IRVINE, Calif. (March 7, 2024) — The Honorable Sunshine Suzanne Sykes, U.S. District Judge for the Central District of California, will deliver the keynote address for UCI Law’s 2024 commencement ceremony Friday, May 10 at 2 p.m. at the UCI Bren Events Center.
In 2013, Sunshine S. Sykes became the first judge of Native American descent appointed to the Riverside Superior Court, and in 2022, she became California’s first Native American Article III judge when President Biden appointed her to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
Prior to her appointment to the bench, Judge Sykes worked in Riverside County as a Deputy County Counsel and as a contract attorney with the Juvenile Defense Panel. She also served as a staff attorney for California Indian Legal Services, where much of her work focused on cases and training involving the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), as well as domestic violence issues in rural and urban Native American communities. Before that, Judge Sykes was a clinical program advocate for the East Palo Alto Community Law Project and a law clerk for DNA Legal Services on the Navajo Nation Reservation.
Judge Sykes is a member of the Navajo Nation, born on the Navajo Nation Reservation in Tuba City, Arizona. She received her J.D. from Stanford Law School in 2001 and her B.A., with honors, from Stanford University in 1997.
“Judge Sykes’ trailblazing journey to the bench is an inspirational testament to her resilience and dedication, and her commitment to justice and service to her community exemplify the values we hold dear at UCI Law,” said UCI Law Dean and Chancellor’s Professor of Law Austen Parrish. “It is with great honor that we welcome Judge Sykes to deliver the keynote address at our 2024 commencement ceremony in celebration of our graduates as they embark on their own paths to make a difference in the world.”
For additional commencement information, visit the resource page for UCI Law’s 2024 commencement ceremony.
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, and sign up for our monthly newsletter for the latest news and events at UCI Law.