UNIVERSITY OF SAN FRANCISCO SCHOOL OF LAW
Second Chance Summit
October 10, 2024
9:00 AM-5:30 PM PT
Resentencing, rehabilitation, and reentry programs hold the key to welcoming back those who have paid their debt to society while keeping our communities safe.
Join us for the 2024 Barnett Chair Second Chance Summit for wide-ranging discussions exploring how innovative legislation, programs, and outside-the-box thinking are propelling the movement for criminal justice reform. This full-day symposium features voices from across the criminal justice system including members of the judiciary, public defenders, prosecutors, victims’ advocates and community organizers. Alameda County Chief Public Defender Brendon Woods JD '96 will give the keynote address with a reception to follow.
SPEAKERS: David Angel
Assistant, District Attorney
Office of the District Attorney, County of Santa Clara; Rebecca Brackman,
Assistant Public Defender, Post Conviction & Strategic Litigation Unit
Contra Costa Public Defenders; Kate Chatfield, Chief of Staff, California State Senator Nancy Skinner; Brendan Conroy, Judge, Superior Court of San Francisco County; LaDoris Hazzard Cordell, Retired Judge, Superior Court of Santa Clara County; LaNaisha Edwards, CA CSSJ Member Engagement Associate, Alliance for Safety and Justice; Tony Huynh, Post Conviction Justice Project Client; Brooke Jenkins, District Attorney, San Francisco District Attorney's Office; Daniel Lowenthal,
Judge
Superior Court of Los Angeles County; Kaitlyn McCarthy,
Attorney, County of San Diego Office of the Public Defender; Tom Nosewicz, Legal Director, California Committee on Revision of the Penal Code; Lisa R. Rodriguez, Judge, San Diego Superior Court; Michael Romano,
Director, Three Strikes Project; Lecturer in Law
Stanford Law School; Heidi Rummel, Clinical Professor of Law and Director, Post-Conviction Justice Project, University of Southern California Gould School of Law; Jennifer Shaffer,
Executive Officer, California Parole Board of Parole Hearings; Thomas Stevens, Judge
Superior Court, County of Alameda; Phil Ting, Assembly Member
California State Assembly; Danielle Wilkins, Attorney, Legal Fellow, Post-Conviction Justice Project, University of Southern California; Brendon Woods, Chief Public Defender, Alameda County Public Defenders
MCLE: 5 Credit Hours
DATE/TIME/LOCATION
McLaren Conference Center
2130 Fulton Street
San Francisco, CA 94117
Fundraisers
The Relf Sisters Fund
UPDATE, MAY 26, 2023: Hello everyone! Just a little update on The Relf Sisters and this effective campaign. We have managed to raise $75,000 for the sisters, with support from as far away as Seattle, to assist us with our goal.
This has been an amazing journey and outpouring of support for Mary, Minnie Lee, and Katie. The remaining funds will purchase a privacy fence for the backyard of their newly purchased three-bedroom one bath home.
WE BOUGHT THEM A HOUSE! THANK YOU FOR BEING THERE FOR MARY AND MINNIE RELF... read more
The Fund is administered and facilitated by Faith
Crusade Ministries; 100% of the proceeds will benefit the Relf Sisters.
Marcus Books 60th Anniversary Fundraiser
Marcus Books is the oldest independent Black bookstore in the country. At Marcus Books “Black” is not a subject, a single month, or a niche; it is the universe. "Black" is not just history; it is the present and the future.
OCTOBER 31, 2021 – “Today I signed 200 books at Marcus Books in Oakland! So proud to meet Blanche Richardson, the owner whose parents founded Marcus Books 61 years ago. Support our independent COMMUNITY bookstores when you order Her Honor!” –LaDoris Cordell
YCS Fundraiser
Founded in 1990 as a collaboration between the cities of Palo Alto and East Palo Alto, Youth Community Service actively works with youth and community leaders to engage in a wide range of public service projects throughout the Mid-Peninsula region of the San Francisco Bay Area.
Help Youth Community Service create a culture of service at our schools by touching each student with the love of service learning!
PAST EVENTS
COMMONWEALTH CLUB WORLD AFFAIRS OF CALIFORNIA PRESENTS:
DON LEMON: My Search for God in America
In conversation with Judge LaDoris Cordell (ret.)
Monday, September 16, 2024 / 12:00 PM PDT
LIVE STREAM ONLY: Journalist Don Lemon says he always had a complicated relationship with God. He cherished the Southern Black church he was raised in, but struggled with the fundamentalist rejection of his right to exist as a gay man—one who wanted to marry his longtime love in a church wedding with all the traditional trimmings. In his work as a reporter, moreover, he saw his fellow Americans losing faith in a higher power, in institutions, and in each other.
Setting out to understand the place that religion has in our lives today, Lemon turned a journalistic eye on ancient stories and found connections that sparked memories, conversations, and chance encounters. Then, suddenly, his world unraveled: In a blaze of inglorious headlines, Don was ousted from his high-profile network news job and tasked with redefining his role in the shifting media landscape. But through a year of personal changes and professional whiplash, he kept his “eyes on the prize” and ultimately found what he was seeking: grace, within himself and in this nation we call home.
Rich with humor and Louisiana realness, his new book I Once Was Lost is a prayer for a country that reflects the multifaceted image of God and a clarion call to those who believe in our common humanity enough to fight for it. Join us for an online-only talk with Don Lemon about faith and how tribulations can make us stronger, as individuals and as a nation.
NOTES
This program is online only; pre-register to receive a link to the live-stream.
The Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California is a nonprofit public forum; we welcome donations made during registration to support the production of our programming.
Copies of I Once Was Lost are available for purchase during checkout (U.S. domestic shipping only).
