About Us | Earl B Gilliam

The Foundation exists primarily to provide support for diversifying the legal community, which currently includes scholarships for law students and support for law students and African American legal professionals in growing as attorneys, obtaining and maintaining employment, developing private practice as sole practitioners or partners within law firms, advancing in public sector employment, and related efforts.

Gifts made to the Foundation are tax-deductible.

The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and its mission is to represent the interests of the African-American legal community in San Diego County.

OUR FOUNDING

In 2014, the Board and the members of the Earl B. Gilliam Bar Association voted to create a 501(c)(6) organization to increase the organization’s political and civic voice in the San Diego community. As a result, the Earl B. Gilliam Bar Association is the 501(c)(6) membership organization and the Earl B. Gilliam Bar Foundation is the 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to raising money for the scholarship fund.

The Earl B. Gilliam Bar Association was originally established in 1976 as the Association of Black Attorneys of San Diego County (“ABASDC”). In 1982, under the presidency of Daniel Weber, ABASDC formally changed its name to the Earl B. Gilliam Bar Association (“EBGBA”) in recognition of the Honorable Earl B. Gilliam, the first African- American United States District Court judge for the Southern District of California. Judge Gilliam was also the first African-American to serve as a San Diego County Superior Court Judge.

In the mid-1970s there were very few Black attorneys in San Diego County. On a Saturday morning a small group of the ones who were here met up at Emma’s Pancake House at 54th and El Cajon. When they finished the meeting they all went out to go about their day and it started to rain.

The men all began running to get out of the rain and no sooner had they started then a police car came up and stopped all of them. The policeman said there had been a robbery in the area and these men matched the description of the suspect. After being harassed for several minutes, upon being asked for identification all but one of the men produced their California State Bar cards. Surprised but apparently not deterred the policeman arrested the one man, attorney Willard Anthony, who did not have his bar card with him.

The others called the only local judge they could, Hon. Earl B. Gilliam. Judge Gilliam got Mr. Anthony immediately released and his record expunged. They were also able to determine that no such robbery had been reported and made sure that the conduct of the police was noted in each officer’s personnel file. As a result of this experience, the men came together to form the Association of Black Attorneys of San Diego County. The organization was set up primarily to serve the community and to advocate for issues impacting Black attorneys. After several years of operation, at the urging of member Daniel Weber, who later became a judge, the organization changed its name to honor the first African American to serve on the bench in San Diego, Hon. Earl B. Gilliam.

Today, many members of the organization have gone on to successful careers as lawyers and judges and in other pursuits. And our challenge continues to be how to make sure that success for some translates into opportunity for all members of the community.

The above information is paraphrased from a speech given by Daniel Weber’s widow, Assemblywoman for the 79th Assembly District Dr. Shirley Weber, on November 9, 2013 at the 37th Annual Awards & Scholarship Dinner

We invite you to explore our heritage below by reading our key historical documents, a biography of our namesake, and a history of black lawyers in San Diego.

Original Constitution & Bylaws

Our Namesake: Judge Earl B. Gilliam

A History of San Diego’s Black Legal Community

BOARD OF
DIRECTORS

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PRESIDENT'S
MESSAGE

Greetings,

It is an honor to serve as the 2024 Earl B. Gilliam Foundation president.

This is a full-circle moment for me. I didn’t know anyone when I arrived in San Diego in 2014. I contacted the Earl B. Gilliam President via LinkedIn; the rest is history. The Earl B. Gilliam community immediately welcomed my family and I into their family. Thanks to Earl B. Gilliam, I found my tribe quickly. They even helped me find my work family. Earl B. Gilliam is probably the most significant reason my family and I now call the San Diego area home. I hope that in 2024, I can continue to advance the organization’s mission of increasing diversity in the legal community here in San Diego.

THE ASSOCIATION

What is the Difference Between the Earl B. Gilliam Bar Association and the Earl B. Gilliam Bar Foundation?

In 2014, after thorough analysis, the membership and the Board of Directors of the Earl B. Gilliam Bar Association voted to support creating a second organization and increasing our political and civic voice in the San Diego community. As a result, we will have The Earl B. Gilliam Bar Association and the Earl B. Gilliam Bar Foundation, which are two separate corporate entities. Although many people will be members of both organizations, it is legally necessary that two separate organizations exist to protect and identify the tax status of both organizations and to adequately serve the interests of San Diego County’s African American community. Further, there are certain activities that must be carried out by one entity and not the other.

Donors will be able to contribute either to the Earl B. Gilliam Bar Association, the Earl B. Gilliam Bar Foundation, or both. Any gift or contribution to either association will be utilized to support, promote and defend the interests of San Diego County’s African-American Community. Each organization may only apply funds contributed to it to accomplish its specific mission or purpose.

The Earl B. Gilliam Bar Association

The Association is section 501(c)(6) under the Internal Revenue Code. Its mission is to advance the legal, economic, social, educational, and political interests of African American lawyers and of the African-American community.

It will provide leadership on political and civic issues, make decisions on endorsing candidates for political and judicial office, and provide support or opposition on issues of important across the community.

The Association is committed to defend the legal and human rights of all citizens, promote the administration of justice, eradicate the root causes of racism, promote the professional and personal interest of its individual members, and preserve high standards of integrity, honor, and courtesy in the legal profession.

Contributions made to the Association are not presently tax deductible. Donors & dues paying members should consult their tax advisors to determine if they qualify for a business expense or other deduction.

The Earl B. Gilliam Bar Foundation

The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and its mission is to represent the interests of the African-American legal community in San Diego County.

The Foundation exists primarily to provide support for diversifying the legal community, which currently includes scholarships for law students and support for law students and African-American legal professionals in growing as attorneys, obtaining and maintaining employment, developing private practice as sole practitioners or partners within law firms, advancing in public sector employment, and related efforts.
Gifts made to the Foundation are tax-deductible.

PILLARS OF THE FOUNDATION

The Pillars of the Foundation are individuals who were lifetime members of the original 501(c)(3) now known as the Earl B. Gilliam Bar Foundation. Today, the Foundation is governed by a Board of Directors with no membership. Pillars of the Foundation recognize individuals who have helped sustain the organization through monetary support. If you would like to become a Pillar of the Foundation please contact info@earlbgilliambar.org.