This week, the Aoki Center on Critical Race and Nation Studies kicked off the annual Critical Perspectives Series on classes in the first-year curriculum. An experienced and beloved contracts professor, Professor John Hunt discussed integrating racial and social justice in the first-year contracts class. He had a full house of eager students spending the lunch hour with him. Professor Hunt's remarks focused on the Civil Rights Act of 1866, which prohibits racial discrimination in the formation of a contract.
The Schwartz/Levi Inn of Court held its annual meeting kicking off the school year at King Hall. A number of students, including Law Student Association President Brenda Quintanilla '24, joined the Inn, which includes many judges, lawyers, and alums. Justice Shama Mesiwala '98 is the President and offered the welcome remarks.
The topic of discussion for the night was AI. It was a great evening.
Justice Shama Mesiwala '98 once again held the wonderful Annual Diversity Law Student Reception at her home over the weekend. The South Asian Bar Association (SABA) of Sacramento hosted the event and UC Davis Law was a sponsor. View photos from the event.
Justice Mesiwala recognized the following impressive group of judicial officers and law school sponsors in attendance:
Over the weekend King Hall had the honor of hosting the Pacific Juvenile Defender Center conference. It was wonderful to see so many alums who have gone on to practice as public defenders. Elizabeth Braunstein '99 was honored as the Pacific Juvenile Defender Center Attorney of the Year. Among other alums, Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria '11 was also in attendance.
I had the opportunity to speak at the annual conference of the Hispanic National Bar Association in Minneapolis. The topic was the lack of Latina/o law professors and law school deans. I talked about the history of efforts to increase Latina/o presence at law schools.
It was a great panel moderated by Dean Tony Varona of Seattle University Law School.
The 1790 Naturalization Act, the first U.S. citizenship law, reserved the privilege of becoming an American to "Free White Person[s]." Join us for a discussion of its lasting impact on the United States and its people on Friday, Sept. 22. The event will be held from 12-3 p.m. at UC Davis Law in room 1301 or register for a webinar link. Co-Sponsored by the Aoki Center, UC Davis School of Law, and Free People of Color - UC Davis Department of History. Lunch will be provided.
The UC Davis School of Law had the privilege of hearing Professor Chimène Keitner discuss Russian atrocities in the war in Ukraine. The lecture was sponsored by the California International Law Center, directed by Senior Associate Dean Afra Afsharipour and Associate Dean for International Programs Beth Greenwood.
I was touched to receive the note below from Priyal Thakral, a former Dean's Office student assistant now pursuing her law degree at USC. We wish her nothing but the best!
