We sent out the Bison Brief with the outdated link for the Super Lawyers story. We apologize we did not catch it in time for press. This issue now has the correct link.

Three Honored at the 2023 Annual Judges Reception

The Hon. Bruce E. Brodie '79 and The Hon. Karla D. Kerlin '90 were recognized as Judges of the Year at the January 26 Annual Judges reception held at Southwestern Law School. In addition, the Hon. Frances Muñoz ‘71 was honored posthumously. More than 100 alumni and friends attended the program, which was organized by The Hon. Deborah S. Brazil '96.


Judge Frances Muñoz was the first Latina trial judge in California, and in the United States. She served as a judge for 23 years. Judge Muñoz lived a lifetime of advocacy in the law, education and immigration. She established the Hispanic Education Endowment Fund, which offers scholarships to first-generation college students in Orange County.

The Hon. Bruce E. Brodie


Judge Bruce Brodie ‘79 was appointed to the Los Angeles Superior Court in 2017 after serving nearly 25 years as a public defender. For more than 30 years, he has offered free bar tutoring for black law graduates sitting for the California bar exam. The individuals he tutored and mentored while in the public defender’s office have gone on to successful careers and many have become lifelong friends.

The Hon. Karla D. Kerlin


Judge Karla Kerlin ’90 was appointed to the Los Angeles Superior Court in 2008 after serving as a Deputy District Attorney for 18 years. She has presided over three courts that offer alternatives to incarceration: the Office of Diversion & Reentry (ODR) Housing Court, which provides housing and mental health treatment to individuals who are homeless and have severe mental health disorders; the Department of State Hospitals Diversion Program, a grant-funded Mental Health Diversion program; and the Maternal Health Court for women who are incarcerated and pregnant.

Glassman & Kramer Teaching Jury Selection in Civil Cases

The class is just one of the cutting-edge classes at Southwestern.

Southwestern Law School announced four new cutting-edge courses that build on its reputation of producing highly skilled graduates who are prepared to enter a broad range of nuanced practice areas. These courses add to Southwestern’s sophisticated curriculum, which is strategically designed to train profession-ready lawyers.


Seasoned trial attorneys Robert Glassman '09 (Panish | Shea | Boyle | Ravipudi) and Daniel Kramer '08 (Kramer Trial Lawyers) have designed an interactive course to teach students the art and science of jury selection—an often-overlooked but critical part of trial practice. Voir dire, or jury selection, is the first opportunity a lawyer has to interact with jurors and can often be outcome-determinative.


Other alumni members teaching cutting-edge classes this semester include: Anasheh Akopian '10 on Financial Literacy, and Orly Ravid '14 and Michael Peters '18 on NFTs and the Metaverse.


Learn more about all the new courses to train future Bison lawyers.

Dean Dickerson Reports on the State of the Law School

Dean Darby Dickerson addressed students, faculty, staff, and alumni on January 25 to update the community about the law school’s successes, opportunities, and priorities.


Use Passcode DR3@*@NB to Watch the State of the Law School Address.

Southwestern Alumni Dominate the 2022 Southern California Super Lawyers Top Ten List


Southwestern Law School celebrates its many alumni recognized in the 2023 Southern California Super Lawyers list. Southwestern has more alumni in the Top 10 2023 Southern California Super Lawyers List than any other law school in the country.


Read more to find who made the list.

Upcoming Alumni Events

San Diego Alumni Reception

Thursday, February 16

Higgs Fletcher & Mack

401 West A Street #2600 San Diego, CA 92101

Register here: https://SouthwesterninSanDiego23.eventbrite.com



Elder Law CLE

Tuesday, February 28

12:15 – 1:15 p.m.

Virtual Via Zoom

Register here


50/50 Alumni Reception

Thursday, March 2

6:30 – 9:00 p.m.

All Season Brewing Company

800 South La Brea Avenue, Los Angeles

Register here: https://SWL50fifty2023.eventbrite.com

 

SIDEBAR with Hon. Paul Watford, U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit, Southwestern’s Inaugural Distinguished Jurist-in-Residence

Wednesday, April 5

12:15 – 1:15 p.m.