This program is part of our Good Lit series, underwritten by the Bernard Osher Foundation.
DATE/TIME/LOCATION
Monday, September 16, 2024
12-1 PM(all times Pacific Time)
LIVE STREAM ONLY
All ticket sales are final and nonrefundable.
Lemon photo by David Urbanke.
COMMONWEALTH CLUB OF CALIFORNIA PRESENTS:
Karen Valby and Karlya Shelton-Benjamin: The Swans of Harlem
In conversation with Retired Judge LaDoris Cordell.
Monday, May 13, 2024 / 3:00 PM PDT
LIVE STREAM: learn about the forgotten story of a pioneering group of five Black ballerinas and their 50-year sisterhood, a legacy unknown—until now.
At the height of the Civil Rights Movement, Lydia Abarca was a Black prima ballerina with a major international dance company—the Dance Theatre of Harlem, a troupe of women and men who became each other’s chosen family. She was the first Black company ballerina on the cover of Dance magazine, an Essence cover star; she was cast in The Wiz and in a Bob Fosse production on Broadway. She performed in some of ballet’s most iconic works with other trailblazing ballerinas, including the young women who became her closest friends—founding Dance Theatre of Harlem members Gayle McKinney-Griffith and Sheila Rohan, as well as first-generation dancers Karlya Shelton and Marcia Sells.
These Swans of Harlem performed for the Queen of England, Mick Jagger, and Stevie Wonder, on the same bill as Josephine Baker, at the White House, and beyond. But decades later there was almost no record of their groundbreaking history to be found.
Out of a sisterhood that had grown even deeper with the years, these Swans joined forces again—to share their story with the world.
Join us online for a lively discussion revealing the glamour and grit of professional ballet, a riveting account of five extraordinarily accomplished women, a celebration of both their historic careers and the sustaining, grounding power of female friendship—and a window into the robust history of Black ballet, hidden for too long.
NOTES
This program is online only; pre-register to receive a link to the live-stream.
The Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California is a nonprofit public forum; we welcome donations made during registration to support the production of our programming.
Copies of The Swans of Harlem are available for purchase during checkout (U.S. domestic shipping only).
This program is part of our Good Lit series, underwritten by the Bernard Osher Foundation.
DATE/TIME/LOCATION
Monday, May 13, 2024
3–4 p.m. program
(all times Pacific Time)
LIVE STREAM
All ticket sales are final and nonrefundable.
CAL LAW PATHWAYS PRESENTS:
LAW DAY 2024
Voices of Democracy: The Court's Role in Protecting the Rule of Law
This insightful session, moderated by the esteemed retired Judge Ladoris Hazzard Cordell, will feature a discussion with Superior Court Judge Erica Yew and Associate Justice Thomas A. Delaney.
Engage with our distinguished speakers as they discuss the judiciary's critical role in upholding democracy and the rule of law.
Don't miss out on this special celebration of Law Day and the 10th anniversary of Cal LAW Pathways!
DATE/TIME/LOCATION
May 1, 2024
Noon, Pacific Time
*ONLINE*
The Honorable Ladoris Hazzard Cordell is a retired Judge of the Superior Court of Santa Clara County; the Honorable Erica Yew is a Judge of the Superior Court of Santa Clara County and President of the California Judges Association, and the Honorable Thomas A. Delaney is an Associate Justice of the Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division Three, and President of the Latino Judges Association.
COMMONWEALTH CLUB OF CALIFORNIA PRESENTS:
Excessive Punishment: How the Justice System Creates Mass Incarceration
Wednesday, April 3, 2024 / 6:00 PM PDT
How can we reimagine the justice system to support restoration instead of retribution?
Our panelists believe the American criminal justice system cannot reduce its dependence on mass incarceration until we confront our impulse to punish in ways that are excessive, often wildly disproportionate to the harm caused. Instead, our panel will explore the transformative power of second chances, including those who have benefited from them—and those who advocate to ensure our system provides them.
Prompting this discussion is the publication of a series of essays, Excessive Punishment: How the Justice System Creates Mass Incarceration, that trace how a maze of local, state and federal agencies have contributed to mass incarceration and deterred attempts at reform.
Kevin McCracken from The Last Mile, Michael Mendoza, and Ken Oliver from the Checkr Foundation will join L.B. Eisen from the Brennan Center for Justice and retired Judge LaDoris Cordell for a thoughtful conversation on the second chances their organizations are providing and efforts to reform the existing criminal justice system.
NOTES
This program has 2 types of tickets available: in-person and online-only. Please pre-register to receive a link to the live-stream event.
If you have symptoms of illness (coughing, fever, etc.), we ask that you either stay home or wear a mask. Our front desk has complimentary masks for members and guests who would like one.
Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California is a nonprofit public forum; we welcome donations made during registration to support the production of our programming.
Copies of Excessive Punishment are available for purchase during checkout (U.S. domestic shipping only).
DATE/TIME/LOCATION
Wednesday, April 3, 2024
5:30 p.m. doors open & check-in
6-7 p.m. program
7 p.m. book signing
(all times Pacific Time)
In-person:
The Commonwealth Club of California
110 The Embarcadero
Taube Family Auditorium
San Francisco, CA 94105
Online:
Please pre-register to receive a link to the live-stream event.
All ticket sales are final and nonrefundable.
The above photos are courtesy of the panelists. From left: Ken Oliver, Executive Director, Checkr Foundation; Kevin McCracken, Chief Growth Officer, The Last Mile; L.B. Eisen, Senior Director of the Justice Program, Brennan Center for Justice, New York University School of Law, and Editor of Excessive Punishment: How the Justice System Creates Mass Incarceration; Michael Mendoza, Former Director of Advocacy, Anti-Recidivism Coalition and Member Practitioner, Office of Juvenile Justice, and Retired Judge LaDoris Cordell, Author of Her Honor: My Life on the Bench…What Works, What’s Broken, and How to Change It.
