DRAFT CWL Magazine May - June 2019

CALIFORNIA WOMEN LAWYERS N E W S L E T T E R MAY - JUNE 2019 1

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Letter from the CWL President Amee A. Mikacich

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riends,

As summer approaches, we are in the throes of scheduling many exciting CWL events for the remainder of the year. It truly takes a village, and once again, I commend the many CWL members, officers, and the Board of Governors for their tireless efforts to maintain, and grow, our outreach.

Here are some of the exciting things we are working on this Spring and Summer.

In May, we will present the annual Southern California Judicial Reception at the beautiful Noguchi Sculpture Garden in Costa Mesa. We look forward to an inspiring evening in which we will present the Joan Dempsey Klein Distinguished Jurist Award, first presented in 1994, to the Honorable Maria D. Hernandez.

On June 26, 2019, Morrison Foerster LLP will graciously host Elect to Run, CWL’s signature event encouraging and educating women on the ins and outs of campaigning and running for public office.

Our panels are filling up fast and we look forward to a wonderful afternoon.

July brings with it yet another spectacular CWL award event, when we will present the Fay Stender Lawyer as Citizen Award to Merrianne Dean in beautiful San Diego.

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In August, we plan the So, You Want to Be a Judge event in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Finally, in September, we will hold the first inaugural combined Annual Conference and Annual Dinner on one spectacular day: September 20, 2019 in Sacramento. We travel to the state capitol for this exciting combination of education, inspiration, and collegiality.

Space does not permit me to expand on all the fabulous details, but we certainly hope you will join us at one (or all!) of these uniquely CWL events!

Sincerely, Amee A. Mikacich, President

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NEWSLETTER MAY - JUNE #14 2018-19 CWL Board Officers CWL President Amee Mikacich CWL President-Elect Jessica L. Rowe Immediate Past President Renee Galente Stackhouse First Vice-President Naomi Dewey Second Vice-President Michelle Ialeggio Secretary Summer Selleck Treasurer Nicole Sugnet Editor Jodi Cleesattle Assistant Editor Vanessa Henderson Editorial Designer David Blue Garrison Assistant Designer Dayna Dixon Additional Photography Pexels, Pixabay and Stocksnap CWL was chartered in 1974. It was organized “to advance women in the profession of law; to improve the administration of justice; to better the position of women in society; to eliminate all inequities based on sex; and to provide an organization for collective action and expression germane to the aforesaid purposes.�

The purposes are limited to purposes meeting the requirements for exemption provided in Section 2370le of the Revenue and Taxation Code and Section 501(c) (6) of the Internal Revenue Code as the statutes may be amended from time to time.

Thank you to all the authors in this issue for sharing with us their time and expertise. If you have an idea for a future article, please contact Vanessa Henderson at the CWL office at newsletter@cwl.org Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in these articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of CWL. For more information on CWL or this newsletter, please contact the CWL office at 916.930.9020 or visit the website at www.cwl.org.

Editor’s Note Jodi Cleesattle With 2020 presidential primary debates beginning soon and the lead-up to the presidential election already in full gear, CWL also has politics on our mind.

CWL’s Legislative Committee members spent several days in Sacramento for “lobby days,” meeting with legislators and their staff, attending training sessions on legislative advocacy, and learning about bills impacting women’s rights.

CWL’s Board of Governors approved a slate of legislation we’re supporting this year – including bills requiring the testing of rape kits; guaranteeing the availability of abortion medication at California public university health centers; requiring large employers to report their pay data to the state Department of Fair Employment and Housing; addressing racial disparities in maternal mortality rates; protecting college students from sexual harassment; requiring equal prize money for men’s and women’s sporting events held on state property; requiring the consideration of infertility treatment as an essential health benefit; and requiring the appointment of women to city boards and commissions. CWL will advocate for passage of these bills throughout the year, and you can get involved, too. Contact the CWL Legislative Committee to see how you or your local bar association can help promote a women-friendly legislative agenda.

And, of course, CWL will host its award-winning Elect to Run program in San Francisco in June, training – and, hopefully, inspiring – the next wave of women candidates for elected office in California.

Whether you aspire to office yourself or just want to get involved in making your community a better place, CWL supports you. Even when the issues seem overwhelming or the political arena seems hopeless, women working together can get things done.

Actress and activist Tracee Ellis Ross sums it up like this:

“Human rights, race relations, gender politics, health care, and foreign policy – it’s a lot to keep track of, and yet all of these things affect us in our daily lives. Making sense of everything requires meticulous unpacking of feelings, delicate navigation of social norms, and a community of love to help along the way.”

CWL offers a community of strong, empowered, loving women, willing to work together to improve the lives of women and improve our communities for everyone.

Jodi Cleesattle Editor, CWL News

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CWL Member News CWL is proud of the work its members do on behalf of our organization and the profession, and we believe in sharing your achievements. Please help us share your news. In this edition, we’re thrilled to share the recognition given to several CWL members.

Let us lift you up. Tell us when you’ve won an honor or award or attained a special achievement.

Contact us at newsletter@cwl.org.

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Join the CWL Newsletter Committee Like what you’re reading? Want to get involved with CWL? CWL is looking for newsletter committee members for the 2018-2019 year. Committee members are responsible for securing content for the magazine and proof-reading articles.

CWL is also looking for writers who would like to submit original content for the newsletter.

Please email newsletter@cwl.org if you are interested in participating.

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A Night of Sisterhood: Celebrating the Next Generation of Women Lawyers

BY RENEE N.G. STACKHOUSE

CWL established the Nancy E. O’Malley Scholarship in 2016 to honor CWL past president Nancy E. O’Malley for her dedication and commitment to the organization by recognizing a law student whose prior and current activities demonstrate a commitment to issues affecting women and children.

