California Legislature Sends “Justice for Victims Act” to Governor

California lawmakers in the Assembly and the Senate passed SB 813, the ‘Justice for Victims Act,’ which would eliminate the statute of limitations for rape and related felony sex crimes in the state. This landmark bipartisan measure, introduced by Senator Connie M. Leyva (D-Chino) and co-sponsored by the California Women’s Law Center (CWLC) and San Bernardino County District Attorney Michael A. Ramos, removes the arbitrary time limit for victims of rape and sexual assault, ultimately holding predators accountable for their actions.

Women’s Equality Day 2016

  ​     Dear Supporter, In the nearly one hundred years since gaining the right to vote, women have made enormous strides toward achieving greater equality. Trailblazing women including Rosa Parks, Dolores Huerta, Aung Sang Suu Kyi and Pat Summitt–to name a few–have inspired millions to follow in their footsteps and achieve greatness. Today
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Summer Update 2016

IN THIS ISSUE… 2016 Annual Pursuit of Justice Awards, “Aging, Women and Poverty In California” Forum, CWLC and LA Sparks #WeAreWomen Campaign, CWLC Participates in the First United State of Women Summit, CWLC Celebrates Title IX 43rd Anniversary at the Getty House, CWLC Advocacy and Legislative Update, Erika Norman joins CWLC Board, Amy Poyer joins CWLC Staff, Executive Director’s Message

“Aging, Women and Poverty in California” Forum

On June 3rd, the California Women’s Law Center (CWLC) co-hosted a forum entitled Aging, Women and Poverty In California at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. CWLC was honored to partner with the California Commission on Aging (CCoA) and the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls (CCSWG) to discuss the priorities and perspectives that community and policy leaders should be planning for as our population ages. With 34,000 Californians turning 65 each month, the Golden State should prepare for a dramatic change in the needs of its citizens.

Women’s History Month 2016

March is Women’s History Month and the California Women’s Law Center wants you to join us in recognizing the remarkable women Justices of the United States Supreme Court who are safeguarding reproductive rights for women. Unfortunately, the fight to ensure choice is ongoing. We thank our Justices and everyone still fighting for American women’s rights. We must carry on and ensure that women’s voices are heard and that our history is one in which a woman’s choice is hers alone.

Susan B. Anthony Day 2016

The California Women’s Law Center applauds Susan B. Anthony and all the women who began the march toward equality which continues today.

43rd Roe v. Wade Anniversary

Today, marks the 43rd anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court case, Roe v. Wade which recognized a woman’s constitutional right to decide whether to carry a pregnancy to term. Thanks to Roe, women can make choices about their body and their health. The California Women’s Law Center is committed to protecting the reproductive rights of women and works to ensure access to safe and affordable healthcare for all women. On this day, we rededicate ourselves to defending Roe and protecting the rights of women and their ability to make personal decisions affecting their lives.

Senator Leyva Introduces “Justice for Victims Act”

SACRAMENTO – On the first day of the 2016 legislative session, Senator Connie M. Leyva (D-Chino) today introduced important bipartisan legislation to end the statute of limitations for rape and related crimes in California. SB 813 seeks to ensure justice for victims and survivors of felony sexual offenses by allowing the indefinite criminal prosecution of rape, sodomy, lewd or lascivious acts, continuous sexual abuse of a child, oral copulation, and sexual penetration.

Senator Leyva: Eliminate Statute of Limitations for Rape

SACRAMENTO – In order to ensure justice for victims and survivors of felony sexual offenses, Senator Connie M. Leyva (D-Chino) today announced that—when the California State Senate reconvenes in early January—she will introduce legislation to end the statute of limitations for rape and related crimes.

Specifically, this legislation will seek to allow the indefinite criminal prosecution of rape, sodomy, lewd or lascivious acts, continuous sexual abuse of a child, oral copulation, and sexual penetration. Currently, existing California law generally limits the prosecution of a felony sexual offense to only 10 years after the offense is committed, unless DNA evidence is found which then offers a victim additional time.

