Tustin, CA: Western State College of Law at Westcliff University, an ABA-approved institution and the oldest law school in Orange County, Calif., announced the appointment of Justice Halim Dhanidina (Ret.) as its next Dean and Professor of Law, marking a defining moment in the institution’s evolution.
A former Justice of the California Court of Appeal and the first Muslim judge in California history, Dean Dhanidina brings to Western State a rare combination of judicial leadership, courtroom experience and academic engagement, positioning the college at the forefront of a rapidly transforming legal education landscape.
His appointment represents both a historic milestone and a forward-looking investment in the future of legal education. During his tenure on the California Court of Appeal, Second District, Dean Dhanidina became the first South Asian American justice in California history and the first Muslim appellate-level judge in the United States.
Western State’s longstanding role in expanding access to legal education is central to its impact on the profession, a legacy Dean Dhanidina says drew him to the institution.
"Western State has been an integral part of the Orange County legal community for decades, opening doors for aspiring attorneys from a wide range of backgrounds and preparing graduates who go on to shape the bench and bar," said Dean Dhanidina.
Dean Dhanidina’s career spans the full arc of the legal profession. Following his judicial service, he worked as a litigation partner at Werksman Jackson and Quinn LLP and Umberg Zipser LLP, handling complex commercial litigation, appeals and investigations before becoming a mediator and arbitrator at Signature Resolution. Earlier, as a prosecutor with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, he built the courtroom foundation that would shape his later work on both sides of the bench.
A graduate of Pomona College and the UCLA School of Law, he has also served as an adjunct professor at UCLA, UC Irvine, Chapman University and Western State in addition to teaching judicial education courses across California.
"Justice Dhanidina's command of the legal system, as practitioner, jurist, mediator and educator, is seldomly found in a single career, let alone a single leader," said Dr. Anthony Lee, president and CEO of Westcliff University.
