Civil Procedure Law Scholarship and Impact

UC Law SF Scholars Celebrated for Appellate Advocacy

The National Civil Justice Institute has honored UC Law SF Professors Scott Dodson and Joshua Davis with its 2025 Appellate Advocacy Award. The award recognizes their pivotal role in a bro bono victory before the United States Supreme Court in Harrow v. Department of Defense (2024). In the landmark ruling, the court clarified that the 60-day deadline rule is not an absolute cut off. Courts may extend it where fairness requires, ensuring federal employees have access to judicial review. Their victory strengths fairness and access to justice at the appellate level.

UC Law SF Hosts Complex Litigation Ethics Conference

UC Law SF’s Center for Litigation and Courts held the fourth annual Complex Litigation Ethics Conference this fall, bringing together luminaries in the field to discuss a cutting-edge topics that are of critical importance to our justice system.

The 2025 Complex Litigation Ethics Awards were presented during the conference to:

• Judge William Orrick, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
• Prof. Judith Resnik, Yale Law School
• Plaintiffs’ attorney Joseph Sellers, Cohen Milstein
• Defense attorney Paul Riehle, Faegre Drinker

Richard Marcus’ Enduring Impact on Civil Procedure

Emeritus Professor Richard Marcus leaves a powerful legacy even after his retirement. Along with over 43 years teaching civil procedure and complex    litigation, the Comparative Procedural Law and Justice project, which he co-launched, continues to shape international dialogue on access to justice, dispute resolution, and procedural fairness across varied cultural and legal contexts.

Center for Litigation and Courts Expands Research and Impact

Established in 2021, the Center for Litigation and Courts (CLC) provides research to courts and gives practicing attorneys opportunities to moot California Supreme Court arguments. Highlights include:

• In March 2024, the center hosted and cosponsored, with ABOTA, the second installment of a three-year conference series on “A More Perfect Jury.”
• The center’s Amicus Brief in Support of Petitioner, Royal Canin U.S.A., Inc. v. Wullschleger, No. 23-677 (S. Ct. 2024), was mentioned with approval by Justice Sotomayor at oral argument.
• The center produced its first white paper, a Report on Class-Action Settlement Distributions in the Northern District of California, which generated substantial media attention.