miramax films), music associated with the movies, the home entertainment division, and live stage shows like Disney on Ice. Prior to her work at Disney, Randolph, who is now retired, served as senior vice president and general counsel of the department store chain Mervyn’s.

Just like Disneyland on a hot day with long lines and tired children, human resources work isn’t always all smiles. But Randolph knows
the value of one, even when the job gets tough. “During intense legal negotiations, I realized how important it is to read a room, understand how critically important nonverbal communication is, and understand how humor can help bridge an adversarialsituation,” she explains.
https://www.cla.purdue.edu/alumni/OurAlumni/Profiles/Randolph._Marjorie.html

LISTEN HERE: Volume 3 Marge Randolph

With Hosts:
Summer C. Selleck
Ariel B. Lee

Sound Editing and Recording: Gilbert Leung
Music: Jonathan M. C. Jordan
Recording At: Alameda County District Attorney Office

CWL Newsletter - Spring 2023

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 17:45:36 GMT

Click here to download the newsletter.

PODCAST Volume 2: Featuring Drucilla Ramey

Tue, 25 Apr 2023 18:12:54 GMT

Dru Ramey is the former executive director of the National Association of Women Judges, former tenured member of the GGU School of Law Faculty, and former executive director and general counsel of the Bar Association of San Francisco. While serving with the Bar Association, Dru transformed the organization into one of the nation’s leaders in diversifying the profession and in the provision of legal services to the poor. For more than 30 years, Dru has been devoted to diversity, equal opportunity
and access in the justice system. She has chaired the ACLU of Northern California and the San Francisco Commission on the Status of Women and served as a co-founder and board leader of California Women Lawyers.

Dru has received numerous honors and awards in recognition of the contributions she has made to the legal profession, including the prestigious Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award – the American Bar Association’s highest honor for women in the profession, the American Jewish Committee’s Learned Hand Award and the National Bar Association’s Wiley Branton Award.

Dru currently serves as the Chair of the Equal Rights Advocates and sits on the boards of the International Association of Women’s Judges and the Habeas Corpus Resource Center, which monitors 743 of California’s death row inmates.

Dru is a charismatic public speaker and fierce civil rights advocate who received her Bachelor’s Degree magna cum laude from Harvard University and her Juris Doctorate from Yale Law School.

Seat At The Table-Vol.2-Drucilla Ramey

With Hosts:
Summer C. Selleck
Mika Domingo

Sound Editing and Recording: Gilbert Leung
Music: Jonathan M. C. Jordan
Recording At: Alameda County District Attorney Office

PODCAST Volume 1: Featuring District Attorney Nancy O'Malley

Sat, 01 Apr 2023 18:14:19 GMT

Alameda County District Attorney Nancy E. O’Malley is a nationally recognized expert in human trafficking, sexual assault, and domestic violence. She is known for her many innovative programs, including those to fight real estate fraud, elder and child abuse, prescription drug fraud, chronic absenteeism, sexual assault, domestic violence, ID Theft and environmental violations, as well as creating a project to eliminate the backlog of rape kits in Alameda County and beyond.

DA O’Malley has led the charge for stronger legislative protections and increased rights for victims through her legislative work in Sacramento. Over the last ten years, her Office has obtained restitution orders of over $126 million for victims of crime in Alameda County. DA O’Malley created the Family Justice Center, pioneered an electronic notification system for victims, as well as developed H.E.A.T. Watch – an anti-human-trafficking initiative that has become a national model.

Recently, she was the first District Attorney in the nation to receive the 2016 American Bar Association’s Margaret Brent Award for professional excellence and for advancing opportunities for women the legal profession. In 2015, DA O’Malley received the 2015 Irvine Foundation Leadership Award and used the prize to launch the H.E.A.T. Institute, a research-based think-tank committed to ending all forms of human trafficking in California.

A Seat at the Table - Vol 1 - Featuring Nancy O'Malley
With Hosts:
Summer C. Selleck
Sabrina Ashjian

Sound Editing and Recording: Gilbert Leung
Music: Jonathan M. C. Jordan
Recording At: Alameda County District Attorney Office