IRVINE, Calif. (November 6, 2023) — The University of California, Irvine School of Law (UCI Law) is proud to announce that recent graduate Miranda Tafoya (’23) won third place in the California Supreme Court Historical Society (CSCHS)’s 2023 Selma Moidel Smith Student Writing Competition in California Legal History for her paper, “A Shameful Legacy: Tracing the Japanese American Experience of Police Violence and Racism from the Late 19th Century Through the Aftermath of World War II.”
“I decided to write about California’s history of discrimination against Japanese Americans based on my family history,” said Tafoya. “My great-great-grandfather was one of the first Japanese to immigrate to America in the late nineteenth century. He faced intense discrimination from the San Francisco Sheriff while trying to operate his steam laundry. He practiced civil disobedience and later took his case through the court system all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1902. While the Court did not rule in his favor, I remember learning about his story and feeling so inspired by his perseverance. This family history, which includes years of incarceration at Topaz War Relocation Center under Executive Order 9066, is one of the reasons why I decided to go to law school and pursue a career advocating for the interests of marginalized people.”
As summarized by The Daily Journal, “The paper integrates Tafoya’s family’s experience with California’s long history of discrimination against Japanese Americans. At a time of renewed concern about policing techniques, Tafoya shines a light on the role police violence played in explaining and maintaining California’s internment camps.” Tafoya received a $1,000 cash prize and her paper will be published in the 2023 issue of CSCHS’s journal California Legal History. During a roundtable meeting in August, Tafoya presented a summary of her paper to CSCHS members, including California Supreme Court Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero.
I am very proud to share my family history and represent UCI Law in the 2023 issue of California Legal History. I could not have done it without the encouragement and support of my UCI Law professors and peers.
Miranda Tafoya ’23
“It’s a great pleasure and privilege to congratulate these bright young minds of the future who have been judged by our distinguished professors for these awards,” Chief Justice Guerrero said during the meeting.
CSCHS sponsors the Selma Moidel Smith Law Student Writing Competition in California Legal History to promote research and writing on the California Supreme Court and the state’s legal history. The articles are judged by a panel of American legal historians and lawyers. This year’s entries were judged by University of Pennsylvania Professor of Constitutional Law Sarah Barringer Gordon and University of California, Santa Barbara Professor of History Laura Kalman.
“I am very proud to share my family history and represent UCI Law in the 2023 issue of California Legal History. I could not have done it without the encouragement and support of my UCI Law professors and peers,” said Tafoya.
About the University of California, Irvine School of Law
The University of California, Irvine School of Law is a visionary law school that provides an innovative and comprehensive curriculum, prioritizes public service, and demonstrates a commitment to equity within the legal profession. Nearly half of all UCI Law’s J.D. graduates are people of color, and almost a third are first-generation students. At UCI Law, we are driven to improve our local, national, and global communities by grappling with important issues as scholars, as practitioners, and as teachers who are preparing the next generation of leaders. The collaborative and interdisciplinary community at UCI Law includes extraordinary students, world-renowned faculty, dedicated staff, engaged alumni, and enthusiastic supporters. Connect with us on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, Threads, X, and sign up for our monthly newsletter for the latest news and events at UCI Law.