COMMONWEALTH CLUB OF CALIFORNIA PRESENTS:
Dylan Penningroth: The Hidden History of Black Civil Rights
In conversation with LaDoris Cordell
Thursday, February 22, 2024
The story of the American Civil Rights Movement is often told like this: The country's legal system shut out Black people and refused to recognize their rights, dignity, or even their lives. When lynch mobs formed, police and judges often closed their eyes, if they didn't join in. The law was hostile to Black people. Then in the 1940s, a few brave lawyers began to take on the law, and soon ordinary African Americans were spurred by Supreme Court victories and by racial justice activists into launching the Civil Rights Movement.
UC Berkeley historian Dr. Dylan Penningroth revised that conventional story, and he tells a deeper history in his new book Before the Movement. He'll come to the Club for an in-person, in-depth discussion of how he drew on long-forgotten sources found in the basements of county courthouses across the nation to uncover the ways that African Americans, far from being ignorant about the law until the mid-20th century, have thought about it, talked about it and used it as far back as the era of slavery. They dealt constantly with the laws of property, contract, inheritance, marriage, and divorce, of associations (such as churches, businesses, and activist groups), and more. By exercising these “rights of everyday use,” Penningroth demonstrates, they made Black rights seem unremarkable. And in innumerable subtle ways, they helped shape the law itself―the laws all of us live under today.
Join us as Penningroth, a MacArthur "genius grant" recipient, challenges the accepted understandings of Black history and puts Black people back at the center of their story.
NOTES
This program has 2 types of tickets available: in-person and online-only. Please pre-register to receive a link to the live-stream event.
If you have symptoms of illness (coughing, fever, etc.), we ask that you either stay home or wear a mask. Our front desk has complimentary masks for members and guests who would like one.
Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California is a nonprofit public forum; we welcome donations made during registration to support the production of our programming.
Copies of Before the Movement are available for purchase during checkout (U.S. domestic shipping only).
DATE/TIME/LOCATION
Thursday, February 22, 2024
5 p.m. doors open/check-in
5:30–6:30 p.m. program
7 p.m. book signing
(all times Pacific)
In-person:
The Commonwealth Club of California
110 The Embarcadero
Toni Rembe Rock Auditorium
San Francisco, CA 94105
Online tickets available
Please pre-register to receive a link to the live-stream event.
All ticket sales are final and nonrefundable.
Speaker photo by Saroyan Humphrey
Forum On the Importance of an Independent Judiciary
PRESENTED BY LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS
OF SAN FRANCISCO
How to Elect Fair and Independent Courts
This is a virtual event.
Understanding our courts is vital to preserving justice. Join us for an informative discussion on why independent judiciaries matter and how voters can thoughtfully evaluate judicial candidates. Learn from esteemed jurists about the courts' local, county, and state roles. Educate yourself on our judicial system before you cast your ballot. With nonpartisan insights from prominent judges, this event will empower you to consider qualifications over money and politics when choosing the judges who serve our communities. Leave informed and inspired about citizens' impact in upholding the integrity of America's courts.
The highly-recognized and award-winning members of the panel will include:
Judge LaDoris Hazzard Cordell (ret.)–the first African American woman to sit on the Superior Court of Northern California, and author of the award-winning memoir “Her Honor: My Life on the Bench…What Works, What’s Broken and How to Change It.”
Justice Teri Jackson–the first African American woman to serve as Presiding Justice of the First Appellate District, Division Five. Justice Jackson has served on several impactful statewide committees, such as the Pretrial Detention Work Group, which resulted in a fairer risk- vs. money-based system of release and detention.
Justice Anthony Kline (ret.)–the former Presiding Justice of the First District Court of Appeal, Division Two, and one of the longest-serving members. Justice Kline also served as Legal Affairs Secretary for Gov. Jerry Brown, is a co-founder of Public Advocates, a nonprofit law firm and advocacy organization challenging the systemic causes of poverty and racial discrimination. He is a leader in several civic organizations focused on youth and conservation.
Judge Lillian Sing (ret.)–the first Asian American woman to serve as Judge of the Superior Court of the County of San Francisco and one of the longest-serving members. Judge Sing started the first Drug Court for San Francisco County and served on its Domestic Violence Court. She is a founding member of Chinese Affirmative Action, the Mei Wah Bilingual School, and the Rape of Nanking Redress Coalition. She served as chair of the California Asian American Judges Association.
Judge Julie Tang (ret.)–Judge of the Superior Court of the County of San Francisco and one of the longest-serving members. Judge Tang founded the Domestic Violence Court. Before her role on the Superior Court, Judge Tang served eight years as an Assistant District Attorney in San Francisco, handling criminal and family support enforcement cases.
Judge Erica Yew–the first Asian American Pacific Islander to serve as a Superior Court Judge of Santa Clara County and Chair of the California Judges Association. Judge Yew has served on various statewide committees focused on ethics, access, and fairness within the judicial system.
DATE/TIME/LOCATION
Thursday, February 1, 2024
6:00 - 7:15 pm PST
*A free online event*
ALJ Presents: A Booktalk with Judge LaDoris Cordell
Judge LaDoris Cordell will give a talk on her most recent book, Her Honor: My Life on the Bench … What Works, What’s Broken, and How to Change It (2021). In Her Honor, Judge Cordell provides a rare and thought-provoking insider account of our legal system, sharing vivid stories of the cases that came through her courtroom and revealing the strengths, flaws, and much-needed changes within our courts. Judge Cordell was the first African-American woman judge in all of Northern California when she was appointed to the bench in 1982. Since graduating from Stanford Law School in 1974, Judge Cordell has devoted her career in the law to creating greater access and equal justice for people of color and low-income individuals. An author, artist, vocalist, and pianist, she resides in Palo Alto with her partner and is the proud mother of two daughters. There will be ample time for questions following her talk, and Judge Cordell will be available to sign books.
