California Justice Evans honored by East Bay attorney group

by Cynthia Laird

Both women have been in their positions on the California Supreme Court for less than a month, but Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero and Associate Justice Kelli Evans received standing ovations at the recent dinner of the Alameda-Contra Costa Trial Lawyers Association.

Guerrero, who previously served as an associate justice, was elevated by Governor Gavin Newsom last year due to the retirement of former chief justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye and sworn in January 2. The state’s first Latina chief justice, she delivered the evening’s keynote address.

Evans, the first queer Black woman on the court, was nominated by Newsom to succeed Guerrero and was also sworn in that day. Evans had previously served as a judge on the Alameda County Superior Court and was honored by the trial lawyers as one of two judges of the year at the January 19 gala, held at Bloc 15, an event space near Jack London Square.

Contra Costa County Superior Court Judge Leslie Landau was the other judge of the year recipient.

In a brief interview with the Bay Area Reporter, Evans said that her first couple of weeks on the high court has been “tremendous.”

California Supreme Court Associate Justice Kelli Evans spoke at the Alameda-Contra Costa Trial Lawyers Association dinner January 19.

“I’ve been learning about the court from an insider perspective,” she said, adding that she heard her first oral argument her first week. She said her judicial colleagues have been welcoming and are of the “highest caliber.”

Attendees with whom the B.A.R. spoke praised Evans’ appointment.

“Justice Evans is one of the most friendly, unassuming, and down-to-earth people I’ve ever met,” said Alameda County Court Commissioner Bentrish Satarzadeh, a lesbian who was appointed to her position in 2018. “She really makes you feel like you’re the most important person in the room.”

“She will do a great service to our state,” Satarzadeh added.

Kristin Rosi, a lesbian who’s president of the International Association of LGBTQ+ Judges, called Evans’ appointment “monumental.”

“It’s monumental to have our first lesbian supreme court justice be a Black woman,” Rosi said. “She’s a role model for law students, lawyers, and judges throughout the country.”

Rosi added that Evans is a member of the LGBTQ+ judges organization.

Oakland attorney Casey Kaufman, a straight ally, said as a member of the trial lawyers association, he appreciated the diversity of the organization and of the area’s bench officers.

“That’s why I come and that’s why I like this,” he said of the event.

Jayme Walker, an ally who’s a past president of the trial lawyers association, echoed Kaufman’s comments.