Thomas Jefferson School of Law

Registration is now at open for Perspectives on Judging, TJSL’s 22nd Women & the Law Conference on Friday, September 27th starting at 12:30pm. The conference, co-sponsored by Lawyers Club & San Diego County Bar Association, features accomplished judges sharing their perspectives on judging and the path to the bench.

The conference will begin at 12:30pm with Judge LaDoris Cordell’s Ruth Bader Ginsburg Lecture: Her Honor: My Life on the Bench…What Works, What’s Broken, and How to Change it. She will give a personal account of her tenure on the bench and the challenges that she faced as a woman of color. She will also propose ways to make our legal system fairer and just.

Afternoon panels of distinguished San Diego judges will then offer their unique perspectives on judging, discussing their road to the bench, how their background impacts their approach to judging, and judging on nontraditional courts. Esteemed panelists include: Judge Nadia Keilani, Judge Lilys McCoy, Judge Jinsook Ohta, Judge Paula Rosenstein, Judge Renee N.G. Stackhouse, Judge Rohanee Zapanta, and Kimberly Papillon, an expert on judicial decision-making. All participants are invited to a reception from 4:45 – 5:45.

1 hour of MCLE Elimination of Bias Credit available for attendees of the Ruth Bader Ginsburg Lecture.

22nd Women in the Law Conference & Ruth Bader Ginsberg Lecture - Thomas Jefferson School of Law Registration is now open for the 22nd Women in the Law Conference & Ruth Bader Ginsberg Lecture at Thomas Jefferson School of Law

Dr. Dawn Dekle, Dean and President of Thomas Jefferson School of Law, wrote an insightful opinion piece for the San Diego Union-Tribune on her return to America, and American higher education, after serving as president of three major universities abroad.

Opinion: I returned to America after 25 years of living abroad. Here’s why. “How can I send my daughter to college in the U.S.A.? President Trump just announced a suspension of immigrants from Nigeria, and has publicly said vulgar and offensive things about my country.& #82…

Our students have had a wonderful first week of class! We have enjoyed welcoming our new students to Thomas Jefferson, with 52 students in our residential program and 68 students online. We cannot wait to see what they will achieve!

Save the date for Thomas Jefferson School of Law’s 22nd Women & the Law Conference, Perspectives on Judging: Friday, September 27, 2024, starting at 12:30pm. The conference will be followed by a reception.

Perspectives on Judging will bring together current and retired members of the judiciary to explore critical aspects of the judicial system.

The conference will begin with Judge LaDoris Cordell’s Ruth Bader Ginsburg Lecture: Her Honor: My Life on the Bench…What Works, What’s Broken, and How to Change it. She will give a personal account of her tenure on the bench and the challenges that she faced as a woman of color. She will also propose ways to make our legal system fairer and just. Judge Cordell is the latest in a long line of accomplished speakers who have been honored as the Ruth Bader Ginsburg Lecturer, a lecture series Justice Ginsburg generously established for Thomas Jefferson School of Law in 2003.

Panels of distinguished judges will then offer their unique perspectives on judging, discussing their road to the bench, how their background impacts their approach to judging, and judging on nontraditional courts. Esteemed panelists include: Judge Nadia Keilani, Judge Lilys McCoy, Judge Jinsook Ohta, Judge Paula Rosenstein, Judge Renee N.G. Stackhouse, Judge Rohanee Zapanta, and Kimberly Papillon, an expert on judicial decision-making.

The Board of Trustees is pleased to announce the appointment of Dawn Dekle as the new President and Dean of TJSL. Dean Dekle has been President of three universities, including the American University of Nigeria, Orkhon University in Mongolia, and American University in Iraq. She earned her JD from Stanford, a Ph.D. from Dartmouth, and an undergraduate degree from Texas A&M.

Teejan Saady (2023) has accepted an Associate Attorney position with Sauvey Law Group, an estate planning firm located in Irvine, CA.

Emely Santana (2022) has accepted a position as an Immigration Attorney at the Law Office of Michael S. Juarez, P.C. in their New Rochelle, NY office.

Congratulations to Virginia Flores (2024) and Vanessa Felix Corona (3L) for being selected as 2024 San Diego La Raza Lawyers Association Bar Stipend recipients! They were honored at an event in May hosted by the organization.

Vanessa Felix-Corona (3L) was awarded a scholarship by the Pan Asian Lawyers of San Diego at their annual dinner last week. Congratulations, Vanessa!

Azadeh Mohajer (2022) has started as an Associate Attorney with Hoover Krepelka, LLP, a Family Law firm located in San Jose, California.

Isaac Rodriguez (2023) has accepted a position as an Associate with Union Law Group where he will be practicing Immigration Law.

Congratulations to the December 2023, May 2024, and projected August 2024 graduates of Thomas Jefferson School of Law! Our graduates were celebrated at a ceremony at the Balboa Theater on May 12, where alumna Lorena Slomanson (2003) gave the commencement address. Valedictorian Cynthia Santos Barbosa (2023) gave the JD Graduate Address prior to the conferring of degrees. Congratulations again to our graduates!

Congratulations to 2023 and 2024 Graduates - Thomas Jefferson School of Law Thomas Jefferson School of Law hosted its commencement exercises on Sunday, May 12, at the Balboa Theater in downtown San Diego. The event honored December 2023, May 2024, and projected August 2024 graduates of the law school’s Juris Doctor, Masters of Law, and Doctor of Science of Law programs. A...

Ashley Stewart (neè Clark, ‘09) was appointed District Associate Judge in Polk County, Des Moines, Iowa. She was appointed by Governor Kim Reynolds on April 17, 2024 and assumed the bench on May 10, 2024.