DATE/TIME
Saturday, October 24, 2023
11:45- 1:15 PM
LOCATION
Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto
505 East Charleston Road
Palo Alto, CA 94306
In the Fireside Room and via ZOOM.
DIRECTIONS >>
An Afternoon with LaDoris Hazzard Cordell
PRESENTED ALPHA OMEGA CHAPTER DKG CALIFORNIA AND HAYWARD LIBRARY
As the first African-American woman to serve
as a judge on the Superior Court of Northern
California, Judge Cordell has a fascinating
story. She will share her inspiring life’s
journey, leading to an extraordinary life on the
bench, and culminating in her book, Her
Honor: My Life on the Bench...What Works,
What’s Broken, and How to Change It.
With
candor, Judge Cordell will share many of the
real cases over which she has presided; some with
humor, some with serious concern, all with compassion,
and with an eye toward justice for all. She will also outline
changes that can and should be made to improve our judicial system.
Masks are not required but are recommended
DATE/TIME
Saturday, October 14, 2023
1:00 - 2:30 PM
RSVP by September 25, 2023 to: dkgcaeditor@gmail.com or (510) 604-1744
LOCATION
Hayward Main Library
Fremont Bank Room A - 2nd Floor
888 C Street, Haward, CA
Renee Rettig, owner of Books on B in Haward, will be in attendance with copies of Her Honor available for purchase at a 10% discount. Judge Cordell will be happy to autograph books following her talk.
PRESENTED BY
SAN MATEO COUNTY LIBRARIES
Author Event With Retired Judge Ladoris Cordell, Author of Her Honor
Join us for a reading and discussion of Retired Judge LaDoris Cordell's book, Her Honor: My Life on the Bench...What Works, What's Broken, and How to Change It. In Her Honor, Judge LaDoris Hazzard Cordell provides a rare and thought-provoking insider account of our legal system, sharing vivid stories of the cases that came through her courtroom and revealing the strengths, flaws, and much-needed changes within our courts. Two events:
DATE/TIME/LOCATION
Monday, September 11, 2023
1:00PM – 2:00PM
Atherton Library
2 Dinkelspiel Station Lane
Atherton CA 94027
REGISTER
AND
DATE/TIME/LOCATION
Friday, September 15, 2023
11:00AM – 12:00PM
East Palo Alto Library
2415 University Avenue
East Palo Alto CA 94303
MORE INFO
HER HONOR: An Evening with Judge LaDoris Hazzard Cordell (ret.)
PRESENTED BY GOLDEN GATE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW
Join us for a book talk with the First Black Female Judge in Northern California & frequent commentator on NPR, CNN, and MSNBC. Co-Sponsored by GGU's RGSSJ Law Journal, BLSA & PAC
This event is open to all
In-person or via Zoom
RSVP Required
Catering provided
Book signing following the event
Masks are recommended
DATE/TIME/LOCATION
September 9, 2023
5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
GOLDEN GATE UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF LAW - RM 2202
536 Mission St.
San Francisco, CA 94105
PRESENTED BY
THE AMERICAN BOARD OF TRIAL ADVOCATES
SACRAMENTO VALLEY CHAPTER
Judges and Lawyers: Better Together - A Discussion About Preserving Judicial Independence
Judicial insights you won't want to miss!
• Ways to increase public confidence in our
state courts with the help of attorneys
• Code of Judicial Ethics
• CCP 170.6
• Recall
• Judicial mentors
MODERATOR
Letty Litchfield, Esq.
Law Offices of Letty Litchfield
President, Sacramento Valley Chapter of ABOTA
PRESENTER
Hon. Michael G. Bowman, Presiding Judge
Sacramento County Superior Court
PRESENTER
Hon. Andi Mudryk, Judge
Sacramento County Superior Court
PRESENTER
Hon. LaDoris H. Cordell, Ret.
Santa Clara County Superior Court
Author of: Her Honor: My Life on the Bench,
What Works, What's Broken, and How to Change It
DATE/TIME/LOCATION
July 13th, 2023
12:15 PM - 1:30 PM
Complimentary Webinar
Author Event with Retired Judge LaDoris Cordell, author of Her Honor
PRESENTED BY
SAN MATEO COUNTY LIBRARIES
Join us for a reading and discussion of Retired Judge LaDoris Cordell's book, Her Honor: My Life on the Bench...What Works, What's Broken, and How to Change It.
In Her Honor, Judge LaDoris Hazzard Cordell provides a rare and thought-provoking insider account of our legal system, sharing vivid stories of the cases that came through her courtroom and revealing the strengths, flaws, and much-needed changes within our courts.
Judge Cordell, the first African American woman to sit on the Superior Court of Northern California, knows firsthand how prejudice has permeated our legal system. And yet, she believes in the system. From ending school segregation to legalizing same-sex marriage, its progress relies on legal professionals and jurors who strive to make the imperfect system as fair as possible.
DATE/TIME/LOCATION
Saturday, June 3, 2023
2:00PM – 3:30PM
Belmont Library
1110 Alameda de las Pulgas
Belmont CA 94002
more info
DATE/TIME/LOCATION
Wednesday, June 7, 2023
11:30PM – 1:00PM
Atherton Library
2 Dinkelspiel Station Lane
Atherton CA 94027
more info
DATE/TIME/LOCATION
Friday, June 16, 2023
12:00PM
Portola Valley Library
765 Portola Rd
Portola Valley, CA 94028
Retired judge to speak at Mid-Pen, SM joint meeting
PRESENTED BY THE AAUW
MID-PEN AND SM BRANCHES
Retired Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge LaDoris Cordell will speak to the joint Mid-Peninsula and San Mateo Branches of the American Association of University Women (AAUW).