CWLC’s Fall Update

IN THIS ISSUE: A Big Win for Equal Pay. The Governor Approves SB 358, The California Fair Pay Act, CWLC’s Distinguished Guest Speaker Series, CWLC at Planned Parenthood’s #PinkOut Day, CWLC Kicks off its Title IX Training Series, CWLC Releases a Report Card for Los Angeles County Schools, How CWLC Spent Women’s Equality Day, CWLC Participates in the California Workplace Justice Summit …

STOP Teen Dating Violence (webinar training)

Teen dating violence is a pervasive problem that affects all communities, and schools should take an active role to prevent and address it.

The S.T.O.P. Teen Dating Violence presentation addressed the legal responsibilities that schools have to address teen dating violence, as well as discussed a model policy that schools can adopt to address dating violence. This session provided rule of law and policy updates enacted since the first 2010 training on this topic.

UCLA School of Law Conference 2015 – CWLC Partner Event

CWLC Staff Attorney Laura Riley spoke at the UCLA School of Law’s Sexual Assault and the Campus: The Role of Title IX Conference during the breakout session.

Summer Update 2015

IN THIS ISSUE: September 2nd: CWLC’s Distinguished Guest Speaker Series, The 2015 Pursuit of Justice Awards, Supporting the Needs of Our Women Veterans, CWLC Presents at National Council of Jewish Women, NCJW Student Interns Ask For Information About Title IX, CWLC Staff Kick-Off the #WeAreWomen Campaign, and We Are Pleased to Welcome Kamilah Willingham and Alejandra Rosales …

Support the Military Justice Improvement Act – Justice for Survivors of Military Sexual Assault

The Senate is considering amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act that would allow Senator Kirsten Gillibrand’s Military Justice Improvement Act (MJIA) to reform the methods the military uses to dismiss some crimes. MJIA would put cases such as military sexual assault in the hands of independent military prosecutors instead of letting them stay in the
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Support AB 913 (Santiago): Campus Sexual Assault Enforcement Coordination

  The Honorable Miguel Santiago P.O. Box 942849 Sacramento, CA 94249 RE: AB 913 (Santiago) – Support Dear Assemblymember Santiago: I am writing in support of AB 913. This bill will help protect students on our college campuses by ensuring that campus and local law enforcement have agreements in place outlining their responsibilities related to sexual
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CWLC Speakers Series: Amy Ziering Screens The Hunting Ground

CWLC was honored to screen The Hunting Ground and host producer Amy Ziering and film participant Kamilah Willingham for a question and answer session following our Speakers Series on April 22, 2015, at the Feminist Majority Foundation.

Spring 2015 Update

IN THIS ISSUE: CWLC Honors Dolores Huerta, Lilly Ledbetter and Peg Yorkin, CWLC’s Film Screening of The Hunting Ground, Columbia Law Students Visit CWLC, CWLC Presents at the Women’s Veterans Summit, #WeAreStrong Campaign with the Los Angeles Sparks

Support SB 592 (Leyva): Pupil Safety: Adolescent Relationship Abuse Prevention

  The Honorable Carol Liu State Capitol Sacramento, CA 95814 RE: SB 592 (Leyva) – Healthy Relationships and Safe Schools Act – Support Dear Senator Liu: I am writing in support of SB 592 (Leyva), the Healthy Relationships and Safe Schools Act, which makes strides toward eliminating domestic violence in California by requiring schools to provide education
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Support AB 418 (Chiu): Tenancy: Termination: Victims of Violent Crime

  The Honorable Hannah-Beth Jackson State Capitol Sacramento, CA 95814 RE: SB 406 (Jackson) – Support Dear Senator Jackson: I am writing in support of AB 418 (Chiu). This bill will strengthen the early lease termination provisions for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking and elder/dependent adult abuse. I support the efforts
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CWLC Attorneys Receive CLAY Award

California Lawyer magazine announced Wednesday that it is honoring the attorneys who achieved a landmark 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decision in the California Women’s Law Center case Ollier v. Sweetwater Union High School District, et. al. with its 2015 Attorney of the Year (CLAY) Award.

