AWARDS & HONOREES

James Pfeiffer Award

This award honors Jim Pfeiffer, a man of vision and community service whose personal and professional life was dedicated to giving back and making a difference. Jim committed his entire nonprofit fundraising career to supporting and creating programs that invested in youth, equal access, and social justice. He worked tirelessly to develop a philanthropic mission and to implement giving programs for law students, legal services and the improvement of justice for all Californians, until his early retirement due to Parkinson’s disease.

As the founding Executive Director of the Foundation of the California Bar, Jim successfully “herded” a board of opinionated lawyers with whom he worked tirelessly to develop a philanthropic mission to implement giving programs for law students, legal services, and the improvement of justice for all Californians, until his early retirement due to Parkinson’s disease.

With his tireless energy, Jim did double duty as the part-time Director of the California Historical Society from 1997 through 2000. He loved history and was a Civil War history buff. Jim was also a longtime supporter of the Conference of Delegates. He was recognized for volunteering his fundraising expertise to CCBA.

After his retirement, Jim continued to give generously of his time and resources to this community. Despite his Parkinson’s, Jim enjoyed life with grace and humor with his wonderful wife, Bonnie Hough, his son Michael Pfeiffer, Max, his three-legged dog, and many friends. Shortly after Jim’s death, CCBA established the Pfeiffer award to remember and honor Jim’s life of service and giving. Each year, the Pfeiffer Award is given to one of our own, who, like Jim, is a person of the highest integrity and professional excellence, with a passion for giving and service for a more just society through the law.

Friend of the Conference Award

This award is granted to a person who embodies the spirit of our organization in furthering Justice Through Laws to the People of California and through support of our organization.

John Van de Kamp “Justice Through Laws” Award

John Van de Kamp was a towering political figure who, as former Governor Jerry Brown said, “understood the higher calling of public service.” John served as acting United States Attorney, then chief assistant U.S. Attorney, until he was named deputy director of the Office of U.S. Attorneys in the Justice Department. In 1971, he became the first federal public defender in Los Angeles. He was later appointed district attorney in Los Angeles, and was subsequently elected twice to the position. He later served two terms as California’s Attorney General.

Always a man of principle, as Washington eased enforcement of civil rights, Van de Kamp’s deputies challenged boys’ clubs that refused to admit girls and male-only business clubs that blackballed women. He created special units to handle child abuse, sexual assault, and police shootings.

The John Van de Kamp “Justice Through Laws” Award recognizes those public officials and private citizens who follow John’s example of fighting for the rights of Californians.