class action 1973
Hon. Richard T. Fields, ’87 (LLM), Received Distinguished Alumni Award Justice Richard T. Fields, ’87 (LLM), recently received a 2021 Distinguished Alumni Award, the law school’s highest honor bestowed upon alumni. He received the honor along with Karen P. Hewitt, ’89 (JD). Fields is an associate justice for Division Two of the Fourth Appellate District of the California Courts of Appeal and assumed office in 2017. Previously, he served in the courts of Riverside County for 26 years, becoming the first Black judge in Riverside County in April 2000. During 2007 and 2008, he served as the presiding judge of the entire Riverside County court system. He has received numerous honors and commendations throughout his Richard T. Fields, ’87 (LLM) distinguished career. A lifelong learner, Fields received his Master of Laws (LLM) degree in taxation from USD in 1987 and his Juris Doctor degree from Western State College of Law in 1983, where he received a letter of commendation for outstanding service on the law review. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree, with honors, in sociology with a minor in Spanish from California State University, Fullerton in 1981. Most recently, he received his Master of Laws degree in alternative dispute resolution from the University of Southern California in 2019. “It’s never too difficult, it’s never too late, and you are never too old to accomplish your dreams,” Fields said. The Distinguished Alumni Award is presented to law school alumni who have distinguished themselves in the legal field or other chosen profession at an exemplary level and who embody the high ethical standards and commitment to community service USD School of Law seeks to instill in its graduates.
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Paul E. Robinson named to the San Diego Business Journal’s SD500 Most Influential People in the Professional Services category.
1974 Patricia D. Benke retired from the state’s Fourth District Court of Appeal in July. David S. Casey Jr. established the Alberta S. Casey Legacy Endowed Scholarship.
1975 Robert S. Brewer Jr., an attorney with Seltzer Caplan McMahon Vitek, was honored by the U.S. Coast Guard with a Distinguished Public Service Award for his leadership as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of California from 2019 to 2021. Harry M. Elias retired after 30 years on the San Diego Superior Court.
1976 Shelley Berkley appointed to evTS Board of Directors.
1978 Edward R. Leonard joined Tyson & Mendes in California as partner. Frederick Schenk elected president of the San Diego Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates.
