Honorees
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An important part of Women Defenders' mission is to honor women who contribute to the field of criminal defense and further the interest of women practicing in the field. Each year we select two women to honor. Take a look at these regional heroes.

Spring Event Honorees   Ruth Young Award Honorees

Spring Event

2006 - Cris Arguedas, Arguedas, Cassman, & Headley, LLP, Emeryville
2005 - Teresa Caffese, San Francisco Public Defenders Office
2004 - Marianne Bachers, State Public Defenders Office
2003 - Mary Greenwood, Santa Clara County Public Defenders Office
2002 - Anne Flower Cumings, Federal Defenders Office
2001 - Freya Horne, Law Offices of Freya Horne, San Francisco
2000 - Women Defenders Founding Members & Diane Bellas:
Elspeth Farmer, Visiting Scholar, Institute for Research on Women and Gender, Stanford
Margo George, Alameda County Public Defender Office
Elizabeth Grossman, Law Offices of Elizabeth Grossman, Berkeley
Susan B. Jordan, Law Offices of Susan B. Jordan
Denise Kendall, Law Offices of Denise Kendall, Mill Valley
Linda Kremer, Marin County Public Defenders Office
Jan Lecklikner, San Francisco Public Defenders Office
Louise Simpson, Alameda County Public Defenders Office
Fran Ternus, First District Appellate Project
Deborah Wald, Law Offices of Deborah Wald
Rebecca Young, Law Offices of Rebecca Young, San Francisco
Diane Bellas, Alameda County Public Defender

 

Ruth Young Award
To honor women who have been professionally and personally inspiring, who have been pioneers in our profession, and who have led others by personal example. Women Defenders named this award after Ruth Young who was:

  • An extraordinary woman and exemplary trial lawyer, appellate attorney, and administrator.
  • The first woman head of a public defender office - Marin County from 1981-1983.
  • The Director of the Sacramento branch of the State Public Defender.
  • Ruth Young, who began and ended her career in the Contra Costa County Public Defender Office, taught by example; was a heroine and a visionary; was blind to self-interest and inspired those who knew her.

2007 - Judy Browne, Alameda County Public Defenders Office
2006 - Jean Amabile, San Francisco Public Defenders Office, Juvenile Division
2005 - Winnie Gin, Contra Costa County Public Defenders Office
2004 - Susan Kaufman, Solano County Public Defenders Office
2003 - Amy Morton, Morton & Russo, Vallejo
2002 - Jan Lecklikner, San Francisco Public Defenders Office 
2001 - Suzanne Chapot, Contra Costa Public Defenders Office
2000 - Lynne Coffin, State Public Defender