LA County Public Defender Honored by State Bar

                                                                                                          NEWS RELEASE

                                                              COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES 

                                                                                                                                                                           Contact: Judy Hammond, Director of Public Affairs, (213) 974-1363

                                                                                                                                   Brian Lew, Assistant Director, (213) 974-1652

July 28, 2008

PUBLIC DEFENDER HONORED BY STATE BAR

 

Los Angeles County Public Defender Michael P. Judge has been selected to receive the State Bar of California’s 2008 Diversity Award.

 

State Bar President Jeffrey L. Bleich said Judge was being saluted “as a leader that has brought honor to the entire legal profession and as an individual that has made a significant impact in diversifying our profession.”

 

The County’s public defender since May 1, 1994, Judge was nominated by five organizations within his department that represent more than 350 public defenders.

 

In making the nomination, the associations said Judge had made diversity of the staff and management a top priority.

 

“Because of his leadership, women and minorities continue to advance to senior management within the office.  Additionally, Mr. Judge has employed various methods and trainings to ensure a safe working environment for employees without regard to race, gender, sexual orientation or physical disability,”  the county attorneys said.

 

The Los Angeles County Public Defenders Office is the largest criminal defense firm in the world.

 

Women comprise more than 50 percent of the Public Defender staff, and 40 percent of all attorneys are men and women of color. 

 

The five groups nominating Judge were the Asian Pacific Islander Public Defender Association, Black Public Defender Association, Gay and Lesbian Public Defender Association, Latino Public Defender Association and the Women’s Public Defender Association.

 

State Bar President Bleich commended Judge for his “long-term commitment to a diversity and significant accomplishments in increasing access and fairness in the legal profession.”

 

Only one of two lawyers to receive the 2008 Diversity Award, Judge will be honored at the State Bar’s annual meeting Sept. 27 in Monterey Bay.

 

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