2009 Beacon of Justice Award
Chief Justice Ronald M. George
California Supreme Court

Chief Justice Ronald M George was recognized for his unprecedented commitment to access to justice for all the citizens of California particularly those lower income Californians. He is renowned for working tirelessly to modernize Californias court system and make it more service-oriented. Throughout his career as a lawyer and on the Bench, the Chief Justice has frequently authored publications and lectured at educational programs. He has won praise for his dedication to the rule of law. Chief Justice George has promoted the availability of legal representation to those who cannot afford it. He has encouraged law firms to devote hours to pro bono activities and helped to launch the Californias legal self-help website. His tremendous ongoing efforts to improve our legal system and make its benefits available to all exemplify the ideals behind the Beacon of Justice Award.

2008 Beacon of Justice Award
Justice Arthur Gilbert
California Court of Appeal
Second District

Justice Arthur Gilbert was recognized for his exemplary service and significant contributions to the quality of justice, legal scholarship and legal education.  The quality of his writing earned him the title of the Court of Appeal’s “poet laureate.”  For over two decades Justice Gilbert has taught justices and judges the philosophy of judging, the art of crafting opinions and the effective performance of their jobs.  He has served as faculty, speaker and panelist for numerous educational and judicial conferences and received the Bernard S Jefferson Award for his many contributions to legal education.  He created the Legal Philosophy Curricula for California’s Continuing Judicial Studies Program and the California Judges College.  Justice Gilbert has taught Anglo American Jurisprudence to judges throughout the world, including Hungary, Russia and Serbia. 

2007 Beacon of Justice Award
Shirley and Seth Hufstedler
Morrison & Foerster
Los Angeles

Shirley and Seth Hufstedler were recognized for their lifelong commitment to justice and the distinction with which they served.  Throughout their lives, they set the standard for service whether on the bench or within the bar.  They served the community at the highest levels of public service and as champions for women and minorities in the legal profession.  They are consistent and caring nuturers of the numerous lawyers who lives they touched.  They are known as risk takers and trailblazers in all they have accomplished.

2006 Beacon of Justice Award
Justice Earl Johnson
California Court of Appeal
Second District

Justice Earl Johnson was recognized for his distinguished record as an appellate court justice, having served the California Court of Appeal, Second District for 24 years.  His more than 600 published and nearly 3000 unpublished opinions have led to numerous awards and earned praise from California’s leading scholar, the late Bernard Witkin.  As a scholar and teacher, Justice Johnson co-authored 17 books and over 50 articles, including landmark books on legal services for the poor, Justice and Reform, and, Toward Equal Justice.  He has been an innovative leader for over four decades in bringing justice to the poor, from heading the country’s Legal Services Program in the 1960’s to chairing the California Commission on Access to Justice in 2002.  He established the National Equal Justice Library now housed at Georgetown University Law Center.  Justice Johnson is respected and admired by the legal community and epitomizes all that the Award represents.  He has inspired and mentored many within the legal community; he has opened the doors of justice to many more.  

2005 Beacon of Justice Award
Presiding Justice Norman L. Epstein
California Court of Appeal
Second District

Justice Norman L Epstein’s commitment to excellence, his generosity and collegiality are legendary.  For nearly 30 years, Justice Epstein served the bench with distinction and the legal community with honor.  First appointed to the Municipal Court in 1975 by Governor Reagan, he was elevated to the Superior Court in 1980 by Governor Brown, and subsequently appointed to the California Court of Appeal, Second District, by Governor George Deukmejian.  In 2005 he was appointed Presiding Justice of Division Four by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.  Justice Epstein is also highly regarded as a scholar, author, teacher, mentor and community leader.  He is respected for his knowledge and application of civil and criminal law.  He served as Dean of the California Judicial College and Chair of the Litigation Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. 

2003 - 50th Anniversary of the Main Library Building

In 2003, the first Friends event celebrated the 50th anniversary of the LA Law Library's Main Library Building by naming it in honor of Presiding Justice Mildred L Lillie.  Justice Lillie had an extraordinary career that spanned 55 years and included many “firsts.”  In 1942, she became one of the first women to serve as an assistant US attorney in Los Angeles.  In 1947, she was appointed the Municipal Court and two years later was elevated to the Superior Court.  She was the youngest judge and the first woman ever assigned to sit in criminal court in Los Angeles County.  In 1958 she became the first woman appointed to the California Court of Appeal, Second District  and served with distinction for 44 years until her death in 2002.  Justice Lillie was a legal scholar, skilled at writing, decisive, determined, and indefatigable; she was dedicated to fairness and to the law.