A candidate’s messaging, charisma and likability may all factor into a voter’s decision on election day. But the rubber hits the road when those candidates get sworn into office and begin to write, pass and block legislation that affects citizens’ everyday lives. Beyond the legislation that elected officials may pass, other issues loom large in the midterms, including election integrity and the evolving role of social media.

Here, UCLA School of Law’s faculty experts share what they’re paying attention to.

“I need a translator!”

Luan Huynh (J.D. ’05) teased her friend and former UCLA Law peer Eyvin Hernandez via text on April 5. He had gone silent in their conversation about a mutual friend’s funeral, which would likely be held in Spanish. She asked if he was going to be back from vacation in time for the viewing on April 23 and the mass on April 24.

No answer.

As the 2022-23 academic year kicks off, UCLA Law is thrilled to have four new scholars join its faculty.

“UCLA Law has long-hand a vibrant intellectual community with professors dedicated to teaching our students, conducting cutting edge research, and taking seriously our role as a public university” Interim Dean Russell Korobkin explained. “I’m thrilled that our four newest colleagues will help us carry on that tradition.”

UCLA School of Law professor Cheryl Harris has won the UCLA Distinguished Teaching Award for 2022, the university’s highest recognition for excellence in the classroom.

In two new books published this spring, Devon Carbado, the Honorable Harry Pregerson Professor of Law at UCLA School of Law and the former Associate Vice Chancellor of BruinX for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, continues to share his research and insights on race, justice, and the American legal system.

In our Student Spotlight series, we hear from UCLA Law students about what brought them to law school, what they love about being on campus, and where they hope their UCLA Law education will take them. This month, we spoke to Terry Allen '23, the new editor-in-chief of the UCLA Law Review. The San Francisco native and father of two is already an experienced student, having earned both a master's degree and PhD before enrolling in law school. His love of the classroom is evident not just in his résumé but in his enthusiasm and joy when the topic gets mentioned.

UCLA Law professor Laura E. Gómez has been named to the scholarly advisory committee of the new Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino. The committee will provide input on the museum’s plans to preserve, document, display, interpret and promote knowledge of U.S. Latino history, art, and culture.

This article was originally published on the UCLA Blueprint website on February 10, 2022, and will appear in the Spring 2022 print edition of Blueprint magazine. We share it here with Blueprint's permission. 

Critical Race Theory and UCLA

by Jim Newton