Justin B. Atkinson

B.A., 2000 University of Utah
M.A., 2002 University of Utah
J.D., 2007 University of Utah

Professor Atkinson currently teaches Remedies. Prior to joining the SJCL faculty in 2010, he practiced general litigation with the Fresno firm of McCormick, Barstow, Sheppard, Wayte and Carruth LLP. Later, Professor Atkinson joined the Office of the Fresno County Counsel. At County Counsel, his focus was civil litigation with an emphasis in public entity liability. His practice included extensive motion and trial work, as well as appellate work, at both the state and federal level. In law school he was an executive editor of the Utah Journal of International Law, and published work on topics related to international law and literature. Before attending law school, Professor Atkinson taught Spanish and Latin-American literature at the University of Utah.

Richard M. Cartier

B.A., 1972, St. John's College
J.D., 1981, Humphreys College School of Law

Professor Cartier teaches Civil Procedure, Community Property, Family Law, Children and the Law, and Family Law Mediation. Prior to joining the SJCL faculty, he practiced law with Register and Cartier, engaging in a general legal practice with an emphasis on family law. After serving as an adjunct faculty member for seven years, he joined the full-time faculty in 1992. Professor Cartier is a Senior Associate of the California School Leadership Academy and has an extensive background in education both as teacher and as an administrator. He lectures and writes on topics related to family law, children and the law and mediation. Professor Cartier is the Director of the SJCL Regional Family Law and Mediation Center.

Prof. Cartier's Website

Christine A. Goodrich

B.A., 1980, University of California, Berkeley
J.D., 1983, University of California, Los Angeles

Professor Goodrich, joining the Full-Time Faculty in 2010,  is currently teaching Torts.  Since 1989, she has taught courses as an Adjunct Faculty member in Legal Process, Advanced Research and Writing and Research and Writing.  Professor Goodrich has for over 20 years practiced law with Lozano Smith, and is currently Of Counsel in the Fresno office assisting with public construction law matters.   Before practicing with Lozano Smith, Professor Goodrich represented private clients in business litigation and creditor bankruptcy proceedings at Jory, Peterson and Sagaser and during law school externed with the Honorable Robert J. Kelleher at the Federal District Court, Central District of California.

Denise M. Kerner

B.A., 1977, California State University, Fresno
M.A., 1979, California State University, Fresno
J.D., 1983, San Joaquin College of Law

Professor Kerner served as a Deputy Fresno City Attorney from 1985-89 drafting, negotiating, reviewing and interpreting contracts for all city departments. She served as a Research Attorney for the Fifth District Court of Appeal (1983-85). Professor Kerner has been a full-time faculty member at SJCL since March of 1990, teaching Legal Analysis, Research & Writing and Professional Responsibility. She is also Director of Legal Analysis, Research and Writing at the Law School and Small Claims Supervisor for the Fresno County Small Claims Advisor's Office.

Janice L. Pearson

B.A., 1971, University of California, Berkeley
J.D., 1975, University of California, Berkeley (Boalt Hall)

Prior to her 1985 appointment as Dean of San Joaquin College of Law, Dean Pearson served as Staff Attorney, Managing Attorney and Interim Director of Fresno-Merced Counties Legal Services, Inc. (1976-1984). Dean Pearson teaches Torts. During her tenure as dean, she was a finalist in the YWCA/Fresno Bee Outstanding Business/Professional Woman of the Year Competition (1990) and received the Fresno Women Lawyers’ Justice Pauline Hanson Award (1992) and the Fresno County Bar Association Liberty Bell Award (1993). She also was awarded the Soroptimist Women Helping Women Award (2001).

Sally A. Perring

B.A., 1970, University of California, Santa Barbara
J.D., 1983, University of San Diego School of Law;cum laude

Professor Perring serves as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor of Law. In addition to her administrative duties, she teaches Real Property, Professional Responsibility, and Research and Writing. While in law school, Professor Perring worked as a research assistant to Professor Kenneth Culp Davis and externed one semester at the Ninth Circuit Federal Court of Appeals for Judge J. Clifford Wallace. Just a few months after moving to Fresno in 1983 to work full-time at the Fifth District Court of Appeal, she began teaching research and writing as an adjunct professor at SJCL. In 1986, she began teaching Real Property as an adjunct professor. She actively participated in school governance, taking a seat on the Faculty Committee in 1985, and serving as Chair of the Faculty Committee since 1990. Professor Perring joined the Law School full time in 1991.

Jeffrey G. Purvis

B.A., 1976, University of California at Davis; With Honors
J.D., 1980, University of California at Davis; Order of the Coif

In 1993, Professor Purvis was selected as the James K. and Carol Sellars Herbert Professor of Constitutional Law at San Joaquin College of Law. Professor Purvis teaches Constitutional Law, Business Organizations and various constitutional law electives. He is currently Chairperson of the Faculty Committee and Faculty Chair, and is chair of the Curriculum Committee. Prior to joining SJCL's full-time faculty he served as a senior research attorney for the Court of Appeal, Fifth Appellate District of the State of California from 1983-1985, and served as a research attorney for the Superior Courts of Fresno (1982-1983) and Sonoma (1980-1981) Counties. He was editor in chief of the BarPassers bar review course from 1985 to 1990.