Pamela Merchant

Pamela Merchant is the Executive Director od the Center for Justice and Accountability.

"Pamela Merchant is an attorney with twenty years experience in the conduct and management of complex state and federal litigation. Ms. Merchant spent eight years as a federal prosecutor with the U. S. Department of Justice, Criminal Division, where she specialized in white collar prosecutions. More recently, she was Special Counsel to the California Attorney General where she coordinated the affirmative litigation filed by the State in connection with the California energy crisis. She has also been a civil prosecutor for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in addition to representing clients in private practice. Immediately prior to joining CJA, Ms. Merchant represented the City and County of San Francisco in energy and telecommunications matters.

"Ms. Merchant also serves on the Board of Directors of the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, the Northern California Community Loan Fund, and Continuum (which provides innovative services to low income individuals living with HIV/AIDS), and recently concluded a three year term on the Board of Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom. She was the founding President of a Massachusetts non-profit which provides financial services to low income elderly individuals and a member of the Expert Review Panel for the City of San Francisco’s Department on the Status of Women, Violence Against Women Grant Program. Ms. Merchant was also for many years a member of the Board of Directors of Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders (GLAD) and served as President of that organization.

"Ms. Merchant graduated with honors from Georgetown University and Boston College School of Law. She is admitted to practice in California and Massachusetts."