Noreen Evans

CURRICULUM VITAE

Noreen has been practicing law in Sonoma County since 1982. She is certified by the State Bar as a specialist in civil appeals and writs and is admitted to practice before all of the courts of the State of California, United States Supreme Court, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, and the United States Tax Court.

Education

Noreen received her BA degree in Government (with honors) in 1978 from California State University, Sacramento. She graduated from University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law in 1981. In her third year at McGeorge, she wrote for and edited the firstever edition of the Silversheets, a review of Nevada law. From 1980-81, Noreen externed for Justice Edwin Regan of the Third District Court of Appeal in Sacramento.

After graduation from law school, Noreen studied International Business Law at the University of Salzburg, Austria. She completed an international law internship in Dublin, Ireland with A & L Goodbody, Solicitors.

Legal Career

In 1982, Noreen was hired as the first full-time female litigation attorney at Spridgen, Barrett, Achor, Luckhardt, Anderson, James & Ziegler, at that time the oldest and largest law firm north of the Golden Gate Bridge.

When the Spridgen firm dissolved later that year, Noreen became a litigation associate with Gray, O’Brien, Watters & Davis. She was an equity partner from 1987 to late 1990 when she took time off the fulltime practice of law to raise three young children.

From 1986 to 2000, Noreen was a partner in Fudem & Evans, Santa Rosa, CA. From 2000 to 2004, Noreen was Of Counsel to Lanahan & Reilly, LLP in Santa Rosa, CA

After 10 years in the state legislature, Noreen returned to her former law firm O’Brien Watters & Davis LLP as Of Counsel. In 2018, she became Of Counsel with Watts Guerra, LLP, where she represented thousands of survivors of the 2017 North Bay wildfires in litigation against PG&E.

In 2020, Noreen and her law partner Deirdre T. Kingsbury established EVANS KINGSBURY LLP, focusing on civil appeals and family law.

Public Service

In 1993, Noreen was appointed to the Santa Rosa Planning Commission, where she worked extensively with land use planning issues and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). She helped the City of Santa Rosa adopt its first Child Care Plan and Creek Restoration Plan.

In 1996, Noreen was elected to the Santa Rosa City Council, where she served two terms. As a City Councilmember, she was responsible for implementing the Creek Restoration Plan, the City’s Bike Plan, and working to develop the Prince Memorial Greenway on Santa Rosa Creek. When first elected, her vision was to build a passenger rail system and restore Santa Rosa’s downtown, including reunifying Courthouse Square. More than 2 decades later, this vision has become a reality with SMART rail service beginning in 2017, and Santa Rosa’s reunified Square.

In 2004, Noreen was elected to represent the 7th Assembly District in the California State Assembly. While in the Assembly, she was appointed by the Speaker to chair the Joint Legislative Committee on Budget in 2008 and charged with balancing the State’s budget during the global economic crisis of 2009/2010.

In 2010, Noreen was elected to the State Senate to represent the 2nd Senate District, including Solano, Napa, Marin, Sonoma, Lake, Mendocino and Humboldt Counties. In 2012, she chaired the Joint Legislative Committee on California’s Foreclosure Crisis, which resulted in the passage of The Homeowners Bill of Rights (AB 278/SB 900). The Homeowners Bill of Rights implements the historic 49-State Attorneys General settlement with five of the national’s largest banks and was the first of its kind in the nation. Noreen also chaired the Joint Legislative Women’s Caucus in 2010-2012 and served on the State Commission on the Status of Women.

From 2010-2014, Noreen chaired the Senate Committee on the Judiciary and served four years on the Judicial Council, the governing body for all State courts.

Public Offices Held

1993 - 1996   Planning Commissioner, City of Santa Rosa

1996 - 2004   City Councilmember, City of Santa Rosa

2004 - 2010   Assemblymember, CA State Assembly

2010-present   Senator, CA State Senate

Committees Chaired

• Assembly Human Services
• Assembly Committee on Budget
• Joint Legislative Committee on Budget
• Senate Committee on Judiciary
• Senate Committee on Banking & Financial Institutions
• Assembly Select Committee on Wine
• Senate Select Committee on Wine
• Legislative Women’s Caucus

Legislative Committee and Caucus Memberships

• Senate Legislative Ethics Committee
• Senate Human Services
• Senate Committee on Budget
• Senate Natural Resources
• Senate Governmental Organization
• Assembly Judiciary
• Assembly Human Services
• Assembly Committee on Budget
• Assembly Committee on Banking & Finance
• Assembly Committee on Toxic Materials
• Assembly Governmental Organization
• Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture
• Assembly Select Committee on Foster Care
• Legislative Women’s Caucus
• Senate Rural Caucus
• Senate Caucus on Ending Poverty and Inequality in California

Legal Memberships

Significant Legal Awards

• California Judges Association, Legislator of the Year 2010
• Judicial Council, Stanley Mosk Defender of Justice Award 2012
• Consumer Attorneys of California, Legislator of the Year 2013
• McGeorge School of Law Capital Center Distinguished Alumnus Award 2016
• Certified by the California State Bar Association as a specialist in civil appeals and writs
  2019; recertified in 2024

Significant Legislation Authored

ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE

Electronic Discovery Act (AB 5 of 2009; now Code of Civil Procedure §§2016.020 et seq.) Establishes rules for discovery of electronically-stored information in civil cases

Expedited Jury Trial Act (SB 2284 of 2010; now Code of Civil Procedure §§630.01 et seq.) Reduces the number of jurors in small civil cases

Small Claims Court: (AB 712 of 2009 amending Code of Civil Procedure §116.220) Enables Small Claims Courts to grant equitable relief

State Bar Governance Reform: (SB 163 of 2011) Reformed the governance structure of the California State Bar Association, expanding public participation and improving accountability.

FORECLOSURES

Homeowners Bill of Rights (SB 900, 2012)

WINERIES

Non-profit donations: AB 323 (2007) enabling wineries to donate wine to non-profit organizations

Winery picnic areas: AB 2004 (2008) allowing visitors to a winery to drink wine in the winery
picnic area

Tasting events: AB 2090 (2008) creating a temporary license to allow wine grape commissions, associations and other organizations to organize tasting events

Second tasting rooms: AB 1470 (2009) allowing second tasting rooms not located on
winery grounds

Sonoma County wines: AB 1798 (2010) protecting wine produced in Sonoma County by establishing stricter labeling requirements

OTHER

Veterans: SB 10 (2011) Permits Allied Councils to represent the interests of veterans in Veterans Homes before the State Legislature

County fairs: AB 2258 (2008) protecting county fair funding originating from licensing fees on horseracing events

Consumer protection: AB 1216 (2009; amending Food & Agriculture Code §29413) requiring labeling for honey produced in California

Criminal Justice: SB 59 (2013) broadens the statutory definition of rape to include rape by fraud

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