Daniel E. Wilcoxen, ‘72, received his JD, cum laude, from McGeorge School of Law in 1972, and was admitted to the California State Bar in 1972. Wilcoxen practiced with the defense firm of Rust & Armenis for the first 7 years of his law career before leaving to open his own practice in 1979 where he began his emphasis in representing injured plaintiffs. He is the founding and senior partner in the law firm of Wilcoxen Callaham, LLP. The firm handles a variety of cases: all types of personal injury, product liability, medical malpractice, business, discrimination, and wrongful termination employment cases. Wilcoxen also handles the day-to-day management of the firm’s 10 lawyers and 15 staff members. Over the years, Wilcoxen has obtained in excess of 90 multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements. 

Wilcoxen has been a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) since 1993 and currently holds the rank of Advocate. He was President of the Sacramento Valley Chapter in 2008, was the Trial Lawyer of the Year in 2010, and is also currently a member of the National Board of Directors of ABOTA. He is a member of the American Association for Justice (formerly ATLA) and was named a Certified Specialist in Civil Trial Advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. He is a founding member and a certified diplomat in Medical Malpractice, of the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys, and a member of Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC). He was the 1989 President of the McGeorge School of Law Alumni Association. He is a past President and current Board of Directors member of the Capitol City Trial Lawyers Association (CCTLA) where he was recognized as Advocate of the Year in both 1996 and 2002. Wilcoxen was also the recipient of the Joe Ramsey Civility Award in 2014 and the Morton L. Friedman Humanitarian Award for service to Sacramento in 2023. 

Wilcoxen is a pioneer in the area of medical lien law and has had much success in getting liens waived and reduced. He spends many hours teaching attorneys how to deal with medical insurance providers, Medi-Cal, Medicare, and ERISA liens. He has spoken at numerous seminars for the CAOC, CCTLA and ABOTA. He has also successfully handled an ERISA lien case before the U.S. Supreme Court, three lien cases before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal, and three lien cases before the Third District Court of Appeal. 

Wilcoxen has been a long-time instructor for the University of California Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB).  As a faculty member of the University of San Francisco Law School in their intensive advocacy program, he instructs at many seminars and lectures for CAOC and CCTLA, and other Trial Lawyer Associations, including San Francisco, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, and San Joaquin. He has also participated as an instructor in the ABOTA Masters in Trial Program for varied programs. He serves as an arbitrator and Judge Pro Tem in Sacramento, Placer, and El Dorado Superior Courts. He is an experienced mediator and is a member of the American Arbitration Association, and the Sacramento Valley Chapter of the Association of Attorney-Mediators.  

Wilcoxen is “AV” rated by Martindale-Hubbell, and his firm is listed among the preeminent lawyers in the country. He has been named as a “Super Lawyer” for the past 17 years, one of the Top 100 Lawyers in California for the past 5 years, and one of the top 25 attorneys in Sacramento.

Throughout 2024, the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law will celebrate members of its vast alumni network in honor of the school’s 100-year anniversary. This post is part of a series highlighting 100 exceptional McGeorge School of Law alumni.  

Stay tuned for more blog posts as we celebrate the law school’s centennial anniversary. 

Pamela Tondreau, ’87, was named executive vice president and chief legal officer of onsemi and Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC in Oct. 2021. Tondreau is a highly seasoned general counsel with extensive experience from business compliance to antitrust, mergers and acquisitions, patent portfolio, contract agreements, litigation, and legal negotiations.

Most recently, Tondreau served as chief legal officer and corporate secretary for Cypress Semiconductor Corporation where she gained keen insight and experience within the semiconductor industry and corporate transformations. Prior to her role at Cypress, Tondreau spent 13 years at Hewlett-Packard where she held the role of vice president and associate general counsel for multiple business lines. She began her legal career focusing on general employment, corporate counseling and litigation for Thelen, Marrin, Johnson & Bridges as well as her own legal practice.

In addition to Tondreau’s vast business, legal and strategic experience, she also understands and values the importance of culture and building great teams at scale. She is a strong advocate for diversity in the workplace and is passionate about building the next generation of leaders. As a believer in a strong mentorship program, she was the driving force behind the creation of the company-wide Women’s Affinity group at Cypress.

Tondreau earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley and a juris doctor degree from the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law. She previously served on the McGeorge Alumni Association Board of Directors. She currently serves as the lead independent director and compensation chair at Energy Recovery.