Former CWLC attorneys J. Cacilia Kim and Vicky L. Barker are receiving the award with Elizabeth Kristen, a senior staff attorney with the Legal Aid Society-Employment Law Center, and Erin C. Witkow, a partner at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP.

The Hunting Ground

CWLC asks that you make a plan to see Amy Ziering and Kirby Dick’s most recent and incredibly powerful film about campus sexual assault. Called The Hunting Ground, it is a movie we all must see so that we can be advocates for change at our universities. Please purchase your advance tickets and bring your friends to show support
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CWLC Urges The Supreme Court to Ensure Some Judicial Review of Immigration Decisions that Keep Families Apart

On Tuesday, January 20, the California Women’s Law Center filed an amicus curiae brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to require the State Department to provide, at minimum, a “facially legitimate and bona fide reason” when denying a visa to a U.S. citizen’s foreign spouse. CWLC argues that the visa denial implicates the citizen’s fundamental liberty interest in marriage and family; therefore, the Government must show that it did not deny the visa for arbitrary or discriminatory reasons.

Winter 2015 Update

IN THIS ISSUE: CWLC Attorneys Receive Award for Ollier v. Sweetwater, Distinguished Guest Speaker Series with Amy Ziering, Inaugural Los Angeles County Veteran & Families Stand Down, CWLC Hosts Biannual Alliance Meeting, CWLC Attends the California Women’s Policy Summit, 42nd Anniversary of Roe v. Wade Press Conference, The Global Struggle for Women’s Equality Symposium, CWLC Welcomes Michele Deane

2014: A Year in Review

IN THIS ISSUE: CWLC’s Annual “Clothes the Deal” Clothing Drive, Leading the Struggle for Equal Access in Schools, Fighting for Pregnant Students, Serving Women Veterans, New Approaches in the Fight for Reproductive Justice, Connecting Advocates with New Ideas

Fall 2014 Update

IN THIS ISSUE: Distinguished Speaker Series with Erwin Chemerinsky, Ninth Circuit Victory on Sweetwater, Legislative Session Wrap Up, Reproductive Justice Coaltion of Los Angeles Hobby Lobby Protest, CWLC Welcomes Laura Riley

CWLC Speaker Series: The Supreme Court and Women’s Rights, with Dean Erwin Chemerinsky

Erwin Chemerinsky is the founding Dean and Distinguished Professor of Law, and Raymond Pryke Professor of First Amendment Law, at the University of California, Irvine School of Law, with a joint appointment in Political Science.

California Legislative Session Ends on a Positive Note for Women and Girls

Governor Jerry Brown Signs Bills Guaranteeing Paid Sick Days, Preventing Pregnancy Discrimination for Students, Ensuring Access to Contraception and Prohibiting Sterilization of Female Inmates Among Others

LOS ANGELES – The California Women’s Law Center (CWLC) is pleased to report that California Governor Jerry Brown ended the legislative session this week by signing several bills focused on increased legal protections for women and girls in California.

Partner Event: Pepperdine School of Law – Student Life, Relationships and the Law: Confronting Domestic Violence in Higher Education

Pepperdine University School of Law welcomes you to this gathering to address domestic violence in higher education. Panelists will explore various aspects of domestic violence on our college campuses and discuss how universities should respond to the epidemic of dating and intimate partner violence on campus. This conference will address domestic and intimate partner violence
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Summer 2014 Update

IN THIS ISSUE: Town Hall with Phyllis Cheng, PasadenaLEARNS Settlement, The 2014 Pursuit of Justice Awards Luncheon, Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye, New Board Member: Christa Demeke

LAAC Traveling Training in Fresno: Legal Issues Impacting Women Veterans

This training presented an overview of the multiple (and often interconnected) legal issue areas that currently impact women veterans, particularly those with a history of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder due to Military Sexual Trauma. Training will focus on a variety of topics, including legal standards in military medical fitness hearings, and legal barriers to housing, disability benefits, employment, and health care.

