NCJW supports Judge Ana de Alba. Here’s why:
Judge Ana de Alba’s upbringing as the daughter of Mexican immigrants has shaped her life. Joining her parents in the fields and in homes, tilling the land and cleaning up after others, instilled in her a passion for justice through a legal career. Following law school, Judge de Alba worked briefly at ACLU’s Immigrant Rights Project, spending the majority of her career at Lang Richet & Patch PC as an associate and then partner before becoming a Superior Court judge in Fresno County in 2018. Judge Alba currently serves as a US District Judge for the Eastern District of California, to which she was confirmed in June 2022, becoming the first Latina judge to ever serve on the court. In addition to her stellar legal career, Judge de Alba has served on the boards of many legal service nonprofit agencies and started a first of its kind Worker’s Rights Clinic that provides free legal information to low wage workers in California. Judge de Alba’s background, experience, and commitment to her community would serve the Ninth Circuit well, home to states with the some of the most diverse populations in the country. If confirmed, Judge de Alba would be the fourth Latina to serve on the Ninth Circuit.
Judge Ana de Alba’s stance on important issues:
Gender Justice
Judge de Alba has provided counsel for many different women who experienced sexual harassment or assault at their place of work. Many of these women also were in need of counsel help in Spanish, which Judge de Alba was able to provide.
Worker’s Rights
Judge de Alba cites her inspiration to enter the legal field came from watching her mom struggle with the legal system as a field worker. She served as the sole counsel for a man who worked as a drywall installer and was unable to return to work following a vehicle accident. She also provided counsel, completely in Spanish, to an elderly man who was denied medical time off from the Ranch where he worked.
Education and Awards:
Judge de Alba graduated with a BA from UC Berkeley in 2002 and received her JD from UC Berkeley School of Law in 2007. She has earned many awards in her legal lifetime, including the Jack Berman Award of Achievement from the California Young Lawyers’ Association for her pro bono work, including serving on the Board of Directors for Central California Legal Services, Inc.; Pro Bono Attorney of the Year from the Fresno County Bar Association; Thank You Award from the Rape Counseling Services of Fresno, Champion of Justice award from Central Caifornia Legal Services, Inc.; and the Honoring Your Passion to Protect the Rights of Workers and Families recognition from Centro La Familia Advocacy Services.
Experience and Pro Bono Work:
While a law studen at UC Berkely School of Law, Judge de Alba worked with elementary and middle school students on mock trials. Following her graduation in 2007, Judge de Alba worked with the ACLU Immigrants’ Rights Project in San Francisco. She then joined Lang Ritchet & Patch as an associate, and later partner, focusing on torts, employment law, and construction law. In October 2018, California Governor Jerry Brown appointed her to the Fresno County Superior Court, where she spent two years handling a high-volume misdemeanor assignment and one and a half years as a judge at the Juvenile Justice Center. While at the court she was a member of many different committees, including co-chair of the Civil Grand Jury Oversight Committee. In January 2022, President Biden appointed Judge de Alba to serve as a district judge of the US District Court for the Eastern District of California, to which she was easily confirmed in July 2022.
She served as a member of the California Judicial Mentor Program and as a member of the Pathways to Law School Regional Advisory Council, which helps students transition from community college to a four-year undergraduate program to law school. She also regularly speaks to school children about the legal profession and the judiciary.
Professional Affiliations:
Judge de Alba is a member of the California Judges Association, California Lawyers Association, Fresno County Bar Association, Hispanic National Bar Association, and the State Bar of California, among others.
She has been a board member of the Central Valley Access to Justice Coalition since 2012 and has served on the boards of California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc., Legal Aid at Work: Rape Counseling Services of Fresno, Fresno County Bar Association, State Bar of California; and Central California Legal Services, Inc. Additionally, she has served as a member of the Labor & Employment Law Section of the California Lawyers Association as well as Editor-in-Chief of the California Labor and Employment Review and Vice-Chair of the Advanced Wage & Hour Conference Planning Team.
Judicial Temperament:
In her Senate Questions for the Record, Judge de Alba responded, “The biggest lessons that I have learned from my work as a judge are the importance of a good judicial temperament, always being prepared, and being accessible. First, having a good judicial temperament is something that all judges should aspire to have as it really sets the tone for the courtroom and the way in which the litigants will perceive the judge and the entire legal process. Treating everyone who comes before me with respect and dignity, being patient and listening to litigants, and timely responding to requests are all things that have helped me be efficient and effective in my role in our system of justice.”