Eric Daniel Despotes

Eric grew up in the Bay Area and attended college at California State University, Long Beach, earning a degree in Political Science.  He then returned to the Bay Area to attend law school.  Eric graduated cum laude from Santa Clara University School of Law in 2009.  He received the Witkin Award for Academic Excellence in Constitutional Law and the CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Children and the Law.  He also served as an editor of Santa Clara Law Review and authored an article that was published in the journal.  While at Santa Clara, Eric was a judicial and clinical intern with the Santa Clara County Superior Court, Family Division.  He also made numerous court appearances at misdemeanor pre-trial conferences as a Bar-certified law student for the Santa Clara County Public Defender’s Office.  In addition, Eric had the opportunity to assist in the exoneration of a wrongfully convicted prisoner while working at the Northern California Innocence Project during law school. 

In his free time, Eric enjoys playing and watching sports, a wide variety of music, reading a good book, and the company of friends and family.

Publications: The Evidentiary Watershed: Recognizing a Post-Conviction Constitutional Right to Access DNA Evidence Under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, 49 Santa Clara Law Review 821 (2009)