SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – Senior Counsel Stacey A. Kartchner was sworn in as the 2024 President of the San Diego County Bar Association (SDCBA). Ms. Kartchner took the oath of office at the organization’s Stepping Up to the Bar event on December 1, 2023 at San Diego’s historic US Grant Hotel.
Ms. Kartchner has been representing clients in criminal matters for the past two decades. A graduate of California Western School of Law, she also defends professionals in administrative and licensure matters, and handles litigation involving allegations of malpractice.
With her swearing in, Ms. Kartchner becomes the second Klinedinst attorney in the past three years to serve as President of the San Diego County Bar Association.
In 2021, Ms. Kartchner was first elected by the general membership to become a member of the SDCBA Board of Directors. After taking on various roles within the Board and serving as Secretary in 2022, the Board selected her to lead the organization.
Ms. Kartchner is no stranger to the San Diego legal community. She currently serves as Chairperson of the San Diego Criminal Justice Memorial Committee, as well as Chairperson of the CJA Material Witness Advisory Panel for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. She is also a Past-President of both the Criminal Defense Lawyers Club and Criminal Defense Bar Association. Ms. Kartchner has also served in various roles with Lawyers Club of San Diego, including as Co-Chair of the Community Services Committee from 2020-2022.
Over the course of the past two decades, Ms. Kartcher has received several awards, including being named to San Diego Super Lawyers® every year since 2015. She was honored with the Service Award by the Criminal Defense Lawyer’s Club in 2012. In 2017, the Boards of Federal Defenders of San Diego and Appellate Defenders of San Diego honored Ms. Kartchner with a Special Directors Award for contributions to the San Diego criminal defense community. She was also given a Service Award in 2020 for her contributions collaborating with the Judges of the San Diego Superior Court and other criminal justice stakeholders during the COVID-19 pandemic.
At Stepping Up to the Bar, Robert M. Shaughnessy, a Certified Specialist in Appellate Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization, completed his term as Director on the SDCBA Board of Directors. Mr. Shaughnessy has been a member of the board since 2021.
Ms. Kartchner takes over the role as President from Melissa Johnson, a San Diego-based employment lawyer who will continue to serve on the board as Immediate Past President.
Klinedinst congratulates Ms. Kartchner on becoming President of the largest bar organization in the region, and thanks Mr. Shaughnessy for his years of service on the SDCBA Board of Directors. For more information on Ms. Kartchner, please visit:
www.klinedinstlaw.com/profiles/attorney/stacey-kartchner
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