Message from the Public Law Section Chair

• Publication year: 2020
• Author: By Christine N. Wood

MESSAGE FROM THE PUBLIC LAW SECTION CHAIR

By Christine N. Wood

Christine N. Wood is the director of PRA Services and e-Discovery Counsel for Best Best & Krieger LLP and the 2020-2021 Chair of the Public Law Section Executive Committee.

I hope this message finds you and your families in good health and spirits. I am sure you share my surprise that many of us are still sheltering in place. COVID-19 has proven to be formidable, but the Public Law Section continues to find creative ways to meet the changing needs of our members.

This fall, Mara W. Elliott, San Diego City Attorney, was named the 2020 Ronald M. George Public Lawyer of the Year (PLOY) by the Public Law Section, recognizing her as an exceptional attorney who has demonstrated a commitment to public service throughout her career. Elliott served as legal counsel to public schools, the transit district, and the County of San Diego before serving as a Chief Deputy City Attorney in San Diego. She has been the elected City Attorney since 2016. Not only is Elliot recognized as a national leader in preventing gun violence, a fierce champion for consumers and the environment, and a staunch protector of victims of domestic violence and sex trafficking, she is also the first woman, the first Latina, and the first mother elected to her position. The selection of Elliott as the twenty-third recipient of the PLOY award continues the tradition of selecting a public attorney who constantly goes above and beyond mere legal advice by safeguarding taxpayer dollars and protecting the rights and safety of Californians.

The Public Law Section was also honored to award its inaugural Outstanding Achievement in Public Law Award (OAPL) to The California Office of the Attorney General's People v. Johnson & Johnson Trial Team. This new award recognizes a specific achievement as opposed to a career in public law, as well as the notion that achievements in public law are sometimes accomplished by a team of dedicated public lawyers, as in this case. In May 2016, the California Department of Justice sued Johnson & Johnson for its failure to inform both patients and doctors of possible severe complications from the products and misrepresented the frequency and severity of risks the products posed. The Trial Team was comprised of Deputy Attorneys General Adelina Acuña; Laurel Carnes; Tina Charoenpong; Joanna Hull; Devin Mauney...