2020 Conference (Virtual)
| John Van de Kamp Award |
Ming Chin, California Supreme Court Justice |
| Legislator of the Year |
Jay Obernolte, 33rd Assembly District |
2019 Conference (Monterey)
2018 Conference (San Diego)
2017 Conference (Sacramento)
| John Van de Kamp Award |
Xavier Becerra, Attorney General |
| Legislator of the Year |
Mark Stone, Assemblymember |
| James Pfeiffer Award |
Gerry and Marc Sallus & Lawrence and Andi Liebenbaum |
| Friend of the Conference |
Michele Bissada |
2016 Conference (San Diego)
| Legislator of the Year |
Brian Maienschein, Assemblymember |
| James Pfeiffer Award |
Diane E. Wasznicky, former CCBA Chair & Mary V. J. Cataldo |
2015 Conference (Anaheim)
| James Pfeiffer Award |
Andrea Carlisle |
| Outstanding Service Award |
Larry Doyle |
2014 Conference (San Diego) [Ceremony in LA]
| James Pfeiffer Award |
Jo-Ann W. Grace |
| Friend of the Conference |
Mike Feuer, City Attorney of Los Angeles |
James Pfeiffer Award
This award honors Jim Pfeiffer, a man of vision and community service whose personal and professional life was dedicated to giving back and making a difference. Jim committed his entire nonprofit fundraising career to supporting and creating programs which invested in youth, equal access, and social justice.
He worked tirelessly to develop a philanthropic mission and to implement giving programs for law students, legal services and the improvement of justice for all Californians, until his early retirement due to Parkinson’s disease. This award is given to an attorney who embodies these ideals.
Friend of the Conference Award
This award is granted to a person who embodies the spirit of our organization in furthering Justice Through Laws to the People of California and through support of our organization.
John Van de Kamp Justice Through Laws Award
John Van de Kamp was a towering political figure who, as former Governor Jerry Brown said, “understood the higher calling of public service.” John served as acting United States Attorney, then chief assistant U.S. attorney, until he was named deputy director of the office of U.S. Attorneys in the Justice Department. In 1971, he became the first federal public defender in Los Angeles. He was later appointed district attorney in Los Angeles, and was subsequently elected twice to the position. He later served two terms as California’s State Attorney General.
Always a man of principle, as Washington eased enforcement of civil rights, Van de Kamp’s deputies challenged boys’ clubs that refused to admit girls and male-only business clubs that blackballed women. He created special units to handle child abuse, sexual assault, and police shootings.
The John Van de Kamp Justice Through Laws Award recognizes those public officials and private citizens who follow John’s example of fighting for the rights of Californians.
