Equal Justice Society News

At the EJS second annual fundraiser on December 2 at San Francisco's City Club, EJS President Eva Paterson announced the launch of a law fellowship in honor of the Honorable Constance Baker Motley, the first African-American woman to serve on the Federal Bench. The event featured a video tribute to Judge Motley, from her memorial service at Riverside Church in New York.

"We are honored to have had Judge Motley as one of our early and strong supporters," said Paterson, who explained that the fellowship is aimed at attracting recent law school graduates to the intersection of civil rights and social policy.

The event at the City Club in San Francisco was attended by more than 100 EJS supporters. Jazz virtuoso Marcus Shelby and his trio provided elegant, soothing music for the enthusiastic crowd.

"In true EJS fashion, there is no such thing as a good party without also providing some good politics," said Development Director Miguel Gavaldon who organized the fundraiser, "especially as our event was right in the middle of controversial Supreme Court nomination hearings.

EJS Board Chair, Harvard Professor Charles Ogletree, spoke of the challenges we face with the new Court. Paterson told the crowd that we wanted to encourage our California Senators, Diane Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, to continue to oppose judicial nominees that are antagonistic to civil rights and social justice. The Senators each addressed the gathering via video, and staff members were in attendance to answer questions and meet EJS supporters.

"It is clear that both Senators are aware of EJS's role in the coalition of Californians for Fair and Independent Judges and our ability to link West Coast organizations with the fight in DC," noted Paterson.

"The year 2005 was an incredible success for EJS," added Paterson. "We matured as an organization, our staff expanded and our impact deepened. But most of all we feel very lucky to have so many committed and generous supporters."

EJS will solicit applications by late spring and to start the inaugural Constance Baker Motley Fellow in the fall. A formal announcement of the Fellowship and the application process will be posted on the EJS website.

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