Jean Ramirez

Professor Ramirez teaches Trial Advocacy, Evidence, Criminal Law, Criminal Litigation, and Juvenile Law.

Professor Ramirez was an associate with the law firm of Irell and Manella in Los Angeles and a deputy public defender with the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office. She spent an early sabbatical leave interning at the Family Protection Unit of the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office and a recent sabbatical leave as a consultant with the International Legal Foundation (ILF), developing a criminal defense clinic in the West Bank, a joint project of ILF and Palestinian law schools. Most recently, Professor Ramirez began training as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for children in the San Diego County dependency system.

Professor Ramirez received her undergraduate degree with honors from Princeton University and was awarded the Isidore and Helen Sacks Memorial Prize from her department. She received her law degree from UCLA, during which time she received the American Board of Trial Advocates Award. Since coming to USD, she has been named a Herzog Endowed Scholar (1997-1998), received the Woman of Impact Award (2009) and received the Thorsnes Prize for Excellence in Teaching (2014). In 2020, she was named the Class of 1975 Endowed Professor.

Professor Ramirez served on the Editorial Board of Psychology, Public Policy, and Law, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Psychological Association, from 1995-2007. She served on the Board of Directors of Appellate Defenders, Inc., and Federal Defenders of San Diego, Inc., from 2002-2014 and as President of the Board from 2006-2009.