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The NJC to Present Advancement of Justice Award to Chevron Corporate Secretary

The National Judicial College will honor Lydia I. Beebe, Chevron Corporation’s Corporate Secretary and Chief Governance Officer, by awarding her the Advancement of Justice Award at a private reception attended by distinguished attorneys and judges from around the country in San Francisco on March 19, 2015. The Advancement of Justice Award is presented to those who have demonstrated dedication to improving justice in the judiciary.

Lydia Beebe
Lydia Beebe

Beebe served as a member of the NJC’s Board of Trustees from 2008 to 2014. During that time she held the position of Board Secretary and was a member of the Development, Executive, Nominating, and Finance and Governance committees.

While on the NJC board, Beebe shepherded numerous generous gifts to the Pillars of Justice Fund which provides unrestricted giving directed to projects such as the Resource Guide for Managing Complex Litigation. In addition, Pillars gifts enhance the College’s curriculum and provide new educational programs that are vital for judges. In 2013, Chevron provided a generous Rule of Law donation to sponsor the College’s three national symposia as part of the NJC’s 50th Anniversary.

“Lydia Beebe has been a great supporter of the NJC’s mission of Education, Innovation and Advancing Justice,†said College President Chad. C. Schmucker.

Chevron’s Corporate Secretary since 1995, Beebe joined Chevron in 1977. She earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Kansas in 1974 and 1977, respectively, and a master’s degree in taxation from Golden Gate University in 1980. She has been active on the governing boards of the Kansas University Endowment Association, Kansas University Law Alumni, the Presidio Trust, the Olympic Club, Golden Gate University, the National Association of Corporate Directors of Northern California and the San Francisco Symphony.

Beebe’s dedication to the advancement of justice includes her eight years of service on the California Fair Employment and Housing Commission, (FEHC) five years as chairman. The seven-member Commission is a quasi-judicial body responsible for enforcing California’s civil rights laws as they affect employment and housing. Beebe received a Civil Rights Hero award from the State of California during their Tribute to Legends and Pioneers of Civil Rights for her leadership of the FEHC. She also served on the San Francisco Bar Association’s No Glass Ceiling in the Legal Profession Task Force, was named a Fellow of the American Bar Association, and received the Legal Momentum Award as a Woman of Achievement.

“While many care about well-educated judges and efficient and effective courts, not everyone steps up like Lydia Beebe,†Schmucker said.

Speaking about her role as board member of the NJC, Beebe said, “The rule of law is important to Chevron as well as to any company that operates around the world. We believe in the sanctity of contracts and fair business dealings. Inevitably there are disagreements that end up in litigation. It is vital that the court be fair and credible to all parties involved. And that can only be achieved through an educated judiciary.â€

Beebe noted that the College’s more than half-century of providing judicial education, and its continuing affiliation with the American Bar Association gives the NJC credibility and prestige within the legal community. She also believes the more people learn about the College, the more they will want to become engaged.

“You know when you’re dealing with the NJC, you will be working with high quality, educated professionals in their respective fields,†said Beebe. “The board members, the faculty, the staff — I find them all to be very dedicated.â€

The National Judicial College offers courses to improve judicial productivity, challenge current perceptions of justice and inspire judges to achieve judicial excellence. Located on the historic 255-acre campus of the University of Nevada, Reno the NJC offers advanced degrees in Judicial Studies: both a Masters and a Ph.D. The NJC is a Nevada not-for-profit 501(c) (3) educational entity affiliated with the American Bar Association, governed by an 18-member Board of Trustees. Please visit the NJC website at judges.org for more information.

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