This year, the CWL Foundation Board hosted a reception to honor the scholarship recipient in her “hometown” so that her peers and support network could share in the experience. CWL honored Janani Ramachandran, who will graduate from University of California Berkeley School of Law in 2020, on April 19 at the Graduate Berkeley hotel.

The event also provided a networking opportunity for local UC Berkeley law students to learn more about CWL, the CWL Foundation, and to meet board members. Our message was simple: We are here to support you as the next generation of women lawyers.

But we weren’t the only ones with a message to share. Ramachandran gave a beautiful and impassioned speech. Her words were so striking that we wanted to include them here to share with the CWL membership.

Thank you so much California Women Lawyers and Nancy O’Malley for this absolutely incredible opportunity.

To say I’m honored by your generosity and recognition is an understatement.

This organization is comprised of individuals that work tirelessly to achieve gender equality and justice on a daily basis.

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I am inspired by all of the judges, professors, attorneys in this very room and beyond who re-define what it means to be an advocate through the legal system, while still questioning that system itself.

I am one very small part of this greater movement.

Being part of the movement to end domestic violence is my personal lifelong goal.

I want to be part of the solution by helping enact more survivor-friendly laws, making sure those laws are enforced on the ground and in courtrooms every day.

A solution where our perception of domestic violence is truly inclusive of every race, ethnicity, gender identity, and sexual orientation, where we stop propagating the harmful stereotypes of what a victim or an abuser is supposed to look like.

I want to be part of the solution where we implement more restorative practices with both survivors and those who cause harm, practices that focus less on punishment, and more on healing.

I want to be part of a movement that creates a more holistic definition of justice for all of us living in communities plagued by inter-personal violence.

This award is so special to me because it validates that so many others believe in this movement and want to support me and my goals. Support me in taking wild risks. Learning to be comfortable with the truly uncomfortable. Diving into chaotic, messy, messy matters of the heart, the fine lines between abuse and love.

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Giving voice and visibility to issues not so long ago extremely taboo and working together to break those taboos.

But I recognize that this risk-taking is in my blood.

It comes from grandparents who chose to leave our ancestral village without a dime, or degree or word of English under their belts, and move to America.

It comes from my father, Kumar, who defines what relentless grit can truly mean.

It comes from my mother, Meena, who instilled in me from my very birth the deep self-confidence that I still have – that I can in fact do absolutely anything I want in my life. My mother, who gave up so much of her life so that I could thrive in mine.

Thank you.

Thank you everyone for being here today.

Thank you, Professor Nancy Lemon, my greatest mentor in law from day one.

Thank you every one of my law school professors, who supported expanding my mind in ways I’ve never imagined. Thank you, Professor Ross.

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Thank you to the individuals and organizations who chose to take a chance on me and believe in me. Judge Tara Flanagan. Justice Ioana Petrou. Sarah Jacobvitz from Bay Area Legal Aid. Steve Toben from the Flora Family Foundation.

Family Violence Appellate Project. Mary’s Center for Maternal Health.

Thank you to my loving partner, Clarissa.

Thank you to all of my incredible friends here today, all my champions and supporters.

And above all, thank you California Women Lawyers and Nancy O’Malley. I am truly honored.

Because of law students like Ramachandran, we know that the next generation of women lawyers will stand strong, proud, and ready to take on the injustices of the world.

To support the CWL Foundation in providing scholarships to worthy recipients like Ramachandran, you can make donations here.

Renee Stackhouse is president of the CWL Foundation Board and the immediate past president of CWL. She is a partner with Stackhouse APC in San Diego.

CWL Foundation president Renee Stackhouse, scholarship winner Janani Ramachandran, CWL president Amee Mikacich, and CWL board members Summer Selleck and Beth Mora

CWL president Amee Mikacich and CWL Foundation president Renee Stackhouse

Scholarship winner Janani Ramachandran

Scholarship winner Janani Ramachandran

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Meet the 2019 Nancy E. O’Malley Scholarship Recipient Janani Ramachandran CWL is proud to present the 2019 Nance E. O’Malley Scholarship to University of California Berkeley School of Law student Janani Ramachandran.

Ramachandran was born in Fremont, Calif., but her family moved to India when she was 12 years old. There, she attended The International School Bangalore.

She returned to the United States for college, attending Stanford University, where she graduated in June 2014 with a B.A. in International Relations with Honors in Democracy, Development and Rule of Law. After college, Ramachandran served as a homevisiting case manager for a community health clinic and worked with low-income immigrant mothers, most of whom were domestic violence survivors with ongoing child custody or restraining order cases. She later launched a dedicated domestic violence program at the health clinic, training medical staff, connecting with local governmental agencies and advocacy groups, and designing educational materials to raise community awareness. Frustrated with the lack of legal resources for domestic violence survivors that she encountered through this work, Ramachandran was motivated to enroll in law school.

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She attends Berkeley Law and is expected to graduate in May 2020. At Berkeley, Ramachandran founded and serves as president of the Berkeley Resistance Against Inter-Partner Violence (BRAIV). She also serves on the executive boards for Berkeley Law Women of Color Collective and the Coalition for Diversity and is a member of the Asian Pacific American Law Student Association and Queers United in Revolutionary Subversion.

Ramachandran is currently a judicial extern for Alameda County Superior Court Judge Tara Flanagan, and she also volunteers for Berkeley Law’s Tenants’ Rights Workshop. She previously was a clinical student at the East Bay Community Law Center Housing Clinic and a summer law clerk at Bay Area Legal Aid’s Domestic Violence Prevention Program.

