Professor Reynoso Receives State Bar's Witkin Medal
Professor Cruz Reynoso has been awarded the State Bar of California's Bernard E. Witkin Medal to honor his "significant contributions to the quality of justice and legal scholarship" in the state. Established in 1993, the award honors "those legal giants who have altered the landscape of California jurisprudence." It was presented to Professor Reynoso, the first Latino to serve on the California Supreme Court, at the State Bar's annual meeting in San Diego on September 11.
"Justice Reynoso has been a champion on the side of providing full access to justice to all throughout his career," said State Bar President Holly Fujie, who visited King Hall twice during the previous academic year for speaking engagements. "This medal simply celebrates his unfaltering commitment to the justice system and his extraordinary efforts to obtain equal rights for all of us."
Internationally known as a civil rights champion, Professor Reynoso's career has included work as a lawyer, community organizer, law professor, legal services program director, appellate court justice, and state Supreme Court justice. He is a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, and has been member of the UC Davis School of Law faculty since 2001.
Professor Reynoso says the Witkin Medal is "a particularly meaningful award" for him because he knew Witkin, who died in 1995 after an influential, 70-year career in law that included work as Supreme Court clerk and Reporter of Decisions as well as activities as a writer, lecturer, teacher, and advocate for legal reform.
State Bar of California press release
