Luis Rodriguez, Chair

Luis J. Rodriguez (Chair) is a native born Angeleno. He received his B.S. in Political Science and Juris Doctor from Santa Clara University. Since 1994, Mr. Rodriguez has been an attorney with the Office of the Los Angeles County Public Defender. He tried numerous misdemeanor and felony cases. Additionally, he worked in the Juvenile Division where he fought in assuring that minors in need of special education, regional center assistance, and mental health services received these services. Currently, he serves as Division Chief for the Juvenile Delinquency Division for the Office. In 2013, Luis was sworn in as the 89th President of the State Bar of California. Luis is the first Latino and the first Public Defender President of the State Bar. Luis has taken leadership roles throughout the years as President of the L.A. County Mexican American Bar Assoc., President of the California La Raza Lawyers Assoc., and a member of the California State Board of Education. In 2014, Luis was honored by the California legal publication, the Daily Journal, as one of the Top 100 Attorneys in CA. He also received the Stanley Mosk Defender of Justice Award by the California Supreme Court’s Judicial Council. He sat on U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer’s Judicial Evaluation Committee for the Central District and also on the Executive Advisory Committee to U.C Irvine Law School Dean, Erwin Chemerinsky. Mr. Rodriguez is the Chair of the board and member of the Governance and Student Discipline Committees.