INSIDE: EMBRACING HUMAN RIGHTS BUILDING A COMMUNITY OF LEARNING — BRICK BY BRICK THE FEENEY COMMITMENT Distinguished Teaching Award STATE ROLL CALL Alumni Lawmakers Here late in May, finals have come and fund an expansion to King Hall, and to better serve our gone, the Commencement ceremony is community. I am saddened by the loss of public funding over, and I have a moment to reflect on for the University of California’s professional schools, and these past 10 years as Dean of the School the challenges this presents, especially to our students. of Law. The changes to King Hall over Together we have acted to maintain access to our School this time have made the School stronger for all qualified students by enhancing support for those in every important way. And the best who need it. There is much that remains to be done, and years for King Hall are yet to come. while I understand that public funding will never return to What is most impressive about the structure of the past, I will always encourage initiatives our great Law School are the things to reverse the effects this decision has had on public legal that endure. Since its founding by Dean Ed Barrett, the education. I hope you will join me in this endeavor. School’s faculty have been its greatest strength. From As I prepare to step aside and take up a temporary the first day of classes in 1966 to today, King Hall has office during King Hall’s construction next year, I am attracted leading scholars, great teachers, and community heartened by the knowledge that the School could not be builders to serve on its faculty. The 26 ladder-rank faculty in better hands than those of its new dean, Kevin Johnson. members hired these past 10 years have built on this Kevin has been a good friend, great colleague, and my strength. They are fine teachers publishing in leading trusted advisor over these past 10 years. The School’s academic journals and have brought new national and accomplishments have been his as much as mine. He international prominence to UC Davis. knows King Hall, and loves the community and spirit it Our accomplished and diverse faculty are dedicated was built upon. Kevin will meet future challenges with to providing King Hall’s students with the very best legal hard work and compassion and will take King Hall to education and preparing them for satisfying and successful even greater excellence and visibility in the legal academic careers in both the private and public sectors. The Law community. School staff, in every office and every department, are During this next academic year, I will focus on my committed to serving the School, its students, faculty, and teaching and writing. I look forward to concentrated time alumni. Our talented students are broadly engaged in to think about current and pressing legal issues. There is the law, studying and entering emerging areas of practice much to write about in civil procedure, legal ethics, and and attending to the pressing social, economic, and legal the administration of law schools. I know I will have issues of our times. Our students remain fully dedicated plenty to do. to community service as evidenced by this year’s Public My time serving as Dean has truly been an honor and Service graduation ceremony that included over one-half a joy. I cannot adequately express my deep gratitude to of the 2008 graduating class. Our alumni are united everyone who has stood beside me, inspired me, and in their loyalty to King Hall and support our School in challenged me during my tenure as dean. many, many ways. They are the face of the School in law practice and in their communities here and abroad. Thank you all. This past decade has brought both triumphs and challenges to King Hall. I am enormously encouraged by the way the faculty, staff, students, alumni, and Rex R. Perschbacher our friends rallied with me to create new programs, to Dean 2 COUNSELOR • SPRING 2008 Rex R. Perschbacher, dean of the UC Davis School Act and was the only University of California law dean of Law during a decade that witnessed a 30-percent to speak out before the Regents against increases in growth in the School’s full-time faculty and the launch professional school fees. of a $30-million King Hall renovation and expansion “Over the last decade, Dean Rex Perschbacher has project, will step down from his post on June 30. led nothing less than an intellectual renaissance at the Following a year’s sabbatical, Perschbacher plans to UC Davis School of Law,” said Kevin R. Johnson, dean return to King Hall as a professor. designate of the Law School and the Mabie-Apallas “Rex has left an indelible mark on the Law School, Professor of Public Interest Law. contributing richly to its special character and its many Perschbacher was instrumental in pushing through accomplishments,” Chancellor Larry Vanderhoef said. the School’s first major building