UCLA Law Hosts “Bruins on the Bench” Reception In March, UCLA School of Law hosted a special reception to celebrate the achievements of the law school’s alumni judges and the importance of an engaged community of past, present and future “Bruins on the Bench.” Judge Kim McLane Wardlaw of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, who spent two weeks at the law school in March as a Regents Lecturer, helped to organize the event in order to connect UCLA Law alumni on the bench with current UCLA Law students. UCLA School of Law has more than 300 alumni who are serving or have served on local, state and federal courts. Notable Bruins on the Bench include the most senior appellate justice in the state, Justice Joan Dempsey Klein ’54, presiding justice of the California Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, Division Three, and six graduates—the largest number from any one institution—on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit: Judges Sandra Segal Ikuta ’88, Alex Kozinski ’75, Dorothy Nelson ’53, Jaqueline Nguyen ’91, Kim McLane Wardlaw ’79 and Paul Watford ’94.
The Honorable Julian Bailey and Charles Margines with Professor Emeritus Norman Abrams
The Honorable Irving Shimer
A Lasting Legacy: The Impact of Planned Giving UCLA Law recently received $750,000 in unrestricted funds—the result of a planned gift from alumna Gertrude D. “Trudy” Chern ’66. Trudy, a founding partner of the Santa Maria-based law firm Chern Brenneman & Garcia, was a loyal alumna who gave generously to UCLA Law during her lifetime. While Trudy passed away in 2002, her generosity continues to greatly impact UCLA School of Law as the majority of her contributions were made in the form of planned gifts. The most recent contribution was the result of a charitable remainder unitrust (CRUT) that Trudy established during her lifetime. She named her brother, Daniel A. Davis, as the income beneficiary and UCLA as the remainderman. Upon Davis’ recent passing, UCLA Law received the remainder of the trust. This contribution will be allocated at the dean’s discretion, which allows the law school the flexibility to respond to any urgent needs.
Legacy or “planned” gifts help to ensure UCLA School of Law’s ability to provide a world-class education for generations to come. Planned giving offers the opportunity to make a lasting difference, as well as to enhance personal financial plans and maximize the benefits of charitable giving.
For more information on planned giving, please call 310.206.1121 or visit law.ucla.edu/giving.
112 | UCLA LAW MAGAZINE