DATE/TIME/LOCATION
Saturday, May 13, 2023
2:00 P.M.
Redwood Shores Library
If you wish to socialize and enjoy some refreshments, please arrive at 1:30 P.M. so that our guest speaker can begin promptly at 2:00 P.M. We want to honor the time of our guest speaker.
(If you can’t make this presentation, Judge Cordell will speak to the Palo Alto branch on May 20, at 2 p.m., at Jane Stanford Middle School, 480 E. Meadow Drive, Palo Alto.)
Please RSVP by April 30!
The National Council of Jewish Women San Francisco
cordially invites you to our
2023 Awards Luncheon & Benefit
Join us for a special celebration honoring extraordinary achievements and benefiting programs to improve the quality of life for women, children, and families.
HANNAH G. SOLOMON AWARD
The Hon. LaDoris Hazzard Cordell
Superior Court Judge (Ret.)
OUTSTANDING VISIONARY & HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATE AWARD
The Hon. Nancy Skinner
California State Senator
District 9
OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Katie Koyfman
Vice President
NCJW San Francisco
DATE/TIME/LOCATION
Sunday, May 7, 2023
11:30 am-2:00 pm
Presidio Golf & Concordia Club 8
Presidio Terrace
San Francisco, CA 94118
Admission is free for students. Please email us at antonialavine@ncjwsf.org
Judge LaDoris Cordell Speaks on Our Legal System
PRESENTED BY PENINSULA PEACE
AND JUSTICE CENTER
HER HONOR
My Life on the Bench …
What Works, What’s Broken,
and How to Change It
In "Her Honor," Judge LaDoris Hazzard Cordell provides a rare and thought-provoking insider account of our legal system, sharing vivid stories of the cases that came through her courtroom and revealing the strengths, flaws, and much-needed changes within our courts.
Judge Cordell, the first African American woman to sit on the Superior Court of Northern California, knows firsthand how prejudice has permeated our legal system. And yet, she believes in the system. From ending school segregation to legalizing same-sex marriage, its progress relies on legal professionals and jurors who strive to make the imperfect system as fair as possible.
Cordell’s candid account of her years on the bench shines light on all areas of the legal system, from juvenile delinquency and the shift from rehabilitation to punishment, along with the racial biases therein, to the thousands of plea bargains that allow our overburdened courts to stay afloat―as long as innocent people are willing to plead guilty.
Copies of Her Honor will be available for sale and signing. Judge Cordell will also be happy to sign previously purchased copies. To get a copy of Her Honor in advance of the program, may we suggest you order online from our good friends at Reach & Teach Books – Hardcover or Paperback.
In light of the fact that this event will mark PPJC’s return to in-person programs after a long hiatus due to the pandemic, please join us after Judge Cordell’s talk for a “Welcome Back” Ice Cream Social. (Our treat!)
DATE/TIME/LOCATION
SATURDAY, MAY 6, 2023
Noon
Outdoor Courtyard
First Presbyterian Church
1140 Cowper St, Palo Alto
or *ONLINE*
Webinar
Graciously cosponsored by the Social Justice Ministry of First Presbyterian Church of Palo Alto
Women Authors Making History: Past, Present, and Future
PRESENTED BY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S FORUM, CONNECTICUT
Join the International Women's Forum (IWFCT) for a special virtual event celebrating women authors during Women's History Month. The event will be chaired and moderated by the IWFCT Program Committee member Leslie Grossman, Faculty Director of Executive Women's Leadership at The George Washington University's Center for Excellence in Public Leadership.
IWFCT is proud to present its partnership with Girls With Impact at the beginning of this event. Girls With Impact, a 501c3, is the nation’s only live, online mini-MBA for under-served young women, offered year-round. The Business and Leadership Academy moves learners from ideation to a business plan and venture pitch, driving improvements in confidence, leadership, college readiness, and professional skills for success. Girls With Impact partners with corporations and foundations that make its work possible. Visit www.girlswithimpact.org.
We will be showcasing a graduate of the Business and Leadership Academy, who will discuss her completed business plan and experience.
Betsy Prioleau
Cultural historian and author of Diamonds and Deadlines: A Tale of Greed, Deceit, and a Female Tycoon in the Gilded Age
Judge LaDoris Hazzard Cordell
Author of Her Honor: My Life on the Bench: What Works, What's Broken and
How to Change It
Katharine Manning
Founder, Blackbird DC and author of The Empathetic Workplace: Five Steps to a Compassionate, Calm, and Confident Response to Trauma in the Workplace
DATE/TIME/LOCATION
Wednesday, March 22, 2023
5:30 - 6:00 PM EST, Girls with Impact
6:00 - 7:00 PM EST, Author Panel
*ONLINE*
CASTRO VALLEY LIBRARY PRESENTS:
All Rise for Judge LaDoris Hazzard Cordell
Don’t miss this special opportunity to hear from retired judge LaDoris Hazzard Cordell, the first Black woman judge in Northern California.
She’ll discuss her new book, Her Honor, and her legal career spanning five decades. Her insights forged as a lawyer, law professor, Santa Clara County Superior Court judge, and police auditor, can help make the justice system work better for us all.
A question and answer period will follow her presentation. Signed books will be sold by event partner Books on B of Hayward.
DATE/TIME/LOCATION
Sunday, February 26, 2023
2:00 pm – 3:30 pm (PST)
Castro Valley Library
3600 Norbridge Ave
Castro Valley CA 94546
HAYWARD LIBRARY PRESENTS:
Her Honor: An Afternoon with
Judge LaDoris Hazzard Cordell
Join us for a reading and discussion of Her Honor: My Life on the Bench...What Works, What's Broken, and How to Change It with Judge (retired) LaDoris Hazzard Cordell.
