Swearing In of Kelli Evans '94 to California Supreme Court

  • by Kevin R. Johnson
Justice Kelli Evans swearing in ceremony.
Governor Gavin Newsom, left, Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero, Justice Kelli Evans '94 and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom.
The New Year began on a high note for UC Davis School of Law. I had the honor of attending the swearing in of Kelli Evans '94 as an Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court. Governor Newsom swore in Justice Evans in a ceremony in the beautiful California Third District Court of Appeal across the street from the State Capitol. The Governor also swore in the new Chief Justice of California, Patricia Guerrero.
 
It was a wonderful and warm ceremony. King Hall alum (and one of my former Civil Procedure students) Stephanie Finelli '94 introduced Justice Evans, who she first met in law school. By the way, Justice Evans, as a third year law student, was honored with the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Service Award.
 
Justices Goodwin Liu, Leondra Kruger, and Carol Corrigan also were in attendance at the historic event. A number of judges, lawyers, and court staff were in attendance. At the ceremony, I had the honor of sitting with Judge Emily Vasquez, a good friend of UC Davis School of Law and pillar of the Sacramento legal community.