Sacramento, CA — Legal scholars, policymakers, and justice advocates from across the country convened virtually on March 15, 2025, for the Annual Legal Reform Symposium, hosted by the Pendleton Research Center for Law and Justice. With a packed agenda of high-impact panels and discussions, the symposium focused on advancing equity, innovation, and systemic change in state and national legal systems.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Jonathan Merrick, Director of Pendleton Research Center, welcomed participants with a message of urgency and hope: “As legal reform becomes one of the most defining public issues of our time, it is our responsibility to explore actionable, inclusive solutions that move us toward a justice system that serves everyone fairly.”

Panel Highlights: Reform in Action

Panel 1: State-Level Legal Reform in Action
This session brought together a distinguished panel including California Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, Professor Mary Ziegler (UC Davis Law), and Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul. They explored recent legislative milestones in civil justice, court transparency, and state-led legal reforms aimed at reducing inequality and improving access to justice.

Keynote Address: Rethinking Equity in the Justice System
The symposium's keynote was delivered by Professor Angela Onwuachi-Willig, Dean of Boston University School of Law, who emphasized the structural dimensions of legal inequity and called for both policy and cultural transformation in how justice is understood and delivered.

Research Spotlight and Expert Panels

Dr. Laila Thompson, Lead Policy Analyst at Pendleton, presented the center’s latest report, Addressing Systemic Inequities in State Legal Systems. Her presentation featured data-driven insights and case studies highlighting the effects of funding gaps, racial disparities, and procedural delays on marginalized communities.

Panel 2: The Role of Technology in Advancing Legal Access
This forward-looking session examined how AI, online courts, and user-centered legal tech platforms are closing access gaps. Panelists included Professor Rebecca Sandefur (Arizona State University), Nicole Bradick (Founder and CEO, Theory and Principle), and Judge Scott Schlegel (Louisiana 24th Judicial District Court).

Roundtable: Third-Party Litigation Funding
A moderated discussion tackled the growing influence of litigation financing in civil cases, weighing its ethical and economic implications in an evolving legal market.

Criminal Justice Reform and Closing Reflections

Panel 3: Bridging the Gap in Criminal Justice Reform featured Miriam Krinsky (Fair and Just Prosecution), Derwyn Bunton (Southern Poverty Law Center), and Professor Angela J. Davis (American University). The group discussed sentencing disparities, the overuse of incarceration, and the need for holistic community-based alternatives.

The day concluded with a call to action from Dr. Merrick, urging attendees to turn dialogue into impact: “The insights we share today must become the blueprints for tomorrow’s reforms.”

Publications and Resources Released

Attendees also received early access to three of Pendleton’s newest research publications:

• Addressing Systemic Inequities in State Legal Systems

• Exploring Legal Solutions to Combat Patent Abuse and Litigation Overload

• The Future of Intellectual Property Law in the Digital Era

All sessions featured live Q&A, a digital resource library, and networking lounges to foster collaboration across sectors.