Former Vice President Kamala Harris' husband, Doug Emhoff, joins USC law school faculty
Emhoff, who received his law degree from USC in 1990, will start the job at the USC Gould School of Law on July 1. He taught at Georgetown University's law school while his wife served as then-President Biden's vice president and when she was the 2024 Democratic nominee for president.
'One of the best parts of my time as Second Gentleman was spending time with these students and young people all around the country — so I look forward to continuing to share my experiences with the next generation and hearing from them in the vibrant academic community at USC,' Emhoff said in a statement.
The announcement comes as Harris weighs running for California governor next year, a decision she is not expected to make until the end of the summer. On Monday, she made a surprise virtual appearance at a summit of Free & Just, an organization focused on highlighting the stories of people impacted by the reduction of access to abortion and other reproductive healthcare services.
Emhoff said mentoring law students is particularly critical at this time in the nation's history.
'In this difficult moment for the legal community, I believe it is more important than ever to instill in the next generation of lawyers the same principles that drove me to the legal profession: the imperative of speaking out on behalf of the vulnerable, standing up for the rule of law, defending every citizen's fundamental rights, and always fighting for justice, without fear or favor,' Emhoff said.
Emhoff, who lives in Brentwood with Harris, will remain a partner at the global law firm of Willkie Farr & Gallagher, which in April was among the firms that struck a deal with President Trump's administration agreeing to conform with the president's policies. The firm agreed to provide at least $100 million in pro bono legal work during Trump's time in the White House and beyond, which the president said at the time will be dedicated to helping veterans, Gold Star families, law enforcement members and first responders.
Emhoff's continued employment at the firm in the aftermath of the agreement raised eyebrows in progressive circles. He said Monday that he continues to disagree with his firm's decision to settle with the White House, but remains at the firm because of his faith in his colleagues' principles, which he said were demonstrated by pro bono work the firm's attorneys from across the country did during the federal immigration raids by ICE agents and border patrol officers in Los Angeles
'I remain confident in the firm's values, its phenomenal people, and meaningful work we're doing for our clients and the communities we serve, which have not changed since the settlement—and that's why I remain at the firm,' Emhoff said.
Days after the firm struck the deal, Emhoff said he disagreed with the decision.
'At this critical moment, this very critical moment, I urge my colleagues across the legal profession to remain vigilant, engaged, and unafraid to challenge actions that may erode our fundamental rights,' Emhoff said on April 3 at a gala dinner for Bet Tzedek, a Los Angeles-based legal aid organization where he has long volunteered. 'Cause we know, the work of justice is never easy, but it is always necessary.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Sen. Mark Kelly Won't Rule Out A 2028 Presidential Run
Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) gave a fleeting answer when asked if he's planning to run for president in the 2028 election. 'I'm going to give you a yes-or-no question here, senator … you did a town hall in Michigan and you're [livestreaming right now] from Pennsylvania, both of them are key battleground states,' CNN's 'State of the Union' host Jake Tapper said Sunday. 'Yes or no, are you considering running for president in 2028?' 'That is a good question. I know you want a yes-or-no answer,' Kelly responded before ultimately declining to answer. 'I'm not going to give you a yes or no. Because I'm just trying to do this job, get the word out to the American people. 'And I'm trying to improve the polling that you talked about, and just listen to voters wherever they are about, you know, what are the problems they're dealing with and how do we fix them,' he added. Kelly's name has arisen as a potential candidate for both president and vice president in the past. Kelly, who was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2020 when he defeated Republican Martha McSally, was floated as a potential running mate with Vice President Kamala Harris after former President Joe Biden ended his reelection bid. Kelly, a retired NASA astronaut and Navy combat veteran, is the husband of former Rep. Gabby Giffords, who in 2011 survived an assassination attempt. Kelly, 61, is up for reelection in 2028. Watch Kelly's appearance on 'State of the Union' below. Related... GOP Senator Says Timing Of Tulsi Gabbard's Obama Conspiracy Push Seems Curious GOP Senator Says 'Radical' Leftists Made Trump Sick After Diagnosis Goes Public Democratic Senators Walk Out Of Trump Judicial Nominee Emil Bove's Hearing
The Hill
an hour ago
- The Hill
Democrats hear some criticism as redistricting talk picks up
