About the Unity Bar of Yolo County
Our Mission
The Unity Bar of Yolo County is in the early stages of building a network of diverse organizations, associations, and legal professionals dedicated to working together in a unified manner to advance the cause of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession. This includes improvements to the administration of justice, supporting education and pipeline programs that promote diversity in the law, promoting diversity on the bench, and supporting communities underrepresented in the legal profession.
Who We Are
We are diverse lawyers who work, live, or practice law in Yolo County. We promote, uplift, empower, and support individuals and communities underrepresented in legal systems. Many of us belong to a number of specialty bar associations, and we all share the understanding that our differences make us stronger as a profession and as a community.
We are dedicated to advancing the cause of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession. In the words of Governor Gavin Newsom, “Our state doesn't succeed in spite of our diversity. Our state succeeds because of it.”
Become an Affiliate of Yolo Unity Bar
Would your association or organization like to become
an affiliate of the Unity Bar of Yolo County?
Please contact us. Let's unite.
Meet Yolo Unity Bar's Leadership Team
Monica Cavazos Brushia
Monica Cavazos Brushia
Monica Cavazos Brushia
President,
Cofounder
Monica Cavazos Brushia started working at the Yolo County Public Defender’s Office in February 1997. For over 26 years, she has represented indigent clients in our community. In December 2007, she became a Supervising Attorney. To date, she is the only female Latina attorney and only Supervising Attorney of color in t
President,
Cofounder
Monica Cavazos Brushia started working at the Yolo County Public Defender’s Office in February 1997. For over 26 years, she has represented indigent clients in our community. In December 2007, she became a Supervising Attorney. To date, she is the only female Latina attorney and only Supervising Attorney of color in the office. She is dedicated to helping promote the advancement of the law for future generations of attorneys to reflect our state’s diversity.
Apurva Behal
Monica Cavazos Brushia
Monica Cavazos Brushia
Vice-President of Operations,
Cofounder
Apurva Behal is the Padilla Attorney at the Yolo County Public Defender’s Office. She specializes in the overlap between criminal and immigration law. She is a proud “double- Aggie,” having attended UC Davis for her Bachelor’s in economics and her J.D. at King Hall where she was the recipient of a C
Vice-President of Operations,
Cofounder
Apurva Behal is the Padilla Attorney at the Yolo County Public Defender’s Office. She specializes in the overlap between criminal and immigration law. She is a proud “double- Aggie,” having attended UC Davis for her Bachelor’s in economics and her J.D. at King Hall where she was the recipient of a Cruz Reynoso Scholarship. She is fluent in both Punjabi and Hindi, having spoken both as her first languages. She is passionate about the advancement of people of color in the legal profession.
Alberto T. Rosas
Monica Cavazos Brushia
Danette Castillo Brown
Vice-President of Communications,
Cofounder
Alberto Rosas is an Administrative Law Judge with the State of California. He is a visiting lecturer at UC Davis School of Law and an adjunct professor at McGeorge School of Law. He volunteers with the Superior Court of California (Sacramento & Yolo). He serves as vice president of Yolo Conflict
Vice-President of Communications,
Cofounder
Alberto Rosas is an Administrative Law Judge with the State of California. He is a visiting lecturer at UC Davis School of Law and an adjunct professor at McGeorge School of Law. He volunteers with the Superior Court of California (Sacramento & Yolo). He serves as vice president of Yolo Conflict Resolution Center and as a director of Sacramento County Bar Association. He is a member of numerous organizations, including Cruz Reynoso Bar Association and Schwartz-Levi Inn of Court.
Danette Castillo Brown
Danette Castillo Brown
Danette Castillo Brown
Vice-President of
Community Service Engagement
Danette Castillo Brown is a Senior ALJ at the Office of Administrative Hearings. She is SacFALA’s President-Elect and ABAS Past President. She received her J.D. from the University of Northern CA, Lorenzo Patiño School of Law. As an engineering major at UC Davis, she co-founded the Filipino So
Vice-President of
Community Service Engagement
Danette Castillo Brown is a Senior ALJ at the Office of Administrative Hearings. She is SacFALA’s President-Elect and ABAS Past President. She received her J.D. from the University of Northern CA, Lorenzo Patiño School of Law. As an engineering major at UC Davis, she co-founded the Filipino Society of Engineers. She also co-founded a volunteer legal clinic for My Sister’s House, has performed humanitarian work in the Philippines, and is a NAPABA and UC Davis Filipinx Law Students Association Trailblazer Award recipient.
Wendy Casas
Danette Castillo Brown
Wendy Casas
Secretary
Wendy Casas is the child of Mexican immigrant parents and was born and raised in Woodland. While at UC Davis School of Law, she interned at the Yolo County Public Defender's Office and participated in the immigration clinic. In 2004, she began her career at the Kern County Public Defender's Office. In 2007, she joined the Solano
Secretary
Wendy Casas is the child of Mexican immigrant parents and was born and raised in Woodland. While at UC Davis School of Law, she interned at the Yolo County Public Defender's Office and participated in the immigration clinic. In 2004, she began her career at the Kern County Public Defender's Office. In 2007, she joined the Solano County Public Defender's Office. She has worked in private practice for the last five years and runs a solo practice in Woodland that focuses on criminal defense.