معرفی
Debra Lyn Bassett serves as the John J. Schumacher Chair at Southwestern Law School since 2015, previously holding the Justice Marshall F. McComb Professorship from 2009-2015. She joined Southwestern after teaching at the University of Alabama School of Law as Professor of Law and Judge Frank M. Johnson Jr. Scholar, with prior appointments at UC Davis, McGeorge, Michigan State, and Florida State Universities.
Professor Bassett's research centers on civil procedure, complex litigation, federal courts, and legal ethics, uniquely integrating psychological insights into legal analysis. Her scholarship examines judicial impartiality, class action dynamics, ruralism in litigation, and procedural fairness, often addressing systemic biases and jurisdictional complexities across multiple legal contexts.
Her extensive publication record demonstrates consistent focus on procedural justice evolution, with recent work analyzing judicial recusal standards, ghostwriting ethics, and international class action frameworks. Articles frequently bridge doctrinal analysis with empirical observations about legal system functioning, particularly regarding vulnerable populations and structural inequalities.
- William and Sally Rutter Distinguished Teaching Award (UC Davis)
- Wiley W. Manuel Award for Pro Bono Services
- Order of the Coif (UC Davis)
- Elected member of the American Law Institute
Professor Bassett's professional trajectory includes significant practical experience enhancing her academic work: clerkship with Judge Mary M. Schroeder (Ninth Circuit), senior attorney position at the California Court of Appeal, and litigation practice at Morrison & Foerster. She serves on the Executive Board of the AALS Section on Women in Legal Education and contributes to major casebook projects including California Legal Ethics and Federal Courts.
