Access to Justice Gala

Join Us For This Annual Celebration

Our annual Access to Justice Gala stands as a special occasion dedicated to honoring public servants. Our annual Access to Justice Gala stands as a special occasion dedicated to honoring public servants, individuals, and law firms who ardently champion the cause of justice. Beyond celebration, this event plays a pivotal role in providing essential funding to support the crucial work undertaken by LASSB.
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Access To Justice Gala​

Access to Justice through the Ages
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Justice has its heroes—and tonight, we celebrate them.

The Access to Justice Gala honors the public servants, individuals, and law firms who work tirelessly to make justice accessible for everyone, especially the underserved. This evening is not only about recognizing these champions but also about fueling the mission of the Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino (LASSB) to break down legal barriers and build bridges of hope.

By attending, you’re joining a movement for equality in our legal system. Together, we can create a future where justice is a right, not a privilege. Join us in celebrating these inspiring heroes and recommitting to justice for all.

Access to Justice Gala February 27, 2025 5:00-09:00PM Redlands Fox Event Center

Special Performance

San Bernardino Teen Music Workshop
Discovery More | Listen to Music

Meet Our Access to Justice Honorees

Hon. Lisa M. Rogan

Presiding Judge
San Bernardino County, Superior Court

Justin H. King

Attorney
Law Office of Justin King
BIO

Pamela Edwards-Swift

Attorney
Edwards-Swift & Associates

2024 Access to Justice Gala Highlights

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Become a Donor

Justice shouldn’t have a price tag. Yet for too many in our community, it does.
Our Access to Justice Gala honors those who fight to change this reality. These unsung heroes ensure that poverty doesn’t mean powerlessness in our courts.
But they need your help. 
Your donation isn’t just money—it’s hope for a family facing eviction, support for a child needing an advocate, and a voice for those silenced by circumstance.
Be the difference. Sponsor, host a table, buy a ticket, or donate now. Every contribution, no matter the size, brings us closer to a world where justice serves all.
Click here to join our cause. Together, we can tip the scales of justice in favor of those who need it most.
DONATE TODAY

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Text JUSTICE25 to 53-555

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Silent Auction

Bid for justice! Our Silent Auction opens on event day, featuring an irresistible array of treasures. From dream vacations to sparkling jewels, every bid opens doors for those in need. Your generosity fuels LASSB’s mission, empowering our advocates to provide free, expert legal aid to more members of our community. 

Don’t just win a prize—be a prize to someone who needs you. Your auction participation could be the lifeline a family desperately needs.
Get ready to raise your paddle and raise hope. Together, we’ll turn luxury into legacy, making justice accessible for all.

Thank you to our 2025 donors can be recreated and will be blank, but include sections for Champions of Justice, Florentino Garza Fellowship Sponsor, Leader of Justice, Supporter of Justice, Guardian of Justice, Friend of Legal Aid, Logo Sponsor, Item Donor

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Thank You To Our 2025 Sponsors

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View Past Access to Justice Galas

2024 Access to Justice Gala
2023 Access to Justice Gala

Our vision transcends barriers of wealth, race, age, and affiliations. We imagine a world where justice knows no financial limits—a world where every individual enjoys equitable access to the scales of justice. Together, we champion the cause of a more compassionate and inclusive society, with a steadfast focus on our most vulnerable community members.

Give over the phone

909-406-5302

Mail a Check

Send a check payable to Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino and mail to:
Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino
Attention: Donations
588 W. Sixth Street,
San Bernardino, CA. 92410

More questions?

Contact Pablo Ramirez at 909-406-5302 or pablor@Legalaidofsb.org

TEXT to DONATE

Text JUSTICE25 to 53-555

TEXT to DONATE

Text JUSTICE25 to 53-555

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Honorable, Michael Sachs,
San Bernardino Superior Court

Judge Sachs is a graduate of the University of California, Irvine where he obtained his Bachelor of Science in Political Science. Upon graduation he entered Western State University College of law where he received his J.D. Judge Sachs was admitted to the practice law in in 1988.

From 1988 until 1994, he worked at the Law Firm of Roberts and Morgan specializing in the defense of insureds and public entities. In 1994, he joined the Office of County Counsel where he was ultimately promoted to Principal Assistant County Counsel with supervision responsibilities for the office’s litigation unit. He remained at County Counsel until June of 2007 when he was appointed to one of the five newly created judicial positions for San Bernardino County Superior Court.

In the 2017, Judge Sachs was elected as the Assistant Presiding Judge of the San Bernardino Superior Court. In 2019, he was elected as the Presiding Judge. His term ended 12.31.2021. For the majority of his term, he had been responsible for implementing COVID Protocols for the court. His main emphasis was, to the best of his ability, insuring the health and safety of San Bernardino’s legal community including all court users, at the same time insuring access to justice for those needing court services. As Presiding Judge, he created the Court’s Elimination of Bias Committee. The first of its kind in Southern California. Along with Judge John Monterosso, Riverside Superior Court’s PJ, he also formed The Inland Counties Judicial Applicant program, geared toward recruiting qualified and diverse judicial candidates for appointment to San Bernardino, Riverside and Imperial County Superior Courts.

