ROHNERT, CA — Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino) announced that the California Indian Law Association, Inc. (CILA) recently presented him with the 2025 recipient of CILA’s Outstanding Achievement in California Indian Law Award.
Erica Costa received the 2025 Outstanding Young Attorney Award.
Upon accepting the award, Ramos said, “Tonight I was honored to receive the 2025 Outstanding Achievement in Indian Law Award from the California Indian Law Association. The work I am able to do is inspired by the moral example taught to me by my mother, Rowena Ramos. Her strength, resilience, and lifelong dedication to Indian Country continue to guide my path. This recognition is dedicated to her.”
CILA’s Outstanding Achievement in California Indian Law Award honors one legal professional annually who has made significant contributions to California Indian law. Previous recipients of this award include Judge Abby Abinanti, Chief Judge of the Yurok Tribe; Dorothy Alther, Legal Director of California Indian Legal Services; Carole Goldberg, Distinguished Research Professor and Jonathan D. Varat Distinguished Professor of Law Emerita at UCLA School of Law; Judge Claudette White, prior Chief Judge for the Quechan Tribal Court and San Manuel Tribal Court; Michael Pfeffer, Partner at Maier, Pfeffer, Kim, Geary & Cohen; Dawn Sturdevant Baum, prior General Counsel for the Yurok Tribe; and Denise Turner Walsh, Attorney General of the Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians.
Loretta Miranda, CILA Treasurer said, “CILA is proud to honor a lawmaker who has given California Native people a voice in the California Legislature for the first time in history. Assemblymember Ramos is an inspiration to all California Native people. He has authored bills that have made unprecedented changes while tirelessly advancing priorities on behalf of Native people and all of his constituents. From mandating public schools to implement curriculum on the true history and resiliency of California Native people to establishing the Feather Alert System to find MMIP to advancing legislation to close gaps in youth behavioral health services, Ramos has changed the status quo of the California Legislature while continuously educating his colleagues and the public on California Native cultures and history. Most importantly, he has remained steadfast in his commitment to his values, culture, family and people.” CILA’s Outstanding Achievement Award celebrates Assemblymember Ramos’ legacy and his significant contributions to California Indian law.
CILA’s Outstanding Young Attorney Award recognizes attorneys in practice for ten years or less who exemplify high achievement, innovation, leadership, and service within the field of Indian law. Previous recipients of the Outstanding Young Attorney Award include Lenny Powell, attorney at the Native American Rights Fund; Christina Snider-Ashtari, Tribal Affairs Secretary for Governor Gavin Newsom; Fatima Abbas, Director of the Office of Tribal and Native Affairs at the U.S. Department of the Treasury; Lauren van Schilfgaarde, Assistant Professor of Law at UCLA School of Law; Geneva E. B. Thompson, Assistant Secretary for Tribal Affairs at the California Natural Resources Agency; Janet Bill, former Chairperson of the Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians and current tribal court judge; and Gabriela Magee, an attorney at Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP and active leader at her own tribe, the Cahuilla Band of Indians.
Ramos and Costa were celebrated during the sold-out CILA Awards Dinner on Thursday, October 23, 2025 during the 25th Annual California Indian Law Conference, which was held October 23-24, 2025 at Graton Resort and Casino. More information is available at calindianlaw.org.