Free and open to all! A book sale and signing hosted by Books on B follows the event!
Since graduating from Stanford Law School in 1974, Judge Cordell has devoted her career in the law to creating greater access and equal justice for people of color and low-income individuals. In 1982, Governor Jerry Brown appointed Judge Cordell to the Municipal Court of Santa Clara County, making her the first African American woman judge in northern California. In 1988, Judge Cordell was elected to the Superior Court of Santa Clara County.
In Her Honor, Judge LaDoris Hazzard Cordell provides a rare and thought-provoking insider account of our legal system, sharing vivid stories of the cases that came through her courtroom and revealing the strengths, flaws, and much-needed changes within our courts.
DATE/TIME/LOCATION
Saturday, February 18, 2023
3:00 pm (PST)
Downtown Library
Fremont Bank Room, 2nd Floor
888 C Street, Hayward, CA
For more information:
phone: (510) 293-7173
email: ricardo.antoni@hayward-ca.gov
Supported by the Friends of the Hayward Library.
Her Honor: A Conversation with Judge LaDoris Hazzard Cordell
PRESENTED BY THE PARENT EDUCATION SERIES
As the first female African American judge in Northern California, and the first female African American Superior Court judge in Santa Clara County, LaDoris Hazzard Cordell was a trailblazer in the courtroom and beyond.
In her debut book, Her Honor, Judge Cordell provides a rare insider account of our legal system, sharing vivid stories of the cases that came through her courtroom and revealing the strengths and flaws within our courts. From supporting restorative justice to ending school segregation, she strove to make the imperfect system as fair as possible.
Free admission; simultaneous Spanish interpretation will be available.
DATE/TIME/LOCATION
Thurs, February 9, 2023
5:30 pm – 6:30 pm (PST) *ONLINE*
The Parent Education Series is a program of The Parent Venture, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
BLACK, FACULTY, STAFF, AND ADMINISTRATORS (BFSA) PRESENTS:
Honoring Dr. King: A Talk with Judge LaDoris Cordell
This year, the BFSA Network will host Judge LaDoris Cordell as the speaker for this annual event honoring the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. Join us for an engaging discussion on justice ahead of the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday.
DATE/TIME/LOCATION
Thursday, January 12, 2023
Noon-1:30 pm (PST)
DeAnza College
Conference Rooms A&B
(Upper level of the Campus Center)
Women Supporting Women to Drive Transformational Change
Presented by The George Washington University's Center for Excellence in Public Leadership (GW CEPL)
We invite you to join us at a very special online event to mark the launch of the Global Women's Leadership Channel on CommPRO.biz.
The launch event will feature an engaging Roundtable Conversation of prominent women leaders discussing "Women Supporting Women to Drive Transformational Change."
MODERATOR: Leslie Grossman, Senior Fellow, and Faculty Director, Executive Women's Leadership, The Center for Excellence in Public Leadership @George Washington University
GUESTS: Sarvenaz Bakhtiar, Executive Director, Lift Our Voices; The Honorable Judge LaDoris Hazzard Cordell; Katharine Manning, President, Blackbird DC; Monica Talan, Founder, CryptoConexión
DATE/TIME/LOCATION
Thursday, December 1, 2022
1-2:15 pm EST *ONLINE*
WORLD PREMIERE: 2022 Meet the Press Film Festival
THE RECALL
California Judge Aaron Persky was recalled in 2018 after his decision in the infamous Brock Turner assault case, raising questions about accountability. Courtesy of MSNBC Films
Director: Rebecca Richman Cohen
INCLUDED SHORTS
The Sentence of Michael Thompson (25min)
Living While American (26min)
The Recall (20min)
IN-PERSON DATE/TIME
November 15, 2022
9:15 pm (EST)
IN-PERSON LOCATION
Cinepolis Chelsea
260 W 23rd St
New York, NY 10011
AVAILABLE ONLINE
11/9/22 12:00 AM thru 11/27/22 11:59 PM
Grace Forum with LaDoris Hazzard Cordell: Her Honor
PRESENTED BY GRACE CATHEDRAL
As the Senate's Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson made clear, an understanding of the judicial system is more important than ever.
In Her Honor: My Life on the Bench...What Works, What's Broken, and How to Change It, Judge LaDoris Hazzard Cordell provides a rare and thought-provoking insider account of our legal system, sharing vivid stories of the cases that came through her courtroom and revealing the strengths, flaws, and much-needed changes within our courts.
Join attorney and Grace Cathedral Trustee Tobias Keller in a conversation with Judge Cordell about what our legal system, for better or worse, means to the everyday lives of all Americans.
DATE/TIME/LOCATION
Sunday, October 16, 2022
9:30 am - 10:30 am (PDT)
Grace Cathedral
Gresham Hall
1100 California Street
San Francisco, CA 94108
PENINSULA PEACE AND JUSTICE CENTER PRESENTS:
Judge LaDoris Cordell on the Supreme Court: New Term, New Outrages?
Last term, the Supreme Court stripped women of their Constitutional right to an abortion while they expanded the rights of gun owners. The conservative majority also imposed severe new constraints on the power of regulatory agencies and further dismantled the wall of separation between church and state.
As the Justices begin a new term, a person would be fully justified to fear what’s next.