He had previously been served on the Civil and Small Claims Advisory committee to the Judicial Council, and the Tribal Court –State Court Forum. Judge Sachs currently serves on the Trial Court Budget Advisory Committee. Former Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye appointed him to the forum and the committees.

Judge Sachs and his wife Michele, live is East Highland. They have two daughters, Jessica and Sarah. Jessica is married to Jordan Anderson, they have two children Jonah (3yrs) and Charlotte (8 mos).

Justin H. King 
Attorney
Law Office of Justin King

Justin H. King is one of the Inland Empire’s most distinguished personal injury attorneys, recognized for his unwavering dedication to justice and his skill in securing outstanding results for his clients. His firm, the Law Offices of Justin H. King, has been named to Best Law Firms in America by Best Lawyers, a testament to its commitment to excellence in personal injury law. Recently, Justin himself was honored by Best Lawyers in America for 2024 and 2025, adding to a growing list of accolades.

Throughout his career, Justin has secured millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for his clients against insurance companies and public institutions. His legal journey began in class action litigation, where he fought for California consumers against corporate misconduct. Afterward, he spent years as an insurance defense attorney, gaining valuable insight into insurance company strategies—a knowledge he now leverages to serve injury victims and their families. Today, he dedicates 100% of his practice to representing those impacted by life-altering injuries due to others’ negligence. Recently, Justin has been featured several times on NBC News as they have covered his work in a high-profile class-action case against a major auto insurer.

Justin’s skills and ethical standards have earned him a SuperLawyers® rating, placing him in the Top 5% of attorneys nationwide, as well as an AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, placing him among the top 8% of lawyers nationwide. He was also been named a Rising Star by Super Lawyers between 2017 and 2022, an honor awarded to only 2.5% of attorneys. Previously, he was recognized by the National Trial Lawyers as a Top 40 Under 40 Civil Plaintiff Lawyer in 2015 and as a Top 100 Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyer in 2016.

In addition to his legal work, Justin is a respected leader in the professional community. He currently serves as the President of the San Bernardino County Bar Association and is a past president of the Western San Bernardino County Bar Association. He also sits on the Board of Directors for the Consumer Attorneys of California (Inland Empire) and the John Lewis King Memorial Scholarship Fund, which provides legal scholarships to aspiring law students.

Justin’s clients consistently praise his compassionate approach and tenacity, as evidenced by his perfect 5.0-star rating on Google. His comprehensive knowledge of personal injury law, combined with a deep commitment to his clients’ well-being, makes him one of the most trusted advocates in the Inland Empire.

Connie Johnson

Connie Johnson grew up in a typical American household with her parents, two brothers and her little sister who had Down’s Syndrome and needed a lot of help. When she was ten years old, her kneecaps started dislocating and she spent the next 8 years in and out of the hospital in hopes it would one day stop. It didn’t. She found a passion in playing music and devoted herself to music to help her get through the days. She lost her little sister when Connie was 17 and her sister was 11 to congestive heart failure. Her passion for playing music saved her life during a very difficult time.

She married her first husband in 1986 and had her amazing son, Patrick in 1987. After divorcing in 1988, she began working in a defense workers’ compensation firm. Always desiring to seek out a more challenging career she was hired by Attorney Stanford E. Reichert (Judge Reichert) in 1997 in the insurance defense field. Once again, she found a passion. Judge Reichert trained her in all aspects of civil litigation and when closed his practice to take the bench, she accepted a position with Kinkle, Rodiger & Spriggs working for Claudia Spriggs for a year and then followed Ms. Spriggs to Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith where she worked for over 15 years. She currently works for Berman Berman Berman Schneider & Lowary’s Riverside office, still working in insurance defense where her passion started all of those years ago.

Connie has always had a desire to learn more and to help others whether it was working as a scout leader for her son or doing volunteer work for Special Olympics with her sister. Connie Joined the Inland Counties Association of Paralegals (ICAP) in 2008 serving as a director through 2017, and as President from 2013 through 2017. She received awards from the National Affiliated Associations Achievement award from the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) in 2010, 2011, 2014 and 2016 and received the Woman of the Year Award from the National Association of Professional Women in 2014 for dedication and work as a Professional Woman in the work force. Most recently, Connie won the Legal Assistant of the Year Award from the West San Bernardino County Bar Association for 2020/2021.

In 2014 Connie became a director/officer for the Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino (LASSB). She again found her passion. “It has been my greatest joy to help those who have not been able to obtain help through any other means. As a prior single mother, I know the difficulty and struggle of getting through life day by day without letting your child know the amount of your struggle.” Connie always tried to keep a smile on her face, dealing with legs that did not always work the way they should.
Connie currently lives with the love of her life, Michael Johnson, who she married in 2000. Together they raised her son Patrick, and Michael’s children De Anna, Michael, Cindy and Chris, as well as their oldest granddaughter, Katrina. They have since been rewarded with their amazing grandchildren Wyatt, Cheyenne and Alora as well as their first great-grandchild, Ophelia.

Having to resign her position with LASSB was a very difficult decision. “My body has let me know that I have done enough, and it was time to stop. I miss the monthly meetings and just the comradery with the other board members who I miss terribly. I am glad I was able to help the thousands of people who came through Legal Aid in the years I was on the board. I hope I was able to make a positive change in their lives.”