Ramachandran also serves her community on the board of directors for the Family Violence Appellate Project, an Oakland nonprofit that helps domestic violence survivors and their children by appealing dangerous trial court decisions on their behalf, and she volunteers with the Alipato Project, another nonprofit that aids domestic violence survivors.

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Meet Candidates & Political Pros at CWL’s Elect to Run

BY BETH HODESS

CWL will host its sixth annual Elect to Run program in San Francisco June 26, providing a day of practical advice on the how’s and why’s of running for office, inspiration for your own campaign, and valuable networking.

The program will be held from noon to 5:30 p.m. at Morrison & Foerster LLP in San Francisco and will include a light lunch and an afternoon networking reception.

State Senate candidate Ann Ravel, former chair of both the Federal Election Commission and the California Fair Political Practices Commission, will give the keynote address, bringing a wealth of knowledge about the political process.

Ravel, who currently serves as Of Counsel at McManis Faulkner in San Jose, handles regulatory issues like campaign finance, lobbyist registration and reporting, and ethics and conflicts of interest related to officeholders and public employees.

She also serves as a senior fellow for MapLight, focusing on digital deception issues in politics, with a particular focus on how digital platforms interact with public policy and how to determine policies to address digital disinformation.

As a candidate for the California Senate 15th District seat in 2020, Ravel also will share her experiences on the campaign trail.

The Elect to Run program will begin with a panel discussion, “So You Want to Be Elected: Office Holders’ and Candidates’ Stories from the Campaign Trail and Beyond.” The panelists include: • Gayle McLaughlin, the former two-term mayor of Richmond, Calif., ran for Lieutenant Governor of California in 2018 as a progressive Independent. McLaughlin was a Richmond City Council member for two terms (2005-07 and 2015-17) and served as mayor from 2007-2014.

• Megan Pillsbury, a board member of the Piedmont Unified School District in Alameda County, is a retired elementary school teacher, former vice president of the teachers’ union, and an outreach educator for the Lawrence Hall of Science programs.

• Pamela Price, a civil rights attorney, has run for mayor of Oakland, Alameda County District Attorney, and the State Assembly. She is one of the few African-American women to successfully argue a case before the U.S. Supreme Court.

• Aisha Wahab, a member of the Hayward City Council, is the first Afghan-American elected official in the United States. She is currently running for U.S. Congress in the 15th District of California. continues on next page

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Another panel discussion, “How to Run: Mapping out the Tools, Strategies, Data and Compliance Issues to Mount a Successful Campaign,” will be moderated by Cynthia Chandler, director of the Bay Area Legal Incubator in Oakland and a past winner of CWL’s Fay Stender Award. The panelists include: • Valerie T. McGinty, an appellate attorney in San Mateo, is the founder of Fund Her, a political action committee dedicated to achieving gender parity in California politics and promoting women who support women’s equality, reproductive freedom, social justice, and climate responsibility.

• Frances Schreiberg, who serves as Of Counsel at Kazan McClain Satterley & Greenwood PC in Oakland, is a volunteer and board member of the Working America Educational Fund, the community arm of the AFL-CIO. • Jodie Smith, chair of the Oakland Public Ethics Commission, is legal director of the Rural Education Equity Program for California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc. in Oakland.

Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, who represents the 16th Assembly District in the San Francisco Bay Area, will give an afternoon keynote address. Elected in 2018, Bauer-Kahan is an attorney and environmental advocate.

CWL thanks Morrison Foerster LLP, the Event Host Sponsor, and Queen’s Bench Bar Association, the Event Media Sponsor.

The program is $35 for CWL members and $50 for non-members. Register online here.

Beth Hodess is chair of the Elect to Run Committee and an attorney at OnPoint Legal Counsel, P.C. in Oakland.

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Ann Ravel, Gayle McLaughlin, Megan Pillsbury, Pamela Price, Aisha Wahab, Cynthia Chandler, Valerie McGinty, Frances Schreiberg, Jodie Smith, Rebecca Bauer-Kahan

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In-House Counsel Network Kicks Off Signature Puzzle Series Program

BY SORCHA BYRNE AND SOPHIA ROMÁN

CWL’s In-House Counsel Network (“IHCN”) kicks off its fourth annual Puzzle Program June 13 with the first of a three-part series of programs that bring together women in-house counsel to share ideas and common goals and discuss issues affecting women in-house counsel.

CWL offers the IHCN Puzzle Program as a forum exclusively for in-house counsel, allowing them to build their own unique network of resources and support. Participants are encouraged to attend each session, and those who attend at least two of the session programs will be invited to the exclusive retreat in October.

The June 13 IHCN Puzzle Program, hosted at Ungrafted in San Francisco, will include a presentation from a female master sommelier, great wines, and delicious food and will provide IHCN members the opportunity to catch up since the retreat last October. The kick-off program will give members time to chat, reconnect, and make new connections, while upcoming Puzzle Series programs will feature speaker presentations and panel discussions.

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CWL also will ask attendees to complete a short questionnaire from which we plan to gauge interest in future topics and information for a practice tips document for the retreat.

The next IHCN Puzzle Program events will be scheduled for August and September and will conclude with an exclusive retreat in October.

CWL thanks the 2019 IHCN Puzzle Series Gold Sponsor, Fisher Phillips. Past sponsors have also included White & Case; Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati; McManis Faulkner; Hopkins Carley; Haynes and Boone; Jackson Lewis; Munger Tolles Olsen; Miller Sabino & Lee; Cooley; and Latham & Watkins.

For more information about the Puzzle Program, visit CWL online or contact IHCN co-chairs Sorcha Byrne and Sophia Román at IHCN@cwl.org.

Sorcha Byrne and Sophia Román are co-chairs of CWL’s In-House Counsel Network. Byrne is Assistant General Counsel at Revel Systems in San Francisco. Román is Senior Counsel, Commercial Contracts, at Gap, Inc. in San Francisco.

