California Western Faculty Highlights - November 2025
Dec 16 2025
Faculty at California Western School of Law (CWSL) continue to produce groundbreaking
work and present it across the country and around the globe.
Here are some highlights of the faculty’s activities from the month of November:
Dean and President & Professor of Law Miriam H. Baer
Dean Miriam Baer was quoted in Fortune magazine discussing corporate criminal liability and the ways in which federal law incentivizes corporations to divulge information about an employee's criminal behavior.
Dean Miriam Baer was quoted in Fortune magazine discussing corporate criminal liability and the ways in which federal law incentivizes corporations to divulge information about an employee's criminal behavior.
Chief Justice Roger Traynor Professor of Law William Aceves
Professor William Aceves co-chaired 2025 International Law Weekend program committee, hosted by the American Branch of the International Law Association.
Professor William Aceves co-chaired 2025 International Law Weekend program committee, hosted by the American Branch of the International Law Association.
Professor of Law Emily Behzadi Cárdenas
Professor Emily Behzadi Cárdenas presented her work on Progressive Copyright Theory at the Hofstra Intellectual Property Law Colloquium. Professor Behzadi Cárdenas talked about how traditional copyright ability doctrines systematically disadvantage marginalized communities and proposed a new approach to the theoretical underpinnings of copyright.
Professor Behzadi Cárdenas attended the restitution ceremony at the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) Boston, where artwork was returned to the heirs of the enslaved artist David Drake. Professor Behzadi Cárdenas assisted attorney George Fatheree as Supporting Counsel, pro bono, in the landmark case that saw the return of two works by enslaved potter David Drake to his direct descendants from the MFA Boston.
Professor Emily Behzadi Cárdenas presented her work on Progressive Copyright Theory at the Hofstra Intellectual Property Law Colloquium. Professor Behzadi Cárdenas talked about how traditional copyright ability doctrines systematically disadvantage marginalized communities and proposed a new approach to the theoretical underpinnings of copyright.
Professor Behzadi Cárdenas attended the restitution ceremony at the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) Boston, where artwork was returned to the heirs of the enslaved artist David Drake. Professor Behzadi Cárdenas assisted attorney George Fatheree as Supporting Counsel, pro bono, in the landmark case that saw the return of two works by enslaved potter David Drake to his direct descendants from the MFA Boston.
Dean Steven R. Smith Professor of Law Susan Bisom-Rapp
Professor Susan Bisom-Rapp was inducted as a Fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers on November 15 in Denver, Colorado. The College is a non-profit association honoring the leading lawyers nationwide who practice or teach in the area of labor and employment law. The ceremony took place during the College's annual gala, which was held at the Denver Art Museum.
Professor Susan Bisom-Rapp was inducted as a Fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers on November 15 in Denver, Colorado. The College is a non-profit association honoring the leading lawyers nationwide who practice or teach in the area of labor and employment law. The ceremony took place during the College's annual gala, which was held at the Denver Art Museum.
Professor of Law James Cooper
Professor James Cooper moderated an online panel of family office leaders and philanthropists on the sidelines of the COP 30 conference, held in Belém, Brazil. The panel was on the Davos Worldwide platform and was titled “Abundance and Impact.”
Professor James Cooper moderated an online panel of family office leaders and philanthropists on the sidelines of the COP 30 conference, held in Belém, Brazil. The panel was on the Davos Worldwide platform and was titled “Abundance and Impact.”
Professor of Law Pooja Dadhania
Professor Pooja Dadhania’s peer-reviewed article "More than Miscommunication: Rethinking Interpretation at the Asylum Office” was published in the 13th volume of the Journal on Migration and Human Security this week. This article was coauthored with Dr. Hillary Mellinger at Washington State University.
Professor Pooja Dadhania’s peer-reviewed article "More than Miscommunication: Rethinking Interpretation at the Asylum Office” was published in the 13th volume of the Journal on Migration and Human Security this week. This article was coauthored with Dr. Hillary Mellinger at Washington State University.
Associate Professor of Law Nancy Marcus
Professor Nancy Marcus, along with seven other professors specializing in LGBT+ studies and legal issues -- Esther Newton, Eliot Tracz, Mark Satta, Joe E. Jeffreys, Scott Skinner-Thompson, Luke Boso, and Carlos Ball—have submitted an amicus curiae brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in support of the plaintiff-appellants in the case Spectrum WT v. Wendler, Case No. 23-10994. In their brief, Professor Marcus and her fellow amici offer guidance related to important First Amendment protections for political and social expression threatened by West Texas A&M’s prohibition of a student organization’s drag show event celebrating the LGBT+ community.
Professor Nancy Marcus, along with seven other professors specializing in LGBT+ studies and legal issues -- Esther Newton, Eliot Tracz, Mark Satta, Joe E. Jeffreys, Scott Skinner-Thompson, Luke Boso, and Carlos Ball—have submitted an amicus curiae brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in support of the plaintiff-appellants in the case Spectrum WT v. Wendler, Case No. 23-10994. In their brief, Professor Marcus and her fellow amici offer guidance related to important First Amendment protections for political and social expression threatened by West Texas A&M’s prohibition of a student organization’s drag show event celebrating the LGBT+ community.
E. Donald Shapiro Professor of Law Joanna Sax
Professor Joanna Sax updated her innovative casebook for Contracts, originally published in 2015. Joanna K. Sax, Contracts, available at https://www.chartacourse.com/.
Professor Joanna Sax updated her innovative casebook for Contracts, originally published in 2015. Joanna K. Sax, Contracts, available at https://www.chartacourse.com/.
