David Codell Named Southern California "Super Lawyer"

LOS ANGELES (February 2009)—Los Angeles magazine and Law and Politics magazine named David Codell a Southern California "Super Lawyer" for the fourth consecutive year.  The honor is limited to five percent of the attorneys in the region.

David Codell Becomes Of Counsel to Caldwell Leslie & Proctor, PC

LOS ANGELES (October 14, 2008)—The Law Office of David C. Codell and the Los Angeles litigation firm Caldwell Leslie & Proctor, PC, are pleased to announce that David Codell is now Of Counsel to Caldwell Leslie.  Founded in 1988 as an intelligent alternative to large law firm representation, Caldwell Leslie is dedicated to providing strategic, creative and cost-effective representation in cases that matter most to its clients.  Caldwell Leslie's record of success at trial, on appeal, and in alternative dispute resolution proceedings has attracted a loyal roster of clients, including Fortune 500 corporations, closely held businesses, major studios and networks, cities and counties, state and local agencies, foreign companies, professionals, community groups, and prominent law firms.  Caldwell Leslie's vigorous advocacy at trial and in appellate proceedings has resulted in precedential rulings, landmark verdicts, and satisfied clients.  Caldwell Leslie's attorneys represent the diversity of its clients: over sixty percent are women and minorities.  Its lawyers have top-tier experience and academic credentials; most of its lawyers held prestigious federal judicial clerkships.  In addition to serving as Of Counsel to Caldwell Leslie, Mr. Codell will maintain his law office on the Westside.

David Codell Receives Liberty Award from Lambda Legal

LOS ANGELES (October 2, 2008)—Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund presented David Codell with its Liberty Award in honor of his work as co-counsel in the landmark California Supreme Court Marriage Cases and his continual work on behalf of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons in many cases since 1999, including his role as lead counsel in litigation upholding California's historic domestic partnership laws and his litigation supporting the free speech rights of public high school students.  The award was presented to Mr. Codell at an event at the Directors Guild of America.

David Codell Honored by ACLU of Southern California

LOS ANGELES (September 14, 2008)—The ACLU of Southern California presented its Coalition for Justice Award to David Codell, Shannon Minter of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, Jon Davidson and Jennifer Pizer of Lambda Legal, and Stephen Bomse of Heller Ehrman LLP for their joint work as co-counsel for plaintiffs in the California Marriage Cases, in which the California Supreme Court held that same-sex couples have the right to marry under the California Constitution.

California Supreme Court Rules Same-Sex Couples Must Be Permitted To Marry

SAN FRANCISCO (May 15, 2008)—The California Supreme Court issued a historic ruling, holding that the California Constitution requires the state to permit same-sex couples to marry.  California is now the second state in the country, after Massachusetts, in which gay and lesbian couples have the right to marry. In its ruling, the California Supreme Court became the first state high court in the nation to rule that laws that discriminate based on sexual orientation are presumptively invalid and subject to the strictest level of constitutional scrutiny.  David Codell is co-counsel with the National Center for Lesbian Rights, the ACLU, and Lambda Legal on behalf of plaintiffs Equality California, Our Family Coalition, and twelve same-sex couples seeking the right to marry. See In re Marriage Cases, 43 Cal.4th 757 (2008).

Court of Appeal Rejects Reverse Discrimination Lawsuit

SAN JOSE (March 5, 2008)—The Sixth District Court of Appeal in San Jose, California has rejected the lawsuit of a white television news anchor who alleged that he was the victim of "reverse discrimination" when his employment contract was not renewed in 2003.  The Court of Appeal found that there was no evidence of discrimination.  David Codell successfully handled the appeal for the television station where the anchor worked and a major television network.  See Hicks v. KNTV Television, Inc., 160 Cal.App.4th 994 (2008).