California Supreme Court Justice Goodwin Liu Shows Some Judges Actually Have A Good Sense Of Humor

Being a high-profile judge isn’t all talking about typewriters during rule of law crises and getting gifted six-figure trips to fish with billionaires whose cases you will adjudicate. Donning the black robes that come with being a judge requires handling most matters with a baseline solemnity that doesn’t leave much room for taking things lightly. There are some exceptions, though! Judge Goodwin Liu took a graduation ceremony as an opportunity to speak somewhat freely on what would otherwise be considered touchy political issues. Law360 has coverage:

Without naming names, California Supreme Court Justice Goodwin Liu took several swipes at the Trump administration in a commencement address to graduating UC Law San Francisco students Monday, issuing an “executive order” giving everyone A’s and saying there’s no one at the Education Department to collect on their student loans.

You can watch Judge Liu’s speech here:

The video starts with a handful of feel good moments: hearing how many first-gen lawyers are in the graduating cohort, listening to the graduates give a round of cheers for their support systems, and Justice Liu’s almost obligatory Rule Against Perpetuities joke. Liu even managed to transvestigate William Blackstone as part of a tongue-in-cheek tirade on “wokeness.” Here’s the kicker — his audience actually laughed! Take notes, Judge Farmer!

Thankfully his speech wasn’t all jokes about Property and jabs at the current administration. His journey from under-performing on the Contracts section of the bar to being a California Supreme Court justice was a great “even we giants struggle” moment that may help some students push through roadblocks in their bar prep. His declaration that independence of the legal profession is vital to the fair and impartial administration of justice may help some lawyers push through roadblocks in their careers. And if that line was a little too heady, his later nod to Uncle Ben (“Being a lawyer is a great privilege — and with great privilege comes great responsibility”) could do just the same.

Congratulations to the graduating class of UC Law San Francisco!

Calif. Justice Pokes At Trump Admin, DOGE In Grad Speech [Law360]

Chris Williams became a social media manager and assistant editor for Above the Law in June 2021. Prior to joining the staff, he moonlighted as a minor Memelord™ in the Facebook group Law School Memes for Edgy T14s.  He endured Missouri long enough to graduate from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law. He is a former boatbuilder who is learning to swim, is interested in critical race theory, philosophy, and humor, and has a love for cycling that occasionally annoys his peers. You can reach him by email at cwilliams@abovethelaw.com and by tweet at @WritesForRent.

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