California Justice Center, APC is a Public Interest Law Firm Dedicated to Fighting Government Barriers to Freedom.
California Justice Center, APC takes on pro bono litigation on behalf of individuals, school districts, and citizen groups to enforce constitutional rights and principles. CJC serves as special counsel to the California Policy Center, providing legal education and strategic litigation services in service of CPC’s mission.
CJC also offers hourly and contingency fee-based services in certain circumstances.
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About Julie
Julie A. Hamill
Julie Hamill is California Justice Center’s founder and principal attorney. A fierce and experienced litigator, Julie represented the Alliance of Los Angeles County Parents in its lawsuit against the L.A. County Dept. of Public Health. The case was originally brought to fight the department’s arbitrary and capricious mandates in 2022, and evolved into a free speech case after the Alliance discovered the department shut down public comment on government websites and pressured social media companies to censor critics.
Julie served as a legal clerk in the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice for Victims of Overseas Terrorism. She represented public agencies as a litigator for Richards, Watson & Gershon in Los Angeles before launching her own law firm in 2015. Julie argued in favor of the people’s constitutional right to referendum in Alta Sierra Holistic Exchange Service v. County of Kern before the Fifth District Court of Appeal. She previously served as Chair of the Rancho Palos Verdes Planning Commission and as a member of the City’s Traffic Safety Committee.
Julie is an influential voice on California law and policy on social media and a frequent guest on Fox News at Night with Trace Gallagher.
Things Julie has Said, Done, and Written
Publications
Hamill, Social Media Use for Public Officials—An Explainer based on Lindke v. Freed. Read here.
Hamill, Legal Update: Visalia Unified School District v. Public Employment Relations Board. Read here.
Hamill, Legal Update on Cayla J. v. State of California. Read here.
Hamill, “Blockchain Technology: Local Government Applications And Challenges”; An International City/County Management Association (ICMA) and Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) White Paper (Nov. 2018).
Hamill, “A Comprehensive Update on MAUCRSA: California Cannabis Regulation and Risks of Leasing Real Property to Cannabis Businesses,” Real Property Law Reporter, 41 CEB Real Prop L. Rep. 56 (May 2018).
Hamill, “From MMRSA to MCRSA to MAUCRSA: The Current State of Affairs in California Cannabis Regulation and Risks of Leasing Real Property to Cannabis Businesses,” Real Property Law Reporter, 40 CEB Real Prop L. Rep. 101 (Sept. 2017).
Hamill, “Proposition 64 and Beyond: Insights From a Former City Prosecutor on the Risks of Leasing to Cannabis Operators,” Real Property Law Reporter, 40 CEB Real Prop L. Rep. 28 (Mar. 2017).
Extracurriculars
Elected Member of the School Board for Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District.
Former Chair of the Planning Commission for the City of Rancho Palos Verdes.
Past Chair of Land Use and Environmental Law Subcommittee of the Real Property Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association.
Member of the Editorial Board of the CEB Real Property Law Reporter.
Member of the Advisory Committee for the Real Property Section of CEB.
Member of the Board of Directors for the Hermosa Beach Chamber of Commerce (2016 - 2019).
Member of the Board of Directors for the California Young Lawyers Association of the California State Bar (2015-2019).
Recipient of Outstanding Performance Award from the United States Department of Justice for superior performance of official duties.
Media Appearances
“This is what happens when you elect woke ideologues: Julie Hamill.” Fox News at Night with Trace Gallagher. Watch here.
“LA chose to 'fight' business owner in court over raid's destruction: Julie Hamill.” Fox News at Night with Trace Gallagher. Watch here.
“Their end goal is weaken support for Israel: Julie Hamill.” Fox News at Night with Trace Gallagher. Watch here.
“This was ‘unconstitutional’: Julie Hamill and Dr. Houman Hemmati discuss the latest on the California 'misinformation' bill on ‘Fox News @ Night.’” Watch here.
