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Standing Committee
Civic & Judicial Appointments CommitteeWe find the women who should be on the bench and in government — and we make sure they apply. How we work
Meets as needed — most work happens by email
Open to
Every member — judges, applicants, and anyone who wants to help
Contact
Our chargeFrom the bylaws
Civic Appointments. It shall be the duty of the Civic Appointments Committee to gather, organize and disseminate to the Board and to the members information regarding open positions in all branches and levels of government except the judiciary, to seek out those best qualified and encourage their participation and to insure the communication of the position of the organization to the appropriate entity following recommendation to and approval by the Board. In practiceRepresentation on the bench does not happen by itself. Someone has to know the seat is open, know who should fill it, and get her to apply — often more than once, because qualified women talk themselves out of applying at a rate qualified men do not. We do that for the judiciary and for civic appointments alike: tracking openings, finding candidates, supporting applications, and carrying the association's Board-approved positions to the appointing authority. What we do
Who leads this committee
Veena BansalCo-Chair
Associate, Berliner Cohen LLP, San Jose
Andrea RussiCo-Chair
Deputy County Counsel, Contra Costa County Counsel's Office
Reach the whole committee at cjac@queensbench.org. It reaches the chairs and the Administrator, so nothing falls through when leadership rotates in January. Good to knowThe Board has the last wordThis committee researches and recommends — it does not set the association's position. Every brief, endorsement, and public statement goes to the Board of Directors for approval before Queen's Bench says anything in its own name. (Bylaws, Art. VI, §D; Art. VII.) You don't have to be on the BoardCommittee chairs and members are drawn from the whole membership, not just the Board — the Executive Committee is the only exception. The President nominates each committee's chair and a majority of the Board approves the selection. Board service, more often than not, grows out of committee work. (Bylaws, Art. VI, §C.) Join this committeeThere's no application and no vetting. Tell us you're interested and we'll bring you in on the next round of work. Come to one meeting before you decide whether it's for you. Committee leadership, programs, and meeting schedules are current as of July 2026 and change from year to year. Corrections and updates: admin@queensbench.org. |