Via Zoom

Register here


SAVE THE DATE


CLE Dates, Via Zoom

Tuesday, April 11: Destination: Moon - The Future of IP Law in the Offworlds with Prof. Stephen Strauss '83

Tuesday, May 16

 

San Francisco Alumni Reception

Thursday, May 4

Location TBD

 

Alumni Gala

Thursday, June 15

Skirball Cultural Center

 

Homecoming 2023

Friday, October 27

Southwestern Law School

Specific times TBD; anticipated 4:00–9:30 p.m.

Bar Swearing In Ceremony Photos


Click the photo gallery to view the pictures taken from the ceremony held in December.

Bison on the Move

Gerry E. Agnew, Jr. ’74 joined Judicate West in its Los Angeles office.


Jeffrey R. Erickson ’88 was appointed to serve as judge in the San Bernardino County Superior Court. Erickson was most recently a partner at Raynes Erickson since 2012.

 

Patricia D. Cafferata ’89 was elected to the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges Board of Directors.

 

Edwin P. Chau ’92 was appointed as a Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge. Chau was most recently an assemblyman representing the 49th district of California.

 

Celeste V. Thomasson ’93 was appointed as chief audit and risk officer of Renault Group in France.


Geraldine Wong-Williams ’05 was appointed as a San Bernardino County Superior Court Judge.

 

Reagan E. Boyce ’06 was named partner at Chamblee Ryan P.C. in Dallas, Texas.

 

Jillian R. Weinstein ’09 was elected partner at O’Melveny & Myers LPP. Weinstein serves as the firm’s Assistant General Counsel, and public safety officer.


Justin Mikita ’10, husband Jesse Tyler Ferguson, and son Becket Mercer welcomed Sullivan Louis Ferguson-Mikita, born in November through a surrogate.


Camille M. Vasquez 10 joined NBC as a legal analyst. Vasquez is a partner at Brown Rudnick LLP.

 

Benjamin C. Lau ’11 was elevated to principal at Jackson Lewis P.C. in the firm’s Los Angeles office.

 

Manny S. Mukkar ’11 was named partner at Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP in Toronto, Canada. Mukkar is a member of the firm’s real estate and development group.

 

Patricia Brum ’13 was selected for inclusion in LA Times Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Magazine for exhibiting achievements both within their organizations and in the community at large through actionable programs and initiatives impacting Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility. Brum is a partner at Snell Wilmer and is a strong advocate for the LGBTQ community.

 

Michael B. Gelfound ’13 joined Freeman Mathis & Gary LLP as partner in its Los Angeles location. Gelfound was most recently with Selman Breitman LLP.

 

Mark C. Humphrey ’13 was promoted to partner at Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP. He is a member of the firm’s litigation group.


Max N. Wellman ’13 was elected partner at Venable LLP in its Century City location.

 

Whitney Nonnette Perry ’13 joined Reed Smith as counsel to the firm's labor and employment practice.

 

Lucy A. Vartanian ’13 was named partner at Hahn & Hahn. Vartanian has been a member of the firm’s family law practice group since 2019.

 

Mindy Bae Kulikov ’14 was promoted to partner at Wood, Smith, Henning & Berman LLP in the firm’s Los Angeles office, focusing on professional liability and commercial litigation.

 

Nathan B. Eprem ’22 joined the litigation section of GrayRobinson in Melbourne, Florida.

Share Your News With Us!

In Memoriam


Harvey E. Byron ’57, of Van Nuys, CA, died on January 23.

John H. Wilbur ’62, of Huntington Beach, CA, died on January 10.

Bitner R. Winckler ’68, of Agoura Hills, CA, died on January 3.

Craig D. Willford ’75, of Amherst, NH, died on December 5.

Andrew S. Albert ’78, of San Diego, CA, died on January 18.

Neal H. Sobol ’86, of La Cañada Flintridge, CA, died on January 3.

Breton G. Graham ’99, of San Diego, CA, died on January 12.

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