DATE/TIME/LOCATION
Thursday, October 13, 2022
7:00 pm– 8:00 pm (PDT) *ONLINE*
Free and open to the public
Registration Required
A Conversation with Honorable Judge LaDoris Hazzard Cordell
PRESENTED BY WOODSIDE ARTS & CULTURE
Join us for a conversation with Judge Cordell, artist, writer, musician, and the first African American woman to sit on the Superior Court of Northern California. She knows firsthand how prejudice has permeated our legal system, and yet, she believes in the system. From Judicial Independence, and ending school segregation to legalizing same-sex marriage, its progress relies on legal professionals and jurors who strive to make the imperfect system as fair as possible.
DATE/TIME/LOCATION
August 5, 2022
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm (PDT) *ONLINE*
Bench Bar Luncheon
PRESENTED BY BENCH BAR COMMITTEE
Join the Lawyers Club of San Diego
for a luncheon featuring retired Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge LaDoris Cordell, author of Her Honor. Judge Cordell will share her views about her life on the bench – what works, what’s broken, and how to change it.
DATE/TIME/LOCATION
Tuesday, May 24, 2022
11:30 am - 1:15 pm (PDT)
James M. Carter and Judith N. Keep Jury Lounge, U.S. District Court Southern District of California
Join Us for an Evening That Will Elevate You
THE BAY AREA URBAN LEAGUE PRESENTS:
The Bay Area Urban Debate League (BAUDL) Awards Gala annually brings our community together for an inspiring evening of reflection, celebration and recognition.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Judge LaDoris Hazzard Cordell, the first African American woman to sit on the Superior Court in Northern California
DATE/TIME/LOCATION
Thursday, May 19, 2022
5 pm - 8 pm (PDT)
Salesforce East
Ohana Floor (30th Floor)
Celebrate at our Annual Spring Fundraiser
PRESENTED BY YOUTH COMMUNITY SERVICES
Join the YCS Community as we Reach Beyond with authors whose voices of resilience bring us all hope.
Hear our Keynote, Judge LaDoris Hazzard Cordell, reflect on her extraordinary career and personal experience, setting the context for an insightful conversation with three local authors. Together, they’ll explore the themes of diversity, inclusion, and social justice, inspiring hope and resilience.
FEATURING: Antonio de Jesus Lopez, author of “Gentefication”; Joanna Ho, author of “Eyes that Kiss in the Corners,” and Tonga Victoria, author of “Hyphen American.”
DATE/TIME/LOCATION
Thursday, April 14, 2022
7 pm - 8:15 pm
(PDT) *ONLINE*
BRUNCH WITH JENNIFER ESTEEN:
We can help make history!
Support Jen Esteen, who will be the first Black/Jewish/Lesbian to be elected to the California Assembly.
A candidate for East Bay Assembly District 20: Jennifer is a registered nurse, mom, and community leader who advocates for affordable housing, health care, and a Bay Area where working families can thrive.
Join Jackie Wheeler, Mansi Shah, Ollivette Smith, Judy Ocken and LaDoris Cordell for brunch to meet and hear from Jennifer Esteen.
Because Jennifer is not accepting corporate donations – we need your help to seed this grassroots campaign!
DATE/TIME/LOCATION
Saturday, April 9, 2022
10 am - Noon (PDT)
Palo Alto, CA
CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM LOCAL EFFORTS & IMPACT
PRESENTED BY THE NCJW DIVERSITY AND RACIAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE
Featured speakers: Chesa Boudin, San Francisco District Attorney, The Honorable LaDoris Hazzard Cordell, California Superior Court Judge (Ret.), Former Police Auditor for the City of San Jose, Otis R. Taylor, Jr., Supervising Senior Editor of Race and Equity at KQED. FREE
DATE/TIME/LOCATION
MARCH 1, 2022
5:30 pm - 6:45 pm (PST) *ONLINE*
An Author Event with Judge Cordell
PRESENTED BY SAUSALITO BOOKS BY THE BAY
An insightful memoir from the first African American woman to sit on the Superior Court of Northern California, Judge Cordell knows first-hand how prejudice had permeated our legal system and yet still believed in the system. A provocative look into the hearts and minds of those sitting on the bench.
DATE/TIME/LOCATION
February 27, 2022
4 pm - 5 pm (PST)
Sausalito Books By The Bay
100 Bay Street Sausalito, CA
Biden’s Promise: Black Women’s Historic SCOTUS Moment
PRESENTED BY THE COMMONWEALTH CLUB
In January, Supreme Court Justice Stephen Beyer announced his retirement from the high court. This set the stage for the fulfillment of a historic promise President Biden made on the 2020 campaign trail to nominate a Black woman to the Supreme Court.
Please join us for a candid conversation between Black women political and justice leaders as we deep-dive into what led us to this moment, how this nomination reflects the progress of our community, and what it means to the African American community.
DATE/TIME/LOCATION
February 23, 2022
6:00 pm (PST)
Commonwealth Club
110 The Embarcadero
Taube Family Auditorium
San Francisco, CA 94105
AND *ONLINE*
COMMONWEALTH CLUB OF CALIFORNIA PRESENTS:
Shaka Senghor: A Father’s Invitation to love, honesty and freedom
In his new book, Letters to the Sons of Society, Senghor translates wisdom about the meaning of manhood into yet another masterful work of text. He will do the same at INFORUM, conflating his book’s lessons about mental health, healing and masculinity into a must-have conversation designed to leave all men—fathers, sons, and beyond—in a much better position to cultivate positive relationships with one another as their lives move forward.
In Conversation with LaDoris Cordell.
This program is part of our Good Lit series, underwritten by the Bernard Osher Foundation.
DATE/TIME
February 17, 2022
6:00 pm (PST)
Reflections on Jury Reform, Judicial Elections, and Judicial Independence
PRESENTED BY THE ROTARY CLUB OF SAN JOSE
DATE/TIME
February 16, 2022
12:15 pm - 1:15 pm (PST)
LOCATION
Rotary Summit Center
88 South Fourth Street, 7th Floor
San Jose, CA 95112
AND *ONLINE*
MARIN COALITION PRESENTS:
Our Judicial System: Broken But Fixable?
