Black History month is an annual observance originating in the United States that occurs annually during the month of February. Today, the University of West Los Angeles would like to recognize an important Black American individual for his leadership and impactful accomplishments, Justice Bernard Jefferson. He is a true legend in the legal profession as his short biography below explains.

 

Justice Jefferson obtained countless personal and professional superlatives and honors. Jefferson was born in Mississippi, but grew up in Los Angeles, California, attending public school and then graduating with an A.B. in Political Science from UCLA. He received a scholarship to Harvard University, Law School where he received first his L.L.B. (the equivalent of our modern J.D. degree) and later his S.J.D. (Doctor of Judicial Science). Post-graduation, Justice Jefferson began his teaching career as a teaching assistant and later part time professor at Harvard.

After returning to California and years in practice as a member of the bar and later the bench, which ultimately resulted in his appointment as the second Black Justice to the California Court of Appeal (his brother was the first).  Justice Jefferson authored the “California Evidence Benchbook” which is still to this day the definitive tome in evidentiary law in California. He donated all proceeds from the Benchbook, (https://store.ceb.com/jeffersons-california-evidence-benchbook) which was used to teach new judges at the State Judges’ College and is still used by nearly every judge in state court in California, to the Judges’ College. Jefferson eventually retired from the bench and returned to his passion of teaching law, where he accepted the position of Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the University of West Los Angeles School of Law. Justice Jefferson later became President of the University of West Los Angeles School of Law in 1982. The expansion of the school’s curriculum came as a result of his motivation and mentorship and his fingerprints can be found upon generations of UWLA alums who learned evidence from the “master” in his evidence class lectures. His affiliation with the school increased the school’s following, enrollment and prestige. His courses on Evidence and Criminal Law were always well attended. Pride in one’s self, achievement to the best of one’s ability and honesty and fairness in all things were his mantras.

When President Brown was asked about his personal memories of Justice Jefferson he recounted: “When I became president of UWLA in 1998, I spent several afternoons with Justice Jefferson at his home. He was one of the most delightful and gracious people that you will ever meet. We were able to honor him in 1999 with the UWLA award of honor. He loved the mission of UWLA and close to his death, I promised him that we would do everything in our power to preserve the mission of UWLA. As a university, we owe Justice Jefferson so much recognition for his contributions to the legacy of our university.”

To read more about Justice Jefferson, please visit: http://www.bernardsjefferson.com/bernardsjeffersonbio.html​​​​​​​