Chemerinsky back in as UCIrvine law school Dean!!
by FoundingFatherDAR
Mon Sep 17, 2007 at 11:13:51 AM PDT
The The Los Angeles Times is reporting that
UC Irvine Chancellor Michael V. Drake and Erwin Chemerinsky have reached an agreement
that will allow Chemerincky to be Dean of the new law school.
Drake and Chemerinsky said in their statement, "Our new law school will be founded on the bedrock principle of academic freedom. The chancellor reiterated his lifelong, unqualified commitment to academic freedom, which extends to every faculty member, including deans and other senior administrators."
I won't hold my breath to see if this position holds true.
For more on the original controvery, see
http://volokh.com/...FoundingFatherDAR's diary :: ::
On Friday, details emerged about the criticism of Chemerinsky that the university received in the days before Drake rescinded the job offer, including from California Chief Justice Ronald M. George, who criticized Chemerinsky's grasp of death penalty appeals. Also, a group of prominent Orange County Republicans and Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich wanted to derail the appointment.
What I want to know is, why the hell does an L.A. County Supervisor have any say in the doings of a University of CA campus in Orange County?
I know Antonovich is a heavy hitter in L.A. County (where I resided for more than 20 years), but if he has enough power to influence UC decisions, he has way too much power.
UPDATE: Chemerinsky's e-mail notifying his Duke collegues -
It is with excitment and sadness that I am writing to tell you that I have accepted the position to be the founding dean of the Donald Bren School of Law at the University of California, Irvine. After meeting with Chancellor Michael Drake at length this weekend, I accepted his renewed offer. He provided me the great possible assurance of academic freedom for the dean and all faculty.
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/9/17/14012/0020