Elaine A. Alexander, executive director, has been with ADI for more than 30 years and has held the position of executive director for much of that time. In those years she developed the concept of the district appellate project, pioneered the first such program (ADI), and helped create the statewide system that serves all of the California appellate courts.

A 1968 graduate of Yale Law School, Order of the Coif, Ms. Alexander is a member of the California and United States Supreme Court Bars. She is currently serving on three California Judicial Council advisory committees and task forces and has long been active in the San Diego appellate community. She also has taught appellate advocacy as an adjunct professor.

Ms. Alexander has received numerous awards for her leadership in bringing quality legal services to the indigent. Among them are "Public Attorney of the Year" Award from the San Diego County Bar, the Loren Miller Award from the State Bar, the E. Stanley Conant Award from the Defender Organizations of San Diego, the "War Horse" award from the San Diego Criminal Defense Bar Association, and the Defender Services Award from the National Legal Aid and Defender Association.

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