Throughout 2024, the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law will celebrate members of its vast alumni network in honor of the school’s 100-year anniversary. This post is part of a series highlighting 100 exceptional McGeorge School of Law alumni.  

Stay tuned for more blog posts as we celebrate the law school’s centennial anniversary. 

Ron Freitas, ‘88, is a career prosecutor and current District Attorney of San Joaquin County. He was the Assistant District Attorney, the Chief Deputy District Attorney of the Homicide and Gang Divisions, and the Supervising Deputy District Attorney of the Gang Violence Suppression Unit. 

Throughout his career, Ron tried numerous gang-related murders and violent felonies. In San Joaquin County, he was the first to use DNA evidence after a scientific admissibility hearing and tried the first two dual-jury trials. He was also the first to use a gang special circumstance to obtain a death sentence.  He supervised the first gang-related wire surveillance operation. He is a co-founder of the San Joaquin County Gang Violence Prosecution Task Force, and the founder of the San Joaquin County Homicide Task Force, San Joaquin County Evidence Task Force, and the San Joaquin County Grand Jury Task Force.  

As the Homicide Division Chief, he assisted in the investigation, charged and supervised the prosecution of over 150 murders, including the kidnap, rape, and murder of eight-year-old Sandra Cantu (2009), the Dalene Carlson kidnap and murder (2011), and the Bank of the West Bank robbery, felony-murders (2014). In 2012, he successfully argued to the California Supreme Court that autopsy reports are not testimonials in People v. Dungo (2012) 55 Cal.4th 608. 

Freitas has been published by the Pacific Law Journal, the California District Attorney’s Association, and the National District Attorney’s Association, and is a Chapter Author for the California Continuing Education of the Bar, Criminal Sentencing Enhancements manual.  

In 2019, Freitas was elected to a two-year term on the California District Attorneys Association Board of Directors. Freitas is a co-chair of the C.D.A.A. Gang Violence Suppression Committee. He is the Technical Advisor of the C.D.A.A. Gang Symposium and S.T.E.P. Act Prosecutions and is the Co-Technical Advisor of the Homicide Symposium. He was the Technical Advisor of the C.D.A.A. Intro to Gang Prosecutions and the Advanced Gang Prosecutions trainings. He first taught for C.D.A.A. in 1996. He has also taught for N.D.A.A., California Gang Investigator’s Association, law enforcement, schools, and community organizations, and he lectured at Boalt School of Law, U.C. Berkeley.  

In 2012, he was appointed as a Board Member of the Lodi Unified School District and re-elected in 2016 and 2020. He was elected President of the Board for 2015-2016 and 2020-2021. Freitas was an active member of the San Joaquin County 2×2 committee and the Legislative Committee. He was a co-founder and co-chairman of the LUSD Board Safety Committee and was a member of the Superintendent’s Budget Advisory Committee.  

In 2016, he was president of the Yes on Measure U campaign committee in which voters approved the issuance of $280 million in bonds for new construction and renovations in Lodi and north Stockton schools. He is a Past President of the Giving Opportunities to Kids (GOT Kids, 2019-2020) foundation which raises over $50 thousand annually for needy children to attend science camps and have a fuller educational experience. He was also a member of the California School Board Association and the San Joaquin County School Board Association.  

Freitas is the California District Attorneys Association Instructor of the Year for 2017, and the San Joaquin County Probation Officers Court Employee of the Year for 2018 and 2022. He is a graduate of McGeorge School of Law, where he was a member of the Pacific Journal Law Review, and California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. 

Throughout 2024, the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law will celebrate members of its vast alumni network in honor of the school’s 100-year anniversary. This post is part of a series highlighting 100 exceptional McGeorge School of Law alumni.  

Stay tuned for more blog posts as we celebrate the law school’s centennial anniversary. 

Thien Ho, ‘98, was elected District Attorney of Sacramento County in 2022, and officially took office in January 2023. Prior to the election, Ho served in executive management as the Sacramento County Assistant Chief Deputy D.A. over the Justice and Community Relations Bureau, which handles post-conviction litigation, training, community prosecution and media outreach. 

