David J. Duchrow
Our committee members wanted to recognize someone who embodies Joe’s inspiring qualities, which David certainly does. This year, we are also very happy to recognize one of CELA’s “unsung heroes,” someone who does not seek the limelight but rather works tirelessly behind the scenes to help CELA achieve its mission of advancing the rights of California workers and empowering the advocates who represent them.
Those who have met David know of his quiet and gentle demeanor. But those who have worked with David also know of his thunderous impact on CELA and working people. To quote one of our committee members, “David has made a huge contribution to CELA, with the selflessness of a Joe Posner.”
David has been practicing law since 1982. After faithfully reading Joe Posner’s employment law articles in the Daily Journal, he was inspired to leave his union side firm and eventually establish his own firm representing workers. His impact on the law was made through many ways, including his appellate work, such as Johnson v. City of Loma Linda (involving issue preclusion in public employee case) and Jensen v. Wells Fargo (establishing the right to non-competitive transfer as a form of reasonable accommodation). On behalf of workers, he has written numerous appellate and amicus briefs and argued before the California Supreme Court such as in the case of Schifando v. City of LA and Richy v. Auto Nation.
David’s service to CELA spans decades and includes eleven years on the CELA Board, including a term as Chair from 2007 to 2009. He served on the Education Committee for 10 years. As an early member of the Listserv Committee, he helped establish listserv protocol and rules. In 2012, when Jeff Winikow was elevated to the bench, the Board pressed David into service to head CELA’s Amicus Committee. This is a job of mammoth proportion. David remains abreast of developments in employment law to identify opportunities for CELA’s voice to be heard; fields requests from CELA members, ally organizations and other for CELA to weigh in via amicus briefs; reviews, edits and approves all CELA filings; and not infrequently authors or co-authors CELA’s briefs.
David has demonstrated his commitment to diversity in CELA and in his own law practice. During his term as Chair, David encouraged CELA to create our sibling non-profit, the Foundation for Advocacy Inclusion & Resources, nurturing FAIR through incorporation and establishment of non-profit status (with the generous assistance of the late John D. Weiss, another Posner Award recipient and Christina Krasomil), and collaborating with a dedicated and diverse group of CELA leaders who, along with David, served as the founding board of directors. Over the years, David also served as a member of CELA’s Diversity Outreach Committee for several years and has carried through on a personal commitment to outreach to individuals from diverse backgrounds to join CELA. Many of them remain active members of CELA and some now sit on the boards of CELA and FAIR. In his own law practice, David has hired at least four law clerks through the FAIR Employee Justice Fellowship program, two of whom he then hired as associates.
To congratulate David and show your appreciation for all of his contributions to CELA and California working people, how about placing an ad in this year’s CELA Conference Journal? The ad deadline is September 29. Click here to print the ad order form.
Given David’s many accomplishments and amazing dedication, please join the members of the Posner Committee and the CELA Board in congratulating him on this well-deserved honor.
We all look forward to celebrating with you at CELA’s 30th Annual Conference luncheon on Friday, October 20th in Oakland!
The Joe Posner Award Committee
Toni Jaramilla, Chair
Bernard Alexander
Nancy Bornn
David deRubertis
Kathy Dickson
Janet Koehn
Dolores Leal
Lisa Maki
Norm Pine
Bev Pine
Bill Quackenbush
Dan Stormer
Chris Whelan
Jeff Winikow