Two Bars: A history of Black Attorneys in Oakland and the Bay Area

Judge Charles Smiley presents his research on the history of California laws, the struggle for African-American pioneers in the state to access justice, and the local heroes who laid a foundation for future generations to create change within legal systems.

Judge Smiley has held various leadership positions: as Presiding Judge of the Alameda County Superior Court (2022-23), as Assistant Presiding Judge (2020-21), as Presiding Judge of the Juvenile Courts (2016-2019), and as a Supervising Judge of Collaborative Justice and Treatment Courts (2020-21, 2024).

Outside of the courtroom, Judge Smiley teaches, volunteers with various organizations, and engages in diverse law-related projects. He has been a lecturer at Berkeley Law for the last 10 years and is a former adjunct professor for his alma mater UC Law SF. He has also been an instructor for various attorney training programs, judicial ethics classes, and implicit bias seminars for legal professionals. He has received recognition for his work including awards from the California Association of the Black Lawyers, the Alameda County Bar Association, the Minority Bar Coalition, and the Tribal Justice Collaborative.

Host or Publisher Oakland Heritage Alliance