News

Professor Raquel Aldana wrote a July 18 piece for The Conversation about Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ plan, endorsed by President Donald Trump, to deputize the state’s National Guard Judge Advocate General’s Corps officers to become immigration judges.

Professor Afra Afsharipour presented her paper “Effective Corporate Governance and Inclusion” (co-authored with McGill Law School Professor Darren Rosenblum) at the Law & Society Association Annual Meeting on May 25 in Chicago and at the National Business Law Scholars Conference on June 25 at UCLA School of Law.

The Civil Rights Clinic prevailed on behalf of its client in a case decided on May 29 by a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in San Francisco. In Campbell v. Herrera, the appeals court affirmed the trial judge’s order denying qualified immunity to four prison health care providers.

Professor Christopher Elmendorf spoke to the New York Times for a June 30 story on recent rollbacks of the California Environmental Quality Act, which in recent years had become closely associated with the state's housing crisis.

Professor Kevin R. Johnson spoke to the Los Angeles Times for a June 30 story about the detrimental effects of recent immigration enforcement raids on the city’s restaurant industry.

Professors Gabriel “Jack” Chin and Kevin R. Johnson spoke to national and regional media on June 27 about the Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision in the birthright citizenship case to limit universal injunctions issued by federal courts.

Professor Kevin R. Johnson spoke to Reuters on June 2 about how the U.S. Supreme Court has supported many aspects of President Donald Trump’s mass deportation plans while expressing some reservations about his tactics.

Professor Kevin R. Johnson wrote a June 11 guest commentary for CalMatters that lent historical context to the Trump administration's recent immigration enforcement actions in Los Angeles, which included mobilizing the National Guard despite Mayor Karen Bass and Gov. Gavin Newsom objecting.

San Francisco law firm Keker, Van Nest & Peters has selected Trinity Balla ’27 as a 2025 Diversity Scholar. One of four Northern California law students selected, Balla will receive $25,000 in scholarship funds.

Professor Lisa Ikemoto spoke to Newsweek for a June 26 story about a new California law (SB 729) that requires employers with 100 more workers and state insurance plans to cover infertility and IVF treatment for all Californians regardless of sexual orientation, marriage status or gender expressi

The American Bar Association’s Business Law Section selected Firyal Bawab ’27 to participate in its prestigious Business Law Diversity Clerkship Program.

One of four U.S. law students chosen for this year’s program, Bawab is externing this summer for Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Daniel S. Murphy, who handles civil and business law cases. The program includes a stipend.

Professor Leticia Saucedo spoke to the Christian Science Monitor for a June 20 story exploring the potential economic impact of immigrants not going to work because of fears stoked by recent raids on farms, hotels and other workplaces under President Trump's mass deportation campaign.

Meredith Hankins ’16 spoke to NPR’s Up First on June 12 about the Trump administration’s plans to roll back limits on greenhouse gas emissions from U.S. fossil fuel-fired power plants.

Professor Chimène Keitner wrote a June 16 essay in The Fulcrum about the danger of President Donald Trump’s rhetoric toward Canada, including his threats to annex the United States’ northern neighbor.

Chancellor Gary May has honored Professor Raquel Aldana with a 2025 Chancellor’s Fellowship for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Professor and UC Davis Center for Watershed Sciences Director Karrigan Börk appeared on the May 29 episode of the Fish Water Trout podcast presented by the conservation nonprofit California Trout.

Börk explained the historical development of water rights, including riparian and appropriative rights, and how the public trust doctrine has evolved to protect ecological interests.

The New York Times quoted Professor Leticia Saucedo in a June 12 story about how President Donald Trump acknowledged that his immigration crackdown is hurting the agriculture and hotel industries.

On June 7, Professor Raquel Aldana spoke as part of the “Tule Lake Concentration Camp: Reflections and Lessons” event hosted by Trinity Cathedral Episcopal church in Sacramento.

The Tule Lake War Relocation Center in Modoc and Siskiyou counties imprisoned Japanese Americans who were forcibly removed from their homes during World War II under the Aliens Enemies Act and by presidential executive order.

Aldana’s talk was titled “The Modern and Universal Dimensions of the Alien Enemies Act.”

In May 7, Professor Raquel Aldana gave a “Know Your Rights” presentation and training for lawyers through Rutgers Law School regarding the legal rights of students who were subject to visa revocation as part of the Trump administration’s effort to quell student-led anti-war protests on behalf of Palestine liberation.

Professor Lisa Pruitt appeared on the May 8 episode of KDVS’ Office Hour podcast hosted by UC Davis Professor of Religious Studies and Undergraduate Faculty Advisor Naomi Janowitz.

Professor David Horton spoke before the California Senate Judiciary Committee on April 22 in support of Senate Bill 82, which bans “infinite” arbitration clauses.

Professor Gabriel “Jack” Chin spoke to the BBC for a May 5 report on President Donald Trump’s claims that he is directing his administration to reopen Alcatraz, the notorious Bay Area prison turned successful tourist destination.

Chin said it would be prohibitively expensive to return the federal prison to functioning order, and noted that Trump does not need the space, since the prison system is down 25% from its peak population.

Professor Kevin R. Johnson appeared on the first episode of Radio Pacific – a new monthly show from Bay Area public radio station KALW.

Johnson spoke to host Eli Benton Cohen about President Donald Trump’s mass deportation efforts and helped put the first months of Trump’s second term into perspective.

In a May 3 explainer piece in The Conversation, Professor Chimène Keitner answered key questions about Kilmar Abrego Garcia and others who had been deported to El Salvador by President Donald Trump’s  administration.

Professor Karrigan Börk has been appointed director of the UC Davis Center for Watershed Sciences. Börk had served as the center’s interim director since 2024.