From the Dean

As a law school, we have a special responsibility for the rule of law in our society and in the world. A commitment to the rule of law is nonpartisan. All government officials, regardless of their party or ideology, must obey the Constitution and laws. Indeed, the very core of the rule of law is that no one is above the law. Now, more than ever, UC Berkeley Law must be a force for upholding the rule of law and for using law to make people’s lives better.

I have spent a great deal of time thinking about how as a law school we can respond to events that are occurring in Washington that are clearly in violation of the law: firing agency heads, inspectors general, and civil service employees in violation of federal statutes; closing agencies created by federal statutes; refusing to spend money appropriated by federal law; threatening to revoke visas for those who express particular views; and planning to move United States prisoners and detainees to El Salvador.

Part of our response is to hold a series of programs, in conjunction with our new Edley Center on Law & Democracy, to educate our students and our community. One of those events took place a week after the November election as to what the Trump administration will mean for the law, with six professors speaking to a packed lecture hall.

This semester, we are having a series of programs focused on specific issues: the environment, immigration, federal workers, reproductive justice, DEI, and others. We’ll be hiring an executive director and have begun raising funds for the center, which I see as a core part of our efforts going forward.

Also, it is very important to provide information to those in our community who might be affected by new policies. For example, we have provided detailed information about what students and their families can do in response to actions of the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agency.

We also are working hard to assist our students and alumni who have lost their jobs as a result of the federal hiring freeze and reductions in workforce. For rising second- and third-year students who lost their summer jobs, we will create additional Edley Grants, including to work within the law school.

We have initiated a new series, “It’s the Law,” of two-minute videos to educate people about the legal issues that are arising. Our clinics and pro bono projects are involved in many of these issues.

It is a difficult time for many in our community and thus we must do all we can to help one another. We so welcome your support for these efforts.

Warmly,

Erwin Chemerinsky
Dean, Jesse H. Choper Distinguished Professor of Law