Imagine if civil court cases were decided by artificial intelligence instead of human judges. Some legal professionals say that prospect could become reality in the not-too-distant future.

Members of the UCLA School of Law community are mourning the loss of longtime professor Stephen Munzer, who died on Nov. 30 at age 81 after a brief illness.

Munzer was a distinguished research professor and authority in law and philosophy who joined the law school’s faculty in 1982 and retired in 2014 – but hardly stopped writing, teaching, conducting research, and connecting with his colleagues. Many people among his family, coworkers, and former students have used the same word to describe him: “gentleman.”

In the latest study to measure the impact of law school faculties based on their research and writing, 14 UCLA School of Law professors have been recognized as leaders of legal scholarship.

Professor emeritus Herbert Morris, a globally renowned scholar and teacher of law and philosophy and a foundational member of UCLA School of Law’s faculty, died on Dec. 14. He was 94.

An instrumental leader at UCLA for seven decades, Morris earned his bachelor’s degree at UCLA, law degree from Yale Law School and doctorate in philosophy from Oxford University. He joined the faculty of UCLA’s philosophy department in 1956 and the law school in 1962.

David Dolinko ’80, a devoted member of the UCLA School of Law community for more than four decades and noted authority in criminal law and the philosophy of punishment, died on Dec. 30 due to complications from COVID-19. He was 72.

Six UCLA School of Law professors, including leading scholars in environmental law, critical race studies, law and philosophy, health law and constitutional law, have received appointments to endowed faculty chairs. Four of the chairs are being filled for the first time.

The chairs recognize the distinction of the law school’s exceptional faculty members and are made possible by the tremendous generosity of UCLA Law’s alumni and friends.