The Wiley Manuel Bar Association hosted its annual Legal Fusion on Nov. 5 at the Citizen Hotel, honoring leaders who have made lasting contributions to the legal profession and the Sacramento community. The event brought together judges, attorneys, and law students for an evening celebrating Black excellence in law and public service.
Outgoing president Saron Tesfai said Legal Fusion serves both to recognize community impact and to strengthen connections among Black legal professionals. Each year, the association presents awards for lifetime achievement, attorney of the year, judge of the year, and community service.
This year, however, the celebration focused on just three awards, as the lifetime achievement and judge of the year honors were effectively combined because the lifetime achievement recipient is a judge.
Honoring Justice Stacey Boulware Eurie
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to Justice Stacey Boulware Eurie of the California 3rd District Court of Appeal, recognized for her trailblazing career and her long-standing commitment to equity in the justice system.
Tesfai, a Contra County prosecutor, said the decision was easy. “She’s one of those people that, no matter who you talk to, her work ethic is just impeccable,” he said. “She has set an example across the whole legal community as far as being one of the smartest, hardworking jurists we really have in this area of Sacramento.”
In her acceptance speech, Boulware Eurie highlighted the importance of growth, perseverance, and service, invoking a line from Octavia Butler’s “Parable of the Sower”: “All that you touch, you change, and all that you change changes you.”
She said those words resonate deeply in her own journey. After 18 years on the bench, she spoke of how the people she has served — litigants, victims, and families — have shaped her as a jurist and as a person.
“To be changed is not to suggest wavering ethics or inconsistent beliefs,” she said. “To be changed is to be attuned to what is happening around us, to be mindful of the challenges and blessings that different parts of our communities are experiencing.”
Boulware Eurie recalled her early years on the bench, including a triple murder trial she presided over at age 36, where all three defendants were self-proclaimed white supremacists. She said that experience reinforced her commitment to fairness, equity, and integrity in the courtroom.
Reflecting on her time in juvenile court, she praised the collaboration among lawyers, mental health professionals, survivors, and advocates who worked to build systems of reform. “Our work literally and figuratively impacts the lives of so many,” she said. “This award is not just for me as an individual, but rather for all who are committed to a lifetime of service and making a difference in our own way. The work is not done, so let us continue to serve with purpose and strive for excellence in all that we do.”
Attorney Of The Year: Carmen Nicole Cox
Carmen-Nicole Cox was recognized for her tireless advocacy in criminal justice reform, public policy, and legislative change. Cox recently launched her own law firm after years of public service with the ACLU, the Prosecutors Alliance of California, and other reform-focused organizations.
Tesfai said Cox was chosen not just for her recent accomplishments but for her broader impact on shaping equitable policy. “She’s pushing for legislation that’s going to change California, basically making positive changes that impact Black communities.”
In her remarks, Cox shared her gratitude and joy at being recognized by the community that has shaped her career. She spoke candidly about her personal journey, from earning her GED at 16 to graduating at the top of her law school class, and about the challenges and triumphs that shaped her path.
“When President Tesfai called me to tell me I’d been selected, I was on the phone crying,” she said. “I love the Wiley Manuel Bar Association. You all do not understand.”
Cox reflected on the support she found in the association since first connecting with it as a law student in 2018. “To be here tonight and have Wiley Manuel affirm the value of my work genuinely means so much,” she said. “Because so much of what most of us do goes unseen. It’s not because we’re not great or the work isn’t meaningful, it’s just that there’s not always the opportunity to be acknowledged.”
She expressed pride in her work but said the award ultimately belongs to the broader community of mentors and peers who supported her along the way. Cox named several colleagues and friends who had guided her, including Justice Vance Raye, and offered special thanks to her mother, who she called “my peace, my rock.”
Community Service Award: The OBSERVER
Larry Lee, publisher and CEO, accepted the award for the newspaper’s six-decade legacy of amplifying Black stories and advancing truth through journalism.
Defense attorney and award presenter Keith Staten recounted the paper’s history, beginning in 1962 when Lee’s father, William H. Lee, co-founded the publication to spotlight voices often overlooked by mainstream media. “The newspaper has served our community for a long time,” Staten said. “It has received over 800 national awards and has brought countless stories from the dark into the light.”
Accepting the award, Lee thanked the bar association for its recognition and underlined the shared mission between Black journalists and Black attorneys. “We feel a special kinship to the Wiley Manuel Bar Association,” he said. “Journalism is not the law, but oftentimes journalism sparks law, and the law, in turn, sparks journalism.”
He emphasized that both professions share a foundation in advocacy and truth. “Both our organizations are committed to ensuring our community is seen, heard, and protected, whether through the courts or through our pages,” Lee said. “When challenges arise, from criminal justice reform to economic opportunity, please reach out. Together, we can shine a light on those issues, amplify voices, and build bridges.”
Tesfai reflected on the outpouring of community support and the importance of solidarity in the current social and political climate. He noted that sponsors and community members had donated tickets for law students and young attorneys to attend the event, ensuring that the next generation could see examples of leadership and success.
“It’s been really encouraging,” Tesfai said. “People want to invest in the next generation.”
He had one suggestion to aspiring attorneys and judges: “Outside of this, there’s a lot of one-on-one mentorship and help available to you, but you just have to make sure you get out there and get it.”
