Friends of the San Juans is excited to welcome and introduce Magali Cota as our new Legal Director and Staff Attorney. Magali is an environmental law attorney who has worked closely with communities to protect their natural spaces, informing them of their rights within an evolving legal system and holding corporations and government agencies accountable.
Magali is stepping into her role at a pivotal moment for San Juan County. As the County’s Comprehensive Plan and Critical Areas updates move forward, Friends is working to ensure that environmental protections and community values are front and center.
One of Magali’s first areas of focus will be helping shape the final Comprehensive Plan to reflect key community priorities, especially those elevated through partners like the island Family Resource Centers and the Madrona Institute. Through strategic legal advocacy and collaboration, she’ll work to advance policies that protect the islands’ natural resources, support resilient communities, and reflect the shared values of those who call this place home.
“Stepping into the role of Legal Director and Staff Attorney at Friends of the San Juans, my driving goal is to protect both the human and nonhuman communities that call the San Juan Islands and Salish Sea home. I bring with me a deep commitment to environmental justice and the belief that law can be a powerful tool for lasting change."
— Magali Cota, Legal Director and Staff Attorney
Magali’s experience and skills in environmental law have been shaped by her work with nonprofit organizations such as Earthjustice, the Western Environmental Law Center, Columbia Riverkeeper, and, most recently, the Northwest Justice Project, where she focused on protecting vulnerable communities.
While at Columbia Riverkeeper, Magali was involved in an ongoing legal project addressing the Snake River Dam and the “taking” clause under Section 9 of the Endangered Species Act. At the Western Environmental Law Center, she tackled pesticide regulation issues, identifying regulatory gaps within the state. She also led community workshops to present legal data, define key rights under the Clean Water Act, and guide public participation in commenting on proposed regulations for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations—highlighting their impact on air, water, and soil quality.
During her time with Earthjustice, Magali authored a legal research memorandum emphasizing the importance of embedding financial assurance requirements into laws regulating polluting industries, particularly in low-income and marginalized communities. She worked in collaboration with the Clean Air Coalition of North Whittier and Avocado Heights to oppose a neighborhood lead smelter facility, contributing to workshops that explained proposed regulations and facilitated public comment. She also supported the development of legal strategies aimed at shutting down the facility.
At JD Calkins, Magali was actively engaged in a State Environmental Policy Act appeal brought by Mason County Climate Justice and the Legacy Forest Defense Coalition.
Magali’s commitment to justice has recently expanded into civil legal issues impacting low-income communities. As a staff attorney with the Northwest Justice Project, she litigated cases involving eviction defense, Domestic Violence Protection Orders, and the dismissal of debt cases involving predatory creditors and third-party debt buyers. Her work has resulted in settlements, dismissals, and preliminary injunctions won on behalf of her clients.
Throughout her career, Magali has recognized the essential role of community, not only in her professional journey but in her ability to elevate the voices of those most affected by regulatory failures and environmental injustice. She deeply values Friends of the San Juans’ commitment to community voice and its understanding of the inextricable link between humanity and nature.
Magali is excited to join the island communities and continue the work of the Legal Director and Staff Attorney at Friends of the San Juans, protecting the islands from those who seek to undermine their environmental integrity. She believes that access to a healthy environment is an innate right, and she will always fight to defend that right.
Please join us in giving Magali a warm welcome!
