Betsy Butler is the Executive Director of the California Women’s Law Center and has fought for equality and justice throughout her career. Before joining CWLC, Betsy served in the California State Assembly representing the 53rd Assembly District, which covered coastal Los Angeles. During her tenure in the legislature, she prioritized bills addressing the needs of veterans, older Americans, working families, the environment, and consumer rights. Committed to those who have served our country, Betsy was honored to be named the 2011 Legislator of the Year by the Vietnam Veterans of America and the 2012 Legislator of the Year by the American Veterans (AMVETS).

A committed advocate for fairness and equal rights, Betsy has worked for the California League of Conservation Voters, the Environmental Defense Fund, and the Consumer Attorneys of California. She began her career in public service with Lt. Governor Leo McCarthy and was an appointee of President Bill Clinton in the International Trade Administration at the U.S. Department of Commerce in Washington, DC.

Betsy is the Chair of the California Commission on Aging and is an appointed member of the Los Angeles County Probation Commission. She presently serves on the board of the Planned Parenthood Advocacy Project Los Angeles, Equality California, the Redondo Beach Veterans Memorial Task Force, the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles, and she is an Advisory Board member of the Soldier’s Project and Peace Over Violence, a domestic violence education and support organization.

Betsy graduated from San Diego State University and from the Executive Program in Management at UCLA.