Recently, The Queen’s Bench Bar Association joined in an amicus brief filed in Keeler-Hodgetts v. Tsukroff (First Appellate District, Division Two), which addresses important issues related to domestic violence. Below is a summary of the case and arguments raised in the amicus brief.

Appellant Katherine Keeler-Hodgetts sought a domestic violence restraining order against her former partner Brandon Tsukroff.  The trial court denied her request for a restraining order on the ground that she failed to demonstrate a past act of abuse under the Domestic Violence Prevention Act and Family Code section 6200.  The trial court found that Keeler-Hodgetts failed to establish sexual abuse by a preponderance of the evidence.  The trial court found her sexual abuse allegations not credible because she (1) had not previously reported or alleged abuse in prior pleadings and (2) agreed to share legal and physical custody of her two minor daughters with Tsukroff (their father).

The amcius brief argues that the trial court should not have considered points 1 and 2 in evaluating Keeler-Hodgetts’ credibility.  The brief explains that the trial court’s determination that Keeler-Hodgetts “lacked credibility as to her sexual abuse allegations demonstrates what legal scholars and social scientists have detailed for some time: Family law courts commonly respond to women’s reports of sexual violence by discounting their credibility.  Research suggests that this credibility discounting stems from beliefs in traditional gender roles; misconceptions about what domestic violence survivors look like, how survivors behave after assaults, and how they recount their experiences; and a willingness to believe claims of ulterior motives for reporting domestic abuse.”  The brief notes that courts recognize “ ‘it is common for people who have been physically and mentally abused to act in ways that may be difficult for a layperson to understand.’ ”

The brief points out that issues of sexual assault and domestic violence often involve women who are reluctant to report sexual assault, especially sexual assault by the father of their children. Courts must be careful in drawing adverse inferences from women who delay reporting sexual assault and women who agree to share custody with their abuser/father of their children.  

Filed Amicus Brief (1).pdf

Queen’s Bench celebrates history of Annie Coker, Black women lawyers’ contributions to the California legal community

By Alexandra Sepolen 2024 Secretary

As Black History Month draws to a close, Queen’s Bench acknowledges the contributions of Black women lawyers to the Bay Area community, including the groundwork laid by the first Black female lawyer in the state of California, Annie Coker.

Annie Virginia Stephens Coker was born in Oakland, California, on April 7, 1903, and attended public school in Oakland and Pacific Grove. Annie Coker received a Bachelor’s of Science degree from the University of California Berkeley and completed her education at Berkeley Law. At the time, Ms. Coker was one of two women in her 47-person class. She received a LL.B. in 1929, eight years after the founding of Queen’s Bench Bar Association, and was admitted to the State Bar of California in the same year.

After moving to Virginia to run her own private practice, Annie Coker returned to California in 1939 to work for the Office of Legislative Counsel in Sacramento. Ms. Coker eventually became the head of the Indexing Section, responsible for compiling all California state codes and bills brought before the California legislature. Ms. Coker was described by her colleagues as “a good supervisor, a good friend” and “conscientious.”

In a California Bar Journal article regarding Ms. Coker’s career, former Alameda County Superior Court Judge Brenda Harbin-Forte remarked, “I’m absolutely inspired by her. For her to have come up at the time she did, and to be admitted at a time when the level of discrimination and the lack of opportunities for African-Americans, particularly in the legal profession, was high is amazing to me.”

Today, Queen’s Bench Bar Association continues to celebrate the contributions of Black women lawyers to the Bay Area legal community. Black women have also contributed to the rich history and tradition of leadership in our bar association, including but not not limited to Hana Hardy (Queen’s Bench President 2019). As a member of the Minority Bar Coalition, we encourage our members to attend the various events hosted by our sister bar associations led by Black women lawyers such as Black Women Lawyers of Northern California and the Charles Houston Bar Association. More information about MBC and affiliate organizations is available here.

Governor Newsom Appoints 

Queen's Bench member,

Elizabeth L. Riles to the Alameda Bench

Elizabeth L. Riles, of Alameda County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Alameda County Superior Court. Riles has served as a Commissioner at the Alameda County Superior Court since 2023. She served as an Administrative Law Judge for the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board from 2022 to 2023. Riles was Managing Shareholder at Bohbot & Riles PC from 2003 to 2022. She was an Associate at Kerosky & Bradley LLP from 2001 to 2002, at Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP from 1999 to 2001 and at Jackson, Tufts, Cole & Black LLP from 1998 to 1999. Riles earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the transfer of Judge Kevin Murphy to the Marin County Superior Court. She is a Democrat.