2021 PUBLIC LAW SECTION AWARD RECIPIENTS

On September 9, 2021, the California Lawyers Association’s Public Law Section was pleased to award the 2021 Ronald M. George Public Lawyer of the Year Award to Jodi Cleesattle, Supervising Deputy Attorney General in the California Attorney General’s Office, and to award the 2021 Outstanding Achievement in Public Law (OAPL) Award to Matthew Beltramo, Assistant District Attorney with the Alameda District Attorney’s Office.

2021 RONALD M. GEORGE PUBLIC LAWYER OF THE YEAR-JODI CLEESATTLE

Jodi Cleesattle embodies the traits that the California Lawyer’s Association honors with the Ronald M. George Award. Retired Chief Justice Ronald M. George was honored in recognition of his distinguished career dedicated to serving the public and longtime support of the Public Law Section. Similarly, Cleesattle has dedicated the last fifteen years of her career to the public not only as a Deputy Attorney General, but also as an active volunteer in the community. She demonstrates a passion for helping the under-represented, personally and professionally, in her community and has dedicated herself to public service through her many volunteer activities, going far above and beyond the ordinary.

Beginning her legal career in private practice, Cleesattle left partnership at a Washington, D.C.-based firm to join the California Attorney General’s Office in 2007. She has worked in the Employment and Administrative Mandate Section of the Attorney General’s Office ever since with innovative problem-solving skills to correct deficiencies in public law. She represents state agencies in employment litigation and administrative law cases, and conducts investigations, including Title IX investigations for California’s state universities. As an advisor to state agencies, Cleesattle has counseled on employment issues and on the implementation of diversity and inclusion initiatives.