Herrera Names Jamienne Studley
to San Francisco Ethics Commission

From the Office of City Attorney Dennis Herrera

January 17, 2007

SAN FRANCISCO -- City Attorney Dennis Herrera today named Jamienne S. Studley, current president of Public Advocates, Inc., to the San Francisco Ethics Commission. Studley brings a wealth of experience in governmental ethics issues, extraordinary qualifications and diverse expertise to the five-member panel charged with serving citizens, public officials and political candidates through education and enforcement of ethics laws.

"Jamie Studley's remarkable qualifications as an attorney, ethicist and progressive leader truly fulfill voters' vision in creating the San Francisco Ethics Commission more than 13 years ago," Herrera said. "Her dedication to the cause of justice and her unique combination of expertise in government ethics and education will be an enormous asset to the commission and the citizens it serves."

"I am honored by this nomination and welcome the opportunity to serve our community," said Studley. "San Francisco aims always to be a leader and model, and the Ethics Commission does its part by promoting the highest ethical standards and behaviors. I see this as a way to contribute to public confidence in government."

Studley's emphasis on the importance of ethics and education has influenced much of her professional life. Prior to leading Public Advocates, Inc., Studley served as president of Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. As an Associate Dean and Lecturer in Law at Yale Law School, she headed a first year professional responsibility program required for all students . She has also been scholar in residence at the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, executive director of the National Association for Law Placement, and adjunct lecturer at UC Berkeley School of Law/Boalt Hall.

She served as deputy general counsel for regulations and legislation (1993-99) at the United States Department of Education in the Clinton Administration. As acting general counsel (1997-99) Studley was the primary legal advisor to Secretary Richard W. Riley. During that time she oversaw the department's Ethics Division, which trained all employees and advised current and former employees on ethics issues and ensured the Department's knowledge of and compliance with all ethics laws and policies. She was also a member of the White House Regulatory Reform Working Group.

Studley was a member of the American Bar Association's Commissions on Women in the Profession and on Loan Forgiveness and Repayment. She serves on the boards of the Association of American Colleges & Universities, The Urban School, the San Francisco Museum of Craft & Design, the American Craft Council and First Book Advisory Council. She has been chair of the Equal Justice Works E-Guide project advisory committee and on the Harvard Law School Visiting Committee. Studley is a graduate of Barnard College (1972 magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa) and Harvard Law School (1975).

The San Francisco Charter specifies that City Attorney's appointment to the Ethics Commission have a background in law as it relates to government ethics. Created by voters with the passage of Proposition K in November 1993, the Ethics Commission is empowered to administer the City's campaign contribution, conflict of interest, lobbying and whistle-blowing laws; to investigate alleged violations of those laws and to impose penalties; and to submit directly to voters ordinances relating to governmental ethics. Studley fills the vacancy created by the resignation of Kimon Manolious for the term set to expire in February 2008.

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