Dean's Blog

 

At the June meeting, the Schwartz/Levi Inn of Court honored me with a Lifetime Service Award. There were generous remarks from the retired Sacramento Superior Court Judge Emily E. Vasquez and California Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District Justice Shama H. Mesiwala ’98. They spoke of the great work that faculty, students, staff, alums, and community members have done at UC Davis School of Law. 

 

Today, I received a great photo from Professor Emeritus at Pace University Haub School of Law Jay Carlisle ’69 in the snow. Meanwhile, the highest temperature expected in Davis today is 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

Stay cool, King Hall!

 

On a visit to Sacramento last week, I had coffee with the new executive director of California Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA) Jessica Jewell. She presented the Ambassador de Justicia award to Gov. Gavin Newsom's Judicial Appointments Secretary Luis Céspedes. Retired Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Emily Vasquez accepted the award on Cespedes' behalf as he was called away.  

 I recently heard from UC Davis School of Law alumna Stephanie Padilla '16, a staff attorney at the ACLU Foundation of Southern California. She shared that in the case Kidd v. Mayorkas, a class action lawsuit challenging ICE’s deceptive home arrest practices in Los Angeles and the surrounding region, Judge Otis D. Wright II granted summary judgment in their clients' favor.

 

A couple of weeks ago, the American Law Institute (ALI) held its annual meeting in San Francisco. UC Davis School of Law's Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor Afra Afsharipour ran into the former Chief Justice of California, Tani G. Cantil- Sakauye ’84. Go, King Hall!

 

This week UC Davis School of Law alum Dana Cruz '16 was promoted to  captain in the California State Guard. I was honored to be invited by Dana to his promotion ceremony at the California Supreme Court courtroom in Sacramento. It was a joyous occasion in the magnificent Supreme Court courtroom, which Justice Shama Mesiwala '98 (who was in attendance) graciously arranged.

 

This week, UC Davis School of Law hosted the California Coalition for Worker Power Assembly at King Hall. The two-day event allowed for discussion of challenges facing labor in California. 

 

The White House proclaimed May as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. This is a great opportunity to celebrate the achievements and contributions of the AA and NHPI community. 

 

Last week, I attended an event at the Schwartz/Levi Inn of Court that examined law and racism. The pupilage group presented a discussion of the Citing Slavery Project, which looks at the role of law in enforcing slavery and focuses on incidents in the South. 

 

On Friday, May 10, the UC Davis School of Law Class of 2024 graduated! Watch a recording of the commencement ceremony here.