improvement since “His values and principles, eloquently articulated, 1968, leading a campaign for $8 million in private always seem to me to be unwavering. You know where support and lobbying at the state Capitol for needed he stands. And you know, too, that he’s a fine, fine public funding. The new addition will be completed person.” next fall with the renovation of the existing building to As dean, Perschbacher hired 28 new faculty follow. members who have advanced the School’s scholarship Faculty and students credit Perschbacher with and diversity, expanded the School’s clinical programs, fostering a familial atmosphere that celebrates cultural established a master’s degree program in international diversity and academic excellence. commercial law and developed an outreach program “Rex has helped set a tone other schools should for underserved college students. The School added five envy,” said former California Supreme Court Justice endowed chairs and professorships during his tenure, Cruz Reynoso. Perschbacher recruited Reynoso as the bringing the inaugural holder of the Boochever and Bird Chair for total number the Study and Teaching of Freedom and Equality. of seats to six, and saw a more Said law professor Madhavi Sunder, one of than tenfold Perschbacher’s recruits: “He has shown how a great increase in public law school can infuse its entire study of law, from private giving. environmental law to intellectual property, immigration and corporate law, with concerns for social justice and To help ensure that a law degree from a California public service.” public law school remains within the financial reach of all qualified California students, Perschbacher expanded For his part, Perschbacher says the School “faces the School’s loan forgiveness program for students who real challenges ahead. But we’re up to it. We’re stronger take jobs in public interest and increased financial aid than ever.” and scholarships. He also lobbied for Congressman Excerpted from original article written by Claudia Morain, Senior Public George Miller’s ’72 College Cost Reduction and Access Information Representative, UC Davis News Service, Dateline, May 9, 2008. COUNSELOR • SPRING 2008 3 KING HALL COUNSELOR Contents Managing Editor 3 News & Notes Judith P. Cook Writer & Editor Charlene Logan Burnett 10 New Chaired Professors Professors Perschbacher and Brownstein Designer Sam Sellers 12 Building a Community of Photography by UC Davis School of Law Learning—Brick by Brick King Hall Expansion and Renovation Program OFFICES OF Forever King Hall EXTERNAL RELATIONS Project Donors ALUMNI RELATIONS, DEVELOPMENT, & MARKETING 15 The Year of the Advocates Director, Marketing and Public Relations Judith P. Cook 16 Embracing Human Rights Senior Editor, News & Publications Charlene Logan Burnett 21 The Road to Law School Hard Work, Determination, and “Camp” Events Coordinator Deb Matsumoto 22 Notes from Kirkuk Graphic Designer & Photographer Sam Sellers 24 State Roll Call Director, Giving Programs Alumni Lawmakers Jean Korinke Associate Director, Alumni Relations 26 The Feeney Commitment Ginger Welsh Distinguished Teaching Award Development and Marketing Assistant Faye Gonzales 28 Giving UC Davis School of Law Legacy Giving 400 Mrak Hall Drive Dean’s Leadership Circle, 21st Century Club Davis, CA 95616 Preliminary 2007-2008 Annual Giving Class Participation 530-754-5328 530-754-5327 (fax) [email protected] 31 Photo Gallery www.law.ucdavis.edu Photograph of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,: Corbis. A NEW DEAN FOR KING HALL The University of California Board of its mission of scholarly excellence and Associate Dean Kevin Johnson Regents confirmed his appointment in May. public service. As I transition from the has been named to succeed Rex R. Dean Perschbacher is very pleased position of dean, I leave knowing that the Perschbacher as Dean of the UC Davis Johnson was selected, “I have had the Law School is in good hands.” School of Law. Chancellor Vanderhoef pleasure to work with Kevin at King Hall Dean Designate Johnson will assume stated, “Professor Johnson is a highly since 1989. I know Kevin to be a strong the position on July 1, 2008. The fall respected member of the School of Law scholar, visionary, creative leader, and 2008 issue of the King Hall Counselor faculty who emerged as the candidate of nationally known public intellectual. Most will have a full feature story on the choice after a national search generated a important, Dean Johnson is absolutely School’s new dean. strong pool of applicants.” dedicated to UC Davis School of Law and DEAR KING HALL ALUMNI AND FRIENDS, However, we need more funding to renovate the existing Martin Luther King, Jr., Hall so that it has the space and amenities befitting an I am truly honored to have the opportunity to serve as the next dean extraordinary national and international law school.