ADI’s Board

As a nonprofit corporation chartered since 1972 under the laws of California, Appellate Defenders, Inc., is governed by a seven-member board of directors.

Board of Directors

The board meets approximately quarterly to discuss the business of the organization.

Members are chosen by the present board for three-year terms. They receive no compensation for their service. At present they include:

  • James Chavez, Board President: personal injury and criminal defense attorney.
  • Victoria Fuller, Board Vice President: appellate attorney.
  • Linda Keller, Board Secretary: Dean/professor of law, Thomas Jefferson School of Law.
  • Fred Kosmo, Board Chief Financial Officer: civil attorney.
  • Roberta K. Thyfault, Board Member: professor of law emerita California Western School of Law, former ADI staff and panel attorney.
  • Harini Raghupathi, Board Member: appellate attorney.
  • Zandra Lopez, Board Member: appellate attorney
  • Alex Wong, Board Member: A non-director serving on an advisory basis to the Audit Committee.

Special Events, Awards & Recognitions

The board co-sponsors the annual Defender Dinner with the board of Federal Defenders of San Diego, Inc. The two boards present the Paul E. Bell Memorial Award for excellence in appellate advocacy and the E. Stanley Conant Award for excellence in trial advocacy. In addition, the boards confer recognition for lifetime achievement and other outstanding accomplishments.