King Hall Blog

On Friday, March 6, a beautiful almost-spring day, the UC Davis School of Law, UC Davis’s Environmental Law Society, and the John Muir Institute on the Environment hosted the symposium “Saving a Bug’s Life: Legal Solutions to Combat Insect Biodiversity Decline and the Sixth Mass Extinction.” The symposium brought together scientists, law professors, policy-makers and others to discuss the current threat to insects, including essential pollinator species.

This week, Administrative Law Judge Alberto Rosas spoke at UC Davis School of Law as part of La Raza Law Students Association’s Culture Week. See Judge Rosas with law student Tania Montoya-Block '21, above. 

On Wednesday, March 4, we had a special lunchtime presentation at the UC Davis School of Law -- a lecture by Professor Bill Dodge marking his appointment as the John D. Ayer Chair in Business Law. Professor Dodge is the very first faculty member to hold this new chair honoring Jack Ayer, one of our distinguished emeriti professors. (Jack attended the lecture). 

Earlier this week, UC Davis School of Law had a visit by Judge Troy Nunley of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California. Judge Nunley talked with the first-year class about his amazing career, the process of judging, and the importance of legal research and writing.

The 1Ls were lucky indeed to hear from such a distinguished and respected federal judge.  Judge Nunley's daughter, Cimone, is member of UC Davis Law's class of 2018, and he is a huge supporter of King Hall. Judge Nunley served as UC Davis Law's commencement speaker in 2019.

Last week, I traveled to Boston University School of Law to participate in an informative conference on " Racial Bias, Disparities and Oppression in the 1L Curriculum." Conference participants examined how the first year curriculum might better incorporate the perspectives of marginalized and oppressed groups. 

This past weekend, the UC Davis School of Law Moot Court Honors Board hosted the 13th Annual Asylum & Refugee Law National Moot Court Competition. Teams from across the country, including the University of Cincinnati, Southern Illinois, Hastings, McGeorge, Golden Gate, and many other schools competed in preliminary rounds on Saturday, followed by quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals on Sunday.

Professor Donna Shestowsky had another great group of lawyers, including many alums, visit her Lawyering Process class for 1Ls. The speakers represented solo practitioners, government, corporations, small or medium firms, large firms, and public interest organizations.

Our students benefited greatly from hearing the attorneys' perspectives about law school and various areas of law practice. Over two days, the goal was to encourage students to think about different career options and the diversity of workplaces in which lawyers work.

Photo by Jose Alfonso Perez

We had a wonderful book event at the UC Davis School of Law last week. During the lunch hour in a packed Kalmanovitz Appellate Courtroom, Professor Carlton Larson discussed his new book published by Oxford University Press, The Trials of Allegiance: Treason, Juries, and the American Revolution.  It uses the law of treason as a new way of framing the American Revolution.

On Presidents’ Day weekend, I had lunch with participants in the King Hall Outreach Program, a program with undergraduates considering law school.  This class included students from UC Davis, UC Berkeley, UC Merced, Sacramento State, and several other universities.  We had a wonderful time talking about the law school admissions process, the diversity of careers for lawyers, and the challenges of law school.  It always is great to meet enthusiastic students pursuing their dreams. 

(Alum, Dana Cruz '16)

Last week, the Schwartz/Levi Inn of Court held its monthly meeting at the Odd Fellows building in downtown Davis.  Before the program of the night, the President of the Inn Dan Maguire noted Professor Carlton Larson's new book, The Trials of Allegiance.  Professor Larson and Professor Alana Brownstein, also in attendance last night, have been longtime members of the Inn, which includes many local judges, lawyers, students, and King Hall alums.  Professor Kelly Behre also is a member.  I was able to catch up with King Hall alums Judge Timmy Kam `

I always like to stop in to the Aoki Center seminar series and hear a different perspective on Critical Race Theory.  This week, I was able to catch Professor Katherine Florey talking about “Uniqueness and Beyond The Contradictions of Tribal Status in the United States.” 

Last week, UC Davis School of Law hosted its annual Preview Day for UC Davis undergraduates considering studying law.  I welcomed the group and discussed the amazing community at King Hall.   Dean of Admissions Kristen Mercado shared her expertise in the law school admissions process. 

We had students and an alum who are all "Double Aggies" discuss their experiences including Vannalee Cayabyab '22, Arianna Ghavami '21, Gregory Lang '20 and Jon Ogata '18.

Last weekend, UC Davis School of Law students held the 41st Annual Charity Auction. The event is always one of the highlights of the law school year.  KHLF funds public interest and public service projects for UC Davis law students. Many law professors were in attendance, including Professors Clay Tanaka, Carlton Larson (and his lovely family), and Alan Brownstein as the auctioneer.  Many alums (including Judge Shama Mesiwala `98 and Diana Glick `07), students, parents, were in attendance. 

Earlier this week, I had a delightful shadow for the morning, Sarah Crowe, a second-year political science major (human rights minor) at UC Davis.  From Orange County, Sarah is interested in law school.  I enjoyed talking with Sarah about law school.  She was able to sit in with a meeting with our Senior Director of Development Karen Charney.  I then walked Sarah to our clinical cottages and talked to Professor Holly Cooper, co-director of the Immigration Law Clinic, my mentee Leticia Casillas `21, and some other students.

The UC Davis Law Review and the Black Law Students Association had a lunchtime presentation of Professor Irene Joe of her new paper “Regulating Mass Prosecution.”  The paper, published last week by the UC Davis Law Review, argues that  ethical duties should prohibit prosecutors from engaging in practices that contribute to excessive public defender caseloads. Professor Joe sees this as part of a solution to the problem of mass incarceration.