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CWL Participates in Successful Advocacy Day at State Capitol

BY SABRINA ASHJIAN

CWL members partnered again with the National Council of Jewish Women of California (NCJW CA) for a wonderful two-day lobby day event in Sacramento May 20 and 21. CWL joined women from A Stronger California’s coalition, National Council of Jewish Women, National Women’s Political Caucus of California, the International Action Network for Gender Equity & Law (IANGEL), and others. Members of CWL advocated for SB 135, State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson’s bill on paid family leave. This bill is on our legislative agenda for 2019 (for information about all of the bills on our agenda please check out that article in this issue).

The event began with a day of training seminars on the priority bills we would be advocating for, followed by a keynote presentation by State Sen. Holly Mitchell. She provided a heartfelt thank you for our efforts and gave us inspiring words about the importance of our advocacy.

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The next day was packed with legislators and aides from all across the state. The legislators and aides were thankful for our participation and advocacy. Everyone left feeling encouraged, energized and filled with ideas for next year’s event.

If you are interested in working with the Legislative Committee, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved as members write letters of support, attend hearings, provide testimony, and meet with legislators across the state. Please contact Legislative Committee Chair Sabrina Ashjian at sabrina.ashjian@gmail.com to get involved.

Sabrina Ashjian serves on the CWL Board of Governors as District 5 Governor, representing Fresno, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Mono, Monterey, San Benito, San Joaquin, Santa Cruz, Stanislaus and Tulare counties. She is Chairperson for the State of California’s Cannabis Control Appeals Panel.

CWL past president and IANGEL executive director Andrea Carlise, CWL Legislative Committee chair Sabrina Ashjian, and CWL past president Patricia Sturdevant

State Sen. Holly Mitchell gives the keynote address at Advocacy Day

State Sen. Jim Nielsen meets with CWL and NCJW members

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CWL Joins Fund Her PAC for First Women’s Advocacy Day

BY MICHELLE BARNETT

The event was a wonderful opportunity for participants to learn about bills impacting women’s rights, receive training on legislative advocacy, and meet with legislators and their Fund Her, founded by CWL member Valerie staff. In addition, participants heard from an McGinty, is dedicated to reaching gender inspiring lineup of speakers including State parity in California’s state government and Sen. Nancy Skinner, State Treasurer Fiona Ma, seeks to promote women candidates who support Board of Equalization Member Malia Cohen, the core values of women’s equality, reproductive Long Beach City Councilwoman Lena Gonzalez, freedom, social justice, and climate responsibility. and Aimee Allison, founder of She The People, a CWL members participated in Fund Her’s first national network connecting women of color to Women’s Advocacy Day May 7 and 8, advocating transform our democracy. for paid family leave (SB 135 and AB196), gender If you are interested in working with CWL’s equity (AB 931 and AB 31), and protection for Legislative Committee, please contact Legislative survivors of sexual harassment and assault (AB Committee Chair Sabrina Ashjian at sabrina.

1510 and AB 51). ashjian@gmail.com to get involved.

CWL joined political action committee Fund Her for its first Women’s Advocacy Day at the State Capital in May.

Michelle Barnett serves on the CWL Board of Governs as Affiliate Governor for San Mateo County Bar Association Women’s Section. She is an attorney at Aaron, Riechert, Carpol & Riffle, APC in Redwood City.

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CWL Announces 2019 Legislative Agenda

BY SABRINA ASHJIAN

CWL’s board of governors voted in May to adopt a legislative agenda supporting eight bills currently pending in the California legislature, addressing issues such as rape kit testing, abortion, equal pay, bias in maternal health care, campus sexual harassment, equal prize compensation in sporting events, health insurance coverage for infertility treatments, and representation of women on local boards and commissions.

CWL creates a legislative agenda each year of bills we support, guided by our priorities of: (1) ensuring reproductive justice, including choice, maternity care, access and privacy; (2) preventing violence against women and children, including domestic violence, human trafficking, gun violence and sex crimes; (3) supporting human rights and equality; (4) protecting court funding and access to justice; and (5) overcoming economic inequities.

This year there were so many bills to choose from as each of the legislators is pursuing important work for our society. After lots of consideration we narrowed the list down to eight bills. Here is a short description of each of the bills on our agenda: SB 22, Sen. Connie Leyva (SD-20): Rape kits: testing. This bill would require a law enforcement agency to either submit sexual assault forensic evidence to a crime lab or ensure that a rapid turnaround DNA program is in place. Because this bill would impose a higher level of service on local law enforcement agencies in processing that evidence, it would impose a state-mandated local program.

SB 24, Sen. Connie Leyva (SD-20): Public health: public university student health centers: abortion by medication techniques.

This bill would make abortion medication available at on-campus student health centers at postsecondary educational institutions in California.

SB 171, Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (SD-19): Employers: annual report: pay data. This bill would require that private employers with 100 or more employees, and which are required to file an annual Employer Information Report under federal law, must submit a pay data report to the Department of Fair Employment and Housing that contains specified wage information.

SB 464, Sen. Holly Mitchell (SD-30): California Dignity in Pregnancy and Childbirth Act. This bill would make legislative findings relating to implicit bias and racial disparities in maternal mortality rates. The bill would require a hospital that provides perinatal care to implement an evidencebased implicit bias program as well as a refresher course every two years thereafter, or on a more frequent basis if deemed necessary by the facility.

SB 493, Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (SD-19): Education: sex equity. This bill would require an institution of higher education that receives state funds, including funds for student financial assistance, to comply with requirements relating to the protection of students from sexual harassment and provide students with procedural protections relating to complaints of sexual harassment.

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AB 467, Assemblymember Tasha Boerner-Horvath (AD-76): Competitions on state property: prize compensation: gender equity. This bill would require those entities seeking to receive a permit for state property for a competition event to have prize award compensation that is identical between gendered categories at each participant level.

AB 767, Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (AD-15): Health care coverage: essential health benefits: infertility. This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to consider the inclusion of infertility treatment in the definition of essential health benefits.

AB 931, Assemblymember Tasha BoernerHorvath (AD-76): Local boards and commissions: representation: appointments. This bill would require the composition of a local board and commission of a city with a population of 50,000 or greater with appointed members to have a specified minimum number of women board members or commissioners based on the total number of board members or commissioners on that board, thereby imposing a state-mandated local program.

Our legislative committee also considered bills relating to tampon and diaper taxes but Governor Gavin Newsom announced a new policy in May that would end the sales tax on both items.

All of the bills on our agenda have passed their house of origin. We will continue to track the bills, write letters of support, attend hearings and meet with legislators to advocate for our agenda.

To get involved with the CWL Legislative Committee please reach out to Legislative Committee Chair Sabrina Ashjian at sabrina.ashjian@gmail.com.

Sabrina Ashjian serves on the CWL Board of Governors as District 5 Governor, representing Fresno, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Mono, Monterey, San Benito, San Joaquin, Santa Cruz, Stanislaus and Tulare counties. She is Chairperson for the State of California’s Cannabis Control Appeals Panel.

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CWL and Sister Bars Address MeToo Movement at LA Program

BY SABRINA ASHJIAN

CWL partnered with sister bar organizations to present “Riding the Rising Tide of Change: Capitalizing on the Momentum of #MeToo” on March 30 in Los Angeles.

The program – sponsored by CWL, Black Women Lawyers of Los Angeles, Latina Lawyers Bar Association, Asian Pacific American Women Lawyers Alliance, RISE, and Women Lawyers of Los Angeles – featured a dynamic discussion with change leaders advocating and empowering women.

Speakers included State Sen. Holly Mitchell; Assemblymember Laura Friedman; civil rights attorney Sandra Munoz, the 2018 winner of CWL’s Fay Stender Award; and Patti Giggins, executive director of Peace Over Violence. Mary McKelvey, a principal with Polsinelli LLP in Los Angeles, moderated the discussion on how we can seize the moment to further promote women’s advancement.

Friedman opened by sharing that this movement at its core is not about sexual abuse but about equity, power and opportunity.

“We’re changing industries where there have historically been very large power differentials, such as entertainment and politics,” she said.

“We’re changing cultures.”

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Friedman encouraged women to keep an eye on fields where there are large power differentials and to watch out for each other, citing janitorial services as an example that can often go overlooked. She went on to explain the importance of having systems in place to empower people come forward.

Mitchell, who has taught on gender, equity and leadership, discussed the intersection of race, class and gender and her feeling of responsibility in bringing those issues to light.

“It is the unseen we must stand up for,” Mitchell said.

She challenged audience members to broaden their perspective of what the struggle is, to look at it from a different lens, and to think about the challenges from another’s perspective.

She explained how we can each do our part in the spaces in which we operate to create a culture shift.

“We need to keep putting these issues to the forefront, to keep having conversations like this,” Mitchell said. “We need to be brave and ask the tough questions.” article continues on next page...

CWL past president and IANGEL executive director Ana Members of CWL and sister bar organizations join the panelists at the “Riding the Rising Tide� program. drea Carlise, CWL Legislative Committee chair Sabrina Ashjian, and CWL past president Patricia Sturdevant CWL Legislative Committee Chair Sabrina Ashjian and Assemblymember Laura Friedman

Panelists Sandra Munoz, State Sen. Holly Mitchell, Patti Giggins, and Assemblymember Laura Friedman

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Giggins discussed the importance of teaching people how we want to be treated, and she said we must engage men in this dialogue.

“If we don’t do equity better then we’re not going to get to equality,” she said.

Munoz said she has fought countless battles against sexual harassment and misconduct as a civil rights attorney.

“I know gender inequality exists because I live it, I see it, I fight against it everyday,” she said.

The collaborative program provided a powerful conversation, and it was a sensational idea to bring all the sister bar organizations together to support our sisters-in-law.

Sabrina Ashjian serves on the CWL Board of Governors as District 5 Governor, representing Fresno, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Mono, Monterey, San Benito, San Joaquin, Santa Cruz, Stanislaus and Tulare counties. She is Chairperson for the State of California’s Cannabis Control Appeals Panel.

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State Sen. Holly Mitchell makes a point.

Sandra Munoz and State Sen. Holly Mitchell

Assemblymember Laura Friedman and Patti Giggins

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MSMU Releases 2019 Report on the Status of Women & Girls in California

BY SABRINA ASHJIAN

Mount Saint Mary’s University, Los Angeles, announced the release of its annual Report on the Status of Women and Girls in California at a release event March 28, with 1,000 leaders in corporate, nonprofit, political and educational fields gathering for the 2019 event, “Intersections: Identity, Access & Equity.”

MSMU president Ann McElaney-Johnson kicked off the event, presenting the report’s findings.

“We need to be the positive change that our communities need,” McElaney-Johnson said.

Next, Kimberly Nao, director of Induction and Instructional Leadership at MSMU, gave a presentation on using intersectionality as a starting point for analyzing the information contained in the report. Nao highlighted that economic stability is the escape route for so many of these issues.

The day included panels on everyday systems and practices that intensify inequities, as well as programs exploring whether we are gaining ground on diversity and inclusion.

The event continued with a discussion on the implicit and explicit biases related to ageism.