Over Ho’s 23-year career as an attorney, he successfully prosecuted sexual assault, gang, and homicide cases. He was the supervisor of the Gang and Hate Crime Unit and has personally charged and prosecuted hate crimes. Most notably, he successfully prosecuted the East Area Rapist/Golden State Killer, who committed 13 murders and over 50 sexual assaults in 11 different jurisdictions throughout California. Michelle McNamara wrote about the case in her book, “I’ll be Gone in the Dark.” The case has also been featured on CNN, HBO, 20/20 and countless news outlets across the world. 

Ho has previously taught for the California District Attorneys Association (CDAA) on “Voir Dire in Sexual Assault and Homicide Cases,” P.O.S.T instruction for peace officers and was an adjunct professor for trial advocacy at McGeorge School of Law. He helped to build a nationally ranked trial advocacy program at McGeorge, winning multiple regional and national mock trial competitions.  

Ho is the former Vice President of the National Asian Pacific Islander Prosecutors Association (NAPIPA)’s Northern California Chapter. In 2017, he was presented with both the NAPIPA and Sacramento District Attorney’s Office Prosecutor of the Year Award. 

Throughout 2024, the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law will celebrate members of its vast alumni network in honor of the school’s 100-year anniversary. This post is part of a series highlighting 100 exceptional McGeorge School of Law alumni.  

Stay tuned for more blog posts as we celebrate the law school’s centennial anniversary. 

Senior Justice James W. Hardesty graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno with a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting in 1970. While an undergraduate student, Hardesty was elected President of the student body and named outstanding senior graduate. Hardesty graduated from McGeorge School of Law in 1975 and immediately returned to the Reno/Sparks area to enter private practice. He remained in private practice from 1975 to 1998. He received the highest rating of AV by Martindale-Hubbell, a nationally recognized publication of lawyer ratings. Hardesty was born and raised in Reno, Nevada. He has been married for 52 years to his wife, Sandy, and together they have two children and five grandchildren. 

In November 1998, Hardesty was elected District Court Judge for the Second Judicial District of Washoe County, Reno, Nevada. In November 2001, he was elected by his fellow judges to serve as Chief Judge of the Second Judicial District Court, a position to which he was re-elected in November 2003. Hardesty also served as President of the Nevada District Judges Association in 2003. 

In November 2004, Hardesty was elected to the Nevada Supreme Court and was re-elected to the Court without opposition in 2010 and 2016. He served as Chief Justice of the Nevada Supreme Court in 2009, 2015, 2021, and 2022, retiring in January 2023. In 2014, he led the Nevada Supreme Court’s educational effort to amend the Nevada Constitution to create a Court of Appeals, which the voters approved in the November election. Nevada’s Court of Appeals commenced on January 5, 2015. Hardesty has been a guest lecturer on case management, settlement, and evidence for the National Judicial College.  

As a District Court Judge and as a Nevada Supreme Court Justice, he has served on numerous Supreme Court Commissions including: the Nevada Supreme Court Task Force to create a Business Court in Nevada; the Nevada Supreme Court Task Force studying the Multi-Jurisdictional Practice of Law; the Nevada Supreme Court Commission on Judicial Funding; the Nevada Supreme Court Committee to Implement Recommendations of the Jury Improvement Commission; the Commission on Statewide Juvenile Justice Reform; and the Nevada Supreme Court Bench-Bar Committee. Hardesty chaired or co-chaired the Nevada Supreme Court Access to Justice Commission; the Nevada Supreme Court Permanent Guardianship Commission; the Committee to Study Evidence-Based Pretrial Release; the Commission on Statewide Rules of Criminal Procedure; the Commission on Preservation, Access, and Sealing of Court Records; the Commission to Study the Adjudication of Water Law Cases; and the Commission to Study Best Practices for Virtual Advocacy in Nevada’s Courts. He has also chaired the Nevada Legislature’s Advisory Commission on the Administration of Justice; and is the chair of the Nevada Sentencing Commission. Hardesty is a past member of the Nevada State-Federal Judicial Council, serving as chairman from 2009 to 2011 and again from 2014 to 2016. 

Throughout 2024, the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law will celebrate members of its vast alumni network in honor of the school’s 100-year anniversary. This post is part of a series highlighting 100 exceptional McGeorge School of Law alumni.  

Stay tuned for more blog posts as we celebrate the law school’s centennial anniversary. 

The Hon. Barbara Kronlund, ’89, is a distinguished figure in the legal community, recognized for her significant contributions and achievements. Graduating with distinction from McGeorge School of Law in 1989 and earning a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology cum laude from Pepperdine University, her academic prowess laid the foundation for her remarkable career. 

