A voice for women in the law since 1980.
WLAC began as an independent organization in 1980, evolving from a woman's committee of the Alameda County Bar Association. As was the fashion at the time, we were loosely "governed" by a Steering Committee and reached decisions by consensus until we found ourselves unable to obtain insurance for an event because we had no President to sign for the organization. Ellen Beilock recalls that we more or less drew straws and she lost, so she was the first President; others recall that her leadership qualities made her the obvious choice.
The first Judges' Dinner was in the YWCA on Webster Street; we could smell the chlorine from the swimming pool. The event was mobbed, women judges being quite the novelty. There were only 150 women judges nationwide in 1979. This was in the early 80's, by which time Judge Mosbacher had already retired and there were 5 women judges serving in the county, Judges Patel and Deal having already been elevated to the Federal District Court and Court of Appeal respectively. Those 5 were Judges Taber, Collins, Girard, Brosnahan and Sullivan. Since Judge Taber is currently retired (but sitting on assignment), Judge Brosnahan is the senior woman still sitting, having begun her service in 1979.
California Women Lawyers and most local women's bar organizations were founded in the 1970s and early 1980s, when women were first entering the profession in significant numbers, to support women generally and to encourage then Governor Brown to appoint women to the bench, which he did, changing the face of the California judiciary forever. Over the years since then, the agenda has evolved in a myriad of ways. The influence of the women's bars in the judicial appointment process has gone through a number of phases, but it is significant to note that the current governor's appointments have included over 30% women, although none yet in Alameda County.
Priscilla Camp, Former President WLAC