Emerald Archer, director of MSMU’s Center for Advancement of Women, led the conversation with Kamili Wilson, AARP’s Vice President of Enterprise Initiatives. AARP launched the campaign #DisruptAging to challenge these stereotypes and open the dialogue on issues surrounding aging.

California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom and State Sen. Holly Mitchell, who serves as the “Legislator in Residence” for MSMU, participated in a discussion about gender justice and advocacy and the path forward for women and girls in our state.

They spoke about needing both policy change and culture change in order to move us forward to make California more equitable. They discussed the work they are doing in Sacramento to create this change and were hopeful about the changes we are making for a better future for the women and girls in our state.

The event closed with encouragement to the audience to continue to have conversations about these topics in order to raise awareness. It was an inspiring reminder that we can be the agents of the change we want to see.

For the full report and further information, visit the MSMU Center for the Advancement of Women website at https://www.msmu.edu/about-themount/center-for-the-advancement-of-women. Stay tuned in future issues of CWL News where our Gender Equity Task Force Co-chairs Beth Mora and Sabrina Ashjian delve deeper into these issues and trends.

Sabrina Ashjian serves on the CWL Board of Governors as District 5 Governor, representing Fresno, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Mono, Monterey, San Benito, San Joaquin, Santa Cruz, Stanislaus and Tulare counties. She is Chairperson for the State of California’s Cannabis Control Appeals Panel.

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Facts from the 2019 Report on the Status of Women and Girls in California • Women and girls make up 50% of California’s population.

• Among California’s women and girls, 39% are Latina, 37% are white, 15% are Asian-American, 6% are AfricanAmerican, and 3% are other races.

• 5% of California women identify as lesbian, bisexual or transgender.

• 11% of California women are differently abled.

• 8% of California veterans are women.

• California’s undocumented population is estimated to be 2.5-3 million people, about 48% of whom are women.

• California boasts more womenowned businesses than any other state (1.55 million), and these businesses generate nearly $226 billion in revenue.

• Women account for 27% of top executives in California companies, and yet only 4% of the state’s top 400 publicly traded companies have a female CEO (this is a growth of only 1% in the last decade).

• 5% of women who work full time, and 52% of women working part time still don’t make enough to exceed the federal poverty level.

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CWL tackles Title IX Gender Discrimination and Contraceptive Coverage in Amici Briefs

BY NICOLE SUGNET AND ANNA-ROSE MATHIESON

CWL’s amicus committee has been hard at work this spring and has joined several amici briefs in important cases that further our mission.

Gender Discrimination/Sexual Assault CWL joined an amici brief to the Sixth Circuit in Doe v. University of Kentucky. The brief supported the plaintiff in her appeal of a district court decision holding that she lacked standing to bring a Title IX claim. The plaintiff alleged that the University of Kentucky acted with deliberate indifference after she reported that she was raped by a student in the university’s dormitory. Even though the plaintiff was a community college student taking part in a program at the university, resided at the university, and had access to the university’s services and facilities, the district court held that she lacked standing because she was not a student at the university. As the amici brief explained, the district court’s narrow reading of a plaintiff’s standing under Title IX is inconsistent with the purpose and policy goals of the statute and frustrates a university’s obligation to protect all members of its community.

Contraception Mandate CWL also continued to support lawsuits brought by states challenging the Trump administration’s rules that broadly exempt employers from complying with the Affordable Care Act’s contraceptive coverage mandate. In the beginning of this year, CWL signed on to amici briefs supporting preliminary injunctions against the Trump administration’s final version of the rules, which the district courts issued. In March and April of 2019, CWL joined amici briefs in the Third and Ninth Circuits opposing the Trump administration’s appeal of the preliminary injunctions. The cases are Pennsylvania v. Donald J. Trump, No. 1703752 (3rd Cir.) and California v. Health and Human Services, et al., No. 19-15072 (9th Cir.).

While the Trump administration’s appeals of the preliminary injunctions are pending, the cases are moving forward in the district courts on the merits.

On May 7, CWL joined an amici brief in support of the states’ motion for summary judgment to permanently invalidate the Trump administration’s rules in California v. Health and Human Services, et al., No. 17-cv-05783 (N.D. Cal.). The brief argues that the Trump administration’s rules will undermine the purpose of the contraceptive coverage mandate and will harm hundreds of thousands of women nationwide. article continues on next page...

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Relatedly, CWL achieved a favorable result in Massachusetts v. United States Department of Health and Human Services, No. 18-1514 (1st Cir.). Back in March 2018, the District Court of Massachusetts granted the Trump administration’s motion for summary judgment, holding that Massachusetts had not established standing because it had not shown likely future injury stemming from the Trump administration’s rules. We joined an amici brief in support of Massachusetts’ appeal of the decision. On May 2, 2019, the First Circuit reversed and held that Massachusetts has standing to challenge the rules “based on an imminent fiscal injury that is fairly traceable to the federal regulations and redressable by a favorable decision” since it is likely that at least some women would lose contraceptive coverage under the rules and those women would seek contraceptive care or prenatal care for unintended pregnancies from the state.

Copies of all of the amici briefs CWL joins can be found on our website shortly after they have been filed.

If you would like to join CWL’s Amicus Committee, or you’d like CWL to consider drafting or signing onto an amicus brief, please contact us at amicus@ cwl.org.

Nicole Sugnet and Anna-Rose Mathieson co-chair the Amicus Committee. Sugnet is a chambers attorney at the California Supreme Court, and Mathieson is a partner with the California Appellate Law Group.

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2019 CWL Signature Events June 26 Elect to Run 12-5:30 p.m.

