Erica Cortez Selected as a Lawyer Representative for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California

Constangy attorney Erica Cortez has been selected by the judges of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California to serve as a Lawyer Representative for the district. Erica will serve a three-year term through 2029, acting as a liaison between the federal bench and the local bar.

Lawyer Representatives assist with matters related to court administration and help plan programs and events, including the Southern District of California’s annual district court conference. They also participate in the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference, providing an opportunity for members of the bench and bar to exchange perspectives on issues affecting the administration of justice and the legal profession.

Erica represents employers in complex employment litigation and provides strategic counsel on workplace compliance, risk management, and governance. Drawing on her experience as both a litigator and former judicial officer, she brings a distinctive perspective to dispute resolution, investigations, and policy development.

Before joining Constangy, Erica served as Assistant County Counsel for the County of San Diego, where she led multiple attorney practice groups, including the Labor & Employment Practice Group. In that role, she advised the San Diego County Board of Supervisors and County departments on employment and government law matters affecting more than 22,000 employees. She also managed litigation in state and federal courts involving discrimination, retaliation, civil rights, and wage and hour claims and oversaw workplace investigations, compliance programs, and training initiatives for executives and human resources leaders.

Erica previously served as a Commissioner for the San Diego Superior Court, where she presided over a high-volume docket that included arraignments, plea hearings, and bench trials. Earlier in her career, she spent more than a decade as a Senior Deputy County Counsel for the County of San Diego, handling employment, civil rights, and tort litigation. She argued cases before the California Courts of Appeal and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, including matters resulting in published appellate decisions.

Erica holds a Certificate from the Association of Workplace Investigators.

For the full list of Lawyer Representatives, click here.