About Us - about the organization

Brightline Defense Project was founded in November 2005 as a non-profit legal aid organization dedicated to advocacy of issues concerning civil rights. The group is comprised of attorneys and activists who are dedicated to assisting those who may not know about their protected rights, or where to turn for aid.

Brightline received tax-exempt status as an IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) designated public charity on November 8, 2006.

Joshua Arce, Executive Director

Joshua Arce is a graduate of the University of California, Hastings College of the Law and received a B.A. degree in Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles. Prior to joining Brightline he worked in private legal practice, handling various civil litigation matters.

Mr. Arce was raised in the San Fernando Valley in Southern California. He spent his high school and college years involved in political organizing before moving to San Francisco to pursue a career in law. He enjoys studying languages and speaks Spanish fluently.

Amir S. Sarreshtehdary, President

Amir S. Sarreshtehdary was born in Tehran, Iran but has spent the majority of his life in San Francisco. He received his B.A. degree, cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, in Criminology, Law & Society, from the University of California, Irvine. He then received his J.D. degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. While at Hastings, he participated in the Civil Justice Clinic and assisted tenants seeking better housing conditions and challenging unfair rent increases.

For many years he has been involved in social causes and representing members of society often unheard. He worked at the Northern California Service League as well as the San Francisco and Marin County Jails as an intern. He has also worked with youth at the Youth Guidance Center in San Francisco where he was an instructor in introductory law classes and also as a counselor to dual-diagnosed adolescents in a residential treatment home.

STAFF

Joshua Arce, Staff Attorney
Amir S. Sarreshtehdary, Staff Attorney

Lynette Stetler, Research Fellow

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Joshua Arce
Rebecca Arce
Brandon Bowlin
José Atilio Hernández
Amir S. Sarreshtehdary

More about our services can be found here.