A LIFETIME OF LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE

BY ELIZABETH KELLEY GILLOGLY ’93

“I love to talk with students,” says Honorable Edward A. Panelli ’53, J.D. ’55, one of Santa Clara Law’s most distinguished alumni. Since 2019, he has served as Jurist-inResidence, a program Santa Clara Law launched to connect students with legal experts who share their mastery of a multitude of subjects, from mediation to patents.

“In my meetings with students, we have talked about law school and its challenges, interesting cases, course issues, legal careers, and the justice system, as well as whatever else the students wish to talk about,” he says. “The students say they have found these discussions to be worthwhile and helpful.”

This Jurist-in-Residence program is just one of the numerous ways that Justice Panelli has served the Santa Clara University community and the legal profession over the course of his historic career that spans more than six decades.

After earning his law degree in 1955, Panelli co-founded Pasquinelli and Panelli in Santa Clara, where he practiced for 17 years. In 1963, he was a founding board member of his local community college district in Saratoga, Calif., and he helped to found West Valley College, a public community college there. He served on the school’s board for nine years.

In 1972, Governor Ronald Reagan appointed Panelli to the Superior Court of Santa Clara County, where he served until 1983, when he was named Associate Justice of the First Court of Appeal (1983-84). He was later promoted to Presiding Justice of the Sixth District Court of Appeal (1984-85). In 1985, George Deukmejian appointed Justice Panelli as Associate Justice of the

Supreme Court of California, where he served until his retirement from the bench in 1994. During this time, he authored many notable opinions, including Montrose Chemical Corp. v. Superior Court, Horace Mann Insurance v. Barbara B., and Johnson v. Calvert.

As a judge, Justice Panelli handled hundreds of settlement conferences and mediations involving all areas of the law. During his twenty-two years on the bench, he was recognized as one of the best settlement judges in California.

From 1994-2001, Justice Panelli served as a panelist with JAMS (Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services), where he was a highly sought after mediator, settling many complex matters.

At Santa Clara University, Justice Panelli has served on the University’s Board of Trustees for 59 years and was its chair for 19 years. He is an ardent advocate for the Law School and works to raise money for student scholarships, including his work on the Justice Panelli Golf Tournament fundraiser, a key stewardship event for 16 years. He has received much recognition and numerous awards over the course of his career (see page 13).

“Justice Panelli is truly ‘Mr. Santa Clara Law’—a brilliant first-generation student who became the first Italian American to serve on the California Supreme Court,” says Lisa A. Kloppenberg, law professor, special assistant to the vice president for University Relations, and former acting president, provost and vice president for academic affairs, and dean of the School of Law. “He and his beloved wife devoted extensive time, wisdom, and resources to Santa Clara University and its Law School. He has been a tremendous advocate and ambassador for Santa Clara Law,” she says. “Personally, I have benefited from his guidance and support since I first joined the Bronco family.”

Deep Scu Roots

“My Santa Clara roots literally go back to the beginning,” says Panelli, who was born November 23, 1931. “I was born at home in a house that is now part of the Multicultural Center across from the bookstore,” he says, adding that the site (on a wall outside of the Shappell Lounge) is marked with a plaque indicating that the hundredth justice of the California Supreme Court was born on the site. When he was an infant, his family moved back to Italy for a few years, and when he returned to Santa Clara as a young boy, he spoke no English.

Panelli says he got his first job at age 6 in a dried-fruit yard near his home, spreading apricots to dry, filling boxes with apricot pots, and doing other odd jobs. He later sold magazines and newspapers, shined shoes, and worked in other fruit packing plants and vegetable farms.

“One of my classmates, George Strong J.D. ’55, later taught at the Law School for many years,” he recalls. “He was really beloved by the law students.” Strong went on to serve as Santa Clara Law professor from 1955-60, and as assistant, associate, and acting dean from 1960 until his death in 1995.

“I think I lived the American dream,” says Justice Panelli. “From a first-generation, non-English speaking student as I began my life, to end up on the California Supreme Court is something that would only happen in this country. If we had remained in Italy, I am sure that none of the opportunities afforded to me here would have been afforded to me there.”

Santa Clara Gratitude

In conversations, Justice Panelli frequently expresses deep gratitude to the Santa Clara University community. “My folks had come from being uneducated and unskilled. They always stressed that education was the key to get ahead,” he says. “Santa Clara gave me the opportunity to be educated with a scholarship. I think it is important to repay the institution for the help that they gave me.”

In 2001, thanks to a generous founding gift from Justice Panelli, Santa Clara Law established the Justice Edward A. Panelli Endowed Law Scholarship, an annual award given to a student in good academic standing that has demonstrated financial need.

Throughout the Santa Clara University community— from deans to professors to colleagues to other respected members of the legal community—there is universal respect for Justice Panelli and deep gratitude for his decades of service and dedication.

After graduating from Santa Clara High School, where he was president of his class all four years, Panelli earned his undergraduate degree at SCU. He paints a picture of a quaint downtown Santa Clara with a couple of creameries, where he says lots of college students would congregate for sundaes or a milkshake. He says Santa Clara Law was his choice for law school because it was close to home, he had gone to undergrad at SCU, and because his first cousin, Louis Pasternelli J.D. ’35, was a graduate of the law school.

“My law school class was really small,” says Panelli. “We started out with 35 and ended up with 10—some quit and some didn’t make the grade,” he recalls. “Collegiality was a skill I learned with my fellow classmates. We were such a small group—everybody tried to help each other.”

