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Happy March, OCWLA Members and Friends!
March arrives with a sense of momentum and purpose. As we move into the heart of this year, I continue to be inspired by this community's strength and the shared commitment that has defined Orange County Women Lawyers Association for the past 50 years. Your engagement, leadership, and generosity transform our mission into meaningful action. In February, we joyfully came together for our annual Galentine’s celebration, a reminder of the power of connection, friendship, and the supportive network that defines OCWLA. We were also proud to partner with the OCBA Attorney Well-Being Committee and other bar sections to present High Stakes, Heavy Hearts—a meaningful and timely conversation focused on protecting your well-being while continuing to succeed in a high-pressure profession.
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As we celebrate Women’s History Month, we are reminded that the story of women in the law is one of courage, persistence, and collective progress—written across courtrooms and communities around the world. We stand on the shoulders of women pioneers who transformed what once seemed impossible into lasting pathways for others: Arabella Mansfield, the first woman admitted to practice law in the United States; Charlotte E. Ray, the first Black woman lawyer in our nation; Sandra Day O’Connor, who shattered the highest glass ceiling as the first woman on the United States Supreme Court; and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, whose lifelong advocacy reshaped the legal framework for gender equality. Closer to home, that same trailblazing spirit is reflected in Orange County through leaders such as Judge Frances Muñoz, the first Latina appointed to the Orange County Superior Court, and Justice Eileen C. Moore, one of the earliest women to serve on the Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division Three, whose distinguished career and national leadership continue to inspire our legal community.
Other transformative women were the founders of OCWLA, who, at a time when women were significantly underrepresented in the profession, created one of the first sustained and intentional networks in Orange County dedicated to advancing women lawyers through mentorship, professional development, judicial access, and community impact. Their vision established more than an organization, OCWLA is a lasting infrastructure of opportunity and support, which continues to shape careers and open doors more than five decades later.
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That same spirit lives on today in the women who serve on the bench, lead our legal institutions, and guide the next generation forward. When we come together across generations to share our experiences and honor those who paved the way, we are reminded that this legacy is both global in its impact and deeply personal in its meaning—something we will celebrate in a particularly special way at our cherished Past Presidents’ Tea. Because of them, we lead. Because we lead, the next chapter begins.
In the months ahead, our programming offers powerful opportunities to come together in that same spirit of connection and advancement. On April 21st, we will host our Equal Pay Day CLE, a timely and important program that reinforces OCWLA’s longstanding commitment to education, advocacy, and equity in the profession. There are countless opportunities to get involved. I encourage each of you to find a space to plug in, bring a colleague, and help us grow this extraordinary network. OCWLA has always been an organization where leadership is cultivated, friendships are formed, and futures are shaped.
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It is an honor to serve as your President during this remarkable chapter in our history. Thank you for your leadership, your engagement, and your unwavering commitment to one another and to the mission of OCWLA. Together, we are not only celebrating our past—we are shaping a powerful and inclusive future.
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Heidi Plummer
2026 OCWLA President
Bock & Plummer, Attorneys at Law
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