California Women Lawyers will hold its 48th Annual Dinner September 21, 2023, at the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina, in conjunction with the annual meetings of the California Lawyers Association and California Judges Association.

This year’s annual dinner theme – Fired Up: What Are You Fighting For? – reflects the times we’re living in. From continuing attacks on reproductive rights and hateful anti-LGBTQ+ legislation to misguided book bans and tragic gun violence, there are plenty of issues motivating women to stand up and speak out.

Before she took the bench, our keynote speaker, California Supreme Court Justice Kelli Evans, had a career in public service, fighting the good fight in positions as a public defender, civil rights attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice, associate director of the ACLU of Northern California, Senior Director for the Administration of Justice at the California State Bar, and Special Assistant to the Attorney General at the California Department of Justice, focusing on criminal justice, public safety, and civil rights law and policy. The first openly lesbian and first openly queer woman of color to serve on the California Supreme Court, Justice Evans will discuss her career in public service, her path to the bench, and life as a Supreme Court justice, in a fireside chat with California Fourth District Court of Appeal Administrative Presiding Justice Judith McConnell.

Our annual dinner will also feature the presentation of CWL’s Fay Stender Award to trailblazing trial attorney Gloria Allred, who has dedicated years to fighting for victims of sex discrimination, sexual harassment, and discrimination and harassment based on race, age, disability, sexual orientation, and HIV+ status. The author of “Fight Back and Win, My Thirty-Year Fight Against Injustice – And How You Can Win Your Own Battles” is being honored for her commitment to under-represented or disadvantaged groups or unpopular causes, her feminist perspective, and her vigorous advocacy on behalf of women.

CWL is also honored to have California Supreme Court Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero joining us at the Annual Dinner to swear in 2024 CWL President Jodi Cleesattle and the 2024 Board of Governors. 

Save the date, get Fired Up, and plan to join CWL for our 48^th Annual Dinner!