USD School of Law Alumna Sharon Kalemkiarian '89 (JD) Awarded Family Law Lecture Series Award

SAN DIEGO (May 9, 2024) ­­– University of San Diego (USD) School of Law congratulates alumna Sharon Kalemkiarian ’89 (JD) who has been honored with the Family Law Lecture Series Award by the Family Law Curriculum Committee. The award is given out every two years at the Family Law Institute, a statewide annual educational program for the family law bench, since 2002. Judge Kalemkiarian is the 15th recipient of the honor.

At the program, Judge Kalemkiarian received an introduction from the most recent honoree, Commissioner Patti Ratekin (Ret.), who characterized her as a true “Renaissance Woman” and highlighted her long history of public service (particularly on behalf of children and families), teaching, publications, affiliations, and awards. Judge Kalemkiarian then spoke about a topic of her choice, “Bringing the Child’s Voice into the courtroom.” The illustrations below are just some examples of her many watercolor paintings that she used in her presentation.

Watercolors painted by Judge Kalemkiarian that were used in her presentation

The award has special meaning because it is a recognition by Judge Kalemkiarian’s colleagues on the family law bench for excellence in family law teaching of judicial officers. It acknowledges her commitment to advancing the knowledge of family court in the community and to her dedication to supporting justice for children and families in the courts.

Judge Kalemkiarian was a family law certified specialist before taking the bench in 2014. She has been recognized specifically for her success in involving children in the family court process.

Prior to her appointment, Judge Kalemkiarian was a partner at Ashworth, Blanchet, Christenson and Kalemkiarian. From 2009 to 2013, she was an adjunct professor at USD Law teaching family law and community property. She was the supervising attorney at the USD Law Child Advocacy Clinic, from 1993-1996.

In 2022, Judge Kalemkiarian received the Distinguished Jurist Award from the Southern California Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers; and in 2019, she was named the Family Law Jurist of the Year. She was the recipient of the Fay Stender Outstanding Service award from the California Women Lawyers in 2000.

More About the Family Law Lecture Series Award

The Family Law Lecture Series Award has been given out at the Family Law Institute, a statewide annual educational program for the family law bench, since 2002. The award is given to a jurist who has demonstrated leadership qualities and accomplishments as well as public service in the field of family law, including contributions to family law judicial branch education. The award is given out by the Family Law Curriculum Committee and that the honoree is chosen by the current Chair of the Family Law Curriculum Committee and the most recent honoree(s), and it is not an official recognition awarded by the Judicial Council.

About the University of San Diego School of Law

Each year, USD educates approximately 800 Juris Doctor and graduate law students from throughout the United States and around the world. The law school is best known for its offerings in the areas of business and corporate law, constitutional law, intellectual property, international and comparative law, public interest law and taxation.

USD School of Law is one of the 84 law schools elected to the Order of the Coif, a national honor society for law school graduates. The law school’s faculty is a strong group of outstanding scholars and teachers with national and international reputations and currently ranks 30th nationally among U.S. law faculties in scholarly impact and 41st nationally in past-year faculty downloads on the Social Sciences Research Network (SSRN). The school is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools. Founded in 1954, the law school is part of the University of San Diego, a private, independent, Roman Catholic university chartered in 1949.