April 2023
Tracking attacks on Critical Race Theory
Lawmakers introduced 563 anti–Critical Race Theory measures in 2021 and 2022, and 241 of them have been adopted, according to a report that was conducted by CRT Forward, an initiative of the Critical Race Studies program. "Tracking the Attack on Critical Race Theory" draws on more than 30,000 news articles to reveal the impact of President Trump's Executive Order 13950, which banned certain "divisive concepts" in federal trainings.
Scott Cummings earns a
Guggenheim Fellowship
UCLA Law professor Scott Cummings has been awarded a 2023 Guggenheim Fellowship to support his research and writing about the impact that lawyers have played in backsliding democracies around the world. This year, the prestigious fellowships went to 171 people from 48 fields of study and 72 academic institutions, and Cummings is among five faculty members across the UCLA campus to earn one.
Eileen Scallen wins the Rutter Award
Eileen Scallen, a longtime teacher of Civil Procedure and Evidence, whose uncommon dedication to supporting students at UCLA Law has been roundly applauded since she joined the law school a decade ago, earned the 2023 Rutter Award for Excellence in Teaching. Scallen is a professor of practice and serves as the director of the part-time faculty. The law school's top honor for classroom excellence, the Rutter Award was conferred in a celebration on April 6.
When Khaled Beydoun set foot on UCLA Law’s campus as a 1L, he could never have imagined how quickly the world would change around him. Two weeks into law school, the 9/11 terror attacks happened, and Beydoun, who is Arab American and Muslim, felt that his community became collateral damage in the aftermath. Now a celebrated scholar, Beydoun shares more about his experiences in academia and life.
Chuck Williams, in memoriam
Members of the UCLA Law community are mourning the death of philanthropist and businessman Charles “Chuck” Williams, who co-founded the Williams Institute at the law school in 2001. Williams, 88, died at home on April 12. Known across UCLA for his generosity and vision, he made history with his $2.5 million gift to start the Williams Institute, which rapidly became the nation’s preeminent center of LGBTQ legal research and policy.
Students advocate for equitable groundwater rules at the state capitol
UCLA Law students Adrianne Davies, Owen McAleer and Gabi Rosenfeld (pictured, from left to right) offered witness testimony to a California State Assembly committee that is considering reforms to groundwater rules. Their journey to Sacramento started with their work in the California Environmental Legislation and Policy Clinic, a signature initiative of the law school's Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment.
- Arun Baheti was elected to the board of Coro Southern California.
- Aaron Bauer has joined as an associate in Duane Morris LLP’s Employment, Labor, Benefits, and Immigration Practice Group in its Chicago office.
- Rachelle M. Bin was appointed General Counsel at Fox Rothschild LLP.
- Allison Blanco was promoted to counsel at Latham & Watkins in its Orange County office.
- Kenny Chung was appointed to the Southern California Chinese Lawyers Association (SCCLA) board and was awarded the 2022 Affiliate of the Year Award by the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association.
- Michael Allan Cowell wrote and published his legal thriller novels: Adverse Witness, Presumption of Guilt, At the Hour of Our Deaths, Gideon's Murders, and the historical saga, The King's Archer.
- Colin Dailey was promoted to partner at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP.
- Loan Dang was featured in Variety’s Women’s Impact Report Class of 2022.
- Donna Dean was promoted to Supervising Deputy Attorney General in the California Office of the Attorney General.
- Toby Dorsey was promoted to the position of Deputy General Counsel in the Executive Office of the President.
- John Draxler joined the office of U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell as Tax Counsel.
- Vidaur Durazo joined Nixon Peabody LLP as a healthcare associate in their Los Angeles office.
- Gary Eto was appointed to serve as a judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court .
- Leslye Miller Fraser was elected a life member of the MIT Corporation and severs as a member of the U.S. Comptroller General’s Audit Advisory Committee.
- Ruben Garcia was granted membership to The American Law Institute.
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May 31, June 7 and 9: UCLA Entertainment Symposium
Bringing together leading lawyers, executives, agents, managers, and producers for candid discussions on subjects at the forefront of the entertainment industry.
Join Us for These Events!
Terrific events are always happening at UCLA Law. You are invited!
Kimberly Clausing testifies before the Senate Budget Committee on taxes. Jonathan Zasloff writes an opinion piece in the American Prospect on responses to right-wing forum shopping. Adam Winkler pens a Los Angeles Times opinion piece on how courts are overturning gun safety laws. Alicia Virani co-writes an article in Teen Vogue about UCLA Law's Bail Practicum. Rick Hasen writes in Slate about the pitfalls of the case against Trump. Scott Cummings is a guest on CNN to discuss judicial ethics. LaToya Baldwin Clark is quoted by Time in a feature story about UCLA Law's research on the anti-CRT movement. Gary Blasi discusses homelessness in the Arizona Republic. Eugene Volokh’s research on ChatGPT is featured in the Washington Post. Joanna Schwartz speaks with the Washington Post about the lawsuit filed by the family of Tyre Nichols. Aaron Littman is quoted in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution about a Georgia prison death. Blake Emerson talks to LAist about abortion pill regulation. Jon Michaels discusses reparations with SFGate. Russell Korobkin talks to the Washington Post about law school rankings. And Steve Bank discusses World Cup soccer in the Los Angeles Times.
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