MISSION STATEMENT
The Law Library Justice Foundation exists to further legal knowledge and promote justice for the people of San Diego County. To fulfill these goals, trustees of the Foundation dedicate themselves to support the San Diego County Public Law Library by helping to raise money to benefit the Law Library.
Our Mission: The Foundation shall promote charitable contributions and endowments for the benefit of the Law Library.
Currently there are nine endowment funds devoted to the Law Library, including the Witkin Fund. Over fifty special purpose funds have been completely expended since 1961, mostly for books in special subject areas. A huge display in the Main Library lobby shows many of the contributors over time, including most of the larger law firms in San Diego. Other plaques, such as those in the Pioneer Room and at branches, show the generosity of donors toward specific collections.
Currently, the Jack L. Oatman Fund provides books on probate and real estate. The Harry J. Place Fund provides non-law books to enhance the Library's cultural collection. The Ben B. Rubin Fund supports books on Jewish law. The O. James Werner Fund provides books on human rights and international law.
With funds raised from the Witkin Awards Dinner, this fund grows faster than any other. Last year, the Witkin Fund provided over $22,000 for books for law practitioners. Each year, we set another level and give ourselves a challenge for the next year.
Our Mission: The foundation shall serve and promote legal scholarship and public education.
Among their current programs, there are the Judge Ronald Abernethy and Judge Clarence Harden Scholarships for law students. The Judge Jacob Weinberger Award for local legal history is presented in cooperation with the San Diego Historical Society. The Rubin Fund promotes social justice. The James H. Miller, Jr., Fund assists the San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program's Law Library Clinic. And, of course, we have the popular Fred E. Lindley Lecture Series, at which Bernie Witkin spoke nearly every other year since 1964 until his death in 1995. The Lindley Lecture Fund was transformed this year to provide support for the first annual Witkin Lecture, in conjunction with the Witkin Legal Institute. Professor Erwin Chemerinsky spoke to a crowd of 240 at the lecture in June.
Our Mission: The Foundation shall determine beneficial and appropriate uses of donations, and honor the conditions on gifts based on the donors' directions.
The Arthur L. GLore Fund, an unrestricted fund created by bequest, provides funding for outreach activities, such as the Library's new electronic newsletter. This fund also provided a majority of the funding for the Library's new online catalog, available to all through the Library's website at www.sdcpll.org. You can sign up for the newsletter at the Library's website, too. The Foundation has also sponsored the publication of several books on the history of the local bar and has administered grants for charitable purposes.
The Foundation's Board of Trustees has eighteen members who serve without compensation, fifteen of whom are chosen by the Foundation Board and three who also serve as trustees for the Law Library. The Law Library's Director serves as non-voting Secretary and its Financial Administrator serves as non-voting Assistant Financial Officer. Through the Foundation, the Library is able to benefit from the receipt and sale of securities and property and maintain assets in a greater variety of investments than those allowed for public funds. Your contribution can continue these endeavors into the next millennium. For additional information, please contact Library Administration at (619) 531–3904.