The 2025 California Public Defenders Association Awardees
The Defender of the Year Award was established to recognize a defender or defenders who, in the opinion of other defenders, deserve special recognition for their work in criminal defense practice. In some cases, this is due to a particular effort in a case, while in other cases it is for an entire body of work.
2025 Defender of the Year
Jeffrey Lowry
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This award is given to Jeffrey Lowry in recognition of his outstanding achievements, contributions and commitment to criminal defense practice. He is a zealous advocate and a tireless mentor. He never forgets the humanity and dignity of his clients; his compassion is boundless. Jeffrey remind us what integrity is and consistently forges ahead where others would give up. As a result he has secured victories in the most desperate and hopeless of cases. His work has led to excellent case law which ensures greater protection and liberty for all our clients. He stands as a paragon within the defense community.
Awarded by Unanimous Resolution of the Board of Directors of the California Public Defenders Association
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The Champion of Justice Award goes to an individual whose work has had a statewide impact on the lives of our clients. This year we are pleased to have two extraordinary winners.
2025 Champion of Justice Award
Maureen Pacheco
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This award is given in recognition of Maureen's fearless advocacy on behalf of justice-impacted youth and all Californians securing the enactment of criminal record sealing (SB 1038, SB 504 and AB 529) which helped thousands of youth avoid the trajectory into the adult system by opening educational and job opportunities to them and requiring the Judicial Council (AB 703) to set appropriate educational and training standards for youth defenders statewide.
Awarded by Unanimous Resolution of the Board of Directors of the California Public Defenders Association
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2025 Champion of Justice Award
Stephanie Regular
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This award is given in recognition of Stephanie's tireless advocacy working to divert and successfully reintegrate individuals suffering from serious mental illness from the criminal legal system and back into the community (SB 1187 and SB 317) giving hope to them, their families and all Californians.
Stephanie's work with the Words to Deeds Leadership Group and as CPDA’s delegate to the State IST Solutions Workgroup builds on that legacy and reflects her continuing commitment to building a society that provides mental health treatment rather than prison cells for the severely mentally ill.
Awarded by Unanimous Resolution of the Board of Directors of the California Public Defenders Association
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The Special Recognition Award was established to recognize members of the association and defender community in categories that may not necessarily occur annually, such as lifetime achievement in particular fields of criminal defense, retirements, and contributions to the defense community. This year we are pleased to recognize two extraordinary people.
2025 Special Recognition Award
Susan Rutberg
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This award is presented to Susan Rutberg for her many outstanding achievements, contributions and commitment to criminal defense practice, and particularly for your many years of teaching and inspiring law students and attorneys throughout California and beyond. From her zealous advocacy representing indigent criminal defendants in public defense agencies, including the Bayview-Hunters Point Community Defender’s Office in San Francisco, and later, as co-counsel in the successful defense of Stephen Bingham and the exoneration of Peter Rose, and throughout her career as a law school professor, you inspired countless others to join with you in doing the hard work for social justice. She is a matriarch.
Through her illustrious career she has trained, empowered, and mentored countless law students and lawyers while consistently addressing racial, ethnic, religious, gender and other biases within our legal profession, making our legal and larger world better. She is a force who is also a soft place to land for students and colleagues alike.
Awarded by Unanimous Resolution of the Board of Directors of the California Public Defenders Association
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2025 Special Recognition Award
Jessie Morris
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This award is presented to Jessie Morris for his outstanding achievements, contributions and dedication to criminal defense practice, and for his wholehearted leadership over many years with the Unity Bars throughout California.
Jessie's innovative and inspiring social justice work over a lifetime empowering, training and mentoring attorneys and addressing racial, ethnic, religious, gender and other biases within the legal profession have helped to make our legal world a better one.
Awarded by Unanimous Resolution of the Board of Directors of the California Public Defenders Association
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The Gideon Award was established to recognize members of the press, electronic media, and entertainment industry who have through their work, helped make the criminal legal system more understandable and have helped educate the public on the rights of those who are accused, the role of defense attorneys in protecting the rights of their clients and the rights of all, and the injustices in our system.
2025 Gideon Award
Abby Ginzberg
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This award is given to Abby Ginzberg in recognition of many years of outstanding achievements, community service and leadership, and a commitment to creating and producing an award-winning portfolio of outstanding work that tackles discrimination in the legal profession and the pursuits of justice, racial equality, and women’s empowerment.
We honor, celebrate and thank you for your many contributions and for making a better future for us, our community, and our progeny.
Awarded by Unanimous Resolution of the Board of Directors of the California Public Defenders Association
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The Defender Program of the Year Award was established to recognize defender offices that have developed special programs that serve as examples of important services for clients and staff.
2025 Defender Program of the Year
Los Angeles County Public Defender's
Community Outreach Court
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The Community Outreach Court brings judicial services outside traditional court locations to a client-centered community space, providing social services and housing support to individuals experiencing housing insecurity, and empowers people on their path to stability. This visionary leadership serves as a model for transformative justice across the state.
Awarded by Unanimous Resolution of the Board of Directors of the California Public Defenders Association
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