HISTORY OF THE SCHWARTZ-LEVI INN OF COURT

In 1991, the President of the Anthony M. Kennedy Inn of Court at McGeorge School of Law asked Professors Margaret Z. Johns and Edward Imwinkelried of the UC Davis School of Law if they would consider starting a new Inn of Court on their campus. Professors Johns and Imwinkelried wasted no time in contacting Judge David Levi, then on the Eastern District of California bench, to join with them in starting the new Inn. In just under a year our Inn was up and running, with the Honorable David M. Levi as its first President; he served from 1992 to 1995.

Initially, the Inn had 60 practicing attorney members and 10 members of the Bench on its roster. It began its monthly meetings in the faculty dining hall on the campus where it met for cocktails and a meal, after which the membership adjourned to King Hall where it reconvened in the auditorium for a substantive session. For the first year these sessions were essentially free form involving members of both the Bench and Bar raising issues to be debated among the membership that touched on new substantive areas of law, ethics, professionalism, and changes in court rules and statutes. The contrast between federal and state court practices was an especially fertile ground for discussion in that first year.

In the second year the Inn turned to pupilage groups made up of a mixture of Bar, Bench and student members, who were responsible for planning a program to be presented each month. One favorite format was the “contest” in which the pupilage group presented a problem, then posed specific questions and the other pupilage groups competed in attempting to be the first to give a correct answer. And, yes, there was a prize for the winning group. As one would expect with a bunch of lawyers in the room the competition was fierce!

Judge Levi passed the president’s gavel to Judge Michael Garcia, who served as the second president of our Inn from 1995 through 1998. The leadership of our Inn then passed to Justice Rodney Davis, who served as president from 1998 through 2001. Justice Davis was succeeded by Justice Coleman Blease (2001-2004), Judge David Abbott, (2004-2007), Magistrate Judge Gregory Hollows (2007-2010), Justice Vance Raye (2010-2012), Justice Kathleen Butz (2012-2015), Judge Emily Vasquez (2015-2018), Judge Dan Maguire (2018-2021), Justice Shama Mesiwala (2021-2024), and Judge Sam McAdam (2024-2027). Based on Judge Vasquez’s efforts and under her leadership, our chapter achieved Platinum status from the American Inns of Court. We are proud to have retained that status ever since.

As the years went by, the Inn’s membership increased, and today its 115 members include nearly 30 judges, several professors and academics, and 15 students. The venue for the Inn’s meetings changed from the UC Davis faculty club to the Sudwerk brewery, and then later to the Odd Fellows Hall in downtown Davis. In 2026, we returned to Sudwerk.

The programs also morphed into a combination of skits on legal subjects interspersed with expert panels. The topics have included developing legal issues, new statutes, and new professional rules in the courts serving our jurisdiction.

In 2001 the Inn began its philanthropy in earnest, starting with the Christmas Promise Program, through which it adopted three to five families and provided Christmas presents for all. The presents were delivered by our own Santa Claus, Judge David Abbott, assisted by Elf, attorney Shannon Baker. More recently, the community service groups serve meals at Fourth & Hope and regularly visit classrooms in the region. SLIC members also annually contribute to the Anci-Recidivism Coalition and Paul’s Place, a facility in Davis offering shelter and services to the unhoused.

Other special projects include the mentorship program, through which our student members are paired with attorneys who are practicing in areas to which they aspire. We have also developed a student scholarship program, funded by donations from our members, to help support our graduating students while they study for the bar exam. Awards are announced at an annual ceremony, and are based on financial need, academic excellence, Inn participation, and community service.

The Schwartz-Levi Inn of Court is dedicated to raising the bar on professionalism, collegiality and excellence not only for its members but, more importantly, for the students who participate. The dedication of the Inn’s members to fulfilling these goals never waivers.