2024 CLA Awards Recipients

Justice Arthur Gilbert has been a judge for 49 years.  He served on the Los Angeles Municipal and Superior Courts.  He has been a justice on the Court of Appeal for 43 years.  His written opinions are known for their scholarship and clarity.  He has been dubbed “The Court of Appeal’s poet laureate.”  His articles and columns have appeared in a variety of publications throughout the United States.  For the past 36 years, he has written a popular column “Under Submission” for The Los Angeles Daily Journal.  He has received a Journalistic Excellence award.  His books Under Submission and Under Submission Volume II have earned rave reviews from lawyers whose cases he has affirmed.  He is the author of more than 5,000 judicial opinions.

He taught judges in California and abroad on the philosophy of judging and the art of crafting opinions.  He received the Beacon of Justice Award presented by the Friends of the Los Angeles County Law Library.  He was named “Appellate Justice of the Year” by the Consumer Lawyers of California in 1984, 1993, and 1997.  He received the Outstanding Jurist Award, Los Angeles County Bar Association 2016, and the Award for Judicial Excellence, Beverly Hills Bar Association 2015.

He is a past recipient of the Bernard S. Jefferson Award given by the California Judges Association.  He is a fellow of the Witkin Legal Institute and has lectured to judges throughout California and to judges in Eastern Europe on American jurisprudence.  He also taught for years at the California Judges College.  When he is not judging, or writing his column, he plays gigs as a jazz pianist under the illusive pseudonym Art Gilbert.

The courtroom where Justice Gilbert presides was recently named after him.  This makes him uneasy because he is still alive. 

When a reporter asked him, “What is it like being an appellate justice?” Justice Gilbert replied, “It is just the two of us in a room, me and my brain.  Only often I’m alone.” 

For more than 40 years, Morrison Foerster has remained committed breaking down barriers to equal opportunity, to value fully the di​fferenc​es among people, while recognizing their similarities, and to creating an atmosphere in which each individual can develop their​ potential to​​​​​​​​ the fullest extent possible. We believe that diversity adds value to our organization by attracting the most talented people possible, by making the best use of the talents of those who work here, and finally, by enhancing our ability to attract, retain and, most importantly, to serve our clients. We want our firm to act as a model of diversity which others will follow.​

MoFo’s commitment to diversity and inclusion is not only an internal endeavor; it is also a reflection of our dedication to serving our clients and communities more effectively. With a deep bench of exceptional talent, representing a variety of lived experiences from around the world, we understand that by practicing inclusivity and belonging firmwide, we are better able to attract the best and the brightest legal minds, develop their full potential, and provide unparalleled service to our clients around the world.

At MoFo, we remain steadfast in our unwavering commitment to fostering an environment not only where diversity is celebrated but inclusion is practiced and embraced as a fundamental value. As our journey continues, it promises to be transformative, empowering, and above all, united in our pursuit of a more inclusive future for all.

Morrison Foerster,
One firm,
Inclusive to the Core

Jerrilyn Malana is a Chief Deputy District Attorney with the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, where she serves as chief of human resources and special counsel.  With over 1,100 employees, the DA’s Office is the largest legal employer in the region. Prior to joining the DA’s Office in 2016, Jerri spent more than 16 years as an Employment Law attorney and Shareholder with the global employment law firm of Littler Mendelson.  At Littler, she represented Fortune 500 clients and local businesses in employment litigation.  Jerri is a dynamic public speaker, and an effective and engaging trainer on employment law topics. She regularly speaks on equity, diversity and inclusion matters including strategies to address bias in the workplace. Jerri is passionate about civic education and community service, and helping the next generation to succeed. 

Jerri was the inaugural Chair of the Civic Engagement & Outreach (CEO) Committee for California Lawyers Association. She is a former member of the statewide Power of Democracy steering committee, which promotes civic education initiatives.  Jerri remains active with the California Civic Learning Partnership for San Diego County, which seeks to improve civic education in grades K to 12.  She is the Vice President for California Lawyers Foundation.  In addition, she serves on the California Supreme Court’s State Bar Trustees Nominating Committee.  Jerri was the first Asian Pacific American attorney to serve as President of the San Diego County Bar Association, which is the region’s oldest and largest legal organization.  She is a past President of Pan Asian Lawyers of San Diego. She is also a past President of the University of California San Diego (UCSD) Alumni Association, and past Chair of Chancellor’s Associates. Jerri presently serves as a Trustee on the UCSD Foundation Board.  Jerri served on the State Bar of California’s Council on Access & Fairness. She is a former Co-Chair of the American Bar Association (ABA) Employment & Labor Relations Law Committee for the Section of Litigation. Jerri also served on the Executive Committee of the Bench-Bar Coalition (BBC) in California. She was a founding Advisory Board member for the Academy of Law at Crawford High School in San Diego.  Jerri was inducted into the San Diego County Women’s Hall of Fame as a “Trailblazer.”  She has been recognized by many other organizations for her work in the community including being named a “ Trailblazer ” by the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA).

Dara Schur is a Senior Counsel at Disability Rights California, a nonprofit law firm dedicated to advancing the rights of people with disabilities and one of the largest disability rights firms in the country.  Disability Rights California is California’s federally and state designated Protection & Advocacy Agency, tasked with furthering the civil rights of people with disabilities.  Dara specializes in civil rights, housing, land use, and disability law. 

During her more than 40 years of advocacy for fair housing and civil rights, Dara has been lead or co-counsel on class action and impact lawsuits which have resulted in the addition of many thousands of accessible, affordable housing units throughout California.  She has also been lead or co-counsel on a range of fair housing, redevelopment, land use, and community integration lawsuits for people with disabilities.  Dara received the “2012 Advocate of the Year” Award from Western Center on Law & Poverty.  Dara is a contributing author to California Fair Housing and Public Accommodations (The Rutter Group Civil Litigation Series).  Dara has mentored and trained hundreds of attorneys in her areas of expertise.

Dara was appointed as a member of the California Fair Employment and Housing Council by California Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr., in 2015, confirmed by the California Senate in February, 2016, and served through February 2023.   The Council promulgates state regulations related to civil rights laws, including fair employment, fair housing, and public accommodation discrimination, and hate violence.  The Council also holds hearings on civil rights issues confronting the state. 

Dara received her B.A. from Macalester College, St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1974, and her J.D. in 1979 from Berkeley Law (formerly Boalt), University of California at Berkeley.