Life as Dean (2008-24)

School is out but our professors are busy making presentations, attending conferences, and more. Last week, I was able to see our own Stacy-Ann Elvy participate in a UC Davis CAMPSSAH (Center for the Advancement of Multicultural Perspective on Social Science, Arts, and Humanities) Salon, "A Conversation on Scholars' Research and Life through the Pandemic.”

It is a happy time of year at UC Davis School of Law.  Finals are done.  Students are preparing for Commencement and celebrations of graduation from a top law school.

The Schwartz/Levi Inn of Court began the May meeting with Judge Emily Vasquez offering a fitting tribute to our beloved colleague Cruz Reynoso.  She told a touching story about Justice Reynoso speaking Spanish to her parents at her wedding.  Judge Vasquez presided over the marriage of the Justice to his second wife, Elaine.

Live events are fewer and far between in the pandemic.  But life goes on virtually.  On May 13, I virtually attended the 95th Annual Sacramento Host Breakfast.  The Sacramento Host Committee and the California Chamber of Commerce brought back the annual breakfast in 2021 as a virtual event. Traditionally, the Governor of California and the Chair of the CalChamber address the most significant issues facing employers in the state.

In 2013, I interviewed Justice Reynoso post-retirement for the UC Davis Faculty Emeriti Association's video records project.

This year, the Free People of Color Lecture  Series has been hosted by the UC Davis School of Law Aoki  Center on Critical Race and Nation Studies and the Department of History. The lectures explore the rights of people of color in the United States after the Civil War and inquire how that history continues to shape our thinking today. The series has brought in leading scholars from around the country.

Celebrating 2020/21

It is an understatement to say that the 2020/21 academic year was most challenging. Besides the global pandemic requiring a full year of Zoom instruction and events, the senseless police killings of African Americans, hate violence directed at persons of Asian ancestry, and a white supremacist-led effort to take over the U.S. Capitol left us all shocked and dismayed.

On April 28, the UC Davis campus held a major event, the Chancellor's Achievement Awards for Diversity and Community.  Our community prides itself on its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.  This event honors faculty, students, and staff who have dedicated themselves to DEI activities.  I feel honored to have received one of the first awards many years ago.

Following an upbeat virtual lunch late last week, Professor Michael Canzoneri (appellate advocacy) and Judge Dennis Cota '86 (trial practice) honored the Class of 2021 inductees to the Order of Barristers.  The Order includes the best advocates from law schools across the country. The recipients this year are:

For many years, I have served as president of the Board of Directors of Legal Services of Northern California, the largest legal services provider for low- and medium income people in Northern California. LSNC does great work and is especially well-known for its public benefit and housing work.

We have many alums who work for LSNC, including Amy Williams '05, who attends board meetings. On April 20, at the regular meeting, a photo of the amazing board was taken. See below.

The 2020/21 school year at UC Davis School of Law is ending on a high note. Professor Karima Bennoune, Homer G. Angelo and Ann Berryhill Professor of Law and U.N. Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights, organized a powerful event, April 21, on "Far Right Extremism and Human Rights in the United States: Global Perspectives." More than 100 participants tuned into the event.

I am proud today that the rule of law prevailed when a jury found Derek Chauvin guilty of murder in the death of George Floyd.

I echo Chancellor Gary S. May's statement and that of UC President Michael V. Drake and Board of Regents Chair John A. Pérez.

Chancellor May's statement:

(photo: California Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye '84)

The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) is California's most overarching, longstanding and controversial environmental law.

I am proud to report that we have concluded our successful 2020-21 Racial Justice Speaker Series and that we will continue the series next year. Read the story here: