5:30 - 7:30 p.m. PST
Pathways To The Bench will feature Judicial Appointments Secretary Luis Céspedes, who will give a keynote address sharing insights on the pathway for lawyers to pursue a career to become a Judge in California. In addition, a panel of esteemed local Superior Court Judges will provide first-hand advice and discuss the qualifications, challenges and rewards of a judicial career. This is an amazing opportunity to gain valuable knowledge from leaders in the legal field. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to network and gain insights from newly appointed Superior Court Judges.
Whether you're a law student, pre-law student, faculty, recent graduate or an attorney simply curious about applying to the bench this event is perfect for you. Don't miss this chance to learn about the different paths to becoming a judge! Get ready to be inspired and take the next step in your legal career!
Time: 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Complementary Wine and Appetizers
Sponsored by:
Stanislaus County Unity Bar Association | College of the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
The Office of the Governor of the State of California | Stan State Court Observer Program
Event Program
View the activities for the program below.
Stanislaus County Unity Bar Association
Thank you for joining us today for this special event. The Stanislaus County Unity Bar Association’s mission is to promote unity, diversity, and inclusion within the legal profession. Our goal is to advance issues relating to diversity, which includes promoting diversity on the bench, supporting communities that have been historically underrepresented within the legal profession, and combating discrimination of all kinds. We are a group of diverse lawyers who work, live, or practice law in Stanislaus County.
If you would like to learn more about future Unity Bar events, please follow our social media pages:
Instagram: @stanunitybar
Facebook: Stanislaus County Unity Bar Association
About Secretary Luis Céspedes
Thank you to Judicial Appointments Secretary, Luis Céspedes, for joining us today. Secretary Céspedes was appointed by Governor Newsom and sworn in on December 10, 2020. Secretary Céspedes was born in Santa Maria, California and at the age of 15, went on strike with the United Farm Workers during their early struggle for better wages and working conditions for farmworkers. He earned a scholarship to Occidental College in Los Angeles, receiving both his B.A. and M.A. degrees. He then attended U.C. Berkeley School of Law and was admitted to the State Bar of California in May of 1981. In 1987, Secretary Céspedes co-founded the renowned Unity Bar Association of Sacramento. He was named “Distinguished Attorney of the Year” in 2018 by the Sacramento County Bar Association and was included in the Daily Journal’s roster of “Top 100 Lawyers” in 2021.
Schedule
Select the toggle to view the list of activities. We ask that you please reserve your questions for the end of the program.
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 5:30 - 6:20 p.m. | Reception |
| 6:20-6:25 p.m. | Introductory Remarks Blake Wilson, Director of The Pre Law Minor and Supervisor of the Court Observer Program |
| 6:30-6:35 p.m. | Introductory Remarks Kendra Hall, President Stanislaus County Unity Bar |
| 6:35-6:50 p.m. | Secretary Luis Céspedes |
| 6:55-7:25 p.m. | Panel moderated by The Honorable Ricardo Cordova |
| 7:25-7:30 p.m. | Conclusory Remarks, The Honorable Ricardo Cordova |
Acknowledgments
The Stanislaus County Unity Bar Association is honored to have Secretary Luis Céspedes join us for this event.
Thank you to the panelists for joining us today:
- Judge David Hood
- Judge Saul Garcia
- Judge Marcus Mumford
- Judge Sweena Pannu
- Judge Maria Ramos Ratliff
Thank you to Stanislaus State University, the College of the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, the Department of Criminal Justice, the Office of the Governor of the State of California, and the Stanislaus State Court Observer Program for sponsoring this event.
Finally, thank you to the planning committee for helping organize this event:
- The Honorable Ricardo Cordova
- The Honorable Janine Highiet
- The Honorable Sonny Sandhu
- Roxanne Dominguez-Shell
- Shaun Wahid