Name and title: Nadia J. Keilani, Commissioner, San Diego Superior Court
Undergraduate and law school: UCSD and USD School of Law
Years in practice: 23
Why do you serve?
I am an Arab-American immigrant who came of age at a time when my ethnicity and national origin served as a basis for discrimination and suspicion. There were few voices addressing this unfairness and I felt a need to right this wrong and to be a voice for the voiceless.
What/Who inspires you to serve?
Judge Tamila Ipema, Judge Terrie Roberts, and Commissioner Pennie McLaughlin inspire me through their examples of exemplary public service. Over the years, we have worked together on numerous projects through the National Association of Women Judges and I am awed by their selflessness and dedication to public service.
What advice would you give others to inspire them to serve?
There is so much need all around us, particularly in these difficult times. No act of giving is too small and, particularly as lawyers, we all have something of value to offer. Find that one organization or cause that speaks to you and reach out. You will not regret it!
Please list three noteworthy people (living or dead) you’d want to have dinner with and why.
- Jimmy Carter, because of his dedication to public service. His work with Habitat for Humanity has improved the lives of so many people around the world.
- Gibran Khalil Gibran, because he is a genius whose writings are some of the most beautiful and profound of the 20th century.
- Harriet Tubman, because she is one of the most fearless women in U.S. history.
What is one item on your bucket list?
To visit Baghdad, the city of my birth.
What is your favorite quote?
“You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.” Gibran Khalil Gibran
Favorite place on earth?
Kona, Hawaii.
Favorite place in San Diego?
Balboa Park.
Cherished advice that you have received from a loved-one, mentor or colleague?
From my father: Do not set limits for what you can achieve.
If you could magically change one thing about the world, what would it be?
The belief of any group of people that they are superior to any other group.
How can others make giving back part of their daily lives?
Feeling gratitude for what one has leads to wanting to pay it forward. We are incredibly fortunate to belong to this noble profession; it is therefore our duty to find ways, big and small, by which we can help improve our society.
In what ways does serving the wider community benefit the legal profession?
Historically, the legal profession was revered, and its members considered the protectors of our rights and liberties. That image has been diminished in more recent times. By engaging in community service, we help to restore people’s respect for our profession and the important societal role we fulfill.
The SDCBA Law Day theme this year is “Advancing the Rule of Law Now.” What does this theme mean to you in your work and in your daily life?
Saddam Hussein came to power when I was seven years old. Within days, those he perceived as threats began to disappear. Many were never heard from again, including my father’s oldest friend. This is an extreme example of what happens in the absence of the rule of law, but witnessing these events had a profound effect on me and led me to be a fierce defender of due process and the fair application of the law.
As a recipient of a 2021 Service Award, who would you like to thank?
I would like to thank my dear friends and mentors, Judge Tamila Ipema, Judge Terrie Roberts, and Commissioner Pennie McLaughlin. They are each the embodiment of selfless giving. I would also like to thank my husband, Nabil, and my amazing children, Jasmine and Ramsey, who work to make the world a better place each and every day.