Congratulations to David Majchrzak (’02) who received the Service to the Legal Community Award at the SDCBA Annual Awards Ceremony & Celebration of Community Service! Dean Linda Keller was in attendance at the event celebrating David's significant legal expertise in attorney ethics and his work as both SDCBA President and serving on various ethics committees.

Andrew Poland (2011) has been appointed to the 1st Judicial District Court in Colorado by Governor Polis.

Governor Polis Appoints Andrew C. Poland to the 1st Judicial District Court | Colorado Governor Jared Polis DENVER - Today, Governor Polis appointed Andrew C. Poland to the 1st Judicial District Court. This appointment fills a vacancy created by the retirement of the Honorable Ann Meinster and is effective June 1, 2024.

Derek Dente (3L) was featured in the latest issue of San Diego Lawyer in the Law Student Column. His article can be found on page 11 of the issue.

San Diego Lawyer - March/April 2024 March/April 2024 issue Attorney Asylee: The Story of Hamid Qazi Featuring: How the Bar Plans to Celebrate its 125th Year

The Academic Excellence Celebration was held recently. The reception recognized 2023 recipients of the Distinguished Honor Roll, Honor Roll, High Grade, and Honors Award winners as well as the Adjunct of the Year, Professor Peter Law.

Additionally, 2L Mackenzie Rogers was presented the 2023 Kossack Award in Social Justice. The Kossack Award honors Samuel Kossack, who graduated from TJSL in 2015. It is fitting that Sam’s name lives on in this award, given to a deserving student who exemplifies the values Sam held most dearly: compassion, leading by example, and making changes one step at a time.

Congratulations to all of the honorees at the event!

Cheryl White (4L) was awarded a Bar Exam Scholarship at the Filipino American Lawyers of San Diego's annual "kamayan" dinner. Congratulations, Cheryl!

The Hon. Marie Elena Wood (2009) was featured in the Daily Journal regarding her personal experiences in the legal system that led her to the bench.

Immigration attorney inspired Judge Marie Wood's passion for serving others HEMET -- The immigration attorney who helped Riverside County Superior Court Judge Marie E. Wood and her family remain in the United States is also the one who offered the first opportunity to get into the legal field.

Current students and alumni are invited to join the Alumni Board for a happy hour this Thursday, April 4, at 6 pm at the Lazy Dog in Mission Valley. See you there!

Julie Houth (2014) was recently elected as President-Elect of Pan Asian Lawyers of San Diego for 2024-2025! She will then serve as President in 2025-2026.

The San Diego County Bar Association has announced their 2024 Service Award Winners and David Majchrzak (2002) is this year's recipient of the Service to the Legal Community Award! This will be presented at their May 14 Awards Ceremony. Congratulations, David!

Elizabeth Manassau Sanada (2003) has been appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom to serve as a Judge in the Santa Clara County Superior Court. Sanada has served as an Administrative Law Judge for the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board since 2020. She served as an Attorney-Advisor at the U.S. Social Security Administration from 2017 to 2020. Sanada was an Adjunct Professor at the Santa Clara University School of Law in 2017 and at the University of Phoenix from 2012 to 2020. She was a Sole Practitioner from 2004 to 2017.

Congratulations to Kelly Mertsoc (1999) who was elected to San Diego Superior Court Office 38 in last week's primary election! Prior to joining the bench, she has served as a San Diego Superior Court Commissioner since 2011.

Thomas Jefferson School of Law Professor Sam Bettwy and Columbia School of Law Professor Fred Davis are guests on the March 7, 2024 podcast show Law on Film by Seton Hall Law School Professor Jonathan Hafetz. They discuss the Oscar-nominated film "Anatomy of a Fall." The movie centers on the criminal trial of a writer (played by Sandra Hüeller) who is accused of killing her husband (played by Samuel Maleski) in a small town in the French Alps.

Anatomy of a Fall (Guests: Fred Davis and Sam Bettwy) (episode 22) - Law on Film Anatomy of a Fall (2023) is an acclaimed French drama directed by Justine Triet, from a screenplay she co-wrote with her real-life partner, Arthur Harari. The movie centers on the criminal trial of a writer (Sandra Hüeller) who is accused of killi...

Professor Emeritus William Slomanson was quoted in the Daily Journal in an article discussing the California Code of Civil Procedure should be updated to allow for more alternative methods for Service of Process.

Daily Journal Some legal professionals wonder if changes to the Code of Civil Procedure to allow for more alternative methods of service are in order.

Maryan Lowery (2022) has accepted a position as an Associate Attorney with Tyson & Mendes in their San Diego office where she is practicing Civil Litigation.

Caree Harper (2001) was featured in a recent issue of Southern California Super Lawyers Magazine highlighting her work as a former police officer who now represents clients in excessive-force police cases.

Super Lawyers - Southern California 2024 - page18 Super Lawyers magazine features the list and profiles of selected attorneys and is distributed to attorneys in the state or region and the ABA-approved

Michael Jonas (2009) is running for Congress for Oregon's 3rd Congressional District. Michael served as the President of the Public Interest Law Foundation for two of his years as a Thomas Jefferson student and was a member of the ADR competition team.

Michael Jonas for Congress | Oregon's 3rd District Candidate ​Oregon Congressional Candidate Michael Jonas is a dedicated community advocate, attorney, and progressive Democrat running for the United States House of Representatives in Oregon's 3rd District.

Professor Sandra Rierson's latest article, "From Dred Scott to Anchor Babies: White Supremacy and the Contemporary Assault on Birthright Citizenship," has been published in the Georgetown Immigration Law Journal. The full text of her article can be found on our LinkedIn page or in the journal itself.