Loretta Lynch has a long career as an attorney, public servant, and expert on energy policy. As President of the California Public Utilities Commission from 2000 through 2002 and Commissioner until January 2005, Lynch was an early critic of energy deregulation and strident advocate for the protection of ratepayers and against corruption. After her term at the PUC, Lynch taught at the Goldman School for Public Policy and was an Executive Fellow at UC Berkeley.  

Prior to her appointment to the CPUC,  Lynch was the director of Governor Davis’ Office of Planning and Research. She served as a partner in the litigation firm of Keker & Van Nest before entering the public service, and has worked in key roles in a number of statewide and national political campaigns. Lynch has worked as class action counsel for the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles and clerked for the Honorable Dorothy W. Nelson, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Currently, she consults with community, labor and environmental organizations on regulatory matters. She holds a B.A. from the University of Southern California and J.D. from Yale University.