Riverside Bar honors 2 veteran criminal defense attorneys

RIVERSIDE -- Two longtime Riverside criminal defense attorneys turned the spotlight on each other Thursday as the Riverside County Bar Association honored Virginia M. Blumenthal and Deputy Public Defender Steven L. Harmon at its Annual Installation Dinner.

Blumenthal, of Blumenthal & Moore APLC, presented Harmon with the E. Aurora Hughes Award for Service before Harmon returned to the podium at the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa to present Blumenthal with the James H. Krieger Meritorious Service Award.

The evening also marked the installation of Elisabeth A. Lord as RCBA president, succeeding Megan G. Demshki, along with the association's 2026-27 leadership.

Blumenthal described Harmon, a past RCBA president who spent more than 40 years in private criminal defense before becoming a deputy public defender in 2013, as one of the finest trial lawyers she had encountered.

"He's one of the greatest litigators I have ever seen," Blumenthal said. "I don't know anyone who works harder."

She pointed to a career that included teaching trial skills around the country and representing inmates at the former Riverside County Jail in litigation seeking better living conditions.

Harmon was equally personal in honoring Blumenthal, whose Riverside legal career spans more than five decades.

"Her story is an incredible story of resilience, leadership, service and great courage," Harmon said.

He recalled her dedication to clients, courtroom skills and ability to rebound when cases did not go her way. Once Blumenthal takes responsibility for a client or community cause, he said, "she commits totally and completely."

"Tonight you are looking at a true icon in the history of Riverside," Harmon said.

Blumenthal used her acceptance remarks to turn the attention to James H. Krieger and generations of Riverside lawyers who preceded her.

Although she never met Krieger, Blumenthal was a new attorney in Riverside when he died and recalled the "disbelief and the great, great sadness" that swept through the legal community.

"There was no one like him," she remembered people saying.

More than 50 years later, Blumenthal said, the award bearing his name continues that legacy.

"The significance of the award lies not in me, but in the honor of the past recipients and in the memory of Jim Krieger," she said.

Judges Randall Stamen and Sophia Choi also participated in installing the RCBA and Barristers leadership for 2026-27.