The Civil Justice Association of California (CJAC) has named the 2023 recipients of the Civil Justice Gavel Award, which recognizes legislators with a record of working on balance and equity in California’s legal system.
The recipients are Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones, R-San Diego, and Assemblymember Tim Grayson, D-Concord. The award is given annually to one Democrat and one Republican legislator.
“The award honors legislators who display extraordinary leadership in promoting a fair, balanced civil justice system in California,” Kyla Christoffersen Powell, CJAC’s president and CEO, told the Northern California Record by email.
“This year’s recipients, Senator Jones and Assemblymember Grayson, have each demonstrated their commitment to upholding these values,” Powell said. “We want to recognize leaders who understand the impact of frivolous and unfair lawsuits on family and small businesses around the state and the negative impact it ultimately has on each one of us living in California.”
Jones was one of the lawmakers who received the highest possible ranking in CJAC’s recent Balance Scorecard, which assesses work and votes on key bills that create excessive litigation burdens on businesses and communities. Grayson also ranked in the top third.
“As we kick off a new two-year legislative session, we will renew our efforts to educate legislators and voters about the importance of a fair and balanced civil justice system for all Californians,” Powell said. “We will also remain vigilant in our opposition to legislation that makes it more difficult to operate a business in California, and we will support reforms that help to curb abuses of the civil justice system.”
Past recipients of the Civil Justice Gavel Award include Sen. Ling Ling Chang, R-Diamond Bar, Assemblymember Steven Choi, R-Irvine, Sen. Steven Glazer, D-Orinda, Sen. Melissa Hurtado, D-Sanger, Assemblymember Janet Nguyen, R-Huntington Beach, and Assemblymember Blanca Rubio, D-Baldwin Park.
This year’s award recipients were announced on Feb. 22.