Professor Frank Comments for Daily Journal on Westlands Water District Controversy

Professor of Environmental Practice Richard Frank commented for the San Francisco Daily Journal on former U.S. District Judge Oliver Wanger's decision to go to work for Westlands Water District, which won a favorable judgment from him just prior to his retirement from the Central District bench.  Wanger did not violate any ethics rules in accepting the position just two months after ruling in the district's favor, but his decision may be perceived by some as "cashing in on his judicial tenure," Frank said.

"There's a broad issue of public appearance and increasing public skepticism of public institutions," he said.  "This revolving door activity doesn't sit well with folks even if explicit rules are followed." 

Frank, a 1974 graduate of King Hall, is a leading scholar and practitioner in the field of environmental law and the founding Director of the California Environmental Law and Policy Center at UC Davis School of Law.