Graduation 2005

"It is daunting enough to have to speak at graduation, but you have given me an even more daunting task—to 'charge' you," said Robert Weisberg '79, Edwin E. Huddleson, Jr. Professor of Law, in his May 15 address to the Class of 2005 during the school's graduation ceremony. "In one sense my task is already moot: we've already 'charged' you $161,112 for a full load," he said as the graduates and their loved ones chuckled.

Peter Lamb '05 leads the procession of faculty and students into Stanford's Memorial Hall to begin the graduation ceremony. Photos: Misha Bruk

"As you embark on your careers," Weisberg continued on a more serious note, "I charge you to respect what each other does, because no one owns the concept of the public interest. All of you—in your own way—will be striving to reconcile the varieties of public and private interests that you will represent," he said. This year's John Bingham Hurlbut Award for Excellence in Teaching was awarded to Weisberg, a two-time winner of the coveted prize. Issuing the class a final homework assignment, Weisberg said, "Dig out your original application essay. Read it—it will remind you of what you aspired to do when you applied to law school. And it will remind you to keep aspiring."

This year's law school ceremony marked the first for Larry Kramer, Richard E. Lang Professor of Law and Dean, who told the graduates, "Law is a powerful tool, used for good, used for ill, and sometimes used with indifference. We hope that we have helped you see the difference between those uses. . . . Set high goals for yourself. We need great lawyers to solve tomorrow's problems. Go out there and do the impossible because you can. And go out there and live great lives."

Also speaking at the ceremony was Shirin Ebadi, winner of the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize. Ebadi, an Iranian human rights lawyer, was awarded the 2005 Jackson H. Ralston Prize in International Law by the law school. The prize is awarded for distinguished contributions to the establishment of international peace and justice through arbitration, diplomacy, the peaceful settlement of disputes, and the promotion of world order. Past recipients include Jimmy Carter, former president of the United States, and Václav Havel, former president of the Czech Republic and leader of the Velvet Revolution.

Ebadi urged the newly minted Stanford lawyers to use their education and professional skills to promote human rights. "I see a world free of poverty, discrimination, violence, war, ignorance, and oppression," Ebadi told the assembled crowd of some 1,600 friends and family. "I hope we can deliver a world in a better form than what was delivered to us by our fathers." (See article "Reforming Iran," for an extended interview with Ebadi about Iran, Islam, and United States policy in Iran.)

Among those who participated in the ceremony were 167 candidates for the degree of Doctor of Jurisprudence (JD); 18 for the degree of Master of Laws (LLM), with 8 focusing on corporate law and business and 10 focusing on law, science, and technology; 12 for the degree of the Master of the Science of Law (JSM); and 4 for the degree of the Doctor of the Science of Law (JSD).

—Judith Romero

Robert Weisberg '79, Edwin E. Huddleson, Jr. Professor of Law, the winner of the John Bingham Hurlbut Award for Excellence in Teaching, addresses the Class of 2005.

Peter Michael Koski, copresident of the Class of 2005, delivers the student remarks during the graduation ceremony.

Miguel A. Méndez, Adelbert H. Sweet Professor of Law (right), talks with Raul Torrez '05 (center) and his father, Presiliano Torrez, assistant U.S. attorney in New Mexico, at the dean's reception the evening before graduation.

Robert L. Rabin, A. Calder Mackay Professor of Law, and Michele Landis Dauber, associate professor of law and Bernard D. Bergreen Faculty Scholar, enjoy a relaxing moment before the graduation ceremony.

Shirin Ebadi (right), winner of the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize and featured speaker at graduation, took time to talk with graduates, family, and friends. (Left to right) Julie Wilson, doctoral student at Stanford University School of Education, Gitanjli Duggal LLM '05, Mineko Mohri LLM '05, and Protima Pande, a friend of Duggal's.

Oluriyike Ojediran '05 receives congratulations from her father, Makin Ojediran, and her mother, Funmi Ojediran, following the ceremony.