Rising Stars: Dana Cruz, California Judicial Council

At 32 years old, Dana Cruz has already served in the military, passed the California Bar Exam, and worked in all three branches of California State Government.

As the child of Filipino immigrants, Cruz acknowledges that none of this would have been possible without the courage and sacrifices of his parents. Cruz’s father grew up in the Tondo district of the Philippines, known as one of the country’s most impoverished areas. Determined to improve his family’s life, Cruz’s dad joined the United States Navy. He eventually obtained U.S. citizenship, and moved his family across the Pacific.

Cruz was born and raised in Pittsburg, CA, a working-class town in the Bay Area. His mom worked three jobs while he was growing up, one more reason Cruz views his parents as an example of unwavering determination, a principle that continues to guide him through his public service.

“My parents really changed the trajectory of my life,” says Cruz. “I could have been in such a different place. I realized if my dad could change my life and his family’s life, how much I could do for others given the opportunities I’ve been given.”

Cruz was a first-generation student at UC Berkeley, where he studied Political Science and Public Policy. He originally intended to study medicine, joking that “growing up in an Asian household, you’re going to become either a doctor, a lawyer, an engineer, or a failure.” Though he felt drawn towards helping others heal, he came to realize that he was more interested in solving social problems than chemistry problems.

As one of the first in his immediate family to attend college, let alone study law, Cruz often felt he lacked the information and resources many of his peers had, but he didn’t let this gap stop him. Instead, he reflected on his fathers “daring tenacity” and worked hard to excel in his studies.

“Just by your own existence, you have something to offer,” says Cruz. “Never doubt that you have a place at the table, even if you have to claim it, even if you have to work harder to get there, know that you have a perspective to share, and you should be unashamed and unabashed to share it.”

His family’s military background influenced Cruz to join the Berkeley ROTC while in college, knowing that he wanted to serve in the military before pursuing a career in policy. Cruz was commissioned as a second lieutenant, but was honorably discharged due to limited government funding.

“Never doubt that you have a place at the table, even if you have to claim it, even if you have to work harder to get there, know that you have a perspective to share, and you should be unashamed and unabashed to share it.”

As his military career ended, another door opened with his admittance to the UC Davis School of Law. Cruz remained focused and involved throughout law school. He interned with the District Attorney’s office in Yolo County and the Legislative Counsel, which set him on his policy-making journey.

After law school, Cruz became a Senate Fellow for Sen. Janet Nguyen (R-Huntington Beach). Cruz enjoyed the responsibilities of working in a small office, drafting talking points, staffing the Senator, and even developing his own bill.

One of Cruz’s proudest career accomplishments is his work on SB 410, a bill designed to streamline the process for people serving the military to obtain state jobs. The Senator gave Cruz the freedom to develop the bill and guide it to Governor Brown’s desk for signing.

Cruz secured a job in finance following the fellowship. During his six years there he was assigned to budget policy areas of labor, capital outlay, and finally housing and homelessness.

The question of transforming policy aspirations into realities fascinated Cruz, as he worked amidst the heightened instability of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a matter of weeks, Cruz and his team leveraged $5.2 billion in government funding to create the statewide COVID Rent Relief Program.

Cruz quickly rose through the ranks in finance, moving into a supervisory role overseeing the state’s federal funding investments. Mary Halterman, Assistant Program Budget Manager at the Department of Finance, and Cruz’s manager in this role, was struck by Cruz’s ascent.

“In this new unit and role, he quickly proved himself a charismatic leader, always bringing an eager and ready attitude to take on new and challenging tasks,” says Halterman. “Whether it was frequently engaging the federal government or overseeing $2.2 billion in funding for the Governor’s signature Homekey program, Dana always sought ways to streamline processes and ensure better results for the people of California, showcasing his innovative, forward-thinking, and service-oriented spirit.”

Looking to integrate more legal work in his career, Cruz transitioned to his current position as a Government Affairs Attorney at the Judicial Council.

His primary role is to advocate for the court system. He meets with legislators, staff, judges, and experts in the system to assess their thoughts on policies throughout the legislative process. The goal is to ensure that any passed bills are workable for the courts.

Cruz has taken on a significant role in developing California’s new CARE Act, a three branch solution addressing how the state can best provide mental health services to the unhoused population.

Cory Jasperson, the Director of Governmental Affairs at the Judicial Council, commends Cruz’s work on complicated matters such as mental health in the courts.

Cruz has taken on a significant role in developing California’s new CARE Act, a three branch solution addressing how the state can best provide mental health services to the unhoused population.

“I’m very impressed with Dana’s ability to quickly get up to speed on a challenging and complex assignment and with his patience and skill in bringing stakeholders together and finding solutions on tough issues,” says Jasperson.

Cruz’s hands are undoubtedly full, but he still finds time for pro bono legal work as a voluntary military lawyer for the California State Guard. In fact, he was just recently promoted to Captain.

“There are people who are volunteering or serving this country, putting their lives on the line,” says Cruz. “This is just my way of trying to give back.”

In his limited free time, Cruz enjoys hosting game nights and themed parties. Last year, he hosted a “world record setting party,” where he and his friends set records for blowing up balloons and playing corn hole. Cruz is also a thrill seeker; he enjoys skydiving, zip lining, bungee jumping, roller coasters, and everything of the sort.

As for what’s next, Cruz says “I’m excited where I’m at right now. I’m not someone who jumps around. I want to see what I can do at Judicial Council in terms of helping accomplish our mission towards fostering access to justice. I guess all I can say is stay tuned.”