“LA County Parents’ Free Speech Win Has National import.” Thomas Buckley, California Globe. Read it here.
“Barbara Ferrer and Adam Schiff vs. freedom of speech in Los Angeles County.” Will Swaim, Orange County Register. Read it here.
The Deposition Continues: John Phillips plays clips from Hamill’s deposition of Barbara Ferrer. Listen here.
The Deposition: John Phillips plays clips from Hamill’s deposition of Barbara Ferrer. Listen here.
“Los Angeles County Public Health versus free speech.” Susan Shelley, Los Angeles Daily News. Read it here.
John Phillips interviews Julie Hamill regarding her deposition of Barbara Ferrer. Listen here.
"The Fake Doctor Tried to Deplatform John Phillips." A nine minute rant by John Phillips regarding attempts by LA County Department of Public Health to censor his tweets, as revealed in the Alliance of Los Angeles County Parents lawsuit against the Department of Public Health. Listen here.
Will LA County Ignore ‘Sweetheart Deal’ to Settle With Parents Over Covid Mandates? Katy Grimes, California Globe. Read here.
“Ferrer faces claims of conflict of interest as L.A. County nears possible return to mask mandate.” Sandra Mitchell, KTLA. Read/watch here.
“Parent Lawsuit Gaining Steam Against LA Public Health Dept. Over Indoor Mask Mandate.” Katy Grimes, California Globe. Read here.
“LA Public Health Agency Drops Threat of New Mask Mandate… For Now.” Read here.
“The COVID crisis is over, and it’s been over.” Susan Shelley, Los Angeles Daily News. Read here.
“Lawyering up at L.A. County Health over dubious mask mandates.” Susan Shelley, Los Angeles Daily News. Read here.
“Los Angeles Parents Group Lawsuit Has 'Dr.' Ferrer Dodging and Weaving.” Bob Hoge, RedState. Read here.
Fight Back Against LA Mandates - Steve Hilton's Rebel Base. Listen here.
Berkeley’s Blockchain Microbond Could Spark A Muni Market Revolution, Forbes, December 19, 2019.
Why Local Governments Aren’t All Aboard the Blockchain Train, Route Fifty, February 21, 2019.
Hermosa Beach City Council Candidates Talk Business at Second Debate, The Beach Reporter, November 7, 2017.
Speaking Engagements
“Holding Government Accountable,” Leadership Institute Webinar, May 15, 2024.
“Censorship in America: Will the courts save us?” Inside the Law with Phil Holloway. Watch here.
Social Media Use for Public Officials. California Local Elected Officials. Watch here.
“Navigating California's ADU Laws,” Los Angeles County Bar Association, Real Property Section CLE, May 12, 2021 (Moderator).
“Blockchain: Overhyped or Game-Changing Tech?” Institute of Supply Management, Wichita, March 18, 2021.
“SB 330 From the Trenches,” Los Angeles County Bar Association, Real Property Section CLE, June 24, 2020 (Moderator).
“Development and Land Use in the Age of COVID-19,” CEB, May 26, 2020 (Moderator).
“Land Use Entitlements: California’s Other Full Contact Sport,” Los Angeles County Bar Association, February 26, 2020 (Moderator).
“Understanding the Potential of Blockchain,” National Federation of Municipal Bond Analysts Annual Conference, May 10, 2019, Charleston, South Carolina.
“Digitizing Local Government Services,” Presented by the National League of Cities, International City/County Management Association, and Government Finance Officers Association, February 21, 2019, Washington, DC.
CEB: Ethically Navigating Local and State Licensing for Cannabis Businesses; December 7, 2018.
CEB: 2018 Update: Land Use & Zoning Regulation of Cannabis Businesses; June 20, 2018.
The Seminar Group: Local Law and Land Use with Cat Packer, Executive Director of City of Los Angeles Department of Cannabis Regulation; March 29, 2018.
Latest in Litigating Voting Rights Act Cases; City Attorneys Association of Los Angeles County, Biennial Spring Retreat, 2014.