Appointed to Orange County's Superior Court in December 2022, Judge Julie Swain ‘96 takes on teaching Constitutional Law at UC Irvine School of Law 

University of Pacific McGeorge School of Law alumnus Judge Julie Swain ‘96 of the Orange County Superior Court is using her years of experience teaching classes at the University of California (UC), Irvine School of Law.  

Starting at the Sacramento County Public Defender's Office, Swain started leaning towards becoming a public defender. Specifically, she remembers professors from McGeorge – Professor Claude Rohwer for Contracts as well as Professor Joseph Taylor and Professor Joshua Dressler for Criminal Procedure classes and how they approached teaching.  

“There was just an impression in terms of that type of learning and those phrases you take away from certain classes,” Swain said. “You know, like you’ll always remember the rule against perpetuities even if you don’t know what it is. You’ll always remember contracts more than a mere peppercorn for consideration.” 

Now teaching in person Constitutional Law for the Master of Law Students two nights a week, Swain pulls experience from her background having spent 13 years as a public defender in Orange County, roughly 13 more years as a solo private practitioner before applying for the bench in 2022. Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed Swain to the Orange County Superior Courts in December 2022. 

“I was certainly happy to transition into being a judge, but it’s completely shifting gears from being an advocate or a trail lawyer,” Swain said.  

Transitioning from a judge to teaching was a different avenue Swain felt confident in, as she was still in the courts dealing with different types of people. Those with or without counsel. Interacting with lawyers, other judges, and jurors. 

 “So, I thought, ‘Why should I be able to teach?’” Swain said. “I’ve been communicating to people all this time, explaining difficult concepts and trying to make them understandable to people so that they can relate and then make an informed decision.”  

Finding a love for teaching has also allowed Swain to make a connection with her students and dive deeper into the class materials and explain the courts from the different perspectives Swain obtained throughout her career.  

Being a trial court judge, Swain noticed her relationships with other lawyers and attorneys have changed prior to her being assigned to the bench since they might appear in front of her in court. But, teaching has given her another outlet.  

“With the students you can be much more engaging, and I love it when they ask questions, and I get them to participate in the class,” Swain said. “It's great to hear their perspective on what they’re learning.”  

Swain encourages her students to gain as much experience as they can. Practice public speaking in order not to trail off in court. Develop acquired their own writing style and continue to push past potential self-doubt.  

“People count themselves out without ever getting into the game,” Swain said. “If you don’t at least get to the bench, get in the game, and start to play you’ll never know if you are going to have that success or not. And saying, ‘I can’t do it,’ that’s going to be your first hurdle.”  

In spring of 2027 and 2028, Swain will continue to teach courses at UC Irvine School of Law and serve in the Orange County Superior Courts.