John Leshy

Bio

Professor John Leshy came to UC Law SF in the fall of 2001, after serving as Solicitor (General Counsel) of the U.S. Department of the Interior throughout the Clinton Administration. Previously he taught at Arizona State University College of Law (1980-1992) and served in the Interior Department in the Carter Administration (1977-1980), as special counsel to the Chair of the Committee on Natural Resources, U.S. House of Representatives (1992-1993), and with the Natural Resources Defense Council in California (1972-1977. He started his legal career as a litigator with the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (1969-1972).

In 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2011 Leshy was a visiting professor at Harvard Law School, from which he graduated in 1969, after earning an A.B. at Harvard College. He has also been a visiting professor at several other law schools and served on numerous boards and commissions.

In 2008-2009 Leshy co-chaired the Obama Administration transition team for the Interior Department, after heading the Interior transition team for Clinton-Gore in 1992-93. He has received numerous honors over the years, including most recently the Horizon Award for Extraordinary Contributions to Environmental Law & Policy from the Harvard Environmental Law Society in 2025 and the Trelease Award from the University of Wyoming College of Law in 2024.

Education

· Harvard Law School J.D. magna cum laude, 1969

· Harvard College A.B. cum laude, 1966

Awards

· Horizon Award, Harvard Environmental Law Society, 2025

· Frank Trelease Award, University of Wyoming College of Law, 2024

· Distinguished Achievement Award, American Bar Association, Section on Environment, Energy and Resources, 2018

· Defenders of Wildlife Legacy Award for Lifetime Achievement in Wildlife Conservation, 2013

· Vanity Fair Magazine recognition as one of the Nation’s Best Environmental Stewards, 2004

Formal Lectures

“America’s Public Lands: A Political and Conservation Success Story,” Edwin Way Teale Memorial Lecture, U. of Connecticut, Nov. 17, 2022.

“The Interaction of U.S. Public Lands, Water, and State Sovereignty in the West: A Reassessment and Celebration,” Frank and Elvira Jestrab Water Lecture, U. of Montana Law School, September 26, 2018.

“Debunking Creation Myths about America’s Public Lands,” Wallace Stegner Lecture, University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law, March 14, 2018 (published in booklet form by U. of Utah Press). CATALOG

“Our Common Ground: Public Lands and America’s Greatness,” Riley Memorial Lecture, UC College of the Law San Francisco, September 25, 2017.

Podcast Interviews (examples)

Center for Western Priorities, The Landscape, Aaron Weiss and Kate Groetzinger, June 13, 2025

Our Public Lands, Adam Bronstein, June 3, 2025

Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, Hal Herring, January 21, 2025 

Resources Online Magazine (Resources for the Future, Washington D.C.) January 20, 2023

Litigation (examples)

In Re Adjudication of Water Rights of Gila River System (subflow issue), 175 Ariz. 382, 857 P.2d 1236 (1993) (lead counsel for The Nature Conservancy at trial and appellate level); lead trial and appellate counsel for plaintiffs in Natural Resources Defense Council v. Arcata National Corp., 59 Cal. App. 3d 959, 131 Cal. Rptr. 1972 (1976); Wyoming Outdoor Council v. Butz, 484 F. 2d 1044 (10th Cir. 1973); and United States v. Choctaw County Board of Education, 446 F. 2d 57 (5th Cir. 1971); lead trial counsel for plaintiff in United States v. Board of School Commissioners of Indianapolis, 332 F. Supp. 655 (D. Ind. 1971), aff’d 474 F. 2d 81 (7th Cir. 1973). Wrote amicus briefs in California Coastal Comm’n v. Granite Rock Co., 480 U.S. 572 (1987) (on behalf of nineteen states); United States v. Locke, 411 U.S. 84 (1985) (on behalf of Sierra Club): Lau v.

Nichols, 483 F.2d 791 (9th Cir. 1973), rev’d, 414 U.S. 563 (1974) (on behalf of the United States in 9th Cir., including oral argument).

Legislation (examples)

Witness at dozens of legislative hearings and extensive experience in drafting and negotiating legislation in the U.S. Congress and the Arizona and California legislatures.

Consulting

Clients have included states and state governmental agencies (e.g., State of Arizona, California State Land Commission, New Mexico Attorney General, the Edwards Aquifer Authority (Texas)); the Western Governors’ Association; Indian Nations (e.g., the Hopi Tribe); various environmental organizations, foundations, and the Congressional Research Service.

Board Memberships and Similar Activities

President (Aug 2002-July 2007) and Vice-Chair of Board (since July 2007) of the Wyss Foundation which supports land conservation and related activities around the world.

Member, Board of Directors, Grand Canyon Trust, 1987-1992; 2002-___.

Member, Board of Directors, Natural Heritage Institute, 2002-2010.

Member, Board of Directors, Arizona Raft Adventures, Inc. (operating commercial river trips in the Grand Canyon) 1982-1992; 2002-2008.

Member, Endangered Species Act Working Group on Habitat, Sept. 2005-March 2006 (convened by the Keystone Center at the request of six U.S. Senators to recommend improvements in statute).

Member, City of Phoenix Environmental Quality Commission, 1987-1990.

Member, Arizona Governor’s Task Force on Environmental Impact Assessment, 1990.

Member, Committee on Onshore Oil & Gas Leasing, National Academy of Sciences/National Research Council (study mandated by Congress in the Federal Onshore Oil & Gas Leasing Reform Act of 1987) 1989-1990.

Member, Arizona Governor’s Task Force on Recreation on Federal Lands, 1985-86.

Member, Board of Directors, Arizona Center for Law in the Public Interest, 1981-1986.

Bar Memberships

Ohio (1969); California (1972); District of Columbia (1977).

Education

• Harvard Law School
  J.D. magna cum laude 1969

• Harvard College
  A.B. cum laude 1966

Accomplishments

• Horizon Award for Extraordinary Contributions to Environmental Law & Policy
  Harvard Environmental Law Society 2025

• Frank Trelease Award
  University of Wyoming College of Law 2024

• Distinguished Achievement Award, American Bar Association, Section on Environment, Energy and Resources
  2018

• Defenders of Wildlife Legacy Award for Lifetime Achievement in Wildlife Conservation
  2013

• Vanity Fair Magazine recognition as one of the Nation’s Best Environmental Stewards
  2004