Feb. 15, 2014

Public defenders honored at San Jose ceremony

Kwixuan Maloof, a managing attorney in the San Francisco public defender's office, was honored Feb. 7 by the Santa Clara County Black Lawyers Association at the San Jose offices of Ropers Majeski Kohn & Bentley PC for his role in protecting the constitutional rights of the Bay Area's poorest residents. Maloof is among three African-American public defenders in the Bay Area to receive the Gideon Award, named for Gideon v. Wainwright, the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision that guaranteed attorney representation to every individual accused of a crime, regardless of income. Alameda County Public Defender Brendon Woods and Santa Clara County Alternate Public Defender Dave Epps were also honored. David Coleman, retired Contra Costa County public defender, received the Lifetime Achievement Award. "Kwixuan Maloof's tenacity in the courtroom has freed numerous people from being unjustly convicted and his mentorship has turned scores of young public defenders into experienced fighters of everyday injustice," San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Adachi said. The Santa Clara Black Lawyers Association presented the award ceremony with the Miller Law Group PC, Ropers Majeski and Greenberg Traurig LLP. The event was co-sponsored by the Black Technology Attorneys Group, Black Women Lawyers of Northern California, California Black Lawyers Association, Charles Houston Bar Association and the Santa Clara County Bar Association. — Ben Adlin