Judge Kronlund made history as the first South Asian American female judge in California on both the state and federal benches, and was appointed to the Superior Court of San Joaquin County by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in April 2005. 

Throughout her tenure, Judge Kronlund has served in various capacities, including presiding over the Juvenile Court and assuming roles as a supervising civil judge and court commissioner. Before her appointment to the bench, she held positions as a deputy district attorney in Sacramento and San Joaquin Counties, specializing in cases involving child abuse and sexual assault. 

Judge Kronlund’s commitment to judicial education and cultural awareness has earned her recognition, including awards such as the Judicial Council’s Kleps Award and the American Board of Trial Advocate’s “Judge of the Year” and was named as the first recipient of the Excellence in Civic Engagement Award from the California Judges Association and California Lawyers Association.  

In addition to her judicial duties, Judge Kronlund has been active in community service and outreach. Notable initiatives include the establishment of the Women Lawyers Section of the County Bar Association, as well as programs aimed at assisting homeless individuals and veterans in San Joaquin County. 

As a member of various judicial committees and boards, including the California Judges Association, Judge Kronlund has played a significant role in shaping judicial ethics and education. Her contributions have been acknowledged with awards such as the Civility Award from Cal-ABOTA and the Community Service Award from the Unity Bar of Sacramento.

Throughout 2024, the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law will celebrate members of its vast alumni network in honor of the school’s 100-year anniversary. This post is part of a series highlighting 100 exceptional McGeorge School of Law alumni.  

Stay tuned for more blog posts as we celebrate the law school’s centennial anniversary. 

The career of Jose Hermocillo, ‘83, spans decades in the fields of government relations, public affairs, and strategic communications. He has been at the center of dozens of high-profile ballot measure campaigns and legislative and regulatory debates on issues ranging from healthcare and workers’ compensation to natural resources and taxation. 

After graduating with distinction from Pomona College’s government department in 1976, Hermocillo was one of six individuals selected statewide to participate in the State Senate’s Fellowship Program. After finishing the fellowship program, he was hired to work for the State Senate’s labor committee as an associate consultant. Two years later he left to work as a lobbyist in the State Capitol. During this time, he attended McGeorge School of Law and graduated in 1983, winning top honors in Moot Court Competition and serving on the Moot Court Honors Board. A year later he received a certificate in trial and appellate advocacy from UC Hastings College of the Law and joined a civil litigation law firm.   

Because of his passion for politics and policy, he pursued a career in public affairs. After a four-year stint as an independent consultant, he became a partner in one of California’s top political consulting and public affairs firms. In 1996, he helped open an office in the Sacramento market for APCO Worldwide, a global public affairs and strategic communications agency. He managed that office for two decades, during which time he was promoted to executive director and served on its senior management team for North America. During his tenure, APCO became one of the top PR agencies in the Sacramento market.     

In 2016, Hermocillo co-founded Hermocillo-Azevedo Strategic Communications to specialize in policy, crisis, and litigation communications. The firm added a third partner in 2020 and changed the firm’s name to Integrated Communications Strategies. The firm continues to help corporate, public, and nonprofit entities influence public policy outcomes and protect their reputations during times of crisis and transition. The firm also provides strategic planning services to solve complex economic development challenges.  

In 2007, PR News, the industry’s leading national publication, recognized Hermocillo as “Public Affairs Executive of the Year.” He also has twice been named one of the most influential people in the region by Sacramento Magazine. 

Hermocillo currently serves on the Dean’s Cabinet for McGeorge School of Law and the boards of directors for the Sierra Health Foundation and the Center for Sierra Health Foundation, which promote health, racial equity and racial justice in communities throughout the state. He also has served on numerous boards, including Valley Vision, Umpqua Bank/Holdings Corporation, and Capital Public Radio. Hermocillo is a senior fellow of the Mt. Valley Chapter of the American Leadership Forum. In his spare time, Hermocillo plays trumpet with bands in the Sacramento area. 

Throughout 2024, the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law will celebrate members of its vast alumni network in honor of the school’s 100-year anniversary. This post is part of a series highlighting 100 exceptional McGeorge School of Law alumni. 

Stay tuned for more blog posts as we celebrate the law school’s centennial anniversary.