Dean Chemerinsky Delivers Insightful 2025–2026 Supreme Court Review

Dean Erwin Chemerinsky

On August 12, 2026, approximately 80 attorneys and legal professionals joined the San Diego Federal Bar Association for its annual Supreme Court Case Review webinar, featuring Dean Erwin Chemerinsky of the University of California, Berkeley School of Law. Each year, this signature event offers FBA members and guests an invaluable opportunity to examine the most consequential decisions from the Supreme Court's most recent term—and the 2025–2026 term gave the audience no shortage of significant opinions to discuss.

Dean Chemerinsky serves as the Dean and Jesse H. Choper Distinguished Professor of Law at Berkeley Law and has taught constitutional law for 46 years. He is the author of twenty-two books—including Taking Sides: The Supreme Court October 2025 (ABA)—and more than 200 law review articles. Hannah Ohara, Vice President of Civil Legal Education for the San Diego FBA, introduced Dean Chemerinsky, noting that his scholarship and commentary are "simply indispensable" for those who practice in this area.

Dean Chemerinsky's presentation spanned a remarkable range of topics, reflecting a term defined by major rulings on civil rights, the First and Fourth Amendments, presidential power, and the Second Amendment. Dean Chemerinsky noted that the Court issued 68 opinions this Term, and appears to be more divided than ever—23% of the Court’s opinions were 6-3, divided along ideological lines, which is twice what it was just one year ago. Additionally, Dean Chemerinsky observed that there have been an unprecedented number of challenges to a presidential administration in its first 18 months. Of the 31 cases heard by the Court relating to the Trump administration, the Court appears to have ruled in favor of the administration in 26 cases. The Dean also noted that neither Justice Thomas nor Justice Alito retired this Term, so the current composition of the Court will remain for some time to come.

The San Diego FBA extends its gratitude to Dean Chemerinsky for another outstanding presentation and for being a continued supporter of the San Diego Chapter. The Chapter also thanks Whitney Mello, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer in the Berkeley Law Office of the Dean, for her help in organizing this event.

To access written materials from the event, visit www.fbasd.org/cle-materials. If you missed the webinar, a recording is available at San Diego FBA's MCLE On Demand.