In the OCBA’s annual election, two outstanding and contributing members of the Orange County legal community are nominated for Secretary of the OCBA to serve the term beginning January 1, 2026. Yearly, the Secretary elevates to Treasurer, President-Elect, President, and Immediate Past-President. The person you elect will influence the development and direction of the OCBA for years to come.
If you are an active attorney member of the OCBA, please vote. The online election will open for voting on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, and will close at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 29, 2025 at www.ocbar.org/vote.
In alphabetical order, allow me to introduce your two candidates for OCBA Secretary: Josh Ji and Casey R. Johnson.
Josh Ji I am honored to be nominated for the 2026 OCBA Secretary position.
By way of introduction, I have had the great privilege of serving two terms on the OCBA Board of Directors. During those terms, I helped drive many key initiatives to enhance member benefits and engagement, such as the Mobile App task force (making benefits more accessible), the Practice Pointers task force (interviewing OC Superior Court judges on best practices), the Intergenerational task force (identifying ways to engage younger members), and the Mentor on Demand committee (preserving advice from experienced lawyers and judges). I have also served alongside many esteemed leaders of the OCBA through my service on the Nominating, Appointments, Leadership Development, and Editorial Advisory Committees, and have served as Chair of an OCBA Section, Committee, and Affiliate. I am deeply familiar with the workings of the OCBA and the wide-ranging needs of its members.
Above all, I view the OCBA as a community where peers come together to exchange knowledge and ideas, connect the bench and bar, volunteer our expertise and time together, and give back to our community. We are extremely fortunate to have some of the best lawyers in the country here in our backyard, and our members are incredibly generous people. On a personal note, my introduction to the OC legal community was in 2010, when I participated in UCI Law’s Pre-Law Outreach Program (“POP”) as a college student. There, I spoke with lawyers who volunteered their weekends and inspired me to believe that I could become a lawyer, no matter what the circumstances. As I later came to learn, POP is sponsored by the OCBA Charitable Fund, and many of its volunteers are OCBA members. Their encouragement—as well as the kindness of other mentors I have met through the OCBA—brought me to where I am today despite facing extreme personal adversities. I am forever indebted to them and this community, and I am firmly committed to giving back in every way that I can.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out. I hope to earn your vote.
Casey R. Johnson Greetings, fellow OCBA members! The need for a strong Orange County Bar Association has never been greater. I am running for Secretary to help the OCBA remain a continued source of strength and stability for lawyers, judges, and law students during this time when threats to professionals are rising and the practice of law is evolving. OCBA enjoys a national reputation as one of the best local bars in the nation, and I would be honored to bring more than two decades of legal organization experience to the leadership of OCBA to continue the legacy of civility, respect, and inclusion that has come to exemplify the practice of law in Orange County.
Through my 22 years practicing law at Aitken*Aitken*Cohn, I have had the honor of working alongside legendary lawyers who advocate community engagement and service as an essential part of serving in the legal profession. I have served as president of numerous legal organizations, including the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association, Orange County Lavender Bar Association, Robert A Banyard Inn of Court, and Western Trial Lawyers Association. I also serve on the executive committees of the Consumer Attorneys of California and the American Association of Justice and support pro bono legal services and charitable giving by serving on the boards of Public Law Center and Operation Helping Hands. My OCBA service includes two terms on the board of directors, as well as the Racial Justice Task Force, Diversity Equity & Inclusion Committee, Nominations Committee, and Bylaws Committee.
I am running for OCBA Secretary to fortify the pipeline for newer and younger attorneys, expand opportunities for involvement for all lawyers, and ensure that OCBA remains the place lawyers turn for stability, camaraderie, and education in these ever-changing times. I will do this by: Supporting OCBA’s 26 Sections Expanding and supporting membership Supporting the court’s civility and mentorship efforts Providing timely educational programs relevant to diverse practice areas
If you have any questions about me or my candidacy, please call me at (949) 233-7246 or email casey@aitkenlaw.com. I would be honored and humbled to earn your support.