Spotlight on the Racial Justice Committee

The Litigation Section formed the Racial Justice Committee in June 2020 in response to the police killing of George Floyd and other unarmed African Americans, and the committee was quickly expanded into a CLA-wide group based on the outpouring of support from other members and committees. The Committee addresses issues regarding racial injustice and reform impacting all racial groups and the LGBTQI+ community. All CLA members are welcomed to join. We focus on four main areas: public education, member education, member engagement, and legislative/other advocacy efforts. In 2020, those efforts included a California Litigation Journal devoted to racial justice issues, the support of three legislative bills, and a series of CLE programs addressing racial justice issues. Visit our webpage for details.

In 2021, we are continuing our efforts to provide programming designed to assist and educate our members on racial justice issues, which so far include a presentation by the attorney representing Breonna Taylor’s family, a program focused on prejudice faced by the Jewish Community, and a program on the Armenian Genocide and its lasting ramifications. Later this month we are launching an ambitious Roots of Racism multi-part program (see above), and plans are in the works for programs addressing the recent attacks on the Asian American and Pacific Islander community, and issues facing the Latinx community. If you would like to join the Racial Justice Committee, please contact the Committee Chair Adrieannette Ciccone through our contact page.