Remembering Former California Supreme Court Justice and UC Law SF Professor Joseph R. Grodin

Former California Supreme Court Justice Joseph R. Grodin (1930-2025) spent nearly five decades teaching at UC Law SF and preparing future attorneys for practice. He helped strengthen the College’s labor and employment law courses and clinics. He also helped modernize curriculum for first-year law students.

UC Law SF Provost & Academic Dean Morris Ratner issued the following statement on the recent passing of Professor Joseph R. Grodin, who taught as a full-time faculty member at UC Law SF from 1972 to 2005, later teaching part-time as an emeritus professor through 2020:

“It is with a heavy heart that we share the news that former California Supreme Court Justice Joseph R. Grodin passed away on Sunday, April 6. He was 94. We are informed that Joe died peacefully with the help of hospice in the loving company of his family.

As we reflect together on the passing of a giant in the law and on our faculty, you may wish to review this 2020 profile of Joe, who taught for many years at UC Law. The article includes fond recollections from colleagues Reuel Schiller and Leo Martinez, and discusses Joe’s early life, career trajectory, and time and impact at UC Law. You may also wish to review this 2001 UC Law Journal article by Christopher David Ruiz Cameron titled “No Ordinary Joe: Joseph R. Grodin and his Influence on California’s Law of the Workplace.”

As a colleague and friend, Joe will be sorely missed.”

Award-winning filmmaker and UC Law SF alumna Abby Ginzberg ’75 produced a video about Groden in 2015, when he was honored by the school.