Morrison & Foerster

425 Market Street, San Francisco June 13 In-House Counsel Puzzle Program Session 1 Ungrafted

2419 3rd St., San Francisco July 26 Reception Honoring Merrianne Dean Winner of the Fay Stender Award San Diego July – TBA

In-House Counsel Puzzle Program Session 2 Location TBA

August – TBA In-House Counsel Puzzle Program Session 3 Location TBA August 16 So, You Want To Be A Judge Location TBA September – TBA In-House Counsel Puzzle Program Session 4 Location TBA September 19 CWL Annual Conference Reception

featuring the presentation of the Judith Solely Lawyer as Citizen Award to Eileen Decker Kimpton Sawyer Hotel, 500 J St., Sacramento September 20

CWL Annual Conference and Annual Dinner featuring the presentation of the Rose Bird Memorial Award to California Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye. CWL is merging its annual spring conference with its annual dinner this year, with a full day of educational programs and speakers, capped by an evening of inspiration and celebration at the annual dinner. The CWL Foundation Silent Auction, held during the reception preceding the dinner, features vacation packages, handmade jewelry, and other terrific auction items, with proceedings helping fund the Nancy E. O’Malley Scholarship.

Kimpton Sawyer Hotel, 500 J St., Sacramento November – TBA In-House Counsel Puzzle Program Retreat

CWL’s In-House Counsel Puzzle Program culmination, this retreat is invitation-only.

Location TBA

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Apply for CWL Speakers Bureau CWL’s Gender Equity Task Force is currently reviewing applications for the CWL Speakers Bureau – a directory of women available to speak to the media, for CLE programs, or for other speaking opportunities on a variety of issues.

The Speakers Bureau will include volunteer CWL members who have legal expertise in various areas of law and are willing to be contacted as subjectmatter experts. CWL will direct inquiries to Speakers Bureau members who match the subject of the inquiries, and the directory also will be available online.

The Gender Equity Task Force, which reviews and approves all applications for the Speakers Bureau, is in the process of developing the searchable directory and coordinating promotion of its use.

Members interested in being included in the Speakers Bureau can apply online here. Applications will be reviewed quarterly.

Sign up now to increase your visibility and promote your expertise.

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Affiliate Events Black Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles June General Meeting and Elections Thursday, June 20, 5-7 p.m.

Perch 448 South Hill St., Los Angeles For info: http://www.blackwomenlawyersla.org/events/ BWL Annual Retreat Friday, June 28 to Sunday, June 30 Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach 21500 Pacific Coast Highway Huntington Beach For info: http://www.blackwomenlawyersla.org/events/ Contra Costa County Bar Association – Women’s Section 2019 Women’s Section Annual Luncheon Keynote Speaker: Hon. Wendy McGuire Coats Thursday, June 27, 11:45 a.m.-1:15 p.m.

Smith’s Landing 1 Marine Plaza, Antioch For info: www.cccba.org/attorney/sections/women.php Women’s Power Lunch Tuesday, July 9, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Tender Greens 1352 Locust St., Walnut Creek For info: www.cccba.org/attorney/sections/women.php First Annual Family Fun Day Sunday, July 21, 12-5 p.m.

Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill For info: www.cccba.org/attorney/sections/women.php Women’s Section Happy Hour Tuesday, Aug. 13, 5-7 p.m.

Details TBA For info: www.cccba.org/attorney/sections/women.php Women’s Power Lunch Tuesday, Sept. 10, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Tender Greens 1352 Locust St., Walnut Creek For info: www.cccba.org/attorney/sections/women.php Fresno County Women Lawyers Monthly MCLE Luncheon Wednesday, June 26, 12 p.m.-1 p.m.

The Palms 7550 N. Palm Ave., #101, Fresno For info: www.fcwl.org

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FCWL Mixer Benefiting Marjaree Mason Center Thursday, July 18 For info: www.fcwl.org Monthly MCLE Luncheon Wednesday, August 28, 12 p.m.-1 p.m.

The Palms 7550 N. Palm Ave., #101, Fresno For info: www.fcwl.org Lawyers Club of San Diego General Counsel Luncheon Thursday, June 20, 12-1:15 p.m.

Westin San Diego Emerald Plaza 400 W. Broadway, San Diego For info: www.lawyersclubsandiego.com Golf Tournament & Dinner Thursday, June 27 Country Club of Rancho Bernardo 12280 Greens East Road, San Diego For info: www.lawyersclubsandiego.com San Diego Pride Parade Saturday, July 13 Further details TBA For info: www.lawyersclubsandiego.com Marin County Women Lawyers Legal Issues in Education: Title IX Discrimination on the Basis of Sex in Schools Monday, May 13, 12-1 p.m.

Piatti Restaurant 625 Redwood Highway, Mill Valley For info: http://mcwlawyers.org Orange County Women Lawyers Association OCWLA’s Monthly Book Club Meeting Monday, June 24, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

The Library Book by Susan Orlean Mimi’s Café, 17231 E. 17th St, Tustin No host dinner and beverages For info: www.ocwla.org/events 3rd Annual OCWLA Membership Mixer at Pelican Hill Tuesday, June 25, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

The Great Room Social Lounge The Resort at Pelican Hill 22701 Pelican Hill Road S., Newport Coast For info: www.ocwla.org/events

A 360 View of In-House Counsel Friday, July 12, 11:45 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Andrei’s Conscious Cuisine 2607 Main St., Irvine For info: www.ocwla.org/events OCWLA’s Monthly Book Club Meeting Monday, July 29, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid Mimi’s Café, 17231 E. 17th St, Tustin No host dinner and beverages For info: www.ocwla.org/events 44th OCWLA Gala Thursday, Oct. 3, 5:30-9 p.m.

The Resort at Pelican Hill 22701 Pelican Hill Road S., Newport Coast For info: www.ocwla.org/events Queen’s Bench Bar Association Annual Judge’s Dinner Thursday, Sept. 5, 5:30-8 p.m.

