For many years, the Access to Justice Commission’s Awards Committee has supported and participated in the process of making two awards, the Benjamin Aranda Award to a judge and the Loren Miller Award to a lawyer. The recipients are individuals who have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to and accomplishments in promoting access to justice. The Commission’s Awards Committee and its chair, Judge Lisa Jaskol, are excited to share that both awards are accepting nominations until June 30. You may find more information about each award and the nomination forms by visiting: https://calawyers.org/cla/awards/
Benjamin Aranda Award:
“Presented for the first time in 1999, the Aranda Award honors a judge who has demonstrated a long‐term commitment to improving access to our courts, and who has significantly improved access for low‐and moderate‐income Californians. The Judicial Council, the CLA, and the California Judges Association, in association with the California Access to Justice Commission, co‐sponsor the award. The Aranda Award is named in honor of the late Judge Benjamin Aranda III, who was known for his tireless efforts to promote fairness and access in the courts.” (From the California Lawyers Association website, https://calawyers.org/cla/awards/ )
The Access Commission initiated the Aranda Award and took the lead role in administering the award process when the Commission was staffed and supported by the State Bar. In 2019, during the Access Commission’s transition from the Bar, the California Lawyers Association (CLA) ensured the continuation of this award. This year the Awards Committee is resuming its active participation in sponsoring and supporting the Aranda Award.
A list of the past Aranda Award recipients appears below.
Loren Miller Award:
“The Loren Miller Legal Services Award, named after the late Loren Miller, an African American lawyer and judge who was a leader in the civil rights movement, was established in 1977 to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the State Bar of California. It is considered a lifetime achievement award and is given annually to a lawyer admitted to practice in California who has demonstrated long‐term commitment to legal services and who has personally done significant work in extending legal services to the poor. Previous award recipients include the staff of legal services organizations such as directors of litigation, executive directors and private bar attorneys.” (From the State Bar of California website, https://www.calbar.ca.gov/About‐ Us/Who‐We‐Are/Awards/Loren‐Miller‐Legal‐Services)
This award predated the Access Commission. The State Bar Board of Governors decided the recipient of the award in 2016. As of 2019, the California Lawyers Association assumed responsibility for the Loren Miller Award, which is presented at the annual meeting of the Conference of California Bar Associations.
A list of past Loren Miller Award recipients also appears below.
Past Aranda Award Recipients
| 2019 | Hon. Carol S. Brosnahan |
| 2016 | Hon. Julia C. Kelety & Hon. Colleen Toy White |
| 2015 | Judge Garry Ichikawa |
| 2014 | Hon. Sue Alexander |
| 2013 | Hon. James R. Lambden |
| 2012 | Hon. Juan Ulloa |
| 2011 | Hon. Maria Rivera |
| 2011 | William C. Vickrey |
| 2010 | Hon. Laurie Zelon |
| 2009 | Hon. Gordon Baranco |
| 2008 | Hon. Francisco F. Firmat |
| 2007 | Hon. Kathleen O’Leary |
| 2006 | Hon. Donna M. Petre |
| 2005 | Hon. Aviva K. Bobb |
| 2004 | Hon. Earl Johnson, Jr. |
| 2003 | Hon. Kenneth M. Kawaichi |
| 2002 | Hon. Donna J. Hitchens |
| 2001 | Hon. Charles W. Campbell, Jr. |
| 2000 | Hon. Veronica S. McBeth |
| 1999 | Hon. Judith McConnell |
Past Loren Miller Award Recipients
| 2020 | Robert Newman and Jora Trang |
| 2019 | Linda Kilb |
| 2016 | Catherine Blakemore |
| 2015 | Chris Schneider |
| 2014 | Betty L. Nordwind |
| 2013 | Gary Blasi |
| 2012 | Melinda R. Bird |
| 2011 | Sid Wolinsky |
| 2010 | Gary F. Smith |
| 2009 | Robert Gnaizda |
| 2008 | Richard Rothschild |
| 2007 | Stewart Kwoh |
| 2006 | Joan Messing Graff |
| 2005 | Carl R. Poirot |
| 2004 | Bruce Iwasaki |
| 2003 | Robert Cohen |
| 2002 | Bernida Reagan |
| 2001 | Joaquin Avila |
| 2000 | Laurie Zelon |
| 1999 | David Bryson |
| 1998 | Tanya Neiman |
| 1997 | Mary Burdick |
| 1996 | Jack Londen |
| 1995 | Toby Rothschild |
| 1994 | Marilyn Holle |
| 1993 | Alice Bussiere |
| 1992 | Evelyn Frank |
| 1991 | Edward Davis, Jr. |
| 1990 | Katharine Krause |
| 1989 | Elaine Alexander |
| 1988 | Carole Brill |
| 1987 | Donald Tamaki |
| 1986 | Elena Ackel |
| 1985 | Peter Reid |
| 1984 | John McTernan |
| 1983 | Ralph Abascal |
| 1982 | Joseph Duff |
| 1981 | Benjamin Dreyfus |
| 1980 | John Porter |
| 1979 | Fay Stender |
| 1978 | Cruz Reynoso |
| 1977 | Earl Johnson |
