Endorsements by WLVC
Purpose
Women Lawyers of Ventura County may consider requests for endorsement for judicial position as well as non-partisan County, State or national positions related to the legal community, such as district attorney, city attorney, County board of supervisors, and state and national representatives.
The purpose of providing endorsements is to ensure women’s issues, specifically those related to the practice of law, legal profession, and advancement of women in leadership are represented in our community. WLVC’s endorsement of an individual indicates that the individual is suitable for the office/position sought and supports WLVC’s values and mission.
Process
First step is to submit a completed application to the Chair (located on the Application itself). The Chair will then distribute the application to the Endorsement Committee and the Endorsement Committee will reach out to the applicants for the next steps. The Endorsement Committee may recommend endorsement to the WLVC Board or may decline to recommend endorsement. The Board must approve all endorsements and any final decision will be communicated directly to the applicant. Further Endorsement Guidelines can be found in the attached guidelines form below.
Application and Guidelines
For our current application for endorsement and the endorsement guidelines, please contact womenlawyersvc@gmail.com.
Previous Endorsements
July 2026: The Women Lawyers of Ventura County was proud to endorse Jacquelyn D. Ruffin for Judge of the Superior Court of Ventura County. Ms. Ruffin was a hardworking, thoughtful, empathetic, and conscientious attorney with a demonstrated commitment to community service and social justice, including advancing the rights of women and other minorities. She is a former President of WLVC, VCBA, and Ventura County Black Lawyers. She was also the recipient of VCBA’s Ben E. Nordman Service Award in 2024, and has been named a Super Lawyer in 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026. Ms. Ruffin believes that attorneys can make our society a better place by helping clients fulfill their visions, understand their rights and responsibilities, assess risk, take reasonable steps to prevent problems, and ethically and empathetically resolve any problems that nevertheless arise. Women Lawyers of Ventura County's was proud to endorse Ms. Ruffin because she is driven by a need to do work that is meaningful, to be a force of good, and help serve her community.
Press Release: Judge Jacquelyn D. Ruffin Takes the Bench as Ventura Superior Court’s Newest Judge
June 2022 Election: The Women Lawyers of Ventura County is proud to endorse Erik Nasarenko for the District Attorney of Ventura County. As acting District Attorney, he has championed help for victims of domestic violence, has expanded the Family Justice Centers to include a proposed Oxnard site, and has applied for and received a grant to create the county’s first-ever cold case unit for sexual assaults. He has worked to diversify the DA’s office, hiring more women and promoting women to leadership positions, as well as hiring more women of color than ever before. Because of the importance of his position as the County’s top prosecutor and his vision and policies for his office, Women Lawyers of Ventura County believes that his leadership will promote the safety of our community and diversity of his office.
