Professor White to Receive 2026 Distinguished Teaching Award

Dean Jessica Berg has announced that Professor Carter “Cappy” White is the recipient of the 2026 Distinguished Teaching Award. Supported by the generosity of Bill and Sally Rutter, the award honors “law teachers who give stellar performances in the classroom.”  

White will receive the award at the Celebrating King Hall event on April 29 in the King Hall courtyard.

White has been a supervising attorney of King Hall’s Civil Rights Clinic for more than 23 years. He has been a trial and appellate lawyer for over 35 years. The primary emphasis of his work is protecting the civil rights of incarcerated people. White also has taught courses at the law school in Civil Rights and Pretrial Skills. 

Law students working under White’s supervision have tried numerous jury and bench trials in federal court and have argued more than 20 cases before the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. White’s own work includes many trials in California and Texas, as well as scores of appeals before the Fifth and Ninth Circuits, the Supreme Court of Texas, and Texas Courts of Appeal. White was praised by nominees for demonstrating a strong understanding of the principles of clinical legal education and providing exceptional mentorship to students.

This year, complete nominations were received for Professors Nila Bala, Luke Fadem, Amelia Miazad, Suzanne Reuben, David Sandino and Shayak Sarkar. Congratulations to each nominee for excellence in teaching.  

Special thanks to the selection committee: 2025 Distinguished Teaching Award winner Professor Menesh Patel, King Hall Alumni Board President Eric Toscano ’09, Law Students Association President Allie Moncada ’26, and Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Donna Shestowsky, who served as a non-voting ex officio member.

Thanks also to the students, alumni, and faculty for the nominations, and to the entire King Hall faculty for its deep and enduring commitment to teaching and mentoring our students.