CSCHS sponsors a variety of educational programs, receptions, archival projects, oral history projects and a student writing competition. Grants and gifts are available from the Society for scholarly projects and publications dealing with California legal and judicial history that advance the mission of the Society.
Upcoming Program
November 16
12 noon to 1 pm Webinar
Perez v. Sharp: A California Landmark Case that Overturned a Century-Old Ban on Interracial Marriage
1 hour MCLE credit (Elimination of Bias)
In Perez v. Sharp (32 Cal. 2d 711 (1948)), the California Supreme Court found unconstitutional the state’s laws prohibiting inter-racial marriage. This program briefly sketches the history of racial discrimination in California and elsewhere, then turns its focus to how marriage illuminated a path for later, important civil rights cases.
The heart of the presentation addresses the recognition of bias and the legal theories that concern its elimination. The case also touches on marriage equality – as the issue was framed in 1947-1948. (see short articles on Perez v. Sharp and the attorney on the case, Daniel Marshall).
Program Introduction: Justice Joshua Groban
Narrators: Justice Teri L. Jackson and John S. Caragozian
Additional Remarks by: Roland Brandel and Michael Traynor
The Bernard E. Witkin Oral History Project
Bernard E. Witkin
The focus of the project will be to conduct research, obtain archival materials, and record oral histories relating to Witkin’s role as a special advisory member of the California Judicial Council, his influence on judicial opinion writing, judicial appointments and judicial education, and his role in the founding of the California Supreme Court Historical Society.
For further information about the project or to contribute remembrances of Bernie Witkin please contact witkinstories@gmail.com
The CSCHS Research Travel Grant in California Legal History
The California Supreme Court Historical Society has established a Research Travel Grant to defray the expenses of graduate students and law students at accredited U.S. universities and law schools who are researching California legal history for the purpose of preparing an article or other paper.
This grant was funded by the generosity of California Supreme Court Justice Kathryn Mickle Werdegar (Ret.) and David M. Werdegar, M.D., in honor of Selma Moidel Smith, Editor-in-Chief of California Legal History. Additional donations are welcome to ensure the continuation of this grant program.
› Research Travel Grant Application
› Online Grant Donation Form
› PDF Grant Donation Form
The CSCHS Selma Moidel Smith Law Student Writing Competition in California Legal History
An annual competition for law students and graduate students to write about California legal history including the history of the California Supreme Court.
California Supreme Court Oral History Project – University of California, Berkeley
The California Supreme Court Oral History Project carries out research interviews with retired justices to create an archival complement to the written record of California’s highest court and, by extension, the lower California courts. This project is partially funded by the California Supreme Court Historical Society.
