Pregerson, Evangelis honored at L.A. Law Library gala

LOS ANGELES - Retired U.S. District Judge Dean D. Pregerson of JAMS and Theane Evangelis of Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP were honored Wednesday evening at the Los Angeles County Library's 2026 Beacon of Justice Award gala in downtown Los Angeles.

The library's aware recognized both recipients for their contributions to the legal profession and public service.

Pregerson, who served for nearly three decades on the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, was recognized for his judicial career and impact on the bench. During his tenure, he decided thousands of cases and authored nearly 200 published opinions, with additional opinions issued while sitting by designation on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. His work spanned civil rights, employment, intellectual property, and prisoners' rights.

Presenting the award to Pregerson, Southwestern Law School Professor Christopher Cameron highlighted both his record and his mentorship of law students and clerks. In accepting the award, Pregerson reflected on the nature of judicial decision-making, noting that "mostly the decisions you make, you make yourself," and emphasizing that judges must approach those decisions with "a heart" because "they affect you."

He described the oath of office as central to the role, including the duty "to do equal justice to the rich and poor" and "to protect and defend the Constitution." In close cases, he said he looked to a broader principle, asking whether a decision would give "our ongoing experiment in democracy the best chance to survive."

Los Angeles City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto introduced Evangelis, describing her as "one of our nation's foremost litigators" and highlighting her leadership role at Gibson Dunn and her work on complex, high stakes matters, including cases before the U.S. Supreme Court.

In her remarks, Evangelis emphasized the broader responsibility of lawyers, stating that "the law is a tool for justice" and that attorneys must "do good beyond the courtroom and in society as a whole." She pointed to her role on the legal team that brought the first federal challenge to California's Proposition 8, the voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage, describing it as a formative experience that reflected the law's capacity to advance equality and civil rights.

Evangelis also underscored the importance of access to justice, describing the Los Angeles Law Library as "not just a resource, but a lifeline" for individuals seeking legal help. "The cornerstone of access to justice is access to reliable information," she said.

The evening brought together members of the legal community in support of the Los Angeles Law Library and its mission. Jeannine Wisnosky, consulting executive director of Friends of the Los Angeles County Law Library, noted that the library relies on community backing to provide educational programs and resources for those who depend on its services.