Randy Baker was awarded the Gerald Z. Marer award for panel excellence in 2025. He has been on the SDAP panel since 1992 and has consistently fought vigorously for his clients. He recently had an appeal of a man convicted of molesting his daughter and two step-daughters. Their testimony of him sexually assaulting him were key. Baker was able to obtain a police recording of the interview with one of the step-daughters. The recording included a Spanish language conversation between the step-daughter and her mother about setting the defendant up. Several witnesses emerged who declared the mother encouraged the children to fabricate allegations for revenge and in order to obtain a U-visa, permitting her to remain in the United States legally. The material was included as exhibits in a petition for writ of habeas corpus, and the Court of Appeal issued an order to show cause.
The late Gerald Z. Marer was an inspirational figure. Mr. Marer was the founding chairperson of the SDAP Board of Directors and served in that role for the first ten years of SDAP’s existence. Mr. Marer was an outstanding advocate in both criminal and civil appeals. He was a president of the California Academy of Appellate Lawyers and was well known for his extensive pro bono work, unquestioned integrity and wisdom that he was willing to generously share. The prodigious energy that Mr. Marer devoted to his practice and community service was made all the more remarkable by the fact that he suffered from muscular sclerosis for much of his adult life and was confined to a wheelchair.
The Gerald Z. Marer Award is designed to honor a panel attorney who has performed in an extraordinary manner. Such performance can be demonstrated in either a specific case or by a lifetime of achievement. In either case, the winner is entitled to be honored for the excellent work that has been performed.
