Sacramento: In Show of Force, Black Lawyers Stand Behind Black Caucus Priority Bills

March 16, 2026

The California Association of Black Lawyers (CABL) conducted its annual Legislative Days event on March 9-10 at the State Capitol, partnering with the National Coalition of 100 Black Women and the California Lawyers Association to advocate for policies affecting Black communities. The organization, representing over 6,000 African American legal professionals statewide, engaged directly with lawmakers to discuss priority legislation from the California Legislative Black Caucus, including bills addressing homeless youth support and gender-based stereotypes in criminal proceedings. During the event, CABL announced support for multiple pieces of legislation and honored Assemblymember Isaac Bryan with their Legislator of the Year Award, despite Governor Newsom's recent veto of Bryan's bill that would have allowed college admissions preferences for descendants of enslaved people.

Who is affected

African American attorneys, judges, law professors, and law students (6,000+ CABL members)
Unaccompanied homeless youth aged 16-17 not in foster care
Black communities throughout California
Descendants of enslaved people seeking college admission
Individuals involved in criminal proceedings where gender-based stereotypes may influence outcomes
Local educational agencies, school districts, and charter schools
California Legislative Black Caucus members
Assemblymembers Corey Jackson, Sade Elhawary, and Isaac Bryan

What action is being taken

CABL held its annual Legislative Days event on March 9-10 at the State Capitol
Members are engaging in direct advocacy with state policymakers
CABL is discussing and supporting specific bills prioritized by the California Legislative Black Caucus
The organization is advocating for AB 673, AB 2014, and previously supported AB 7
CABL and CLBC are collaborating to advance legislative priorities

Why it matters

This advocacy work is significant because it provides African American legal professionals with a unified platform to influence California's legal and legislative landscape on issues directly impacting Black communities. The collaboration between CABL and the California Legislative Black Caucus demonstrates organized political power that can successfully move legislation through the state government, even when facing executive opposition. The focus on issues like homeless youth support, criminal justice reform, restorative justice, and educational access for descendants of enslaved people addresses systemic inequalities and aims to create meaningful policy changes that could improve outcomes for vulnerable populations while increasing Black representation in legal and policy leadership roles.

What's next

CABL will hold its 49th Annual Conference from April 9-12 at the Oakland Marriott under the theme "Reclaiming Our Shine"
CABL and CLBC plan to continue working together to get priority legislation signed by the current governor and future governors
AB 673 and AB 2014 are pending legislative action

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint