Did you know that today, April 9th, 2024, is International Be Kind to Lawyers Day? Wedged into the month of April between the 6th - Sorry Charlie Day (an unofficial holiday acknowledging that rejection is a common part of the human experience that touches us all), and the 11th – Submarine Day (to honor people who build and work on submarines, which one celebrates by eating a submarine sandwich!), International Be Kind to Lawyers Day is celebrated on the second Tuesday in April, with an aim to dispel the negative associations often ascribed to lawyers.
We are thrilled to congratulate Arthur Baggett (Law ’93) on his appointment by Governor Newsom to the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board. Arthur, a resident of El Portal, has been a Partner and Counsel at AG Baggett and PJ Weber Inc. since 2011, and an Adjunct Faculty member at SJCL since 1997. He is also a member of the elite class of alumni in the SJCL Hall of Fame. Arthur’s career includes having served on the State Water Resources Control Board and as its Chair from 2000 to 2005.
Benjamin Thomas Greer (Law ’08) is an overachiever by anyone’s definition. He has been an Emergency Management Coordinator/Instructor II with the California Office of Emergency Services, Homeland Security/Human Trafficking training division since 2017. In addition to his law degree, he graduated from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security master’s program in 2022.
With a passion for social justice and a commitment to making a difference, Jason Crockford (Law '18) embarked on a remarkable journey that led him to the forefront of the legal system. Through his father's involvement with the ACLU and other social justice organizations, he was deeply influenced by his early exposure to issues of race, class, and poverty. Today, as a dedicated public defender, Jason continues to champion the cause of equality and justice for marginalized communities. Learn more about Jason, including the impact his law school education had on his career and his passion for representing the underrepresented in the Central Valley.
With a goal of transforming her personal traumas into her law firm’s mission, Shanna Hesketh (Law '17) founded Trauma Law California, a personal injury and criminal defense law firm that provides single point of contact, education and support throughout the legal process to its clients. Her journey, marked by the emotional murder trial of her brother and a series of life-altering accidents, not only shaped her legal career but her perspective on the very essence of justice. Learn more about Shanna, including the impact personal experiences have in shaping your career, the importance of empathy in the courtroom, and the undeniable strength that can be forged in the face of adversity.