Outside groups are raising concerns that Democrats risk violating the Voting Rights Act with redistricting plans, creating a new problem for the party as it seeks to answer GOP efforts to redistrict its way to more power. Democrats say they have to take action to draw new House districts in states they control in response to power plays by a Trump-driven GOP in Texas and other states. But the tit-for-tat has left groups leaving the door open to litigation. They also are making a moral case, arguing Democrats are thwarting the democratic process. 'This is dead wrong from a democracy perspective, I think it's very problematic for Democrats from a political strategic perspective,' explained Dan Vicuna, director of voting and fair representation at Common Cause. California Gov. Gavin Newsom is the only Democratic governor so far to signal he's considering several ways to counter the GOP's efforts in Texas. Speaking to reporters on Friday, Newsom said any move by California 'is predicated on Texas moving forward' with its own redistricting plan, which some have seen as a way for the Lone Star State to make it more likely to hold on to five House seats. Several other Democratic governors, including Govs. Kathy Hochul of New York, Phil Murphy of New Jersey and JB Pritzker of Illinois have left the door open to possibly changing their maps. The GOP may also not be done. The White House is reportedly pushing Missouri to consider redrawing its map. Civil rights and voting groups are worried actions by both parties could undermine or weaken the political power of historically marginalized minority communities. The issue is a thorny one for Democrats, who have positioned themselves as the prodemocracy party and championed racial justice initiatives. At the same time, Democratic states just like Republican states have been sued by civil rights groups over Voting Rights Act violations. Both Democrats and Republicans have also been found guilty of creating gerrymandered maps. 'We have sued both Democrats and Republicans on these issues,' said Thomas A. Saenz, president and general counsel of Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund. 'So yes, we are concerned that when leaders of either party seek to take maximum advantage, partisan advantage of redistricting, they often neglect, if not ignore, the imperatives of the Voting Rights Act with respect to reliably Democratic voting groups.' Some groups are also frustrated given efforts by blue states to move beyond gerrymandering. 'Independent commissions like the gold standard in California were created specifically to avoid what's being considered here, which is voting maps drawn for the sole purpose of protecting incumbent politicians and political party interests to the exclusion of community needs and community feedback,' Vicuna said. California Common Cause was intimately involved in the creation of California's independent commission. It could be difficult for some Democratic-held states to answer Texas. Several would likely need to change their state constitution and work around their respective redistricting commissions. Should the Lone Star State craft new House lines, John Bisognano, president of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee and its affiliates, in a statement said they would be met 'with a wall of resistance and a wave of legal challenges.' His statement did not address Democratic-led states mulling their own midcycle redistricting. Democrats argue that if Republicans are headed down that road, nothing should be off the table for them as well. 'Republicans should be careful what they ask for,' Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.), chair of the House Democrats' campaign arm, told The Hill in a statement. 'And if they go down this path? Absolutely folks are going to respond across the country. We're not going to be sitting back with one hand tied behind our back while Republicans try to undermine the voices of the American people.' Democrats are also leaning into the issue of democracy, saying the longevity of the country is at stake if the party does not respond. Newsom painted the situation in grim terms, saying on Friday, 'I believe that the people of the state of California understand what's at stake. If we don't put a stake into the heart of this administration, there may not be an election in 2028.' 'We can sit back and act as if we have some moral superiority and watch this 249, almost 250-year experiment be washed away,' Newsom said. 'We are not going to allow that to happen. We have agency, we can shape the future.' Civil rights and voting-focused groups, however, are concerned about the ramifications midcycle redistricting could have moving forward, including the possibility of what was once considered a decennial process after each U.S. census turning into a cyclical issue. 'One of the concerns that we have is, even if blue states have power and have a majority in their legislature to redraw maps, our concern is that this could set a bad precedent, because those states could, at the same time, flip in the future,' said Jose Barrera Novoa, vice president of the far west for the League of United Latin American Citizens. 'And the same thing is going to happen where … other parties are going to look to redraw the map midcycle or even quarterly. Who knows?' he asked. 'It's all hypothetical, yet it's still very possible.' Not only could a potential redistricting tit-for-tat raise questions over whether this could be repeated in the future, experts also worry about the financial toll it could take on their resources and voters themselves. 'These are judges managing these cases, hearing these cases. Many of these people are paid out by state funds, and federal cases, of course, are also paid by voters directly,' explained Celina Stewart, CEO of the League of Women Voters, noting cases that use taxpayer funds. 'Do we really want to spend this time doing this highly unusual activity when we're all going to have to pay for it?'
