Chief Justice Selects Butte County Civic Learning Partnership for Prestigious Award

Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye selected Butte County Civic Learning Partnership to receive the Chief Justice's Exemplary Service and Leadership Award, which gives special recognition for outstanding service to the judicial branch.

Butte Civic Learning Partnership Members, co-led by Butte County Superior Court Judge Kristen A. Lucena, learned of the honor on Law Day, May 1 via a phone call from the Chief Justice.

“The Butte Civic Learning Partnership is a model other counties can replicate,” said the Chief Justice. “Its achievements, creativity, and county-wide impact make it a leader in this statewide movement.”

Butte County was one of the first to pilot a Civic Learning Partnership, an effort driven by local court and school leaders to connect more students to the role of the judicial branch and the work of state courts. In its first year, Butte County became the first county in the state to have civic learning resolutions adopted by every school district.

A letter from a Butte County student to Judge Lucena, Civic Learning Partnership leader

The Butte County Civic Learning Partnership impacts 31,000 students countywide. More than 50 county leaders support the partnership.

County partnership leader Judge Kristen A. Lucena is proud of all the work the partnership members have accomplished. She added, “They are enthusiastic, knowledgeable experts in their respective fields who believe they can improve our democracy by educating all students in our community.”