SHEILA KUEHL

Los Angeles County Supervisor

Supervisor Sheila James Kuehl represents the nearly two million residents of Los Angeles County’s Third District, a population larger than 14 states and Washington, DC.  Supervisor Kuehl, who took office in December 2014, is known for her commitment to equality.  While in the State Legislature, she authored 171 bills that were signed into law, including legislation that prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender and disability in the workplace and sexual orientation in education.  WJC is proud to recognize Supervisor Kuehl as a Champion of Justice.

Supervisor Kuehl served eight years in the State Senate and six years in the State Assembly.  She is the Founding Director of the Public Policy Institute at Santa Monica College.  She was the first woman in California history to be named Speaker Pro Tempore of the Assembly, and the first openly gay or lesbian person to be elected to the California Legislature.  Kuehl served as chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, Natural Resources and Water Committee, and Budget Subcommittee on Water, Energy and Transportation, as well as the Assembly Judiciary Committee.

The 171 laws she authored that were signed into law include legislation to:  establish paid family leave; establish nurse to patient ratios in hospitals; and protect the Santa Monica Mountains.  She also fought to establish universal health insurance in California.  As a public-interest attorney prior to her election to the Legislature, Kuehl drafted and worked to get into California law legislation relating to children, families, women and domestic violence.  She taught at Loyola, UCLA and USC Law Schools and co-founded the California Women’s Law Center. 

Learn more at supervisorkuehl.com

Girardi | Keese

Girardi | Keese is not only a law firm – it is a Justice firm.  From individuals personally injured by trauma, defective products, and toxic torts, to classes of people harmed by unfair laws, and small businesses struggling in the marketplace, GK brings both hope and justice to those who have neither.  By “shaping laws that help protect people” – GK provides justice for all, and lives Judge Learned Hand’s “Spirit of Liberty” by being a place at which “no sparrow falls unheeded.”  GK does that also by its commitment to community as its members, attorneys and staff serve as volunteers for a variety of organizations, including on the Board of WJC, and give of their time, money and spirit to help those in need.  Girardi | Keese is a valued ally of WJC, helping to create safe and welcoming schools and communities where differences are valued.  Girardi | Keese defines being a Defender of Justice.

Girardi | Keese (GK) has been involved in groundbreaking cases since its founding in 1965 – from toxic tort lawsuits against utility companies (including the case that inspired the film Erin Brockovich), product cases against pharmaceutical companies, to precedent-setting personal injury cases.  GK also brings crucial legal issues to the public:  Listeners in California and around the world tune in weekly to Champions of Justice, a program hosted by Thomas V. Girardi to hear from judges, attorneys, professors, legislators and other public figures about today’s headline-generating legal challenges.

Learn more at girardikeese.com

City National Bank

Community involvement is part of City National’s DNA, and its colleagues and programs help ensure a brighter, more economically vibrant, and peaceful future for the areas they serve. WJC applauds City National’s efforts to promote literacy and instill a life-long love of learning, through education and outreach. City National’s Reading is The way up program has provided more than $1 million in grants to teachers to help them achieve their goals, placed volunteer readers in schools, and given more than 300,000 books to school libraries. Its Dollars + Sense Financial Literacy program provides much-needed financial management lessons to teens and adults, helping to create more responsible citizens and strengthen communities. City National believes in making a difference – in helping others on “The way up.” We honor City National as an Advocate of Justice.

City National Bank provides banking, investment and trust services through 75 offices, including 16 full-service regional centers in Southern California, the San Francisco Bay Area, Nevada, New York City, Nashville and Atlanta. City National and its investment affiliates manage or administer $61.1 billion in client investment assets, including $47.7 billion under direct management. City National has been named a top wealth manager by Barron’s for 14 years in a row. Learn more at cnb.com