Pursuit of Justice Awards 2014 – Honoring Senator Barbara Boxer

In June 2014, CWLC honored US Senator Barbara Boxer and UC Berkeley School of Law Professor Nancy Lemon at the 2014 Pursuit of Justice Awards. Thank you again to all of our guests and our sponsors who made the event such a success and our work possible.

CWLC Participates in Rally to Stop the Sultan of Brunei

On May 5th, California Women’s Law Center Interim Executive Director spoke at a rally to stop the Sultan of Brunei’s barbaric policies against women and the LGBT community.  Betsy joined Jay Leno and members of the Feminist Majority along with icons Dolores Huerta, Ellie Smeal, Lorri Jean and many others in front of the Beverly Hills
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Spring 2014 Update

IN THIS ISSUE: The 2014 Pursuit of Justice Awards, Updated Mission | New Location, Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye, Staff in the Community

Winter 2014 Update

IN THIS ISSUE: Speaker Series – CWLC launches our Distinguished Guest Speaker Series with Erwin Chemerinsky and David Codell, Defending a Victim of Military Sexual Assault, “Cruz v. Alhambra”, Staff in the Community

CWLC Defends Victim of Sexual Assault While Serving in the Air Force

December 4, 2013 Today, Cacilia Kim, the Senior Staff Attorney at the California Women’s Law Center, in partnership with Elizabeth Kristen from the Legal Aid Society-Employment Law Center, represented a 19 year-old member of the U.S. Air Force who was sexually assaulted by a superior officer while serving his country. Airman 1st Class Trent Smith was sexually
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Fall 2013 Update

IN THIS ISSUE: Veterans – CWLC is working every day to serve women veterans and ensure that they have access to the services and benefits they have earned. Pregnant Students – Fighting against discrimination, CWLC enforced Title IX and fought for a pregnant student who was barred from attending class. New Staff – CWLC welcomes two new staff members to our team to bolster our communications and organizational development. CWLC History – Twenty years ago, CWLC was instrumental in establishing guidelines to create gender equity in the LAPD.

CALIFORNIA WOMEN’S LAW CENTER SUPPORTS AUDIT OF SEXUAL ASSAULT POLICIES AT CALIFORNIA COLLEGES

Date:  August 28, 2013 For Immediate Release Contact: Andrew DeBlock andrew.deblock@cwlc.org LOS ANGELES – Today, the California Women’s Law Center (CWLC) announced its support for Assemblymember Anthony Rendon’s audit of the sexual assault policies of four California schools including UC Berkley and three other institutions still to be named. “The California Women’s Law Center applauds
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CALIFORNIA WOMEN’S LAW CENTER VOICES SUPPORT FOR ASSEMBLY BILLS THAT PROTECT SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Date:  August 14, 2013 For Immediate Release Contact: Andrew DeBlock andrew.deblock@cwlc.org LOS ANGELES – Today, the California Women’s Law Center (CWLC) joined the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence in support of Assembly Bill 139 and Assembly Bill 81.  Both bills have passed through the California State Legislature and moved to Governor Jerry Brown’s desk
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CALIFORNIA WOMEN’S LAW CENTER APPLAUDS LEGISLATORS’ CALL FOR INVESTIGATION OF STERILIZATIONS IN PRISONS

Date: July 11, 2013 For Immediate Release Contact: Andrew DeBlock andrew.deblock@cwlc.org LOS ANGELES – The California Women’s Law Center (CWLC) applauds and supports the California Legislative Women’s Caucus in their call for an investigation into the alleged sterilization of 148 women incarcerated in California correctional facilities between 2006 and 2010. “We decry this undoubtedly unconstitutional
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Senator Barbara Boxer Visits CWLC to Highlight Military Sexual Trauma

On May 31st, 2013, the California Women’s Law Center hosted a press conference with U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer and military sexual assault survivor, Stacey Thompson. Senator Boxer is a co-sponsor of Senate Bill 967, the Military Justice Improvement Act of 2013. The bill, authored by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, addresses Military Sexual Trauma (MST) by removing
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