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Ex-MSNBC host Chris Matthews says ‘country is moving towards Trump' — refuting recent polls
Ex-MSNBC host Chris Matthews contends President Trump is winning over a majority of Americans despite nationwide polls showing his cratering approval ratings. The liberal former 'Hardball' host refuted recent polls from Gallup and CNN that put Trump's approval rating at 37% and 41%, respectively, just above his all-time low after the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. 6 Ex-MSNBC host Chris Matthews contends President Trump is winning over a majority of Americans. Charlie Rose/Youtube Advertisement 6 President Donald Trump strikes a gavel after signing a new tax and immigration bill. BONNIE CASH/POOL/EPA/Shutterstock 'To be honest with you, the country is moving towards Trump,' Matthews told journalist Charlie Rose on Saturday. 'These polls, they come out and show him not doing well — I don't buy that. 'His strength is still greater than the Democratic strength. He is a stronger public figure than the Democratic people,' Matthews said. '[Former President Barack] Obama still has tremendous charisma — but Trump has strength. And I think that's what all voters look for,' he said. 'They want a president who is a strong figure. And he's got it. It's just there. And half the country buys it.' Advertisement While Matthews vouched for Trump's popularity, polls show that overall support for the president is waning after six months into his second term. 6 While Matthews vouched for Trump's popularity, polls show that overall support for the president is waning after six months into his second term. AFP via Getty Images 6 'His strength is still greater than the Democratic strength. He is a stronger public figure than the Democratic people,' Matthews said. Charlie Rose/Youtube Advertisement 6 Trump recently bragged about the numbers as a way to show that he remains unfazed by growing scrutiny over his administration's handling of the case involving late sex predator Jeffery Epstein. AP Along with Gallup and CNN, the most recent Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll conducted in July put Trump's approval ratings at just 40%, lower than those of recent presidents during the start of their second terms. But Trump has maintained popular support among his Republican base, with a CNN poll finding that 88% of GOPers still back the president, with Quinnipiac putting that figure as high as 90%, a small uptick from prior surveys. Trump recently bragged about the numbers as a way to show that he remains unfazed by growing scrutiny over his administration's handling of the case involving late sex predator Jeffery Epstein. Advertisement 'My Poll Numbers within the Republican Party, and MAGA, have gone up, significantly, since the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax was exposed by the Radical Left Democrats and, just plain 'troublemakers,'' Trump boasted on Truth Social. 6 President Trump stepping on stage deliver remarks at the Salute to America Celebration at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines on July 3, 2025. AFP via Getty Images Matthews' Saturday's remarks were not the first time the left-leaning politico has backed Trump since leaving MSNBC in 2020. In April, the former host touted the president over his handling of Harvard University after allegations that the Ivy League school allowed antisemitism to run rampant on its campus. Matthews said Trump and his administration were 'smart' to go after the college's grant money, saying it sent the right message to the country amid record-high levels of antisemitism.
