What occurred on Saturday July 14 at the Southwest Justice Center is a rare event that happens once in a lifetime.
Judge John Davis and his son Jeremy Davis. (contributed image)
In the courtroom over which he presides, Judge John Davis swore his son, Jeremy Davis, in as a new attorney.
The younger Davis, who just passed the state bar exam, grew up watching his father argue intense and high profile murder cases in Riverside as a successful district attorney.
As a trial attorney, the elder Davis helped put some of the most dangerous criminals behind bars.
“Jeremy was always very interested in what I did,” Judge John Davis said. “I dealt with a lot of complex cases.”
Bearing witness to his father in action, seeing him on television and reading about his cases in the newspaper — Jeremy was bitten by the law bug.
“My dad speaks to the jury like they were his friends he is telling a story to, whereas most other lawyers seem like they are lecturing the jury,” Jeremy explained.
One of the most memorable courtroom happenings they experienced was during closing arguments in a murder case.
“As the defense attorney was making his closing arguments, Jeremy fell sound asleep in the back of the courtroom,” John Davis said. “He was the only person in the audience that day.”
Jeremy said that his father and the defense attorney did not find the nap too cute, but the jury got a good kick out of it.
“I was snoring,” Jeremy added.
Jeremy graduated from Temecula Valley High School where he participated in a mock trial program that his dad coached.
“I think the mock trial program solidified his desire to become an attorney.”
The younger Davis said he wants to make a positive impact with his law degree.
“I want my friends to be able to come to me in their time of need and have me be able to assist them,” Jeremy said. “I want to be an oral advocate for people who do not necessarily have a voice.”
Both father and son agree that it was a great honor to go through the swearing-in process together.
“He is my best friend and I was so honored to be able to make him proud,” Jeremy added.
His dad echoed his sentiments saying it was an extremely gratifying experience to administer the oath to his son.
Jeremy said eventually he wants to practice sports law.
“I have been published already on the NFL lockout and have worked with top sports law minds in the world,” he added. ”I have also assisted in the writing of the keynote speech each of the last two years at a national sports lawyers conference.”
Stephanie D. Schulte is a writer/photographer with SWRNN. She can be reached at stephanie.schulte@swrnn.com.
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