ABOUT US
The Law Library Justice Foundation The Law Library Justice Foundation is a non-profit corporation affiliated with the San Diego County Public Law Library. The general purpose of the Foundation is to aid in the maintenance of the Law Library and to seek improvements in the administration of justice, particularly in San Diego County. The Foundation is recognized as a 501(c)(3) organization established for charitable and educational purposes by the IRS.
The Foundation has contributed many books and considerable equipment to the Law Library over the years and maintained many restricted funds. It has sponsored the publication of several books, mostly on history of the local bar, and has administered grants for charitable purposes. The Foundation's "Brown Bag" lecture series, jointly financed by the San Diego County Bar Association, is especially popular.
The Foundation's Board of Trustees has eighteen members, who serve without compensation, three of whom also serve as trustees for the Law Library and fifteen who are chosen by the Foundation Board. The Law Library's Director serves as non-voting Secretary, and its Financial Administrator serves as non-voting Assistant Financial Officer.
A Short History of the Foundation
The Law Library Justice Foundation was created in 1961, shortly after the Law Library moved into its present building at 1105 Front Street. The initial purpose was to create a mechanism by which the Law Library could more easily accept donations of money and materials in kind (books) and maintain the wishes of the donors. Although the Law Library, as a public agency, can accept tax-deductible gifts, the commingling of such funds with public funds places many restrictions on its use. Through the Foundation, donors can be assured that funds spent for library materials and equipment will be in addition to, rather than replacing, public funds spent in these areas. Through the Foundation, money can be spent on scholarships, grants, lectures, and other activities without calling into question the expenditures of the Law Library's public funds for purposes beyond the more limited mission of the Library. The Foundation can also maintain assets in a greater variety of investments than those allowed for public funds and can receive and sell securities and property.
Since its founding, the Foundation has completely expended over fifty special purpose funds, mostly for books in special subject areas. The many plaques at the Main Library and the Branch Libraries represent the efforts of most such donors. The lecture series has been maintained continuously since 1961 and now is recognized as credit for State Bar MCLE. The Library houses a substantial inventory of the books published by the Foundation, still selling them on an occasional basis.