A talk on “Why Our Drug Laws Have Failed and What We Can Do About It: A Judicial Indictment of the War on Drugs,” by Judge James P. Gray, will take place Monday, Jan. 24, at 7 p.m. at the UNM School of Law, rm. 2401.
Gray currently presides over the civil trial calendar for the Superior Court of Orange County. He earned his J.D. from the University of Southern California in 1971. Gray served in the Peace Corps in Costa Rica for two years and also as staff judge advocate and criminal defense attorney for the U.S. Navy JAG Corps in Guam and Calif.
He was awarded a National Defense Ribbon, a Vietnam Service Ribbon, and a Combat Action Ribbon during his tour of duty. He also worked as a federal prosecutor for the U.S. Attorney's office in Los Angeles. He worked in private practice in civil litigation in Newport Beach for five years.
Gray received a host of awards, including "Judge of the Year" in 1992 from the Business Litigation Section of the Orange County Bar Association, and in 1995, was given that same honor by the Orange County Constitutional Rights Foundation. He has also received the Drug Policy Foundation's prestigious "Justice Gerald Le Dain Award" for achievements in the field of law.
Although he has championed many causes, none has received more attention from Gray than the illegal drug problem in America. Gray continues to mobilize civic leaders, government officials, corporations, non-profit organizations, the media, and the public to join him in exploring alternate solutions to reduce this chronic problem.
Contact: Laurie Mellas Ramirez, (505) 277-5915