Professor Perschbacher Comments on Domestic Violence Case Ethics for Wall Street Journal
Professor Rex Perschbacher commented for the Wall Street Journal on ethical issues involved in the high-profile domestic violence case of San Francisco Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi. Two top prosecutors in the San Francisco District Attorney's office have invested in a business run by a key witness in the case, and although they are not alleged to have acted improperly, Professor Perschbacher said that the District Attorney "ought to step aside" to avoid the perception of a conflict of interest.
"Is there a requirement that this office be disqualified? No," said Perschbacher. "But I think appearances matter."
Professor Rex Perschbacher was Dean of the Law School from 1998 to 2008, and before that served as Associate Dean from 1993-1998. He has taught at UC Davis since 1981 with an emphasis on the areas of Civil Procedure, Professional Responsibility, and clinical teaching. He received the law school's Distinguished Teaching Award in 1992, and a Special Citation Affirmative Action and Diversity Achievement Award in 2001.