Dr. John C. Eastman’s Journey at Chapman University
When Dr. John C. Eastman joined Chapman University in 1999 as a professor of law, he had no plans to become Dean of the University’s School of Law. However, after the former dean retired and a replacement search began, Eastman reconsidered. He realized that the strongest outside candidates might struggle to quickly connect with the local legal market and aggressively pursue the Law School’s ambitious path to national prominence.
“The law school had fairly aggressive goals they wanted to accomplish—including preparing the next generation of legal practitioners and scholars to become ethical and successful global citizens—which would mean making the program one of the best in the country,” says Eastman, a respected conservative constitutional scholar. “It soon became apparent that it would take someone from the inside who knew the history of the school to accomplish those goals.”
A Rapid Rise to Recognition
Eastman took over as Dean in June 2007. Under his leadership, the Chapman University School of Law gained national recognition, securing full American Bar Association accreditation in near-record time and earning membership in the elite Association of American Law Schools.
“Considering how young the school is, it’s extraordinary that we are almost in the top 100 law schools in the nation,” Eastman notes. He credits the school’s approach to learning and its ideological diversity for its rapid rise. “Historically, law schools have followed a traditional model where professors lecture to large classes. While that has benefits, we’ve found that giving students hands-on experience through clinics with real clients offers much greater long-term value.”
This personalized approach has led to tangible outcomes—some Chapman students have even argued before the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals before graduating.
A Unique Intellectual Environment
Perhaps most significantly, Chapman offers a learning environment rich in ideological diversity. “At Chapman, we have an ideologically diverse faculty, which attracts a wide range of students and creates a healthier, more dynamic educational experience,” Eastman explains. “This is rare in many law schools and is a niche we’ve been cultivating.”
Eastman’s Legal Career and Philosophy
Eastman’s distinguished background prepared him well for the role of Dean. He earned a degree in government from Claremont Graduate School and a law degree from the University of Chicago. From 1996 to 1997, he clerked for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and later worked for the prestigious law firm Kirkland & Ellis. He also founded the Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence, a public interest law firm affiliated with the Claremont Institute. Through this center, Eastman has been involved in nearly 50 U.S. Supreme Court cases of constitutional importance.
He regularly debates legal issues on the nationally syndicated Hugh Hewitt radio show alongside UCI Law School Dean Erwin Chemerinsky and appears as a legal commentator on numerous TV and radio programs.
When asked why he pursued law, Eastman shares, “I saw that our understanding of government structures had diverged greatly from the intentions of our founding fathers. I felt compelled to engage in the judicial system and help remind courts of those original principles. Dedication to the higher aspirations of the law keeps me motivated and moving forward.”
Donald P. Kennedy Hall: A Hub for Legal Learning
The Chapman University School of Law holds the distinction of being the first law school in Orange County located on a university campus. It is housed in Donald P. Kennedy Hall, a striking 133,000-square-foot facility named after longtime trustee and benefactor Donald Kennedy. Dedicated on October 20, 1999—with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas as keynote speaker—the $30-million complex is a cornerstone of legal education at Chapman.
Equipped with state-of-the-art classrooms, seminar rooms, two courtrooms for trial and appellate hearings, and the expansive 37,000-square-foot Harry and Diane Rinker Law Library, Kennedy Hall supports both students and practicing attorneys with over 300,000 volumes in print and microform.
The building also preserves history by retaining the facade of the Old Orange School District building previously located on the site. This facade was modeled after the eleventh-century Romanesque Basilica del Santi Vitale e Agricola in Bologna, Italy, offering a striking blend of heritage and modern design.