Sir Francis Drake Hotel, Franciscan Room 450 Powell St., San Francisco For info: https://queensbench.org San Mateo County Bar Association Women Lawyers’ Section Spring Judges’ Luncheon Tuesday, May 7, 12-1:30 p.m.

Angelica’s 863 Main St., Redwood City For info: www.smcba.org Women Lawyers’ Section generally meets the 1st Monday of every other month.

For info: www.smcba.org/for-legal-professionals/sections/ women-lawyers Santa Barbara Women Lawyers Food from the Bar Happy Hour Mixer Tuesday, May 14, 5-7 p.m.

Topa Topa Brewing Co. 102 Santa Barbara St., Santa Barbara For info: https://sbwl.org/ Santa Clara County Bar Association Women Lawyers’ Section 7th Annual Women Lawyers’ Symposium: Raising the Bar Thursday, June 13, 2019, 4:30-9 p.m.

Fenwick & West LLP 801 California St., Mountain View For info: https://sccba.site-ym.com/events/EventDetails. aspx?id=1233236&group 45

Truckee-Tahoe Women Lawyers For upcoming events, visit: www.facebook.com/ groups/1591942794436357 Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles WLALApalooza 2019 Silent Auction Fundraiser Thursday, June 13, 6-9:30 p.m.

Los Angeles Athletic Club 431 W. 7th St., Los Angeles For info: www.wlala.org/events/event_list.asp WLALA 100th Anniversary Installation and Awards Dinner Saturday, Sept. 21 Intercontinental Hotel, Los Angeles For info: www.wlala.org/events/event_list.asp Women Lawyers of Alameda County WLAC Annual Spring Reception Thursday, May 9, 6-8 p.m.

Lake Merritt Sailboat House 568 Bellevue Ave., Oakland For info: https://wlaconline.org No-Host Social Lunch Thursday, June 27, 12-1:30 p.m.

Everett & Jones BBQ 126 Broadway, Oakland Annual Judges’ Dinner Keynote Speaker – Justice Carol Corrigan Thursday, Oct. 24, 5:30-8 p.m.

Scott’s Seafood at Jack London Square 2 Broadway, Oakland For info: https://wlaconline.org Women Lawyers of Sacramento 2019 WLS ArtFest Thursday, Sept. 5, 6-8:30 p.m.

Beatnik Studios 723 S St., Sacramento For info: https://womenlawyers-sacramento.org Women Lawyers of Ventura County Voir Dire – How to Select a Local Jury Friday, May 10, 12-1 p.m.

Hall of Administration, County Government Center 1st Floor, Atlantic Conference Room 800 S. Victoria Ave., Ventura For info: www.wlvc.org Alternative Dispute Resolution in Federal Court Friday, July 12, 12-1:15 p.m.

Ventura College of Law 4475 Market St., Ventura For info: www.wlvc.org

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CWL Membership Comes with Benefits When you join or renew your membership with CWL, you support the mission of advancing women in the legal profession and society – but you also get some practical benefits.

CWL has partnered with Continuing Education of the Bar, publisher of hundreds of practice guides, digital resources, and CLE programs – CWL members receive a 10 percent discount on CEB’s “OnLaw Titles” and “Essential Forms Judicial Council Forms.” You must be a member to access the discount code.

In addition to this great discount, CWL and CEB will be partnering to provide MCLE webinars on topics relevant to CWL members. These webinars will be available at discounted or no cost to CWL members only. Keep an eye out for updates on scheduled webinars on CWL’s Member Benefits page.

CWL members also benefit from our statewide Listserv, which allows professionals from around the state to network and exchange ideas, make referrals, discuss best practices, survey peers on various issues, or get information for appearances, depositions or trial in different locations.

CWL will also share job openings and pertinent information it receives with its membership through this Listserv.

To share a message with CWL members statewide, just email members@cwl. org. Just remember to use common sense, and abide by the Listserv policy, found online here.

The policy prohibits chain letters; violations of copyright; other illegal acts; offensive, abusive, threatening or obscene language or graphics; content that is sexually explicit or could be construed as discriminatory based on race, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, or religious or political beliefs; advertising; and promotion of commercial ventures, religious beliefs, or political causes.

All CWL members, except members of the judiciary, have been opted in to the Listserv. The default setting is that each member will receive a daily digest of emails sent. If you are an active member and are not receiving the digest and want to, please let us know! Contact info@cwl.org.

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ADVERTISE IN THE CWL NEWSLETTER!

Each digital issue of the California Women Lawyer’s newsletter is shared with over 4,000 people across the U.S. This digital publication connects industry experts to relative legislation news, valuable events for networking and professional development as well as opinion editorials from CWL leaders and members. Space is limited, ad space is determined first come, first serve. All ads subject to

Quarter Page $250

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• 8.5”W x 11”H • Full Color • Interactive Links To Your Website, FB, etc.

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Half Page Ad $375

• 4.25”W x 11”H (Must Be Vertical) • Full Color • Interactive Links To Your Website, FB, etc.

6 issue bulk rate available” ($2000, 1500, 1000)” CWL Affiliates receive a 15% discount on any advertisement.

GENERAL AD & LOGO SPECIFICATIONS PDF/300dpi Art Only Full-page display (vertical) 8.5”W x 11”H - full dimensions Half-page display (vertical) 4.25”W x 11”H - full dimensions Quarter page display (vertical) 4.25”W x 5.5”H - full dimensions Business card (horizontal) 3.5”W x 2”H - full dimensions Logos must be sent in an eps or vector file format.

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SUPPORTS CALIFORNIA WOMEN LAWYERS YOUR VOICE IN THE COURTROOM SINCE 1976.

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