The SDCBA 125th Anniversary Celebration — Event Recap

I recently had the privilege of attending the San Diego County Bar Association’s (“SDCBA”) 125^th Anniversary Party. Founded in 1899, the SDCBA is one the oldest and largest bar associations in the region.  In addition, this year marks the opening of SDCBA’s new home of the bar, located a 330 A Street, which was also celebrated at the Bar’s 125^th Anniversary. 

The event had a number of amazing speakers including 2024 Bar President Stacey Kartchner, 1999 Bar President Todd Stevens, and President-Elect Michelle Gastil who discussed the rich history of the SDCBA and its lasting impact. George Brewster also spoke about the SDCBA’s history. Mr. Brewster explained for many of the early years at the SDCBA, bar presidents kept watch of this association in their desk drawer. It was a little box of files that would be passed on from bar president to bar president. However, in the 1980s, the SDCBA received a donation of a small colonial style house located on 1434 Fifth Avenue in San Diego. This was established as the first official bar building. Mr. Brewster remembers having meetings at the back kitchen table. In the 1990s, the SDCBA sold the Fifth Avenue house and moved to the old University Club on 1333 Seventh Avenue. The Bar stayed there for about 23 years until it decided to move downtown to 401 W. A Street, which became SDCBA’s bar center for many years. This year, the Bar moved into its new home at 330 W. A Street. 

At the event, it was announced that San Diego County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Nora Vargas issued a proclamation from the Board of Supervisors recognizing the impact the SDCBA has made on the San Diego community and declaring September 12, 2024, as the San Diego County Bar Association Day throughout San Diego County. 

Councilmember Marni von Wilpert, on behalf of the City of San Diego, also announced the City’s proclamation dedicating September 12, 2024, to be San Diego County Bar Association Day in the City of San Diego. Councilmember von Wilpert emphasized that the SDCBA strives to improve the justice system and provide leadership on major issues affecting the legal profession amongst many other things. 

Throughout the SDCBA’s 125-year history, we have had countless great leaders at the forefront of our legal community. In its 125 years of existence, the SDCBA has had 117 different bar presidents who have solidified the SDCBA as an organization dedicated to the San Diego community. To preserve the memory of some of SDCBA’s leaders and highlight part of the SDCBA’s history, the SDCBA’s Bar History Committee has created our Legends of the Bar video series, which can be found here.

The SDCBA continues to be a leader in the San Diego community that provides unique and relevant benefits to its members and continuously uses its platform to advance community impact. We look forward to another 125 years of serving the legal community. 

*A big thank you to the 125^th Anniversary Committee Taskforce, the SDCBA’s internal team, and all of its sponsors for hosting a once in a lifetime party.