News Release

A sold-out crowd of more than 700 guests gathered to salute the distinguished graduates of Southwestern who have served on the bench and to hear Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's keynote address at the law school's Judges Tribute Dinner on February 24. The event was held at the Los Angeles Millennium Biltmore Hotel as part of Southwestern's continuing Centennial Celebration.

Proceeds from the Judges Tribute Dinner are being designated for the newly established scholarship fund in the names of Justices B. Rey Schauer '16, Paul Peek '30 and Stanley Mosk '35, who all served on the California Supreme Court, to commemorate their outstanding service to the people of California and the Southwestern legacy they represent.

Brian Panish '84, of Panish Shea & Boyle and Chair of the Judges Tribute Dinner Committee, served as Master of Ceremonies for the event. Other speakers included Dean Bryant Garth; Tom Hoberman'75, Chair of the Southwestern Board of Trustees; and Michael Downer '81, Trustee and Chair of Southwestern's newly launched Second Century Campaign. In her remarks, Justice O'Connor commented on the rich history of trailblazers from Southwestern in the justice system and promoted judicial independence and the need for a renewed emphasis on civics education in the schools. (Click here

to read more about her remarks.)

During Southwestern's first century, the law school produced well over 450 distinguished judicial officers of superior courts, state supreme courts, administrative law and workers compensation courts, military courts, tribal courts, courts of appeal, and US bankruptcy and district courts, among other jurisdictions. In addition to hundreds of courtrooms throughout California, there is a Southwestern judicial contingent in Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Texas, Washington, Washington DC, and Wisconsin, as well as Guam and Israel.

Sponsors for the event as well as commendations from public officials and legal organizations are posted at www.swlawjudgestribute.org. Click here to read about "The Women at the United States Supreme Court" program that took place earlier that day.

Judge David Wesley '72 and Sheriff Lee Baca