Clockwise: Justice Panelli and son at his first swearing-in as a Superior Court Judge, March 17, 1972, Santa Clara County Superior Court Auditorium; the original Panelli Moot Court room on its dedication, November 6, 1989; Panelli speaks at Santa Clara Law commencement; Before the 1995 Law Commencement, then-U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno (commencement speaker), center, shares a laugh with SCU President Paul Locatelli, S.J., Associate Dean Mary Emery J.D. ’63, Dean Mack Player, and Honorable Edward A. Panelli ’53, J.D. ’55.

“I was a new attorney when I met Justice Panelli,” recalls Judge Risë Pichon ’73, J.D. ’76, the first minority Presiding Judge in Santa Clara County and a member of SCU’s Board of Regents. “He was a Superior Court Judge at the time, and I had been assigned cases in his courtroom. Before that, I only knew of him by reputation as a highly respected judge known for his keen intellect, knowledge of the law, and extraordinary courtroom management skills. He presented as described by others—confident and self-assured, gracious and kind, and inclusive of all. He was and remains highly respected as a legal scholar, dedicated to service,” she says. “He has had a remarkable career, and his rapid rise, from Superior Court Judge to Supreme Court Justice, came as no surprise to those who knew him. Justice Panelli has remained committed to his alma mater, and has used his leadership skills for its advancement as a University. He is also devoted to the success of Santa Clara University students, gives generously of his time to mentor law students, and enjoys doing so,” she adds.

“Justice Panelli’s distinguished judicial career was characterized by his high degree of integrity and commitment to justice,” says Larry Sonsini, chairman of the SCU Board of Trustees and CEO and chairman of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati for more than 35 years. “He has always been pragmatic, thoughtful, thorough, and balanced with excellent perspective. He is a man from humble beginnings who never deviated from his dedication to hard work, intellectual pursuit, and spiritual faith. After serving 22 years on the bench, he continued to contribute to justice as a mediator, overseeing more than 3,000 mediations,” added Sonsini. “Justice Panelli’s dedication to Santa Clara University is truly legendary. Early in his career, he became general counsel to the Board of Trustees, who at the time were all Jesuits. He has served on the Board for almost 60 years and as Chair of the Board for 19 years. In addition, he has contributed to the University in so many compelling ways as a teacher, mentor, advisor, and philanthropist. His contributions to Santa Clara and society in general are remarkable and everlasting.”

“While it is impossible to identify the numerous ways that Justice Panelli has impacted our students, our Law School, and our legal community, we know that he has inspired excellence in our students and demonstrated the highest ethical standards for practice,” says Ellen Kreitzberg, professor emeritus at Santa Clara Law. “Over the decades, Justice Panelli has served as a mentor to

Honors and Awards for Justice Edward A. Panelli

Over the many decades of his distinguished career, Justice Edward A. Panelli has received much recognition and numerous awards, including:

Honorary Doctor of Laws, Santa Clara University School of Law, 1981

Owens Lawyer of the Year, Santa Clara University School of Law, 1982

Dedication of the Justice Edward A. Panelli Moot Court Room, Santa Clara University School of Law, 1989 many and has been generous with both his time and his insights. He has shown our students the importance of preparation, excellence, and civility in all areas of legal practice. These are the qualities that will serve our students well throughout their professional careers.”

Paul L. Locatelli, S.J., Award for distinguished and outstanding service to the Alumni Association of Santa Clara University, awarded to Justice Panelli and his wife, Lorna, 2011.

“Justice Ed Panelli is a consummate Santa Clara Law lawyer—thoughtful, steeped in law, and a very practical problem-solver,” says Donald J. Polden, dean emeritus and professor of law at SCU since 2003. “His career as a lawyer, trial judge, and justice on the California Supreme Court showcase an exemplary life and one that we hope our students will study and emulate,” he says. “Moreover, his love for Santa Clara and its law school provides a model for other graduates and friends of the University and Law School.”

“Justice Panelli has devoted his entire professional career to public service. We are all so grateful to him for his devotion to our law students and our entire law school community,” says Michael J. Kaufman, dean and professor of law at SCU. “He mentors, counsels, supports, cheers up, and lifts up countless law students virtually every day in Charney Hall through his sage advice, caring presence, loving kindness, inspiring stories, remarkable life’s journey, and his example of what it truly means to live out our Jesuit mission of service for and with others. Through the work of his keen intellect and capacious heart, Justice Panelli is a magnificent expression of God’s love.”

Clockwise: Justice Panelli at the Santa Clara Law Centennial Celebration, 2011; Justice Panelli honored for 59 years of service to the Board of Trustees; Justice Panelli and Ruth Bader Ginsberg; Justice Panelli and his wife Lorna, who received an honorary degree from Santa Clara Law at the 2018 Commencement.

Lifetime Achievement Award, JAMS, the largest private provider of mediation and arbitration services worldwide, 2014

Dedication of Santa Clara Law’s new, stateof-the-art campus building, Charney Hall of Law, which includes the new Justice Edward A. Panelli Moot Court Room, 2018. In addition, the Wellness room, located on the third floor of Charney Hall, was named in honor of Panelli’s late wife, Lorna (1934-2019), who was a 2018 recipient of an honorary Doctor of Public Service from Santa Clara University. A private and versatile space, the Wellness Room is available for nursing moms and also serves as a place for quiet reflection, to meditate, reflect, or de-stress.