An Evening to Celebrate—UC Davis 5th Annual Swearing-In Ceremony
Most of the 152 UC Davis law alumni who passed the July 2007 California Bar Examination were present at the Fifth Swearing-In Ceremony held in the Wilkins Moot Courtroom at the UC Davis School of Law on December 7, 2007. The Friday evening event filled the courtroom as family and friends witnessed recent graduates take the state and federal district court oaths.
School of Law Alumni Board President-Elect Steve Boutin '72 opened the event by congratulating the young alumni on their passage from law school students to licensed professionals. He ended by introducing Dean Rex Perschbacher who officially welcomed alumni, faculty, friends, and family members to the Swearing-In Ceremony. He said, "This is a wonderful, memorable, joyful day for you and for us all. Today you are finally, fully recognized as practicing lawyers—professionals in all respects. And you are here through your own efforts."
The Honorable Rebecca A. Wiseman '80, Associate Justice, California Court of Appeal, Fifth Appellate District, delivered the state oath while The Honorable Gregory G. Hollows, Magistrate Judge of the United States District Court, Eastern District of California, delivered the federal district oath.
Before the crowd spilled out into the lobby for a festive reception, both Justice Wiseman and Judge Hollows had sage advice for the newly licensed attorneys. Justice Wiseman, who was first appointed to the bench in 1986, advised the attorneys to stay true to themselves and pursue their passion in the law.
Judge Hollows, who served as Deputy Chief U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District and Chief of the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney's Office, before his appointment in 1990 as U.S. Magistrate Judge on the District Court for the Eastern District of California, introduced the young audience to ICEE: Integrity, Commitment, Excellence, and Ethics. He challenged them to make "ICEE" a part of their daily life, which in his experience will elevate them from good lawyers to great lawyers.
Thomas Stallard '75, current School of Law Alumni Board president, closed the event by commenting that UC Davis alums already have a good foundation in integrity, commitment, and excellence due to their King Hall education. Passing the most difficult bar exam in the nation is testimony to their hard work and excellent education, he emphasized.