Hon. LaDoris Hazzard Cordell – Retired judge & author. Moderator: Noah Griffin – Tiburon Town Councilmember & activist.
DATE/TIME/LOCATION
February 14, 2022
NOON (PST) *ONLINE*
Judge Cordell's "The Fix" slide:
marincoalition.org/judge-cordells-the-fix-slide/
AMERICAN LEADERSHIP FORUM
BLACK & SILICON VALLEY PRESENTS:
A Conversation with Judge LaDoris Cordell
DATE/TIME/LOCATION
January 13, 2022
5:00 pm - 6:30 pm (PST) *ONLINE*
2021 Fall Book Tour
Her Honor
My Life on the Bench...
What Works, What’s Broken,
and How to Change It
24
October
2021
C-SPAN | Q & A
A critical look at our legal system, and
suggestions on how to improve it.
LOCATION/TIME
C-SPAN, 5 pm (PDT)
25
October
2021
SOUTH BAY AND PENINSULA
DEMOCRATIC COALITIONS
SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA
On Justice Reform
LOCATION/TIME
*ONLINE*
7 pm - 8 pm (PDT)
26
October
2021
P U B L I C A T I O N D A Y
HER HONOR
Celadon Books, a division of
Macmillan Publishers
120 Broadway, 23rd Floor
New York, NY
26
October
2021
KQED / NPR
Live Interview: Forum
LOCATION/TIME
Radio/online, San Francisco, CA
10 am - 11 am (PDT)
26
October
2021
INSTAGRAM LIVE
Reading with Robin
LOCATION/TIME
Instagram Live @robinkallink
12:40 pm - 1:00 pm (PDT)
26
October
2021
ELLIOT BAY BOOK COMPANY; NORTHWEST AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM; AND SEATTLE UNIVERSITY
In conversation with:
Judge Anita Crawford-Willis
LOCATION/TIME
*ONLINE*
6 pm - 7:30 pm (PDT)
27
October
2021
KCUR / NPR
Live Interview: Up to Date
Host: Steve Karaoke
LOCATION/TIME
Radio/online, Kansas City, MO
7:32 am - 7:58 am (PDT)
27
October
2021
SiriusXM
Live Interview:
The Michelangelo Signorile Show
LOCATION/TIME
SiriusXM Members Only
1:35 pm - 1:55 pm (PDT)
27
October
2021
THE COMMONWEALTH CLUB
In conversation with:
Professor Lara Bazelon
LOCATION/TIME
In-person, San Francisco, CA
and *ONLINE*
6 pm - 7:30 pm (PDT)
28
October
2021
SANTA CLARA UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF LAW
In conversation with:
Professor Ellen Kreitzberg
LOCATION/TIME
In-person, Santa Clara, CA
12 pm - 12:50 pm (PDT)
29
October
2021
THE YOUNG TURKS
Live Interview
LOCATION/TIME
*ONLINE*
5:30 pm - 6:00 pm (PDT)
29
October
2021
TWO BROADS TALKING POLITICS
Podcast Hosts: Kelly & Sophy
LOCATION/TIME
Episode available online
30
October
2021
KCBS Radio In Depth
What’s Broken in the legal system
LOCATION/TIME
FM 106.9 or AM 740 and online
San Francisco, CA
5:30 am (PDT)
31
October
2021
KCBS Radio In Depth
What’s Broken in the legal system
LOCATION/TIME
FM 106.9 or AM 740 and online
San Francisco, CA
6:30 am, 8:30 am, 8:30 pm (PDT)
1
November
2021
KERA / NPR
Live Interview: Think
Host: Krys Boyd
LOCATION/TIME
Radio/Online, Dallas, TX
11 am - NOON (PDT)
2
November
2021
BLACK AUTHORS MATTER
Live Interview
LOCATION/TIME
*ONLINE*
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm (PDT)
3
November
2021
STANFORD LAW SCHOOL
BLACK ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
In conversation with:
Professor Irene Joe
LOCATION/TIME
*ONLINE* and open to the public
NOON - 1:00 (PDT)
3
November
2021
BERKELEY JUDICIAL INSTITUTE
Moderator:
Judge Jeremy Fogel
LOCATION/TIME
In-person, UC Berkeley Law, CA
4 pm - 6 pm (PDT)
4
November
2021
CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF
BLACK LAWYERS JUDICIAL COUNCIL
In conversation with:
Judge Brenda Harbin-Forte
LOCATION/TIME
*ONLINE*
7 pm - 8 pm (PDT)
10
November
2021
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF
CALIFORNIA LAWYERS PANEL
Civil Justice and the Courts
Fall Symposium 2021:
Keynote Interview –
In Conversation with the
Hon. Haywood Gilliam
LOCATION/TIME
*ONLINE*
NOON - 1 pm (PST)
11
November
2021
OSHMAN FAMILY JCC
Moderator: Edie Gelles
LOCATION/TIME
In-person, Palo Alto, CA
7 pm - 8 pm (PST)
16
November
2021
ASSOCIATION OF
BLACK WOMEN ATTORNEYS
In conversation with:
ABWA TK
LOCATION/TIME
*ONLINE*
3 pm - 4 pm (PST)
17
November
2021
MARIN BAR ASSOCIATION
CLE Conference
LOCATION/TIME
*ONLINE*
NOON - 1 pm (PST)
30
November
2021
SAN FRANCISCO BAR ASSOCIATION
With Judge Cordell
LOCATION/TIME
*ONLINE*
NOON - 1:00 pm (PST)
Bell’s Books
Palo Alto, CA
Photo credit: Faith Bell
