Joseph E. Taylor

Professor of Law
J.D., Loyola University, Los Angeles
M.B.A., Pepperdine University

 E-mail Professor Taylor
Tel:  916.739.7033

Professor Taylor teaches Trial Advocacy with Professor Thomas J. Leach and Professor Cary Bricker in the Trial Advocacy program. He was the Director of the Trial Advocacy program for five years. He was an assistant chief deputy for the Sacramento County District Attorney’s office for 8 years and tried more than 135 felony jury trials. He also was a senior attorney with the Ventura County DA’s office, supervising three units, one of which was the major crimes unit. After a brief stint in private practice, he was named Public Defender for the County of Riverside where he managed a nine-office, 77-attorney operation and founded the Public Defender Academy. Professor Taylor is a co-founder of the California District Attorneys Association and was the California State Prosecutor of the Year, 1982-83. Professor Taylor serves each year as a judge pro tem for the Sacramento Superior Court, and he tries jury trials as a trial attorney during the summer months. He is the author of seven National Institute for Trial Advocacy publications in trial practice. In 2004, Professor Taylor was elected as McGeorge Professor of the year. In 2006 he was appointed to the Police Advisory Committee for the City of Davis, CA and he also serves on the California Parole Advocacy Program Advisory Committee.

Course:  Trial Advocacy

Curriculum Vitae:

EXPERIENCE

PROFESSOR OF LAW, McGEORGE SCHOOL OF LAW - August, 1992 to present. Teach Trial Advocacy. Served as Director, Center for Legal Advocacy and Advocacy Concentration from 1996-2001 and 2004. Course prepares law students to handle jury trials and all phases of trial work. Conduct full-scale mock civil and criminal trials in the "Courtroom of the Future" using latest computer technology.

PUBLIC DEFENDER, COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE - July, 1987 to August, 1992. Managed law office of 76 attorneys, 135 employees, 9 offices, and a $9 million budget. Implemented fully automated case tracking and word-processing system which utilized information from court computer systems, established Appellate Section, designed and implemented the Public Defender Academy, an 8-day intensive trial practice institute with a nationally recognized faculty and secured funding through the American Honda Foundation.

COUNSEL - LAGERLOF, SENECAL, DRESCHER & SWIFT - Ventura and Los Angeles - 1987. Criminal defense, personal injury, wrongful termination, and family law practice.

SENIOR ATTORNEY, VENTURA DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE - 1979 to 1986. Tried major crimes, supervised three units.

ASSISTANT CHIEF DEPUTY, SACRAMENTO DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE - 1964 to 1979. Tried more than 100 felony jury trials, headed four bureaus.

PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND ACTIVITIES

  • Professor of the Year, McGeorge School of Law, 2004.
  • Chair, McGeorge Advocacy Committee, 1999-2001, 2004.
  • State of California Prosecutor of the Year, 1982-1983.
  • Co-founder and VP, Sacramento County Management Association.
  • Co-founder and Director, California District Attorneys Association.
  • Past President, Ventura County District Attorneys Association.
  • Rated "a v" by Martindale-Hubbell, Inc.
  • Pro Bono Criminal Defense and Prosecution Trials, 1993 to present.
  • Authored and co-authored nine trial practice cases, seven published by NITA.
  • Judge Pro Tem Sacramento Superior Court for twelve successive years.
  • Member California Parole Advocacy Program Advisory Committee.

EDUCATION

J.D., LOYOLA UNIVERSITY, SCHOOL OF LAW, LOS ANGELES, 1961.

M.B.A., PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY, 1986.

UNDERGRADUATE, CALIF. STATE UNIVERSITY, SACRAMENTO; COLORADO COLLEGE; COLLEGE OF MARIN.

FACULTY ADVISOR, NATIONAL COLLEGE OF DISTRICT ATTORNEYS.

FACULTY and MANAGEMENT, PUBLIC DEFENDER ACADEMY.

GUEST LECTURED AT CSU-SACRAMENTO, CSU-SAN BERNARDINO, U.C. DAVIS, CALIFORNIA LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY, & NEW HAVEN UNIVERSITY.